Description: War continues to rage on through the Asian nations. Despite suffering a loss to the north, Chinese/Shadaloo forces are running strong toward the city of Delhi. The Hero of Nepal comes to the Indian people's aid, as well as Munin and Chun-Li, but none of them can stop the horrible tyrant when he shows up on the battlefield. What's worse, the Strongest Woman in the World crosses a line that leaves her vulnerable to the Psycho Master's will, depriving the world of a powerful ally of justice.
Hundreds of miles to the northwest of the mighty Battle of Kathmandu, an entirely different army makes its march. Thousands upon thousands of troops tear in past the Indian borders at high speed, the thick weels of the armored transport vehicles chewing up whatever cars had been abandoned in the street, as well as people too stupid to get out of harm's way. Unlike Nepal, India is big. REALLY big. It's difficult to get all of their forces in one place, but it's amazing what a country as a whole can accomplish when someone takes over all of RUSSIA.
The cities of Leh and Shimia have already fallen, reduded to tatted by rockets, gunfire, and napalm. Wasting not a moment in their destructive path, the People's Republic army makes way toward Chandigarh, the last major city en route to Delhi. It's here that the Indian forces are rushing to meet the intruders, swarms of men and trucks all loaded down with gobs of ammunition. Jeeps abound with machine guns welded to them, while others have been made into makeshift, mobile pillboxes.
When these two forces clash, it's a spectacle to behold. Greetings come and go in forms of screaming slugs and and divot-digging explosives. The vanguards each drive forth and mingle, trucks grinding through as many of the opposing forces as they can. Gunfire runs rampant, and it's not long before casualties are thick, with the roads to the city congested with people.
Well away from the front lines, snipers lay out, trying to pick out high-profile targets. Demolitionists prepare the most devestating cocktails they can muster. And so it's not with a wide chasm and five minutes of dramatic staring from both sides, but a frenzied, almost barbaric clashing of pent-up aggression and righteousness. China's forces especially seem driven today. They know that, right now, they're under the watchful eye of Lord Vega himself, seated comfortably in a truck just a short distance from the conflict.
Howard Rust's last few days in Nepal were very eventful. Let's leave it at that - with the chilling realization that he might have really only delayed enemy reinforcements to India, he has - with some still reluctance - gone southward with the blessings of a grateful nation behind him and a whole load of new worries.
With a whole lot of talking between nations, he's been coaxed to go alongside a very well-known international police officer alongside a very small Nepal truck transport (they have no men to spare to India's defense).
"S-So," the aging American martial artist says as he clears his throat to his one passenger, "they're... they're really goin' all out here, is, is that right?" He winces once at the sound of explosions, that kind of answers itself as his right hand rests atop Ol' Rusty on his left hip. It'll be time to jump off soon.
War. It's an ugly, vile little word; ranking alongside murder and rape to highlight the very worst aspects of humanity. Any who quest tirelessly for the just and the righteous can surely not abide the thought of it, let alone their own need to partake... but sometimes, the worst things in life become necessities through circumstance. As Interpol's foremost field operative, Chun-Li understands this.
As a beloved daughter of the Peoples' Republic of China, it does nothing to numb the pain.
The graceful woman-warrior is decked out in kevlar and loose fatigues, looking natural enough as she stands alongside rifle-bearing men and women. In one hand she cradles her handgun, a weapon she's more than qualified to use, though it's been years since she's had to do anything more than fire a warning shot. Her digits move smoothly, unshaken as she chambers a clip and raises the barrel before her, sighting down the pistol's length. Rust's stammering echoes in her ears, and she quirks a small, sad smile.
"Yes, Mr. Rust," she accedes, checking the safety before slipping her sidearm into its rear-mounted holster. "I'm afraid they are. I never thought this day would come but-- from all I hear, it's good to have you by my side. Violence may have become necessary, good people /will/ die, but together... perhaps we can at least ensure the safety of the defenseless." She pauses, tips her head to one side as she looks down the length of the transport, considering the soldiers within. "Whatever the cost."
A hand reaches up, pulling tight the golden ribbon binding one of her iconic hair buns. They're the only thing left of the little girl she wishes she still was, of the carefree person she wants to be - and has tried to be, ever prevented by the looming threat of Shadaloo. Of Vega. If this is how it ends... so be it.
In the back of the truck the third member of the small band of fighters rests, crouched low so as to avoid being a target for snipers or other gun-toting soldiers. She too is clad in what fatigues could be found, and in addition to her shortswords, she has a small holstered pistol. She's never fired a gun before the last few days, and not entirely sure she likes them, either. If it keeps her alive, though......
She peers over the edge of the truck on occasion as she listens to Rust and Chun-li talk, but for the most part, shes down, out of the way, and watching the edges of trees overhead, and clouds in the sky
As they begin to approach the battlefield, the din of shells and gunfire begins to make her nervous. However, it IS a worthy cause. As good as any other to potentially die for......
COMBATSYS: PRC Forces has started a fight here on the left meter side.
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PRC Forces 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Vega has joined the fight here as a boss!
VEGA
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PRC Forces 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Rust has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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PRC Forces 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Rust
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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PRC Forces 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Rust
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|-------\-------\0 Chun-Li
COMBATSYS: Munin has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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PRC Forces 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Rust
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|-------\-------\0 Munin
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|-------\-------\0 Chun-Li
It's impossible for people to pick out a single truck full of random do-gooders, isn't it? In the swarms of people, who's to notice one rinky little transport? Normally, they'd be overlooked and left free, right up to the point that it pulls to a stop and lets its heroes out like some sort of olive drab clown car. But here...oh, not here. All around Vega, the emotion of thousands of lesser men flood his senses. In a sea of mediocrity, the combined fighters are like a blazing beacon. Seated in his transport, Vega's lips spread into a wide, unhealthy smile. He'd heard about what happened in Nepal. It will NOT happen again.
Giving the order to fire upon that particular transport, the Shadaloo master steps out of the vehicle, closing the door behind him. The handle is left irrepairably mangled, crushed under the grip of an ever-swelling desire to join this particular battle himself. Will they find him first, or will he surprise them? The possibilities...
COMBATSYS: Vega gathers his will.
VEGA
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PRC Forces 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Rust
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|-------\-------\0 Munin
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|-------\-------\0 Chun-Li
COMBATSYS: Rust blocks PRC Forces' Rocket Shower.
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PRC Forces 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Rust
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|-------\-------\0 Munin
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|-------\-------\0 Chun-Li
A satisfying grab and twist, the sharp crack of vertebrae brings a faint crooked smile to Juri Hans and sudden slackness of muscles as the spotter in his light fatigues falls away with her casual shove. It rolls down the hillside overlooking the still dispersing and forming troops, From up here the look like toys ever so neatly arranged and she can't help but sneer at the thought of that swell of enjoyment this must all he for 'Him.'
Still, it's nice that they finally caught up, a real battle would have more opportunity to actually cut lose as the sentries spotters and snipers were few and far between. Starved of a decent fight and becoming more irritable with the waiting.
"Oi oi, all the stars are assembled on stage! Let's get this show on the road already!"
COMBATSYS: Juri has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
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PRC Forces 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Rust
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Juri 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Munin
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Chun-Li
If only he was able to get himself a whole pot of coffee before this, Rust grumbles inwardly. He can't hope to understand what is going through Chun-Li's mind and heart over the matter - she is now effectively fighting against her own countrymen.
He is not really dressed the part of a soldier aside from the proper vaguely appropriate camoflauge coloring (after you kind of make a show of being able to suffer gunfire and explosives with little - if any - lasting injury, kevlar tends to get rationed to people who are more squishy), but nonetheless nods slowly as his left hand massages his forehead. He eyes Munin over there, unsure if she really should be in this deep based on their one fight back then - but she seems as resolute as ever.
Then, the fire rains upon the transport. It is swift, it is decisive, it is deadly - and it manages to hurl the burly American man right out the truck in a rain of fire and shrapnel where he bounces across the road and landscape in a humorous tumble in which he displays his proficiency in taking falls at such speeds, righting himself up to a sliding crouch where he just stops inches short of a poorly-buried landmine.
He sighs in relief at just missing this. Unfortunately, he's well out of the friggin' fight at the gathered PRC forces already having a bead on him and whoever else - he's going to have to trust Munin with Chun-Li and whomever of the transport survived that explosion as he jogs across the rural roads, Ol' Rusty drawn and that lingering feeling of something... bad.
COMBATSYS: Rust focuses on his next action.
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PRC Forces 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Rust
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Juri 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Munin
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|-------\-------\0 Chun-Li
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li parries PRC Forces' Rocket Shower!
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PRC Forces 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Rust
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Juri 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Munin
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|=------\-------\0 Chun-Li
It's quiet in the transport before the rockets fall. Chun-Li says nothing more to Rust; they both know what must be done. But they're not the only ones here, and far from likely to be most shaken. The troops have been given their speeches, and she's not military - not in truth. But she can help someone else...
Those usually soft, but rapidly-hardening, brown eyes find Munin in the gloom. The Strongest Woman in the World offers one more smile, the sadness seeping out for a moment as genuine warmth replaces it. There's a time to mope for one's own predicament; but that time is gone, and now she must lead as best she can. "You'll be okay," she offers in a tone that sounds absolutely confident of that fact, "Just remember what I told you - raise it slowly, breathe, and don't /pull/ the trigger. You have to sq---"
Suddenly she flinches, as though a migraine has descended, one eye twitching shut before she can regain her composure. A hand flies to her temple, and she speaks one word, cold and hard. "/Vega/." With no time to explain to her allies, she other arm is already reaching past her torso, thrusting open the door in one interconnected motion. The hiss of rockets is already audible when Chun-Li rolls, dropping to the rugged ground on one perfectly-placed shoulder, a small burst of unseen chi easing the impact. She twists over, graceful and slick, risen in a crouch a moment before those rockets impact. Her pistol is already drawn.
Three bullets fly in near-tandem, three delicate squeezes occurring in the space of a half-second.
Two rockets burst into fragments, searing hot shrapnel scattering away into the air.
"Where are you, you murdering bastard?" Hisses Chun-Li in their explosive wake, already shifting her sights to fire rapidly against the frontline troops of her homeland. This /is/ what it's come down to - and many more people will die if she doesn't fight. It tears at her heart, but there can be no mercy. Not now.
COMBATSYS: Munin blocks PRC Forces' Rocket Shower.
VEGA
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PRC Forces 0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0 Rust
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Juri 0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0 Munin
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Chun-Li
The small girl in the back nods as Chun-li goes over the details of shooting one more time. Munin doesn't make eye-contact, but is listening, and starts to nod when the truck is suddenly shakes violently as rockets pelt it! She sees her companions dive out, so does the same, landing hard with an audible grunt.
Looking up from the ground, she can see the enemy troops! She aims as best she can, remembers what Chun-Li had said, and opens fire with a few rounds, flinching with the first one or two!
COMBATSYS: Munin successfully hits PRC Forces with Small Thrown Object.
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PRC Forces 0/-------/----===|=------\-------\0 Rust
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Juri 0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0 Munin
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|-------\-------\0 Chun-Li
COMBATSYS: PRC Forces blocks Chun-Li's Large Thrown Object EX.
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PRC Forces 0/-------/--=====|=------\-------\0 Rust
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Juri 0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0 Munin
> //////////////////////////////]
|=------\-------\0 Chun-Li
Radio chatter scatters through the airwaves as soon as the bombardment lands. The radio inside Vega's transport squaks at him through the open window, reporting that the target HAS been hit, but the targets are still active. Repeat, the targets are--
It doesn't even matter. Vega himself didn't even wait for confirmation; he's already gone, a whorl of dust swirling in the spot he was just in.
Moments later, the air in front Rust takes on a decidedly chilly quality. Reality churns and bends in a mass of light violet as the Psycho Master himself steps back into it, hovering a foot above the ground. All troops in the immediate area slow, many of them turning in his direction. It's impossible to not just KNOW that he's here, so great is the man's presence. "THIS is the so-called 'Hero' that repelled a handful of maggots?" he asks rhetorically, his voice full of mockery and spite. In an instant, he's in motion, taking a single step forward to land upon the ground. His other foot strikes high, two shots toward Rust's chest, and then it aims to LIFT the ex-shop teacher by his throat so that he can toss him aside.
"FOCUS! These people are NOTHING before our great army!" His words bellow far even over the din of battle. His men are urged onward, driven by the dark leader's presence. The Indian troops are pushed back almost immediately, momentarily gaining ground in the great conflict. While the exploded truck smokes dangerously, surrounding troops continue to lay down fire toward it, just in case anyone might have survived. Apparently, there is one still about, and she looks like an easy target...
COMBATSYS: Vega successfully hits Rust with Dead Rise.
VEGA
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PRC Forces 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1 Rust
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Juri 0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0 Munin
> //////////////////////////////]
|=------\-------\0 Chun-Li
One of the ex-shop teacher's knees surge in pain moments before it happens, the heroic jog across the rough rural terrain over to the enemy forces just a ways ahead stopped with a humbling stumble as the overwhelming feeling of... /him/, falls upon Howard.
It's a blur. The overbearing presence masks the rapid strikes of his upper body - he only vaguely registers by sight and touch the sensation of being lifted up to have his body once again hurtle a ways across the roads like a small piece of trash so casually littered.
He almost forgets to even breathe when he stands back up, his vision hazy to... /him/. Vega. Is that really Vega? The Thailand invader Vega, one of the single most dangerous men - if not THE most dangerous - on all planet Earth? Him? Here? Now?
Howard doesn't look much the part of a hero, visibly shaking as he points Ol' Rusty towards him, partially to gauge distance. "The... the hell is," he's visibly shaken and frightened, but fear commands him as much to move forward as much as it does want him to run away, the so-caled Hero of Nepal moving forward in a short dash before he slides down low (same leg ache, again), finding himself having to swing Ol' Rusty low and wide to even consider the possibility he could be worthy of even touching such a man - if he even is a man - with his pipe to those very boots.
This is fun! This is so much fun!! The shrill whine of the Feng Shui Engine is as strings, gunfire percussion and screams the chorus. Advancing with the PRC forces would be safe and easy, to even keep Juri awake. Instead the SIN spider pushes into enemy lines just so as to chase down smaller groups and get some more one on one time with her opponents. Screams of "it's a monster!" and terrified or pained screams mark her path but the woman herself is having the time of her life and enabling.
There are so many people to fight, these aren't quality opponents but there are so many! Small serving portions; but so many courses. Left to her own devices Juri could eventually surely cause a minor rout but her interest has already been piqued by strong readings form the Feng Shui Engine. There are strong people here after all, no matter whether they were hiding from her or waiting. Walking towards the road Juri heedlessly drags an either unconscious or dead trooper by the lapel of his shirt.
"You can run, but you can't hide. Ah-HA~HAH~ or maybe you can't even Run!"
Her delightful sadistic laugh is cut short when she notices the presence of Vega, her teeth clamp down on her lower lip and she snorts rather than cursing aloud. Here he was spoiling her fun. He should be content to sit back and push plastic men around on a map not interrupt her action. The Heavy thump of her lobbing the trooper out onto the road and stepping out herself while dusting her hands off. She bites off a remark clearly aimed at Vega, the euphoric cutting loose has emboldened her and she seems to be even more characteristically defiant.
"Now, don't go taking them all for yourself. There's enough to go around."
Bullets are flying, and people are dying. But Chun-Li's depth of focus will not allow her to become any more sentimental - the self-styled Lord Vega thrives on such emotion, preys upon it. Following her own advice, breathing and shooting steady more than fast, she empties her clip into the regrouping mass of China's augmented armies, reloading almost as an afterthought - seamless in her motions - as she continues to track in upon that background gleam of psionic energy she detected. Rose had scant time to teach her anything beyond the feel of it, the sensation that psychics generate by their very apparition, but is it enough?
It doesn't need to be. Suddenly, he's /there/.
The Strongest Woman in the World thrusts herself upright with a sharp outbreath, dropping into a controlled dash through the thunder and fire of descended battle. Her reinforced combat boots tear furrows in the shelled ground as she passes the flaming wreck of their transport, sparing a quick side-glance to Munin, ensuring the girl is at least alive-- and dipping her chin in a warriorlike acknowledgement. Fight well, she thinks.
But then she's upon him, seeing that hateful chin and those dreadful pupiless eyes. For a long time, she's seen them only at night; in those recurring nightmares that wake her flushed and screaming. How can she keep her emotions checked when presented with that face? All she can do is /use/ them, turn them against him. She's done it before, though the swell of confidence this knowledge brings also carries a footnote. She may have taken the fight to him, tooth and nail until victory was within her desperate grasp-- but then, inevitably, she has failed. She will NOT fail again. It's what she has to belief, and what's she believes now.
"There's no time," she speaks clearly through the noise of war, approaching Vega from the flank as Rust comes in low. They'll reach him around the same time - she's damn fast, after all. She'll need to be, as she thrusts out with a palm, a semi-feinted blow launched toward his shoulder. Oh, it may strike-- or he may deflect it, but it's only designed to give her purchase to step in and use the momentum of Rust's low blow to /wrench/ herself against the brutal dictator with all the speed and power she's gained in her approach.
Whether he's removed from his brawny feet or not, she'll draw breath immediately afterward, falling into a stance that should be familiar to her nemesis by now; though sometimes she has to wonder if he even bothers to remember her at all, save when she's directly before him.
"For fancy speeches, but you know how I feel. This war? It ends, Vega. And you are /not/ the victor."
COMBATSYS: Munin blocks PRC Forces' Pot Shots.
VEGA
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PRC Forces 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\0 Rust
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Juri 0/-------/------=|===----\-------\0 Munin
> ///////////////////////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 Chun-Li
Gunfire erupts in response to their shooting, and Munin wisely ducks her head. Bullets tear into the stone and earth just ahead of her, pelting her with sharps of sharp rock intermitantly. She then sees Chun-Li move, and that leads to Rust and Vega. Gunfire be damned, she isn't about to miss this! Besides, they could all be dead anyway with Vega's legendary power.
She stands and bolts, pistol holstered, swords drawn. As Rust comes in low, and Chun-Li comes in directly, she leaps into the air, coming in from above in a downwards stab with her swords, eyes glowing brightly with purple light, and blades leaving a trail of matching-colored streaks as she decends!
COMBATSYS: Vega dodges Munin's Deep Strike.
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PRC Forces 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\0 Rust
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Juri 0/-------/------=|===----\-------\0 Munin
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|-------\-------\0 Chun-Li
COMBATSYS: Vega blocks Chun-Li's Koshuu Tou.
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PRC Forces 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\0 Rust
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Juri 0/-------/------=|===----\-------\0 Munin
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|=------\-------\0 Chun-Li
COMBATSYS: Vega interrupts Foundation Layer from Rust with Psycho Vanish.
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PRC Forces 0/-------/--=====|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Rust
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Juri 0/-------/------=|===----\-------\0 Munin
> ///////////////////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 Chun-Li
A three-way attack from the hapless worms? Against most men, it would be an effective tactic. And yet, as Rust, Chun-Li, and Munin come in from all sides, Vega simply smiles. It's a terrible, horrible thing to behold, him reacting to his situation with PLEASURE.
What happens next is difficult to behold with the naked eye. An arm lifts. There's a flash of crimson and steel: an arm keeping Chun-Li from getting as secure a grasp on him as she'd like. The cry of Ol' Rusty colliding with his thick steel shinguards rings out, the weapon reverberating in Rust's hand by the impact. It's not unlike trying to beat a solid block of metal with that thing--it'd be a miracle if it didn't dent. For an instant, it seems that Munin might be able to come in from his blind spot, but with this man, there IS no blind spot. Her bloodlust is clear to him no matter what direction she comes from, and just before her blades find purchase in her target's skull, he's...gone.
By the time anyone can catch up with him, he's standing behind rust, the purple mass of false hair crushed beneath the dictator's palm. It offers little buffer against the flood of psycho power that sears the man's brain, a forcing of all nerve endings firing all at once. It must feel like being dragged through a pool of flensing shards of brittle glass, if not worse.
And while everyone is distracted with trying to take down the big man, Chinese forces slip in behind the weakest-looking target and try to take her out with a length of garrote wire about her throat.
For a moment there it looks like they might be doing well against Vega, there is actually a jolt of disappointment as he begins to dispatch with them, too bad. It would have been a lucky break if the great Lord Chin had fallen right here and now but Juri just wasn't that lucky. She shrugs and gives a thorough going over, head to toe while the Feng Shui Engine starts breaking each fighter's condition and detectable levels of power. Only one aspect of the very human drama playing out in front of her really motivates her, evidence of pain, defiance and all is old hat. Any weakling can be defiant regardless of how much power they have.
But hatred? Hatred is a great motivator and it's just as fun to play with in others. They don't show any signs of giving the Taekwondoka her due so she supposes she'll have to take it before the choice cuts are all gone. Hands settled on her hips a finger taps idly her impatience and worry about missing out showing.
"Guess I'll kick things off then."
She whips across the battlefield like an arrow flat palm of her hand curling around towards the side of Chun-li's face and crooking her body to slingshot the woman away from the melee.
Rust never does see Munin attempt to hop in from behind, nor does he get a clear view of Chun-Li's attempt to come in from high. The strike of Ol' Rusty against boot reverberates enough that the pipe slips right out of his hand in a spin, the threshold of his weaker right hand grip surpassed twice over.
He has exactly a fraction of a fraction (fractional fraction!) of a second to realize this before he is lifted straight up, the motion alone inflicting significant whiplash. Howard Rust - to the reports of those Chinese soldiers who may have had the time to send the word to their fellows - was a seemingly unstoppable man possessed of some sort of fire-forged will to fight through knives, gunfire, explosives, and desperate fisticuffs.
Vega's hatred transcends this by a factor of ten, or even more - the older man's mind goes numb under soul-crushing hatred and pain while his entire body feels being pierced all at once. It is less being manhandled and more simply being outright dominated by the sheer will of hatred.
The burly American man falls out of that grasp limp like a dropped doll, dark purple toupee a moment later. He is hardly conscious following the sensory overload, with eyes and mouth open in horror as he hits the dust before Vega's feet face-down. The offensive hair article draping the back of his head.
It is a very clear message to those who had previously expressed (very carefully measured) concern about the supposed man who repelled the attack on Nepal - a signal that may renew their murderous fervor under Vega's banner. Could he really have been just a gnat before the great and mighty Vega?
COMBATSYS: Rust takes no action.
VEGA
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[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
PRC Forces 0/-------/--=====|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Rust
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Juri 0/-------/------=|===----\-------\0 Munin
> ///////////////////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 Chun-Li
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li just-defends Juri's Medium Throw!
VEGA
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
1|--------------=|===============
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
PRC Forces 0/-------/--=====|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Rust
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Juri 0/-------/------=|===----\-------\0 Munin
> //////////////////////////////]
|=------\-------\0 Chun-Li
No response to her words. It's almost worse than his usual mockery. But that's not the thing on her mind; it's what happens as the heroic promise pours from her lips, her alert eyes unable to send the signal quickly enough for her body to react; and Rust is taken by that strong hand. The physical power of Vega is nothing to be sniffed at, the terrible onslaught of psychic energy overkill by ANY reasonable standard... even in wartime, there's something especially harrowing about it. If war and murder and rape are the worst in humanity, the dictator's corrupt Psycho Power must be something beyond this world.
It's too late to say 'release him'. It's too late to do anything at all. The half-Norwegian girl is another matter - there's actually time for Chun-Li to reach her, barely, but the flanking troops would prevent her making a save. "Go limp, Munin!" The barked command is what she offers instead, barely out as she twists instead to meet the incoming Juri. "You," she utters, the word falling without particular venom - a dull recognition of that poisonous woman reaching for her face. It's almost insulting.
But she hasn't got time to make /insults/. A shake of her head escapes the grasp for the split-second it takes to whip an arm up, the sleeve of her army-issue top falling away to reveal a familiar, spiked bracelet saddled comfortably upon her forearm - right where it belongs. The ornament /snaps/ against her wrist as she strikes the inside of Juri's palm, mitigating any strength in her fingertips.
Then she's thrusting her arm, elbow trailing outward as she seeks to simply ram Vega's pet spider away with a diagonal thrust, continuing to turn into the motion until she's dancing toward the dictator on her heavy boots. She moves with flawless grace in spite of them, setting the ball of her front foot as she closes, coiling her rear leg into the base of her torso then thrusting it out on the hundred and eightieth degree. It's a fairly simple, straightforward back kick - aimed to catch him swiftly in the gut, but it's the opening for a second, heavier blow. As the striking foot sets, she flexes and leaps, guard held high as her knee darts upward to seek that chin. She'll land on her feet afterward, placed over the fallen form of Rust.
Her eyes bore into Vega's with a deep, undying fire. "You've had your fun. Leave that man /alone/."
COMBATSYS: Munin counters Silent Takedown from PRC Forces with Shadow Strike.
- Power hit! -
VEGA
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
1|--------------=|===============
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
PRC Forces 1/-------/=======|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Rust
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Juri 0/-------/------=|====---\-------\0 Munin
> ///////////////////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 Chun-Li
First rule in Munins mind in this place: LISTEN TO THE EXPERTS! They know better than you!
When Chun-Li says to go limp, at first she looks confused. Then the thing gets around her neck. She goes partially limp, pulling the attack off balance. Unfortunately for the poor sap, this momentary lapse in their attention is all the time she needs.
With a quick flick of each blade, she swings them up, removing the mans hands. Another flick, now holding the blades point down, she stabs backwards with them, dark purple chi sizzling through the air. She impales the man directly behind her on both sides of his stomach, the entry wounds pointing upwards. Two shadowy 'blades' of chi pierce out his back, one into each of the men behind him on the left and right. These fade as she pulls her weapons from her initial victim, and turns her attention back to Vega, as Juri arrives on the scene.
COMBATSYS: Vega dodges Chun-Li's Medium Kick.
VEGA
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
1|--------------=|===============
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////// ]
PRC Forces 1/-------/=======|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Rust
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Juri 0/-------/------=|====---\-------\0 Munin
> ///////////////////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 Chun-Li
Was there EVER any doubt? Vega shifts and strikes, an untouchable pillar of might despite being set upon by an honest to god hero and the Strongest Woman in the World. But alas, they are only people. They are mortal. They are inferior. Vega's consciousness is indeed fed by the clashing of forces. Hatred and bloodlust abound, thousands of men and women reeking of strife and longing for destruction. Hundreds of minds spread a web of terror across the battlefield, the man's own forces emboldened with each passing moment. The Indian forces try to hold up; they really do, but the People's Republic Army is ruthless. Fire rains down from the sky as napalm spreads across trees and sheltered troops. Mounted guns pour pounds of hot lead into defending troops. They WILL win.
And yet, this localized encounter is where the real heat is. Vega's head pulls backward just in time to let the thick-thighed bitch fly past him. His right leg lifts up as he dodges, only for him to thrust his weight forward. His boot slams down toward Rust's neck as he just LAYS there. Even as he does so, he looks at Chun-Li herself, sneering at her helplessness. To defend a country? She can't even defend a single man. A stomp and a twist of his boot try to make sure of that.
And yet, the screams are thick in the surrounding troops. A man loses his hands? So what? It hurts, of course. It burns as blood gushes from the wounds. But Munin is a fool to think the man done, or even the other people that she skewered. Adrenaline keeps them standing, but only barely. The three are ready to give their lives for Vega, and that means that every stabbed and sliced soldier bears down on the girl, trying to bring her down, to hold her still. Their bodies will do little but burden her as the other soldiers turn their assault rifles in the group, shooting THROUGH their own kinsmen while they hold her still.
Palm stinging from the block Juri doesn't have to feign the flash of disappointment or annoyance, the eyes flicker toward Vega who surely missed not a moment. Tch, the Chinese wench was making her look bad. She was even facing down Vega personally and doing an admirable job of controlling her anger. While Miss Han could in fact take notes and benefit greatly from such conduct.. it really just pisses her off.
Gently (for her) and in a rather unfair move Juri grabs for the ribbons trailing from Chun-Li's hair, the cutesy accessory doesn't really do much for her but it's just sadist enough and casual a motion with her other arm that it seems a little cool.
The bulky old man is down, the girl in the dark coat is fighting for her life or just playing with those troops. Whomever it was that was screaming Juri didn't much care, The China Girl was making her look bad, and that was unacceptable. If she can catch the ribbons she would drag the woman down right out of the air, and with a great view of vega landing what could be a finishing blow on one of her comerades.
COMBATSYS: Vega successfully hits Rust with Aggressive Strike.
- Power hit! -
VEGA
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
1|-----------====|===============
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > // ]
PRC Forces 0/-------/-------|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Juri 0/-------/------=|====---\-------\0 Munin
> ///////////////////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 Chun-Li
Howard there's not looking too good. It is a safe assumption that he is just another one of Vega's numerous conquests of the countless who could never hope to stand anywhere close to equal to such honed will.
Deep inside, the aging man is going through the mental equivalent of sucking his thumb. The screams and yells of men fighting for ideals and their lives are as though filtered through a wind tunnel.
Something kicks at him. It might be the bit of dust and dirt from Chun-Li's move to stand before him for that moment, the grime that gets in his mouth and wafts into his throat. His windpipe is touched by a dry and unpleasant sensation. The reflex - the want - to cough irritates his lungs, attempts to pull the body's motor skills to this as the lingering hatred overruns his psyche.
One of his hands twitch. His left elbow rises. What am I even doing here, he wonders, as he sees the blobs of motion that are Chun-Li, Munin, a number of people in similar dress and some red, and the overbearing weight on his shoulders that both is and isn't quite there as his right hand reaches out towards a familiar length of pipe by instinct--
Now that weight is there, on his neck. Vega's will is nearly absolute - even if his physical might alone may not cut it (this alone a rarity), his very will imparts so many things to crumble before him.
Rust coughs at last as his neck turns uncomfortably, revealing to him the uncomfortable truth that he's still breathing /and/ having his neck snapped loudly. The crick is there. It's a loud, gut-wrenching crick.
It's these two sensations that, inexplicably, wake him up as his body is pressed up against the ground under Vega's heel, even digging into it, as his teeth grit. This is a pointless gesture until Vega might feel the slightest of resistance, to see him pushing back /up/.
It's not a winning battle, until he finds some sort of strength in getting a grasp back upon that busted length of pipe. God damn it, he thinks, where's Vega, I don't see him, who the hell is on me?
The moment he can work up any leverage or clearance at all his the moment he thrusts his unarmed hand upwards into whoever's on top of him (it's Vega), enough to potentially launch him into the air.
/If he can strike him up/, he follows up with a short hop and a cough, and that only momentary glimpse of worry before trying to hook the tip of Ol' Rusty into his belt by the adrenaline driving him, looking to swing him about rapidly in multiple whirls before flinging him straight down - at which point he lands in a crouch.
Down, but not out, unless Vega has a different plan for these sequence of events.
COMBATSYS: Rust prepares to take his last stand against Vega!
VEGA
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
1|-----------====|===============
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
PRC Forces 0/-------/-------|=======\-------\1 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Juri 0/-------/------=|====---\-------\0 Munin
> ///////////////////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 Chun-Li
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li blocks Juri's Quick Throw.
VEGA
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
1|-----------====|===============
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
PRC Forces 0/-------/-------|=======\-------\1 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Juri 0/-------/------=|====---\-------\0 Munin
> ///////////////////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 Chun-Li
No matter how much one swears they will not fail...
"NO!!"
For all her skill and focus, there is one being in this world who might unfailingly wrench such a passionate, heart-wrenching outburst from the Strongest Woman in the World. That care she pours into maintaining her composure in the heat of battle is for naught, promises to herself and others fluttering free in the breeze when the beast that haunts her day and night surfaces once more. Other men give her hesitation, one or two even frighten her, but Vega terrifies her. And he knows it, he preys on it. He feasts on it.
Enter Juri. The other, lesser parasite. But dangerous enough; the Tai Chi mistress is not stupid. She feels the hand closing in, and a ribbon is indeed snagged, but she drops her bodyweight /hard/, thwarting the wrenching throw, ripping herself free to crash instead against an outflung elbow. It stings, scraping viciously in the devastated ground, but she's free to hop up into a crouch, twisted to face the Spider; her back to Vega for a moment, unable to see Rust recover, praying she's fast enough to not be caught in the middle of the two unrelenting psions. She's barely got time to express her hatred.
"Leave me alone, you disgusting /cockroach/," her words are a violent hiss, anger consuming her motions even as it speeds them, her mastery of the art enough that she's at least able to turn it to some form of advantage. Her childhood fears may stalk her, she may pine for her lost father inside, but Chun-Li isn't a girl any more - she's grown to womanhood, and learned to curb the worst of even her most destructive passions. They don't lead her to rush in any more; they may just make her stronger, power untempered by grace as she flips from her tight position against the floor, springing into a somersault so fast it's a blur...
But it's not speed alone that causes that effect. Blue-white motes shear into a screaming storm around her suddenly outflung leg, steel-clad bootheel seeking to catch Juri with fearsome power in the chest, rending between her breasts and continuing down to drag a blistering line of glaring chi across the fullness of her torso. Chun-Li's outflung arms balance her as she lands acrobatically, legs split with enviable ease.
"Munin!" She calls as she spins into a crouch and rises, guarding palms about her own torso. Her next words have to be brief, which is why she's briefed the girl beforehand - trusting that of the three of them, she's the least likely to be targeted by Vega's big guns, and she's quick. If anyone can get Rust free and sound a retreat for the troops; to save what little they can save, it's her. "We can't win this."
A fact which won't stop her from staying behind. She doesn't need to say it; because silently she /screams/ it.
COMBATSYS: PRC Forces successfully hit Munin with Questionable Tactics.
VEGA
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
1|-----------====|===============
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
PRC Forces 0/-------/-------|=======\-------\1 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Juri 0/-------/------=|=======\=------\1 Munin
> /////////////////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 Chun-Li
Munin was not expecting this level of zealotry. As fast as she dispatches three attackers, three more come up and try the same thing, catching her off guard. She swings her blade up, trying to catch the garrote first, but is unable, and while she does cut her way out, it leaves a nasty bleeding gash in her neck.
Chun-Lis call snaps her mind to the greater scene. She breaks for it, not needing to be told twice, or what is expected. She rolls past Vega, and while crouched next to Rust, she tells him "Don't move.....".
Strange things hapen. Shadows in the area deepen, and illusory chi-images of herself begin to move around and appear to be attacking from various sudden angles, before vanishing again, struck or otherwise. Then theres a spike of Chi, and a large BURST of dark purple energy in the area!
Being next to her, Rust is not harmed by this. Sadly, Chun-Li may be struck, but it's worth the risk.
Munin immediatedly takes off with Rust on completion of her attack, not bothering to stop to see if it had an effect.
COMBATSYS: PRC Forces fails to counter Twilight Rising from Munin with Opportune Distraction.
VEGA
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
1|-----------====|===============
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
PRC Forces 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\1 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Juri 0/-------/------=|???????\???????\0 Munin
> /////////////////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 Chun-Li
COMBATSYS: Munin successfully hits Vega with Twilight Rising.
VEGA
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
1|----------=====|===============
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
PRC Forces 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\1 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Juri 0/-------/------=|???????\???????\0 Munin
> /////////////////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 Chun-Li
COMBATSYS: Vega fails to interrupt Crane Launch EX from Rust with Devil's Reverse.
VEGA
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
1|----------=====|===============
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
PRC Forces 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\1 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Juri 0/-------/------=|???????\???????\0 Munin
> /////////////////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 Chun-Li
What was it? Something happened. One moment, Vega is in full command, grinning like a madman and completely dominating the pestulant little maggots trying to stand againt him. His army is completely controlling the tide of battle. Gunfire and explosives are going off EVERYWHERE.
And then there's this...explosion, a glut of energy that is not his own. He lifts an arm to try and stem all the flow of dark energy, but it rips through him. His cloak billows behind him, tearing all over. His clothing rips, long thin lines revealing the flesh beneath. But he, at least, holds his ground. His troops are another story entirely. Fully half of the soldiers gathered around the fight are blown away. The others are spared only under the shield of their fallen comrades.
But it's not done. Rust, who by all rights should be down--paralyzed, even--is up with a vengeance! The blow comes from beneath. No, blows. The Master is indeed made of flesh. Hard flesh, perhaps, but Rust can feel each strike, can see it tossing them man side to side. His balance teeters, but he does not topple. Vega regains his balance, but gone is the smile on his face. The back of his hand wipes blood from his face, his lips turned down into a furious frown. The air around him grows heavy, cold, thick with his hatred. With his vengeance. He had simply been playing before, but now? Now he's MAD.
Eyes widening around and her lips twisting a smile into a crescent shaped slash across her face Juri revels in the attention.
"That's it, that's the most attention you've show me so far. BUT I THINK YOU HAVE THAT BACKWARDS!"
These little heroes all busy trying to save the day were behaving a lot more like roaches in her eyes, they kept getting back up no matter how hard they were stomped but it looks like they were losing their nerve. Chun-Li herself was the first to crack and call for them to retreat, that's funny!
Juri fights off the urge to laugh In Chun-Lis face as the woman already has a habit of being getting under her skin but it is the sudden darkening of the area and Illusory copies of the girl in the dark coat rising from the shadows. That girl could do this? They don't even read on the Feng Shui engine, false readings? The thing is going berserk when suddenly surrounded by these images and the readings from close proximity to Vega, the rapidly climbing of ki from Chun-Li. The blasted thing is Just a distraction! Juri backfists one of the images passing close to her but her skin is already striped with nicks and cuts but rushing to Meet Chun-Li the moment there is an opening in the melee of figures.
Nothing matters except the onrushing China Girl, not Vega, or any of the other plebeians here They all get alway for all she cares. Somersaulting forwards and lancing up and over towards the famed Chinese fighter with a flood of her own ragged purple energy she pinwheels in place, similar blows meeting at full force.
COMBATSYS: Juri blocks Munin's Twilight Rising.
VEGA
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
1|----------=====|===============
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
PRC Forces 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\1 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Juri 0/-------/-----==|???????\???????\0 Munin
> /////////////////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 Chun-Li
COMBATSYS: Juri fails to interrupt Hazanshu from Chun-Li with Senpusha.
VEGA
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
1|----------=====|===============
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
PRC Forces 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\1 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Juri 0/-------/-----==|???????\???????\0 Munin
> /////////////////////////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Chun-Li
Rust actually misses Munin's assault largely from going airborne after pushing Vega up - he all but bursts through the darkness like a great rising (not-shining) star with a... less... great splotch of purple currently set far back enough that spoils the non-existent illusion of his balding.
His landing through the dissipating darkness confirms that - yes - he did that, some foul mortal, unworthy man had managed to overpower Vega. There is no smugness in his success - it's also hard to be smug when his neck is so abused that he can't even turn his head to the left as he crouches low with a second cough. The air growing cold and still, the smile that has disappeared from the virtually almighty psion's face enough to temper, if not wipe clean, any sort of pride one might have in actually landing such a blow upon him. But, the will is there - he's thinking, maybe I can land one extremely good one on him...
Not to mention the sudden hard, tugging feeling of Munin dragging him across the battlefield as he thinks to draw Ol' Rusty back. That she's pulling him back (and doing a really fine job of it, given the differences in size and professed strength) suddenly snaps him out of this moment of zen between overbearing hatred and the will to continue fighting.
"Wh-where are you going, h-hey, hey," he wheezes out as Munin keeps pulling him back, "y-you're not leavin' her with... with," try as he might, for the moment he's too tense to pull himself out of her grasp. He can see the soldiers still lined up, ready to fire at a moment's notice.
He takes in a deep breath, knowing exactly what they're willing to do when they think they have a clear shot at both him and/or Munin.
COMBATSYS: Rust gains composure.
VEGA
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
1|----------=====|===============
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
PRC Forces 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\0 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Juri 0/-------/-----==|???????\???????\0 Munin
> /////////////////////////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Chun-Li
COMBATSYS: Munin successfully hits Chun-Li with Twilight Rising.
- Power hit! -
VEGA
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
1|----------=====|===============
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
PRC Forces 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\0 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Juri 0/-------/-----==|===----\-------\0 Munin
> /////////////////////// ]
|====---\-------\0 Chun-Li
A shockwave rips through the area as the Goddesses of Kick meet. It's a dream come true for fans of professional fighting... the Strongest Woman in the World and the Queen of Fighters, thrown together at last. But this event isn't televised; only the bloody aftermath will be presented to the public, the endless, cold statistics detailing the dead and dying. Only the pain and the misery. And the Spider is /enjoying herself/?
"The only thing backwards here is your morality, Juri," utters Chun-Li as she sways around the first of those incoming shadows, gritting her teeth as it comes within an inch of taking her out-- but then all that grace and poise means nothing in the face of an attack from the rear. She didn't expect it; but she should have done, too focused on the menacing apparition of the Spider and the horror that lurks nearby. At least Munin's assault ends up throwing her from their midst, the Chinese women forced into an ungainly recovery roll, shadowy chi still twisted around her body as she coughs and shakes her head.
"Run!" She manages to cry as soon as she's recovered her breath, flipping her gaze rapidly between the two psionic beasts as she prays for her companions' swift retreat. They'll be able to find a defensive position further back - it's better in the long run to keep the natives as safe as they can. Perhaps if the worst comes, they can surrender from that position, force a stalemate and at least reap the mercy of the Peoples' Republic; if they have anything left of their true nature beneath Vega's thrall.
But she can't just command; she has to act. And her stare slips away further, her legs carrying her swiftly back and to one side, rapid steps carrying her into what looks a retreat herself. Until suddenly she's moving in a blur, jaw set and eyes hard as she closes in on the pursuing troops. Chi crackles into life around her hands, suddenly riding at her hip, curled about an invisible ball. "I'm sorry..." she murmurs...
"Kaaaaaaaaa--" And then she's a focused banshee, fiercely keening the cry as explosive waves of force begin to surge from her every pore, billowing the ribbons in her hair. She's rarely pushed so hard, rarely forced this technique to its very limit - but it has a vast one, and as she thrusts her palms out to form the controlling centre, a rippling, destructive orb of deceptively watery energy emerges extends out perhaps two hundred meters at its fullest extent. It comes in tandem with her warrior's yell:
"KOUSHOOOOOOU!!!"
They may not win, but if she can beat back the troops perhaps Vega will call off the assault.
Powerful he may be, but never brave. Never brave.
Munin is already on that before Chun-li calls it! She tries to pull Rust along despite his attempts to stop, and to get them out of harms way. Luckily, the light show from Chun-Li is helping to distract everyone.
COMBATSYS: Munin gains composure.
VEGA
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
1|----------=====|===============
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
PRC Forces 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\0 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Juri 0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0 Munin
> /////////////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 Chun-Li
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li successfully hits PRC Forces with Kikoushou.
VEGA
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
1|----------=====|===============
[ \ < > ////////// ]
PRC Forces 1/---====/=======|=======\-------\0 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Juri 0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0 Munin
> /////////////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 Chun-Li
Chun-Li's assault is more than effective. The whorl of bright blue energy rips through men left and right, just as Munin's assault had before! Corpses go flying as well as living men, but the storm is too much for them to survive and remain conscious. The bulk of the war has already pushed further toward Delhi, with the Indian forces retreating and the People's Republic army constantly pushing. It's not yet hopeless for the defenders, but without the aid of the Hero of Nepal, morale is dangerously low.
But at least they're far away from Vega now.
Standing in places, he SEETHES. His teeth are grit and his body glows with an outline of violet energy. When the dozens of fallen munition clatters on the ground behind him, it just takes one man with the presence of mind to pull a pin. A grenade goes off, which in turn ignites another. And another. And another. Bandoliers of ammunition are caught up in a quickly-roaring mass of explosives. And yet, Chun-Li, having to face such a blast, has the better end of the bargain. Vega himself rears back, both hands pulled back. When they thrust forward, so too does he! His entire body launches forward like a rocket, spinning lengthwise as a thick case of Psycho Power bleeds off of him, swirling and tearing through everything it touches en route to Rust and Munin. A single tree is decimated in an instant, shredded as splinters fly out with the impact.
COMBATSYS: PRC Forces can no longer fight.
VEGA
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
1|----------=====|===============
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Juri 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\0 Rust
> /////////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 Munin
> /////////////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 Chun-Li
Sitting up where she lays Juri rubs at the back of her head. That could have gone a lot better. The long horn-like tails bob with the rubbing motion and she picks herself up with little a sinuous grace, beating at the thigh of her baggy trousers. Morality huh? That doesn't even amuse her anymore it rings so false it's bad enough she could even pity the other woman for believing in a morality. The ache in the back of her neck holds her up for a second as she works her neck around about the time the light show begins. Bright blue whorl of chi and the cries of people thrown about in the storm of ki, it's a beautiful sight and Juri puts her fingers to her lips and whistles shrilly, the view framed beautifully to capture the action. The soft slow clapping that follows is truly appreciative of her work.
"So many Chinamen blown aside with a single blow.. I just might be a fan of your work after all!"
Little miss morality, this was too rich. Juri absently wishes she had a camera or something to preserve the moment but the crisp and sharp image of the Feng Shui Engine serves its purpose perfectly for that, Juri even takes the time to survey the battlefield with its wounded and knocked down soldiers of the Chinese Fighters own country.
"Chinas ~National Hero~ no less! Aha HA ah HA HA HA HA."
The bright glow of the Active Feng Shui engine disappears from her left eye as she throws her head back and cackles with glee.
COMBATSYS: Juri focuses on her next action.
VEGA
[ ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
0|---------------|--------------=
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Juri 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\0 Rust
> /////////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 Munin
> /////////////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 Chun-Li
COMBATSYS: Vega successfully hits Rust with Psycho Crusher.
VEGA
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0|---------------|--------------=
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /// ]
Juri 0/-------/-----==|=======\====---\1 Rust
> /////////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 Munin
> /////////////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 Chun-Li
Munin's lack of response is extremely worrying. Is he even being carried by he-- the extent he can really turn his head over to where he can see her reveals that yeah, it's her, but that doesn't really help things.
"We... we can't leave her... behind," he tries to reason, so much so that he starts attempting to really put his foot down - even to the complaints of one of his knees - to try and slow down her rather speedy drag. He never imagined Munin was strong enough to hold him and carry him at this speed.
"Are you, are you listening?" Then, sudden self-awareness comes about the gravel-like quality of his voice and his tendency to mumble and even stutter under duress and fatigue. "You... you can't hear me, uh, can you, shit." He can hardly hear himself thi--
His knee screams in pain for a reason that he still has not put two and two together on, as the vile color of Vega's will given form disintegrates whatever stands between them and the fast-moving self-propelled rocket.
In this instance, it was just a tree that gave them meager cover. That tree no longer exists - Rust actually sees the disintegration first hand. He's coming too fast for him to alert Munin, who has her eyes purely set on running the hell away without another word.
He doesn't tense himself up - the level of pain Vega inflicts transcends his own body's ability to withstand injury and pain in its entirety. He loses largely all sensation of where he is, his entire world made of Vega's soul and the drilling, bloody sensation of the energy and even those hands cutting into him. No time to think, no time to do anything. All he thinks of doing - at all - is to just try and thrust Ol' Rusty forward, something between Vega's amazing closing speed and whatever strength he has that might overpower - or just slow - his.
His mind goes blank - a pinkish-purplish blank - unable to keep his hold of Ol' Rusty as it simply flies out of his hands, vaguely in Vega's direction as his body flies clean of Munin's grasp, the purple haze of Vega's hatred enveloping him like flame before leaving a badly-cut, bleeding, half-naked body that tumbles a distance comparable to a good mile or two or more.
The toupee, strangely, remains intact underneath the back of his head when the torturous toss comes to a stop - perhaps the one thing everyone could agree actually needed proper destruction in this exchange.
COMBATSYS: Rust can no longer fight.
VEGA
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0|---------------|--------------=
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Juri 0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0 Munin
> /////////////////////// ]
|=------\-------\0 Chun-Li
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li parries PRC Forces' All-Out Assault EX!
VEGA
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0|---------------|--------------=
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Juri 0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0 Munin
> /////////////////////// ]
|===----\-------\0 Chun-Li
It makes her feel filthy, evil, void of both compassion and empathy.
Juri's unpleasantries ring nauseatingly true, venom rising in the back of Chun-Li's throat as she twists her wrists and coils them against her stomach. Normally it would be such a smooth, dextrous motion, but those hands are shaking - her gut bound into knots as hard brown eyes survey the destruction she has wrought. With the Spider's words ringing in her ears, the Daughter of the Republic almost misses the first ringing explosion, and then she sucks in a harsh breath, teeth clamping against one another, enamel shrieking.
The blast reaches to consume her; it happens so fast, even as she whips her arms out to either side, sinking low upon her muscular haunches, uncoiling her palms until they strike the air fiercely. Wind rushes in either direction, the brilliant fire billowing around her form even as it covers her completely. A ripple of power runs through the air, discernable to the senses of any so focused - Juri perhaps the only one paying enough attention to detect it. When the smoke starts to fade, the ground is torn asunder, bodies lying in broken, gory heaps. And at the corner of the blast crouches a familiar form, her kevlar vest cracked in two from the very heat-- clothing in tatters beneath it, her handgun pouring smoke, the metal popping as it cools.
But Chun-Li is unharmed, the ribbons in her hair falling away to wispy nothing as she rises, hair unwinding in tendrilly coils until it flops against her waist. She releases a sigh, forcing the tears form her eyes and the pain from her chest as she turns toward Juri Han. The aftermatch of Vega's power registers on her senses as she sights the cruel-hearted woman, and it twists her lips into a snarl. There's a time for anger.
She has never been pushed so hard, so far as to take so many lives.
But that time is not now; and the sneer dies, fading as she draws in a deep breath, chest swelling.
"Stop posturing," she says, her voice numb and distant, still holding composure in spite of everything. She is the river; she is the ocean. Where she crashes, she will only pool and flow. "The people of this country-- the people of this /world/, won't fall to their knees before I do." She draws her chin up, chambers her hands once more at her hip, and sinks into her heels. "And as for your master..."
She allows her eyes to shut, just for a second, sensing out everything beyond her - remembering her brief tuition under the fortune-teller, the one woman who's shown an aptitude to face the evils of this world far more than she has. Were she lesser, Chun-Li would wish Rose were here now. She's not, and that's what matters-- but the Chinese woman /is/. "Ki-" she expresses the syllable with dangerous softness, and then she spins in the direction she believes Vega to be, her out-thrust palms going high.
"Kouken!" A yellow light flares, blossoming into a blue-white sear as a watery globe flies outward, accelerating to improbable speed as it soars through the air in the direction of the retreat. How far Vega can go is never certain; where he will stop, she cannot be sure. But she thinks she can sense him well enough. From her stance she glances once more toward Juri Han.
And says nothing. She doesn't need to finish that thought. She'll deal with them /both/.
COMBATSYS: Munin fails to interrupt Psycho Crusher from Vega with Shadow Strike.
*KNOCKED AWAY*
VEGA
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0|---------------|--------------=
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Juri 0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0 Chun-Li
COMBATSYS: Munin can no longer fight.
VEGA
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0|---------------|--------------=
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Juri 0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0 Chun-Li
There comes a time in everyones life where they encounter a scenario where choices cease to matter, and hope truely is gone, but where they themselves do not fear such a thing, and more unnervingly to some, run headlong into it upon it's recognition.
This is one such time. As Rust tries to get Munin to return to help Chun-Li, she turns to look back, and sees Vega streaking towards them. Time seems to slow as Rust turns to throw off an attack, one last strike as he is knocked asunder. A slight smile creeps onto her face as she knows there is no other option. Nothing to lose.
The grips on her swords tighten, and she turns around, and leaps fowards towards Vega to meet him, shrieking like a banshee as she swings at him, eyes glowing brightly and weapons shimmering with chi!
Alas, she is hurt enough, and Vega both mad and powerful enough to hit her through her valient attempt, and the blow takes her right in the chest. The wind is knocked from her lungs, and her ribs audibly crack as her eyes go wide from pain. Munins arms go limp, and her weapons drop from her hands, impacting hard on the ground, blades first, their handles jutting in the air like a pair of gravemarkers.
She flies through the air several dozen feet before impacting a tree, and thumping hard to the ground. Slowly, her head rises and looks up, and a large smatter of blood is coughed up as she passes out. She's alive, but very very badly injured, and definately out of the fight.
COMBATSYS: Vega just-defends Rust's Thrown Weapon EX!
VEGA
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0|---------------|--------------=
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Juri 0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0 Chun-Li
COMBATSYS: Vega blocks Chun-Li's Kikouken EX.
VEGA
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0|---------------|-------------==
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Juri 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 Chun-Li
For the moment, Vega's desire for vengeance is sated. The cowardly worms that try to escape are stopped cold, shredded and torn through by that awful, awful torrent of power. It's just too much for Munin to overpower. Her chi strikes the shell of swirling violet, but it itself is quickly consumed. The much more potent power feeds back to her, digging into her mind, drawing out pain thought crushed down long ago... That Rust stands is no longer a surprise. The Psycho Master made that mistake once before. Coming to a stop, his feet skid along the ground. Standing up straight and turning in a swift motion that sends what's left of his cape billowing out, he lifts his right arm. The meeting of pipe and steel bracer comes with a flood of sparks, and then the former is pushed back. A swing of his arm sends Ol' Rusty flying off once more with any luck, but Howard is an ornery old man. But, he's knocked the weapon from his grip before...
And then Chun-Li throws her hat into the ring once again. He can see the blue energy coming at him, and now that his bloodlust has been slaked, he looks upon the attempt with a flashy, toothy grin. The same arm that stopped Rust's pipe swings back once more. His hand GRIPS the projectile, smacking hard against the flesh and sending his bones creaking. When he closes his fist, the chi is snuffed out completely, and then...replaced. All about his fist, a curtain of black energy licks out and churns. It swells rapidly, violet streaks of lightning arcing across the boiling orb. Drawing his hand back, he lobs it--underhand--and the thing flies forward, cutting low against the ground, leaving black burnt scorch marks in its wake. As it nears the Chinese traitor, it pucks up speed seems to be going right for the gut!
First person, only when Juri is still such as she has been does the usually eye wrenching high speed footage prove any use for less than fight analysis of an opponent. But that moment, beautiful terrible explosion of Ki from the Chinese national hero. It was so lovingly framed it was as an art piece for Juri Han, proud enough that she would scrawl her name across that image and have it framed.
"Aww, don't be a poor sport about it all. You chose to join the other team."
That snide lecturing tone, fighting the machine from within might even have been preferable to attacking her countrymen but the agony this was causing Chun-li is delightful.
Like a Gunshot the camera focuses in and tightens in on Chun-li, A crash zoom in the style of the approaching Korean woman who expresses nil concern for the blast directed at Mighty Lord Vega. Hopping off the back of one of the downed soliders, disrespectfully using it as a launching platform she spins rapidly in the air battering at Chun-li with a series of kicks and a rush of Psychokinetic energy. She can feel it, betrayal and terror. The shock of the soldiers whom knew very well who they were fighting!
"Even I'm impressed China Girl, Are you trying to make me jealous?"
Her tone is jovila but there is a hint of truth to the statement, tch people thinking about today wouldn't even remember Juri Han was here... but then again that was kind of worth it.
COMBATSYS: Juri successfully hits Chun-Li with Shikusen.
VEGA
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0|---------------|-------------==
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Juri 0/-------/----===|======-\-------\0 Chun-Li
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li dodges Vega's Psycho Shot.
VEGA
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0|---------------|------------===
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Juri 0/-------/----===|======-\-------\0 Chun-Li
Such power. She can feel it from here. But the most immediate concern for Chun-Li is Juri, her nasty little syllables cutting into the Chinese woman's focus - like nails on a chalkboard, these words are theoretically harmless but slice like knives all the same. Her eyes narrow as the Korean closes upon her, the method of her charge not going unnoticed, and then she's bringing up one of those long, powerful legs. Deceptive in their slenderness by comparison to the Strongest Woman in the World, but equally fast--
"Ngh!" And equally strong, too. Psychic energy smashes through Chun-Li's defenses, the physical blow snapping her head back, but far worse is the accompanying flare of power, creeping into her mind; undermining even her incredible will, calling back to every nightmare, calling back to the death of her father-- to the more recent outrage that's taken place by her own hand. To Rust, and to Munin. Two more heroes fallen. Two more failures on her part. She didn't keep them safe. She wasn't fast enough, or strong enough, or...
The assault is over as suddenly as it began, Chun-Li knocked away hard enough that she almost fails to get up. But Vega's projectile is incoming, blazing fierce. Though shaking from head to toe, the Tai Chi mistress plants her palms to the floor and /flips/. It soars past her by inches, further tearing at her clothing. It's hanging off her in ragged strips now, only the shattered halves of kevlar protesting the modesty of her torso. She's breathing hard, losing focus fast. "What I'm trying to do, Juri..."
"Is STOP you!" Her words still retain conviction, as she surges forward, an arm extending, fingertips brushing the floor as she inverts herself, dash turning into flight as she unleashes her most famed technique. It's a desperature measure, but it's done with such a return to grace that it's breathtaking; her legs swooping hard and vicious, heavy boots seeking to smash time and again into the sadistic Spider. "SPINNING BIRD KICK!!"
Tch. The Chinese woman was always something of a slippery one. Though, it seems that she's more interested in Juri now, anyway. For a second, Vega has a chance to survey his environs. Most of the troops have pushed on, headed toward the capital city. The sound of fighting has all but died out as the Indian forces are pushed further and further back. Their only hope, it would seem, are two fighters that are left to bleed out and...her. That single, solitary daughter of China, the one that's seen fit to decimate her own kin. The one simply bleeding rage and anger and hatred and all of those wonderful emotions that are drawn to the surface so easily.
It's intoxicating. He can USE that.
But first things first. Crouching slightly, Vega vaults into the air. It's a jump unlike most others; he clears his height twice over, fully upright as he closes the distance to the now-upturned fighter. Gravity carries him down, but a little push of Psycho Power sends him screaming down. If she's unlucky, Chun-Li just might find two boots crushing her ass from above, and in turn smashing her head-first into the cracked, war-torn pavement beneath.
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li successfully hits Juri with Spinning Bird Kick.
VEGA
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0|---------------|-------------==
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Juri 0/-------/=======|=======\-------\0 Chun-Li
There is a whumph of air as the Korean women is stuck repeatedly and thrown away by the force of the blows she spins away and hits the ground hard, lying amidst so many others but resilient in much greater magnitude than these other poor sods. She settles her hand on the back of one poor lad and pushes herself back up onto her feet, a slight moment of dizziness and a thin strip of red rolling down her face, brow to jaw with a getle roll of bright and sticky red. This land is drinking its fill of blood atm, hers no different to anyone but her.
"Bitch.. You think you are so fucking smart. If your land mattered to you that much to you you'd be trying to save it!"
Light and whimsical, like just maybe the blow to the head was a little to hard her tone turns fierce
"Don't try preaching like a good girl with your hands covered in blood. You maybe got more people today than I did. WHO'S THE MONSTER THAT SHOULD BE STOPPED? EH?"
Chun-li is starting to piss her off, bleeding her own blood was pissing her off, Her fists ache as they tighten to the point of paining her but all she cares about is hurting the woman in front of her, blood for blood even though her words are more barbarous than he blows.
COMBATSYS: Vega knocks away Chun-Li with Head Press.
-*- DEVASTATING HIT! -*-
VEGA
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0|---------------|---------======
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //// ]
Juri 0/-------/=======|=======\=====--\1 Chun-Li
COMBATSYS: Juri successfully hits Chun-Li with Kick Combo.
-* CRITICAL HIT! *-
VEGA
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0|---------------|---------======
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ]
Juri 1/-------/=======|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Chun-Li
"I /am/ trying to save it, you delusional thrall."
Her words fall into place like hard slabs of stone, practically shuddering despite the relatively level tone in which they're uttered by the woman spinning lithely to her feet following her trademark assault. Her spirit is ebbing, but will not die yet - not while she can still remain upright. The effort of staving off her emotional trauma and the rigours on her body are only having an effect so far as she lets them. If she can just keep her focus, she'll be okay... she'll get through this. She can save the day. She CAN.
It's another promise she cannot keep.
Shadaloo's dictator, now the master also of her home, descends with all the speed she knows and expects; but he comes in from an angle she cannot adequately defend, not whilst also keeping an eye on Juri. His boots don't just connect - they do so hard enough to draw an explosive gout of crimson, cleaving her skull almost in twain. Were she not possessed of such power and endurance herself, it might be enough to crush her in one fell swoop, her long hair rapidly colouring to a sticky near-black as she falls to the ground, catching herself barely on a knee. It's all she can do to raise her head, coughing out a mouthful of blood from her bitten tongue before the Spider is upon her like the predator she is. A hand lifts, trying to ward off the blow...
But it's scattered aside, the last mote of her resistance suddenly hammered flat by the incoming kick. It blasts her to one side along with her desperate arm, forces her to shuddering feet that can ill support her through the ensuing combination, Juri's onrushing assault drilling every part of Chun-Li's body with kick after deliriously powerful kick. Bruises swell and burst into bloody pustules as rapid blows flow one after another. If Vega hadn't already finished her -- and he just might have done -- she'd still not be able to stand the assault that answers her own with similar ferocity... and far greater savagery.
When Chun-Li finally falls, it's with a heavy thump, not a single pound of her bodyweight supported by muscles now beyond ailing; at best, they're twitching a protest, but most lie dormant. The effort of wiping out the Chinese forces, the mental havoc that has wrought, even aside from defence after incredible defence, has left the Strongest Woman in the World anything but. Hands grasp limply at the dirt as her hair falls around her, wet with her body's ichor, the last choking cough emitting from her throat. "I'm trying t--"
Her pretty face rolls through the blood-stained dirt, and the woman lies still.
The battle is lost. Another hero falls.
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li takes no action.
VEGA
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0|---------------|---------======
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Juri 1/-------/=======|
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li can no longer fight.
VEGA
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0|---------------|---------======
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Juri 1/-------/=======|
To see Vega and Juri working together is a rare sight indeed. Rest assured, it's not due to either of them WANTING to. There's a target that must be eliminated, nothing more. Coming down from on high, the poor Chinese woman suffers the brunt of his weight poorly. Just from the sound of her head cracking against the pavement, he'd not be at all surprised if it was split in two. Like thrusting off of some sort of trampoline, Vega launches himself upward again, coming to a gentle landing some dozen feet away. There's a scrape of his boots upon the road as he turns about, his posture impeccably straight and regal despite the tatters littering his cloak and uniform. The very last thing she'll hear is his approaching footsteps...
In the land of the conscious, the Psycho Master steps up beside his psychotic underling. He doesn't often linger after his conquests; he is a very busy man and there is SO much to do, what with the war going on. And yet, he's still here. Rust and Munin, they are ignored. Forgotten. Self-important little upstarts, stupid enough to throw themselves into the lion's den. Chun-Li, however, should know better. Time and again has she risen to face him, and each time, all of her talk of justice and righteousness amounts to nothing.
Today was different. She was angry. Not for herself, but at the world. Even he saw how willingly she assaulted her countrymen; the emotions bled off of her in a nearly visibly aura, bringing her naked mind to bear.
After a brief silence, he turns and walks back toward his transport. "Load her in the truck," he commands. "She may actually be of some use for once."
As the heavy bulk of that interfering old geezer Vega crashes down upon Chun-Li's futile guard a pressure wave of air slaps at the speedily inrushing Korean woman, her bangs and flutter as they are swept aside like curtains unveiling the twisted scowl and eyes flickering from Chun-Li's pained expression to Vegas 'naked' back. Her heart is already beating hard and she is barrelling in towards both fighters filled with lust for blood but and a sudden indecision as to which target would be the more satisfying. The grinning dictator vaults away into the air once more solving Juri's dilemma for her.
Dancing from foot to foot, blow by blow she works over the already seemingly stunned Chun-li, hammering away at the slightly ragged and torn form of Chun-li this is all therapeutic now, the juddering impact of the blows and the give and flex of bone and sinew. Even this feels a little forced, the fun taken out of it by the grinning spectre of the Vega, but there is still the satisfaction to derive of the act itself.
"Huaaaagh, that felt good!"
As Chun-Li topples to the ground Juri is already turning her head look for any more leftovers, and it feels just that, theres nothing really left to do so instead she huffs and folds her arms. She's certain now she is going to have to listen to gloating and speeches and expresses a gawking reaction to the sombre and somewhat curt dismissal. Not even Juri could dismiss Chun-li as easily as he was and with an apparent little interest. He turns on his heel and walks away leaving Juri with the downed Hero and corpses juri vulgarly retorts after him.
"I'm not here to carry your luggage." She strolls forward close enough to the hero to poke at her with the her bare and brightly painted toes and then reach down to seize a fistful of the material and haul the woman off the ground. "You should hire someone to carry your crap or leave it in a state fit to walk!" Juri han seems to do entuirely to much grunt work and carrying famous fighters around for her own liking, and she makes this fact quite known.
What was she trying to do? She didn't have time to finish the thought, let alone the words.
Chun-Li knew coming into this that she couldn't save everybody; war doesn't work that way. It's rare enough that law enforcement truly does - somebody ends up paying with their life, whether through death, trauma or jail-time. Heroism doesn't work in reality. The unfairness of it seldom occurs to China's foremost warrior-woman; it's simply the way it is, that villains exist whilst those who can only strive to stay good attempt to combat them with delicate shades of grey. Accepting that is part of what makes a good cop.
Still, when the ultimate sacrifice finally rears its disappointingly ugly head, every promise and every uttered speech seems to mean nothing. As she stirs briefly, painfully, in Juri's sudden grasp, Chun-Li wonders whether her father felt the same way before he died; did he feel he'd done it all for nothing? That this wasn't a noble deed, but a failure. The thought shakes her more than the imminent knowledge of her death, a shudder running the length of her body with surprising force. She's not wriggling, but it sure feels like it.
Emotional agony serves to stir her consciousness to the present, Vega's words filtering through. Death she can accept - in the most terrible, resigned way possible - but that he may 'use' her... her mind flails wildly in search of meaning. She's seen some of those he's used, watched Sagat fall from honour to mud, seen the confusion etched in the features of Cammy White. She's seen Balrog and Bison vindicated in their sadism. But she's not like any of them, is she? After today she lacks even the honourable mien of Thailand's fallen hero.
And then she's up, her feet limply kicking to at least halfway support, relieving some of the choking from wrenched and tattered cloth at her throat. "J-Juri..." she manages to grunt out, every syllable painful and grating, cracking her eyes open to seek the Spider's above, "Finish it."
The only safe fate is the one she's resigned to. At least she can die a martyr.
The a moment, Vega stops. He's silent. Oh, that was the wrong thing to say, Juri. She of all people should know better than to talk back to him when he's still riding on the high of combat. His muscles are steeled, but he does not yet turn. Though there's no visible change to him, it's felt, clearly. The air itself chills anew, it grows heavy. Thick. Upon the HUD in Juri's S.I.N.-granetd eyeball, a warning comes up as the sudden rage feeds into the Psycho Master's power. It builds and festers and channels into itself, swelling to dangerous levels.
Finally, he turns and walks back, but not kindly. His face is the very vision of rage, a frown so deep that it should be impossible. "You will learn your place, even if I must beat you into it again." Just as he comes close, Chun-Li pipes up! It's perhaps the only thing that saves the little Widow from being the target of her master's anger. Instead, he lets out a rush of breath, a disappointed sigh. "You can't even take out a weak-minded woman properly. It was apparently a failure could ever be more than that." He doesn't even look at Juri as he insults her, but he does move the woman under her foot. A light sheen of violet energy lifts the Chinese lady upward until he can grasp her throat in his hand. With her in tow, he'll just drag her on the ground like a limp doll and just throw her bodily in the front seat of the transport.
And if the spider has anything to say about it? Well, he will not hesitate to backhand her with enough force to snap a common man's neck. It's more than the child deserves.
Eyebrows drawing down and screwing up her face Juri is almost loathe to turn her eyes back to Chun-li From Vega, the woman was going to play it like that and make her do it after clearly stating she would rather not carry her ass just for Vegas own damn amusements But there is no repentance, if anything the tiny woman offers him a smile to spite his 'SCARY' face. She wisely refrains from any further comment but she the barb about her being a failure for once washes right off her back. Indifferent to the fight as she was feeling, Vega had just picked up his own damn baggage and that in of itself was enough of a victory for her. Perhaps she owed a lot to just how ~good~ he was feeling after all.
"Sorry Sweetie, but I don't think you are going to get the easy way out."
Juri drawls her words some, clearly having fun at the futile struggles being proffered. They aren't hers. And finger toying with the long belt hanging at her waist as her attention begins to wander to the growingly distant running battle. She hasn't had her fill by far but addresses her final quip to the hanging body of Chun-Li suspended in vegas power like it were simple everyday conversation for her.
"Oh say, If you don't completely break we should play again."
Juri offers absolutely no help, this ritual of fire and punishment is already a gauntlet she had run and retained only some semblance of the person she was or should have become. With that said she starts walking off towards the front lines which is still pushing forward, it may serve Vegas interest but more importantly it serves her own, and she really doesn't want to be in his company or forced to watch him salivate over his trophy for the hell of it, She could almost feel pity Chun-Li.
Her energy already ebbing, it's a tiny, almost laughably miniscule feat for Vega to seize the Chinese woman in his psychic grasp. There's a small, defiant sputter of life from within - a hint of that prodigious talent with chi she displays fleetingly within her otherwise highly physical style. A hint of what she used to slay her countrymen, like an echo. Outwardly, she just grimaces, as her mind flashes back to that very moment. She's a murderer. It hits her harder than the landing; already enough to knock her back into unconsciousness.
For his efforts, the dictator is rewarded by a surge of powerful, brutally negative emotion in that instant before Chun-Li's muscular frame bounces to an ungainly standstill. She's not just hurt and disgusted with herself; she is completely afraid, terrified to the core for what may lie ahead. Broken physically, mentally she could be shattered with a simple push were she awake enough to be reached. Failure hurts...
And Chun-Li has failed everything she ever set out to do, betrayed all she has striven to be.
Somehow it's only made worse that her head flops around, the last flicker of eyesight catching a freezeframe of the Spider's face. The sadistic parody of pity in those cruel eyes... or that cruel /eye/; the other as much a part of Shadaloo itself as Juri Han. If she'd had to choose a final face to see in her last moments as the person she has been, the person she's leaving behind... it wouldn't have been Juri's.
Her mouth falls open, but no words come out, just a soft, pitiful sigh before she passes out.
'Play', she said. This isn't a game. It never has been. It's life and death.
The next time that Chun-Li wakes up, it's not on the battlefield. It's not outdoors. It's not even in the same country, though there's no way for her to know that. While his troops set up in the very heart of India's capital, Vega has returned to one of his many, brand-new outposts in the Chinese homeland. Her field of vision is green, murky. Bubbles creep up from beneath now and again. It's liquid. Viscious. An upright, cylindrical plastic tube houses the woman, her feet and hands bound. Some sort of mask covers her nose and mouth, offering precious air. All about her flesh, dozens upon dozens of suction cups find purchase, all feeding wires into the top of the chamber.
Through the haze, she might be able to make out a few figures. Senoh himself is here, adjusting wires and checking monitors. Sound can barely pierce the prison; the voices are muffled and low. However, one voice in particular is unmistakeable: Vega is here, somewhere. Moments later, his presence makes itself felt clearly as manifested psycho power runs through the cables. His presence, his...essence feels like it's enveloping her in short order, the world growing increasingly obscured. His voice is the only thing that's clear in her mind as it asks a single question.
"Are you disappointed?"
Just a foot away, the man stands with his hand upon a receiver, the thing glowing as he feeds energy into it, and thus, into Senoh's brainwashing machine.
There's waking, and being awakened. One is peaceful, almost delightful if restfulness has been found. Even stirring from unconsciousness need not be a painful, alarming or otherwise disheartening experience. But this-- here... the first thing that Chun-Li becomes aware of is the nightmare, that recurring hell-dream where she sees her father's body broken, hauled away from her in a trail of blood as she reaches out. She's young, always, too young to understand; but blessed with a grown woman's cruel wisdom. But this time it's different, as she sees his dying visage through a haze, through nasty, viscous bubbles.
The next thing that strikes her awareness is absolute panic. She's drowning. She needs to escape. Her body jerks by command, but fails to fully respond, a hand drifting to knock with weak desperation against hard, unbreakable glass. It's cold and it's warm all at the same time - a duality of conflicting sensations conspiring to create a perfect, terrifying confusion. Her eyes have already snapped open by then, though it takes several moments to gain any insight; her brain is crying out so, everything is a violent blur.
And then the voice, at the precise instant she makes out the faces.
Disappointed? 'No,' she thinks, to herself rather than by way of reply. 'I'm... not dead.'
It's not just disappointment. It's what she dreaded in those last moments of consciousness on the battlefield, that she would become something other; some horror, some abomination. To lose one's life can be a noble sacrifice. To lose control of it... therein lies a dread beyond speaking. Chun-Li cannot even think out a valid response, but she kicks harder against bonds she cannot break, feeling her control slipping already - signals not reaching the body, as a scream erupts that is silent only on the outside. Bubbles rise in a stream as she tries anyway, the liquid flooding her lungs disrupting any attempt at vocalizing.
She has no mouth. She has no voice.
But she screams; oh yes, she screams. Vega can hear it.
And for all she's failed, that's the thing she'll be most ashamed of.
Oh, there is no hiding anything now. The good doctor has had many, many years to perfect his craft as well as tne funding and aid of the world's most powerful psion. His work is impeccable! His instruments are so fine, so sensitive, that they detect the slightest shift in her psyche. Thankfully for the subject, the liquid is breathable, though the sensation of filling lungs is never a comforting one.
"No, not dead. Not yet. You have so much to do, so much business left unfinished..."
Visions of the battle flash across her consciousness once again, but it's not...right. Nothing is normal. The sky is a ruddy color. The soldiers, twisted and misshapen. The memory of Chun-Li assaulting Vega's troops is forced to the forefront of her mind by the man's own willpower, channeled through delicate machinery. She stands there, fighting valiantly for others. No...is that right? Even as the scene plays out before her, it's not like she remembered. In the scene, she's smiling, thrilled with the prospect of harming her kinsmen. Her face is one of bliss as she beat weaker men down, her smile bordering on the demonic. Surely this isn't what happened, is it? Ah, but the machines make it difficult to be sure. The more she tries to search her memories for the truth, the further away they drift! If her willpower can't match against Vega's, it won't be long until she finds her sense of self giving way to the one that's quickly superimposing itself upon her...
The only way she was going to survive this... to stay strong...
Was to cling to what she'd been. Who she was to her father, to Gen, to Sakura and to Rose. To Ryu.
Chun-Li's senses could be no better assaulted if she'd chosen to perform this suicidal atrocity by her own will. For all her pride, the ferocity and strength of her warrior soul, she was near-broken at the battle's end; she had crossed a line she never believed herself fully capable of crossing. By not staying her hand she had given in to a demon that now preys upon her - not just from without, but truly from within. Vega's unbelievable psychic strength has help. It has an ally in the form of the woman herself.
She smiles at herself in that vision, and here she smiles back, her lips physically tugging upward against the gentle tug of that foul fluid. It's not so demonic; it's almost peaceful, for a moment or two, as though she were willing to abandon herself to this, as though it were something she simply must do. That tiny remaining portion, formerly so strong itself, reaches out to cling to the faces she now sees amongst the dying on the battlefield; her master, her would-be pupils, her friends, and her lover. Finally, she sees what matters most.
Her father, dead at her feet, mangled by the cyclone of her own chi assault.
Her mouth twists into a rictus, and she lets loose another scream, bubbles exploding around her face, around bloodshot brown eyes until there is nothing but an indistinct haze. Until her outward image warps and twists like her very soul. Inwardly, it's a banshee's howl, a mourner's keen. An hysteric funeral march.
It's in that moment she has truly broken. It's in that moment...
That she becomes Vega's.
Log created on 18:29:52 02/13/2012 by Vega, and last modified on 00:06:21 02/16/2012.