Description: A high-ranking UN official becomes a target for an assassination in the middle of a Washington Airport and Howard Rust, Asuka Kazama, and Mr. Humpy get caught in the middle of it. Can they save the UN official before his would-be assassins do.... and before Shadaloo's dreaded 'Spider' <Juri> comes up to play?
Dulles International Airport, Washington DC -
It's as busy a day as any here at Dulles International Airport and it shows. The monsterous, steel, glass, and timber surperstructure that is the terminal building is positively jammed packed with passengers, both arriving and departing, as well as airline staff. Inside the spacious, multi-floor, building passengers would find an all-too familiar interior decor of mostly sterile whites and silvers. The upper floors, which contain the shopping center, dining center, and miscelleanous ammenities, are the only places where any real attractive sights can be seen. The whole place is kept at a comfortably cool temperature, which... despite how hot it may be outside... doesn't necessarily keep passengers from being uncomfortable. After all, this IS an airport we're talking about!
Though it is a rather ordinary day today in the airport, as can often be the case... some of the arrivals and departures here are far from ordinary. These less than ordinary passengers are often dignitaries and statesmen, either on their way into Washington DC or on their way to another country. They were also often accompanied by an impressive security detail, so one could spot them out rather easily.
Enter Former Foreign Minister of South Korea, and current Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon. A South Korean, he is a man who is small of stature but possessed of a great intellect and a greater personality which has served him him well in his decades as a diplomat. This and his penchant for decisive action coupled with the influence he has over international affairs - especially matters of peackeeping and war - has made his enemies and detractors as numerous as his supporters.
The bronze-skinned sixty-eight year old man dressed in fine black dress suit, white dress shirt, and navy blue tie is presently standing amidst an entourage of similarly suited men of very business-like disposition. Every now and again, one or more of the men cast a wary gaze around the immediate area... and at least one of them always has their eyes on him. They are like a living wall... stern, and sharply dressed. Clearly a security detail.
All of them are on the second floor of the airport for the moment, gathered about the Subway counter, apparently obtaining the afternoon's lunch. As the cashier walks away from the counter, momentarily, and disappears into the kitchen... the UN diplomat seems to remove a tiny black comb and run it through his jet-black mane whilst staring into the glass of the counter. Having tidied himself a bit, he places the comb back into a coat pocket and waits patiently... looking up toward the shoping center's floor overhead in idle curiousity. Eyeing the precarious slant of the guard rail seperating the edge from the open air, he thinks to himself: clearly something should be done about that. Aesthetics over safety is poor decision-making... that coul lead to lawsuits. Besides... wouldn't want anyone to die would they...?
Just a ways off to one corner of the Subway stationed at Dulles... sits a man who is sitting with a security risk of the highest caliber.
We're not talking about that, uh, purple thing on their head. No, between the hands of this man is... a sandwich. They sell these here. A sandwich that seems to contain a dizzying, physically impossible array of colors and scents, tightly packed together in a fashion that seems only possible through the judicious use of a trash compactor in order to fit the bread and whatever lies in between.
Should this sandwich decompress, this entire restaurant stands a risk of being drenched in sub sandwich fixin's in an explosive display. There is, however, one man up to the task of eating it - a man who has a lot to chew on as of late after a couple misadventures in Sunshine City.
The one and only Howard Rust, who finds this sandwich perhaps the only bright thing as of the last... well, he hasn't kept track of how long it's been. The disastrous Kyokugen display (from what he's heard over the phone, they aren't happy back in Southtown), a Rick kidnapping (surprisingly routine), and... managing to board the wrong plane and ending up in Washington, DC with the next flight out west not happening for a while yet. (To say nothing of the usual song and dance of carrying a pipe in the open, or his luggage arriving without himself over in Southtown.)
It's sandwich time, and the aging man is eating it for all it's worth, every chew of it threatening his very jaw in taking in a great mass of flavors and food with every bite, only really giving cursory glances to the suits in the shop every so often. Someone's off to a business meeting or something, he surmises. He... isn't eager to come back to Southtown and see what Takuma has waiting for him, that's for sure. With every little bite of this sandwich, he's able to procrastinate in the name of 100% American gluttony for several additional seconds.
When it comes to air travel, discomfort has definitely been a running theme for Asuka Kazama. She's somewhat new to this whole experience, barely venturing outside her native Osaka aside from a few long-distance family reunions during her childhood, and so far she's had a less-than-desirable experience. The quest to even cover the substantial cost of an air fare from Japan to the States saw her having to face a tiny, psychotic stick-wielding bundle of joy at an altitude of fourteen hundred metres. Risking life and limb, and the lives and limbs of her fellow, startled passengers, the brash young warrior pulled through only to end up stuck in Sunshine City; it turns out that the Neo League payout doesn't quite cover paying off three hundred separate insurance claims.
Skipping ahead through the events of her stay in that troubled clime, the tomboy subsequently found herself caught up in a difficult entanglement with US Customs & Excise over the rather unusual article of luggage she's picked up during the trip. A furious argument, thankfully featuring absolutely no flying feet or broken faces, resulted in the red-faced, huffing girl signing various contracts with the Mishima logo stamped upon them, and she was led aboard the plane by a stony-faced escort shadowing her every step. This didn't make the in-flight movie any more enjoyable, but he did at least provide explanation for the occasional roar emanating through the passenger deck. It was more than she was likely to do, still trying to fight off embarassment as she wolfed down her disgusting in-flight meal - and this part of the journey was at least an improvement. Last time she spent approximately an hour staring at the dubious dish, allowing the cold gloop to be tactfully removed by a hostess during her fight.
Regardless, it's with a slightly churning stomach but a decidely relieved slump that Asuka finally makes her way off the plane, her accompanying security officer heading out to the cargo ramp rather than remain at her side, allowing the Japanese girl to pass through customs this side with a simple presentation of her passport and the accompanying, Mishima-stamped papers. There's a titter from the official, who can't but comment on the information included within, drawing a stunned stare from the slightly jet-lagged girl as something very obvious sinks in...
This isn't Japan. This isn't Japan at all!
More angry words end up sending the stubborn Kazama packing to the departure lounge, where she moves in a stomping stride to retrieve her luggage. One fist is pressed to her hip, one clumpy-booted foot a-tapping and a sigh long on her lips as she waits. She's painfully, irritably aware that the security officer is back and staring levelly between she and the hatch busily dropping various cases and bags out onto the conveyor, the whole scene drawing sidelong glances and confused mutters from passing businessman and arriving tourists wondering just who this athletic Asian teenager in electric blue is, until one utters something about the 'Champion of Bears' in a hushed tone-- at which precise moment she's suddenly mobbed by a pack of autograph hunters, as is wont to happen.
Asuka ends up in an explosion of bright colours and proferred pens, her arms flailing over the top of a veritable storm of interested parties like something out of a morning cartoon as she tries to escape. Her stammered excuses lead to heated outbursts cut short by the arrival of something on the conveyor with a heavy thump and a bloodcurdling growl as her own luggage finally arrives. In the form of an eight hundred pound grizzly bear. The crowd scatters with loud screams, prompting a curse from the security guard, who's off like a shot to restore order as the beast itself just rolls over onto its back, kicking massive paws as the growl turns to a pleased rumble. Apparently bears really, really like travelling on conveyor belts. Who knew?
"Ugh!" Comes the exclamation from Asuka a couple of moments later, once when she's done adjusting her rumbled bodysuit and pushing the hair from her face. Stamping to the edge of the conveyor, she reaches out with one over-large hand to snatch the gigantic creature by the scruff. "Dammit, Mr. Humpy! D'you have to show me up /everywhere/ we go? I swear, if this keeps up, you won't even be worth the effort any more... d-don't look at me like that!" Eyes widening, she steps back, pointing a scathing digit at the big, stupid eyes regarding her. She stands there for a moment or two before realizing where she is, and what she's doing, and heaves a chest-shuddering sigh that goes regrettable unnoticed by her fled pack of admirers. "Okay, okay. Fine. How about..."
Eyes rolling heavenward, she reaches across with the pointing hand, slipping her fingers quickly inside her bodysuit to fish about for what seems to be some sort of material scrap; a handkerchief or a torn robe, perhaps. Extending it to the smiling animal, she lets him sniff at it before opening her mouth to continue.
At which point she's /bowled over/ as the behemothic bear leaps from its haunches and hits the ground running, leaving the tomboy lying spread-eagled upon her back and staring upward with a mixture of dawning anger and immediate, utter bemusement at what's just happened, as her travelling companion takes off through the departure lounge. Screams resonate throughout the complex as word spreads of what's happening, but a bear can move fast when it wants to; it's only really a matter of seconds until it stands upon that overhanging balcony, squinting downward like the world's dumbest, soppiest, but quite possibly bigger carnivorous hunter. Staring at a single figure. There's a moment of uncertainty where it seems the rampage has stopped, and all is relatively well.
But then Mr. Humpy opens his yellow-toothed mouth and lets out the greatest, most chilling ROAR.
This may be either the best or worst timing an 800lb grizzly bear has ever had.
The Secretary General, and his security detail, meanwhile are still waiting for that sandwhich. The south korean man lifts his right arm slowly, pulling on the sleeve of his dress jacket whilst doing so, to stare at a very fine platinum watch with black leather strap. It's face bears roman numerals, as opposed to numbers... english or korean. Odd. ... That sleeve is then let loose, right at about the time the clerk returns from the kitchen with a bag full of food in hand. Some customary cordiality follows... including bowing and the shaking of hands... and then some american bills change hands and that's basically the end of it. He then proceeds to walk his way out of the shop, security detail following his every movement like a tightly choreographed dance. Rust is given a disbelieving sidelong glance by one of the agents, the impossible sandwhich managing to distract him momentarily, and then it's back to watching the Secretary General with the utmost scrutiny...
UNTIL... Mr. Humpy decides it would be an excellent idea to peek over the rail and ROAR threateningly as only a massive 800 lb carnivore can. This gets EVERYBODY's attention, oh yes it does! For now, by standers only both floors are screaming andd running frantically in every direction but up and the service detail... operating on instict... produce service pistols - M19s - andd aim squarely at the bear staring down from overhead. The Secretary General? He's crawling under the cheap cafeteria table behind them and waiting, bag full of lunch in tow.
Nearby, an airport secruity member... male, with blond hair, bearing shades and standard white and black security attire... speaks into a microphone on his collar. ... A man with red hair, wearing a cheap haiwaiian shirt and blue jeans... raises his head slowly from the magazine he was reading on a bench nearby. If one could see through that firey red mane, one would notice a small, black, earpiece embedded in his left ear. Slowly, the surly looking traveller places his reading material on the bench and begins to make his way toward the party. So far so good...
COMBATSYS: Nathaniel has started a fight here.
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Nathaniel 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Kenneth has joined the fight here.
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Nathaniel 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Kenneth
COMBATSYS: Security has joined the fight here.
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Nathaniel 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Kenneth
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Security 0/-------/-------|
The sandwich should not be able to contain everything that is in there. No human mouth should attempt to even risk having it in there, lest they risk dislocating their jaw or... worse. Yet, Mr. Rust chews at it as though this were his actual professional line of work, as though the very act of consuming this were everything he was trained to do for his entire life. Each bite is a little escape from an uncomfortable mundane reality that he himself fought for in mainland Asia, but he could have really used this. Or so he thinks. Forget the calories, forget the nasty overpowering combination of way too many flavors for a tongue to categorize the flavor of what it is exactly touching... just him, this sandwich, and the looming sense of dread that--
The looming sense of dread was not over the sudden deafening roar, but he may well credit it to that in retrospect. That, and the sudden gagging of surprise as one such wad of super-compressed foodstuffs ends up choking his windpipe, the large man suddenly standing and gagging as he drops the sandwich on the table.
Its contents proceed to blast free of the bread that dares attempt to hold it together /everywhere/ - the summation of all fears. Howard presses a hand down on the counter while he pats himself in the chest with his fist to try and force it right out.
Some of these sprayed food bits might seem really appealing to a bear.
Indeed they might, and as the greatest political screw-up since China's actions last year rages around the unsuspecting airport, the big brown eyes of the gloriously distracting Mr. Humpy are riveted - as has already been noted - on someone entirely unrelated to this mess. The owner of that delicious sandwich finds himself under yet closer scrutiny as it goes flying, the bear's savage roar dulling to a low rumble in the cavernous breast as it tips that hefty head to one side and observes Howard Rust with his ever-present soppy smile back in place. Security are completely ignored by the beast - who let's face it, doesn't speak English and couldn't put up his paws very well if he tried - as he lopes forward, putting those forepaws up instead on the flimsy railing.
Which begins, very slowly, to emit a groaning creak under the bear's unenviable weight. It's the only thing separating Mr. Humpy from a delicious sandwich and the true prize he seeks, hinted at but briefly by the snuffled rag borne by his erstwhile mistress. Who, incidentally...
...arrives puffing at the fringe of this scene just after it's all gone much further than she could hope to control with a well-placed yell and a fist or two flung haphazardly about. Asuka, hands upon her knees and bent over as she stares with wide, bright eyes between the assembled security team, her errant grizzly companion and the Lego-man-sized figure of Howard Rust off in the middle distance down upon the floor, doesn't know what to make of the scene. But she's been embarassed far too much already, and she's at that flimsy point where willpower tends to over-stretch and shatter, throwing the psyche into glistening, razor-sharp shards.
It's a dangerous state for the young woman to be in, surrounded by guns and foreign emnity toward her race. But all she cares about in this moment is getting Mr. Humpy back under control and finding a conveniently bear-capable flight back toward her homeland. She's got things to be getting on with, and this--- "Huh?" Then something dawns. Drawing in one last breath, she straightens up, one eye squinting as she peers at a suddenly upraised hand, bearing that scrap of rag hauled from Sunshine City. From the site of an apparently catastrophic karate demonstration, broken up by the very man she's been seeking across the globe. If Mr. Humpy went off like that...
"Wait, wait, wait!!"
Her brash Osaka-ban breaks the tension, the bodysuit-clad tomboy throwing herself impulsively forward into the line of the security officers' firing squad, her arms outflung - one still bearing that fluttering scrap - and legs spread to a solidly rooted position. Her posture says well enough that she's not intending to budge, and that to get to the hunting beast they'll most certainly have to go through her. But she's got another card up her sleeve-- almost literally. Conscious of another envelope concealed against her athletic torso, she plays her hand.
"I can explain everything. I'm here on behalf of Interpol and the Hong Kong Police Department tracking a dangerous criminal, who could be in this airport right now! If you don't believe me, I've got papers, an' I've got a letter from Lei Wulong. You know him, right?" Because obviously all security officials and police officers know one another. It is, after all, a very small world. Just in case, she hopefully repeats herself, "Right?"
Her immediate answer is a /shriek/ as the railing gives way and 800lb of grizzly half-falls, half-pounces down toward the food court, alarmed but intent nonetheless on making a beeline for Howard Rust the very moment it hits the floor. Asuka foolishly whirls around, taking her eyes from security.
COMBATSYS: Asuka has joined the fight here.
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Nathaniel 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Asuka
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Kenneth 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Security
COMBATSYS: Mr. Humpy has joined the fight here.
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Mr. Humpy 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Asuka
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Nathaniel 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Kenneth
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Security 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Rust has joined the fight here.
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Rust 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Mr. Humpy
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Asuka 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Nathaniel
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Kenneth 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Security
Between the bear and the sandwhich, the security detail just cannot catch a break. The sandwhich, or more precisely the explosion of ingredients, goes literally EVERYWHERE including on the faces, suits, and hell even down the collar of at least one of them. This does pose a bit of a problem, as it draws the stare of at least one of them toward the middle-aged man wearing purple toupee. And a nasty stare it is, if gazes held the power to cut a man in twain... this one would! It doesn't last for more than a moment, though, as that enormous looming threat overhead is still far more distracting.
As Asuka Kazama makes her appearance, however, a confused look sweeps the entourage, who then begin to look at each other in turn.
As she makes a deft leap from third floor to the second, the entirety of the security detail takes a step back... service pistols trained upon the girl before them. A tall korean man at the fore, standing almost exactly in front of the Secretary General, asks... annoyed... "Sir...?" toward the much smaller dignitary behind him. Ban Ki-moon, peering out from behind the man's left pants leg, eyes the woman warily... "I do not know a Lei Wulong, but I do not often deal with Interpol or the Hong Kong Police Department. Sorry." He offers a polite headbow, not budging from beneath the table. This should come as no surprise, after all... the Secretary general of the UN meets a lot of people. Even if he did, who believe a crazy girl who keeps a bear? (In her pants, much less).
The korean agent then replies to her directly, "I'm going to have to ask you to step ba-..." Then the rail begins to groan overhead.. slowly tipping toward the floor below... warping almost beneath the Bear's great heft... and all eyes are upon him again. "Scatter!" One of them shouts, and grabs at the Secretary's collar... dragging him out from under the table...flipping it over in the process... and ducking behind it with the man he's supposeed to be guardiing. The other agents just dart out of the way, scattering out from under the bear, and aiming their service pistols at the carnivore as it hits the ground with a noisy crash of metal and eight hundred pounds of bear meat.
The airport security nearby, meanwhile, draws a pistol of his own from a side holster... taking advantage of the scattering of security personal to zero in on that overturned table whilst the red-headed man in hawaiian shirt darts in and knocks one of the agents nearest him to the ground.
A bursting of bullets from the chamber of a gun an be heard as two shots are fired at that overturned table and the Secretary Genera and his agent behind!
COMBATSYS: Security blocks Nathaniel's Jab Punch.
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Rust 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Mr. Humpy
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Asuka 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Nathaniel
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Kenneth 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Security
COMBATSYS: Security blocks Kenneth's Quick Shot.
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Rust 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Mr. Humpy
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Asuka 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Nathaniel
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Kenneth 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Security
Both shots ricochet off the table, startling the Secretary General enough to lean low behind it. The agent beside him then proceeds to return fire on the airport security immediately, as the agent who was attempted upon by Nathaniel... though surprised... stops the hearty shove and attempts to deliver a painful kick to the back of the assailants left leg.
The older man finally manages to cough out the stuff that got in his throat, and... true to form, the sheer volume of it does not seem like it should have ever really fit down his windpipe to begin with, some partially chewed mess of... something leafy? A bit of weirdly colored fish meat? At this point, the identity of whatever it is he's coughed up is kind of a fruitless thing to wonder about (let alone as to whether or not it's just a mass of chemicals that probably shouldn't be introduced into the human body - that's the American diet for you).
To which point, he looks blearily at the men who are now coated in... food. The glares. To which the older man visibly shrinks a bit with a nervous step back and a raised hand, thinking... great, they're going to want me to pay for dry cleaning, do I look like I'm made of money here? Still, what the hell was that noise? That sounded like a---
That /is/ a bear, who comes down to the panicking of security agents everywhere as it heads in his direction alarmingly fast. The older man can't really catch a break - nor a breath, given he just nearly choked - when the bear is just charging right at him. There's the telltale sound of gunfire nearby and all around while those important-looking sorts nearby hide behind an overturned table. In the heat of the moment, one Howard Rust rationalizes what's going on before him the only way he can when there's a bear coming at him with the sounds of shots being fired.
"D-Don't worry," he wheezes out, empowered by (unfortunate) experience in occasionally having to wrestle a bear kept on the Kyokugen Dojo grounds to begin with, even though he is clearly worrying about how much worse his day is about to get (before even knowing the full breadth of what the hell is actually going on), "I, I got this!"
He's much smaller than that bear, weight-wise, but he looks ready to catch the bear - even take the offensive, if it hesitates, moving forward to shove it over with a strength honed from countless trials and get it in a headlock with his left arm to try and wrestle the damned thing down, the creak in his knee be damned even as he's partially coated in whatever the hell they managed to stuff into that friggin' sandwich.
COMBATSYS: Mr. Humpy fails to interrupt Quick Throw from Rust with Quick Toss.
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Rust 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Mr. Humpy
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Asuka 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Nathaniel
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Kenneth 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Security
All being told, the response Asuka receives is very kind and honest; it's more than she should really be expecting, under the circumstance, and prior to the explosive appearance of her unusual travelling companion, a little shoulder-slump of relief enters her posture. Her mouth is consequently open when she whirls, and as she was on the brink of offering a return bow to boot, this just sends her into a stupid-looking stagger. Then there's Mr. Humpy, all there and loud and thundering across the floor, and-- "Ohyougottabekiddin'me!"
Since leaving Osaka, it would be completely inaccurate to say that Asuka Kazama's life has gotten LESS complicated; and as mass fighting breaks out across the bustling airport facility, she's given the overpowering urge to roll her eyes and breath another long-suffering sigh. Hypocritical under the circumstances - after all, she is indeed carting a grizzly bear around and this probably isn't a Sane Person thing to do - she nonetheless gets that familiar sinking feeling that everything's only about to get even more distracting and impossible. Nostrils flaring, the tomboy closes her fist around the outlying rag, then brings both hands together in the same formation, knuckles popping as they compress against one another hard and long. Hazel eyes observe the action as bullets fly, the girl utterly unmoving but for the motion of her hands, and then...
"Oi!" An outflung digit singles out the man firing toward the very helpful and polite dignitary, who Asuka can only assume is a Bad Guy - and as a force for justice, righteousness, and world peace, she can't let that lie. Which is when Mr. Humpy goes flying past her flank, and a flash of motion reveals another figure moving into the fray, a familiar stout frame topped by something even more, disgustingly, horrifying familiar. A sidelong glance turns to a hair-swishing turn of the head, the brash tomboy's mouth falling open as she observes the scene.
What follows is only more alarming to the unfortunate public, the raging grizzly coming in for its final pounce upon the American only to be beaten soundly to the grapple. A toss of its massive head just sees Mr. Humpy lose his balance utterly, crashing own with the popping joints of Howard Rust fastened around his bulky form, the resounding thump as they hit the ground sending a tremor through the airport floor, and a series of spiderwebbing cracks spiralling outward. By pure, narrative coincidence, these end on one side directly by Asuka's foot.
There's a pause amidst the fray, when the Kazama girl just can't see or think straight. She hears her heart beat.
"THAT'S MY BEAR YOU IDIOT!!"
And then she hears herself screaming, and plows forward into a short, lunging dash, drawing back one well-prepared fist and readying her well-muscled form to simply smack Rust straight in the crown. Which is when she gets another hideous purple flash, the second fleeting glimpse of the toupee as her fist closes upon it finally dislodging the necessary memory to send her face twisting into a disbelieving scowl, brow furrowed as she instinctively pulls the blow-- a little too late, still leaving her knuckles to fly in for a hearty *clunk* straight to the skull.
"Y-You're..." Hit or miss, she stares at Rust, then her outstretched hand, then Rust once more. For a second time her hand is flung out, pointing a single digit at a perpetrator of the foulest crime. "You're Howard Rust, Hero of Nepal, and I need to talk to you about that... that /thing/ on your head!"
Once more in accordance with the oft-harsh rules and regulations of narrative law, it's at the precise instant of this astounding and clearly-very-important announcement that a bullet skims past her left ear and buries itself in the floor beside Rust and the downcast Mr. Humpy.
COMBATSYS: Kenneth dodges Security's Trick Shot.
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Rust 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Mr. Humpy
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Asuka 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Nathaniel
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Kenneth 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Security
COMBATSYS: Nathaniel blocks Security's Light Kick.
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Rust 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Mr. Humpy
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Asuka 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Nathaniel
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Kenneth 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Security
COMBATSYS: Security blocks Kenneth's Medium Shot.
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Rust 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Mr. Humpy
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Asuka 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Nathaniel
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Kenneth 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Security
COMBATSYS: Security dodges Nathaniel's Strong Throw.
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Rust 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Mr. Humpy
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Asuka 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Nathaniel
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Kenneth 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Security
Bears, bullets, and sandwhich bits! Oh my!
As Rust occupies himself with the aggressive eight hundred pound mammal, who really only seems to be after the bits of food all over him, the security agents have completely lost their focus on Asuka and concentrated their efforts entirely on the newly arrived assailants.
The agent behind the overturned metal table is busy firing on the traitorous security guard across the way, driving the man from the middle of the cafeteria floor to the guard rail of the second floor where he kicks over a table of his own. He then proceeds to fire off a round or two from behind his cover, as yet more bullets are fired at him in turn.
The musclebound 'tourist' and the agent are still going at it in what almost looks like a kung-fu fight straight from the movies. The kick to the leg is avoid by a withdrawn left, Nathaniel then using the target leg to capture the kicking leg with his own and flip him over his left shoulder with a body toss to the hard marble floor. But the agent braces himself before the throw, stopping himself from hiiting the ground with a downward ight hand against the floor as he wrenches his arm loose from the brute and rolls off his arm and to the side. He then attempts a rolling sweep to the back of the tourists legs in an attempt to bring him to the ground!
COMBATSYS: Rust endures Asuka's Weakened Strong Punch.
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Rust 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Mr. Humpy
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Asuka 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Nathaniel
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Kenneth 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Security
A bear is a bear - even in a moment of clear disadvantage, it takes the man in question (a bear thief?!) just about all he can muster to keep the thing held, the crash of its weight jeopardizing his own balance. His face, flush from exertion, teeth clenched aside from the occasional incomprehensible mumble... bears are huge, fierce creatures and with every passing flex of muscle and bead of sweat, it is clear that Mr. Humpy is making him work every inch to hold it in place, presumably to try and keep it from flailing its mighty bear claws in the direction of people who are... not capable of trying to wrestle bears.
Zangief makes it look easy, and it is at this moment that Howard has to give the man who bested him in the first round of King of Fighters 2011 that much more respect as someone screams something or another about a bear in Japanese.
There's the sensation of something tapping him in the back of his head that he doesn't quite register, beyond the mass of purple shifting about and even flopping upward briefly to reveal a perfectly fine (...and considerably less ghastly, but still awful) combover before it flops right back down. It's kind of a small wonder that, given what he has to put into /holding/ the bear, that he can make out the direct addressing to his person.
"Uh... y-yeah, that's, that's me," he stutters it out as he winces at the pain shooting through one of his shoulders in trying to keep poor Mr. Humpy held, "and, and, uh... hey!" He tries to call out without looking over his shoulder, "I got the bear, I, I got the bear, you can sto--"
The bullet that whizzes past Asuka's ear and into the nearby floor actually nearly buries itself into his shoe (jury's out on whether it could ever embed itself in his foot).
"Jesus," recognizing that it is in fact a bullet, he sharply turns his head as he throws up his left arm, "stop shooting, I got the bear!"
Only, in raising his arm, he no longer actually has the bear as he takes stock of who it is behind him and the other, much more politically charged half of this very, very interesting day at Dulles International Airport as he looks to the young lady in the somewhat provocative clothing before him, as if now she is the only source of reason to be had with those men hiding behind a table and all the shooting going on.
"They... they aren't shooting at the bear, are they." This, of course, is followed by the realization that now he /doesn't have the bear/.
COMBATSYS: Rust takes no action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Rust 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Mr. Humpy
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Asuka 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Nathaniel
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Kenneth 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Security
A bear is indeed a bear, and Rust's feat wouldn't normally go unnoticed by the screaming crowds, particularly given the electrifying pair of debut matches by Heihachi Mishima's outlandish but doubtlessly crowd-pleasing Kuma League; but they're a bit busy seeking shelter from the whizzing bullets and impressive kung fu theatrics unfolding between the diplomat's delegation and the pair of mismatched, unlikely assailants stealing attention from the nigh-on ton of fur and fury currently cowed by a mere headlock from the Hero of Nepal.
It's almost disturbing how little the bear struggles after the first few moments of surprise, falling alarmingly still before the knotted, callous-bearing arm is removed from about its neck. Asuka's eyes remain on the man as he throws said arm heavenward, her outstretched hand slowly pulling back to fold beneath her expansive chest as she stares the middle-aged warrior down. There's something in her expression that's oddly respectful, but twice as disappointed for it; like a child seeing their favourite Power Ranger with their pants around their ankles in a dirty back alley, her gaze intense and fierce in its judgement upon this man. And somehow sad.
"Why would they shoot the bear!?" Comes the immediate riposte from the Osakan tomboy, her brow only furrowing further at this new, ridiculous situation she's found herself in, for the moment managing to bypass the fact that there's a very serious fight in progress and people could die, because good grief that toupee. From beneath Rust, there's a distinct rumble she also seems not to notice. "And 'the bear' has a name! That's Mr. Humpy, he's an Arabian hunting bear and you... should... uh..." Reality dawns with all the spine-tingling sensation of a cooled towel draped across the brow of a delirious patient. Hazel eyes flick downward, at last eyeing that bullet. Then roll sidelong as for the second time Asuka reassesses her priorities. "Wait, uh, wait here, would ya?"
Hands parting from her midriff, one gestures with a dissonant if commanding nonchalance toward the American, but this triggers the subsequent happening of two very different things; first, as Asuka begins to turn away that rumble turns into a deep, growling bark, and Mr. Humpy rights himself as only an eight hundred pound bear can, rearing up onto his hindquarters with that big, stupid smile on his big, dumb face. A shadow rises above Howard Rust, and then abruptly descends as two huge forepaws are aimed for his body. And a muzzle for his neck.
Simultaneously, the Osakan schoolgirl enters a rapid spin, a pirouette so fast it sends her careering through the stink of discharged fire and nervous sweat in a seeming instant. Hazel eyes are wild but focused as she throws herself a brief, internal pep talk; her internal mantra contains something about finally proving herself in the eyes of a True Hero, even as another little voice makes an endless, nagging note to sort out that dirty wig business, but the former wins out in the now. When Asuka unfolds from her deft, spinning footwork, she's emerging from an electric blue blur before that overturned metal table.
"Hey!" Comes the insistent bark for recognition, whereupon she flings out a chambered leg, bringing one heavy boot around in a spinning back heel kick hard enough not just to smash clean through the aluminium covering on the table and sent the whole thing crunching into jagged, shrapnel-like splinters, but penetrate to the man behind it if he's not fast to get away. "I'm /trying/ to talk!" Straightening from the kick, large hands raised as she sinks into a defensive stance rather like that of aikido, a small confident smile lingering on her lips.
"And the next person who fires a gun answers to me, got it? I'm Asuka Kazama, /Fight Breaker/..."
Her gaze lashes askance, finding Ban Ki-moon and his entourage. The dramatic effect of the girl's intercession, and the aura of palpable strength that washes from her is ruined only slightly by the fact that - if Rust hadn't himself made a quick exit - there's a sound of heavy slurping from a short distance away as Mr. Humpy proceeds to subject him to a thick, wet licking for as long as he can keep the big guy pinned.
"And this fight's over, starting now."
COMBATSYS: Security successfully hits Kenneth with Medium Shot.
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Rust 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Mr. Humpy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Asuka 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Nathaniel
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Kenneth 0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0 Security
COMBATSYS: Kenneth blocks Asuka's Onikubigari.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Rust 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Mr. Humpy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Asuka 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Nathaniel
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Kenneth 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 Security
COMBATSYS: Nathaniel dodges Security's Strong Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Rust 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Mr. Humpy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Asuka 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Nathaniel
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Kenneth 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 Security
COMBATSYS: Nathaniel successfully hits Security with Face First.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Rust 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Mr. Humpy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Asuka 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Nathaniel
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Kenneth 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Security
COMBATSYS: Nathaniel blocks Security's Hot Lead Injection.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Rust 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Mr. Humpy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Asuka 0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0 Nathaniel
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Kenneth 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Security
The fight is still raging between the surly tourist and the security agent as the man in the hawaiian shirt takes the powerful kick to his sturdy tree trunk-like legs - like a boss - and snarls. He gives the security agent on the ground perhaps only a moment to register what has happened, before he turns around and attempts a stomp to his forehead. The agent avoids the strike, popping to his feet and preparing to punch the tourist right between the eyes. But the punching fist is caught, stopped cold, and the red-head in the hawaiian shirt grabs him about the neck with a meaty hand and throws him to the ground face first and sending marble debris flying everywhere.
Realizing that another agent has his gun trained on him, the red-maned fighter then slips back into the sandwhich shop right as the bullet that was fired cuts cleanly through the Subway shop window... spraying glass everywhere.
Kenneth, meanwhile, is busy being shot - in the shoulder - and promptly drops him own service pistol. A spray of blood follows, as the bullet passes into his shoulder, causing him to wince and clucth at the wounded joint. This all happens practically seconds before that crazy bear-bearing woman plows her foot right through his cover and kicks him hard in the face.
But he doesn't just take the hit and go sprawling, no. He lashes out with both hands and attempts to seize the thrown woman's boot and toss her over him, using the momentum generated by the kick, right toward the second floor guard rail.
Meanwhile, any bystanders who are stil nearby, few though they are, are attempt to get out of the area as quickly as possible before either an errant bullet or an angry ebr manages to get them. ... Where the fuck is security, here??
COMBATSYS: Mr. Humpy successfully hit Rust with Weakened Combo Mauling.
- Power hit! -
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Rust 0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0 Mr. Humpy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Asuka 0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0 Nathaniel
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Kenneth 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Security
'What else are they going to try and do when there's a bear loose in a friggin' airport in America,' is what the older man's response would be were it not for a combination of bewilderment and fright over both the gunfire and a now loosened bear. Something very, very wrong is going on (...moreso than usual, by his definitions as it were), and as she lectures him about the bear's proper name and species and all sorts of things, his right hand instinctively goes towards his left hip where the trusty rusted length of pipe awaits through a busted toolbelt pocket. His right hand and wrist took another beating recently in that demonstration, but with a wiggle of his fingers he thinks maybe he'll be okay to suss things out.
It's kind of humorous that it's Asuka who tells him to wait here, as he grunts out the beginnings of some sort of protest before there is something heavy bearing down upon his person, and in this moment of weakness and distraction it is the bear that (lovingly?) gets a hold of the American man.
"H-Hey, get off, get off," he shrugs about, but not to much avail as he gets a bear-ful of tongue. Wet, sloppy, loving bear tongue, coupled with a weight that forces him to a knee so heavily it develops more spider cracks (with a resounding wince). Any quick intervention on his part to suss out who or what the real problem is as Asuka speaks with a bluster and confidence not unlike the countless number of school-age girls with frightening fighting talent is... that much harder to make out.
Thanks to the... sandwich coating a couple agents in colorful condiments and ingredients it's actually a little tough to tell who's standing where. It's funny to see the contrast between the battle-ready Fight Breaker, a young up-and-coming star fighter in her own right... and an established hero seeming far more out of his element with a bear on his back.
The burly guy in the hawaiian suit, thankfully, is much easier to pick out as a problem through the cloud of dust kicked up from that powerful slam. Now, if I could just /get this bear off of me,/ grouses the older man...
Wait, he thinks, as he eyes another overturned table from the panic. Maybe I could... son of a bitch what am I waiting for? The older man rears back his left leg as he wrestles with the bear to try and stand back up, putting more weight onto his right for balance as he hurls it into one of the overturned tables. Asuka has shown no problem with destroying one outright with her own considerable might, perhaps more than enough proof she's capable of handling herself.
"H-Heads up," he tries to call best he can given how difficult it is to stay standing with 800 pounds of bear on one's back as he strikes the table, sending it hurtling in a tumble through pretty much whatever's in its way - window, or what have you - towards the guy in the hawaiian shirt that sure doesn't look the part of some sort of agent.
Please tell me I am not accidentally about to hit a legitimate off-duty officer, Howard thinks after the fact.
COMBATSYS: Asuka endures Kenneth's Judo Toss.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Rust 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Mr. Humpy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Asuka 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 Nathaniel
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Kenneth 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 Security
Mr. Humpy is... well, he's an odd bear. Thoroughly enjoying the quite non-figurative licking he's dishing out to the Hero of Nepal, the Arabian hunting bear at first barely seems to note the strenuous efforts of his mark as middle-aged slabs of muscle begin to strain beneath him. Then there's a sort of rumbling grumble, followed by what sounds almost like a particularly huge dog letting out an alarmed bark, footpaws tightening in apparent surprise as the creature finds himself hauled upright and then dangling with his backpaws just about brushing the ground.
Once Rust has got his balance back from that kick, he's greeted by a final, forlorn lick to the back of the neck before Mr. Humpy squirms and drops off with a concrete-crunching thump as all eight hundred pounds hit like a sack of however many freaking potatoes that would be. Many potatoes.
But at least the bonafide hero is free, for now, from his ursine clutches. Meanwhile...
A wise and well-trained fighter knows there are numerous ways out of any situation; and Asuka considers herself to be exactly that. But as the tomboy realizes a grip is fastened upon her garish boot, her eyes simply narrow in preparation for the toss, and then she promptly allows it to happen, still wearing that confident smile as she's launched overhead and thunders back toward the rail. Twisting adroitly, she doesn't meet it with a graceless tumble but rather a (literally) breathtaking slam of her strong back. The pain rattles through her frame, but she's already rebounding from the wildly rattling rail, using the gathered momentum to sling her back toward the ground. A quick tuck of the shoulder sees her swing into a roll, and she comes up through the rubble of that broken table directly onto her feet, meeting Kenneth eye-to-eye with a dangerous grin.
"I said--" Her loose, casual dialect sounds harsh and tough as she grits the words out past her teeth, leaning in as part of the same motion that carried her back into the fray, a hand swiping out to seize the man by an arm and then jerk him toward her. It's just a ploy to get further momentum, as her dragging grasp releases and then slides deeper through; if the motion goes off she'll use her rapid, brashly graceful footwork to both spin toward and twist the man away from her, entering a dance that sees him swung around so she can seize the opposing arm with her own, and then take one last, darting sidestep... releasing him with a boisterous yell and a dramatic out-thrust palm, sending him on his way to crash toward the nearby Subway stand.
As he (hopefully) goes flying, she'll straighten up with a toss of her head, fist clapping to hip. Finger pointing.
"Fight's OVER! Stay down, and I won't have to get serious!!"
COMBATSYS: Nathaniel blocks Rust's Large Thrown Object.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Rust 0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0 Mr. Humpy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Asuka 0/-------/-----==|===----\-------\0 Nathaniel
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Kenneth 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 Security
COMBATSYS: Kenneth dodges Asuka's Power Throw.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Rust 0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0 Mr. Humpy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Asuka 0/-------/-----==|===----\-------\0 Nathaniel
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Kenneth 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 Security
COMBATSYS: Nathaniel blocks Security's Bonesmasher.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Rust 0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0 Mr. Humpy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Asuka 0/-------/-----==|====---\-------\0 Nathaniel
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Kenneth 0/-------/---====|===----\-------\0 Security
Nathaniel smirks derisively at the unconscious agent on the ground, placing a heavy boot on his skull in preparation to begin grinding it into the marble beneath. The brute has, and it's for the better, momentarily forgotten his business with the Secretary General. He's enjoying the little tussle that he's been swept up in far more.
But simply grinding the agent's bloodied mug against the floor will only occupy him for so long. And after he's had his fun, he proceeds to look around for something more interesting to do... his hand going behind his back for his own sheathed service pistol. Fortunately for him, the aging maan with the hideous purple toupee obliges him enthusiastically... kicking a table through the Subway window and forcing him back against the now empty cashier counter.
With a strained grunt, he then hefts the table back off of the ground and spins in place once... loosing the massive dining table at the man AND his bear buddy. The aagent lying on the ground, whom he thought was unconscious, then takes the opportunity to try and surprise by smashing him in the legs with another hard kick. A thing that, expectedly, fails again... prompting Nathaniel to grin dangerously down the newly awakened suit...
Kenneth, meanwhile, is busy trying to find off a cock female who REALLY wants to push his shit in. As that arm grab comes, the security guard just /barely/ manages to snatch it out of the way and move behind her... attempting to grab her head and slam it down into the nearby metal guard rail and if this succeeds slam it AGAIN into the floor tile while she's stunned.
The other agents standing by are beginning to figure out who is friend and ho is foe... separating from one another and attempt to help put the would be assassins down with gunshots... strikes.... blunt objects and anything else they can manage. The one let guarding the Secretary General, meanwhile, holds his position firmly... one hand on the south korean dignitary's back to keep him down.
COMBATSYS: Rust blocks Nathaniel's Large Thrown Object.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Rust 0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0 Mr. Humpy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Asuka 0/-------/-----==|====---\-------\0 Nathaniel
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Kenneth 0/-------/---====|===----\-------\0 Security
If a fight were being scored on a matter of licks inflicted, everyone would point to Mr. Humpy as the out-and-out winner, and it'd be a decision one Howard Rust would not contest in the least as he recoils from one last lick to the back of his neck, left hand clutching it as though it were instead some sort of serious wound to cast a look back. His body, already sore from so much stress in trying to wrestle and lug around Mr. Humpy, feels ready to lock up.
Not yet, he says to himself as he flexes out his knee. He fell onto that thing pretty hard... maybe he should get that looked at later along with that pain in his chest since that... guy who crashed the demonstration.
He doesn't get any real moment to compose himself, given a table is being tossed back his way. He takes a step forward with arms outstretched to simply catch it, silent in his exertion aside from staggering back a few steps as the flying dining table tries (and fails) to knock him over from a direct hit to his chest. Indeed, he lifts it up as he nearly falls over, legs stuck up into the air and scraping against the ceiling and one of the lights before he thinks to set it down in front of the already overturned table where someone's hiding.
In effect, now that overturned table has a second table to shoot through. He can't tell if the guy hiding behind there with the other suit is wounded or just hiding, so hopefully that added bit of table armor will assist them in their survival.
One swipe of his brow later, he heads out the Safeway to the grinning man in the Hawaiian shirt as he clears his throat (and coughs pathetically, once, there's still a very strong taste of whatever he put in his mouth and it's not pleasant in his windpipe), a pop in one of his knees.
"All right, if I'm not... mistaken," the older man mumbles, though his voice becomes a bit more clear the further he speaks as he approaches, "you're some kinda troublemaker." That's putting it mildly, perhaps, but this is coming from a man who is now famous for being the last man standing in what was believed to be Vega's very final stand, who - while not the picture of youth or beauty - is a man who has proven that, if not the strongest, the fastest, the smartest, or even the most skilled... is probably about the last thing a hitman wants to run into, as he brings his right hand down to the makeshift hilt of Ol' Rusty.
Perhaps it's a real boon that the rest are moving to subdue the man in the Hawaiian shirt, but Howard adds to their problems considerably as he draws Ol' Rusty out smoothly with his right hand in a fast, forceful draw once in striking range with in a horizontal strike with the pipe that had fought its way through many trained soldiers during China's (...Vega's) bid to rule the world.
COMBATSYS: Asuka fails to counter Burial Ground from Kenneth with Falling Rain.
- Power fail! -
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Rust 0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0 Mr. Humpy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Asuka 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Nathaniel
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Kenneth 0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0 Security
COMBATSYS: Nathaniel dodges Security's Power Shot.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Rust 0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0 Mr. Humpy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Asuka 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Nathaniel
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Kenneth 0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0 Security
COMBATSYS: Security successfully hits Nathaniel with Fierce Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Rust 0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0 Mr. Humpy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Asuka 0/-------/----===|======-\-------\0 Nathaniel
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Kenneth 0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0 Security
COMBATSYS: Rust successfully hits Nathaniel with Power Strike.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Rust 0/-------/----===|-------\-------\0 Mr. Humpy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Asuka 0/-------/----===|=======\=------\1 Nathaniel
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Kenneth 0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0 Security
Where Howard Rust is the genuine article, battle-tested beyond anything the outer casing suggests to be the case, Asuka is busily proving that dramatic posturing and arrogant speeches only get you so far in the heroing business-- and that outside of movies and comic books, it's probably better to shut up and fight than attempt any kind of concurrent verbal smackdown alongside the more physical. It's a lesson that's tough to heed, however, as the incoming grapple from her own apprehended perp comes much faster than she predicts. Fresh from their own, missed grip, her arms are at least limber and loose, but her right closes on his lead hand with something approaching lethargy, the accompaying twist of her hip poorly judged - it just unbalances her.
"What--?!" Hazel eyes slamming open wide, she's caught and spun around by this sad excuse for a warrior, rendered far less capable than she'd pridefully claim to be in an instant that leads only to pain. Hair swishing briskly, she stumbles over her own feet en route to the guard rail, her forehead meeting it with a resounding *clunk* that belies the easy splitting of her flesh and a trickling gout of blood that turns into a veritable explosion when she hits the ground, flecks of faux-marble floor and budget concrete dust rising in a cloud around her collapsed form. But she's a tough cookie, and there's an immediate groan and a thrash of that athletic form, tearing free of the man's grip before he'll get a chance to fully retract it, then falling into a shoulder to spring to a crouch.
"...!" Lost in a lingering bewilderment despite her instinctive reaction, Kazama regards the man for a moment with still-wide and now slightly bloodshot eyes, her mouth open as she draws in a breath, gathering as much choking dust as air, which elicits a sputtering cough, a hand drawn across her mouth with a disgusted scowl. Then she straightens up, rising to her feet, knuckles cracking defiantly. "You call that a throw? Huh? /This/ is a--"
Whatever she's planning is cut off by a roar from not too far hence, as the abandoned Mr. Humpy straightens onto his own haunches and then breaks into a bound... not on a beeline for his mistress, but for the man who just now left him behind. The bear appears intent on his newfound buddy, practically galloping along with that big dumb smile back on his mouth, before-- well, crashing with apparent good nature into the back of the shop teacher's doughty legs. Wham. Rather than rebounding, the bear tries to settle down, nuzzled up against him.
This may be a good thing, or it may be the worst possible thing that could have happened for Rust's wellbeing.
The jury's out, as is the lightswitch in Asuka's brain as she remains staring at this spectacle.
COMBATSYS: Mr. Humpy assists Rust.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Rust 0/-------/----===|-------\-------\0 Mr. Humpy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Asuka 0/-------/----===|=======\=------\1 Nathaniel
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Kenneth 0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0 Security
Soon after that floored agent kicks him, Nathaniel is forced to look up again as Rust situates that hefty table down upon the marble tile in the distance with an audible scraping. He looks up just in time to realize two things: 1. He'd gotten himself distracted, and 2. He was about to get his ass kicked.
The gunshot is avoided, if narrowly, due to the attacking agent's shoddy aim... the bullet richocheting off of a nearby drink dispensment machine and causing it to spring a leak. The agent on the floor very narrowly manages to move out of the way before getting splashed by the stream of coca cola coming out of the machine, and just in time to let another, burlier, african american agent pass straight into Nathaniel's territory and deck him in the face. This is immediately followe up by burying his fist in the man's gut... forcing him to bow over just in time for Rust to bring that vertical swung pipe right down into his skull. This three strike combo sends him face first to the floor... dazed, momentarily.
Kenenth, meanwhile, is thoroughly occupied by Ms. Kazama and the thorough beating he gives her. Her head is smashed hard against the guard rail, rough hands then yank at her hair and pull her head up off the rail only to slam the female fighters head into the artificial floor... practically destroying the top layer.
Having done that, not content to assume she will stay down, he then promptly points that midnight black M19 at her forehead as her reflection springs to its feet in his shades. A malicious grin creeps into his features, and then he squeezes the trigger not once but twice... popping off two more bullets in close proximity to attempt to put her down for good.
Then agent guarding the Secretary General, seeing an opportunity to attack, lifts his wn service pistol... aiming directly for Kenenth's temple... and begins firing his own stream of bullets at Kenneth again from behind the table across the way.
Nathaniel, meanwhile, is slowly picking himself up. Whether he manages to or not... given two nearby agents immediately attempt to seize on him again is questionable. He then angrily grabs the cash register, ripping it from the counter top, and then proceeds to attempt to rush ol' Rusty and smash him in the head with it... even despite the agents flanking him who immediately throw kicks toward his chiseled midsection.
COMBATSYS: Security successfully hits Nathaniel with Light Kick.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Rust 0/-------/----===|-------\-------\0 Mr. Humpy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Asuka 0/-------/----===|=======\==-----\1 Nathaniel
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Kenneth 0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0 Security
COMBATSYS: Kenneth endures Security's Medium Shot.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Rust 0/-------/----===|-------\-------\0 Mr. Humpy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Asuka 0/-------/----===|=======\==-----\1 Nathaniel
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Kenneth 0/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Security
COMBATSYS: Rust endures Nathaniel's Nighty-Night.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Rust 0/-------/--=====|-------\-------\0 Mr. Humpy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Asuka 0/-------/----===|=======\===----\1 Nathaniel
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Kenneth 0/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Security
It may be to the detriment of the headstrong young girl that Rust seems to quickly accept that Asuka can take care of herself. If he were able to turn around, to look behind himself and see what that other supposed troublemaker (...confused security?) were up to...
With the seemingly ill-intentioned man in the Hawaiian-print shirt down on the ground, Howard casts looks at the other agents flanking them, unsure as to what to tell them - that he has it? That he's pretty sure now that wasn't a good fellow he threw a table at? There's really no questions to ask when the guy in question finds it in himself to rip a cash register off a counter. It's a simple, telegraphed gesture. Easy enough to step to the side, so the experienced Rust dictates with grit teeth--
Mr. Humpy comes to help, and proceeds to do so by bowling into his legs with a surprised grunt as his boots screech loudly across the cracked ground while he flails to hold his stance and position. The cash register...
Registers thoroughly on his head. Through it, even, obscuring Howard's head underneath a register. Yet, the man remains unbowed by such a show of desperate force for... a given value of 'unbowed' given 'his head is now encased in cash register' and that he can't see, left arm rushing out to hold his balance as he may very well accidentally find purchase on the Hawaiian shirt-clad man's head and - thanks to being in a position where he may as well tip over - more or less leans into it, threatening to plant Nathaniel's face into the cold hard ground.
Howard has plenty of vocal opinions on the matter, but they are obscured through having a cash register on his head and would probably be censored on television to begin with - it is best to fill in the blanks with one's own imagination.
COMBATSYS: Asuka Toughs Out Kenneth's Quick Shot!
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Rust 0/-------/----===|-------\-------\0 Mr. Humpy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Asuka 0/-------/---====|=======\===----\1 Nathaniel
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Kenneth 0/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Security
Distracted as she is by the not-at-all-rampaging form of Mr. Humpy, Asuka isn't exactly expecting bullets to fly her way; but following her earlier ultimatum, she's positively enraged by the emergent sound of gunshots resonating brutally against her eardrums from such proximity. A cringe turns to a snarl in short order, as she turns around with a whipping motion of the neck, throwing her face at a sharp angle to one side to meet the piercing rounds against the hard outer ridge of her forehead. It hurts, but against the wrath of a hardcore pacifist the stinging of the bullets penetrating flesh and drilling against bone are as nothing--
"Hrrraaah!!"
To Asuka's burning need to stop this reticent, unnamed gunman from whatever petty criminality he has planned. Questioning just what this might be hasn't occurred to her yet - not when there's work to be done - and right now she can't see beyond the two stumps of searing lead cast aside with a bold toss of her head as she rolls her hips into a frontal dash, covering the ground with her mouth parting in a roar and strong legs pumping her into a two-step sprint that ends with an open-palmed swat at the man's smoking gun. But it doesn't end there, this leading seamlessly into a full rotation of the body, one leg planting bent at the knee before her as she sweeps her arms violently about. This broad circlular motion ends in a snatch at the ankle, large hand closing to a steel grip.
"You wanna try telling me..." Comes the harsh murmur as Asuka attempts to simply launch him with an underarm toss, exhibiting a disturbing level of pure, brute strength as she seeks to heft him heavenward, and then leave her feet after him with a second rotation through the same axis. This time, the rear leg comes around at the hundred and eightieth degree, slamming forth with an explosive kick designed to impact at the would-be assassin's centremost point, cleaving into the abdomen with enough direct force to send him /thundering/ away across the food court into and/or through whatever might lie in his way. "WHAT I SAID ABOUT GUNS!?"
Hell hath no fury, though it's just possible the man's shady employer might know a surpassing trick or two...
Meanwhile, Mr. Humpy is just happy to be near Rust, and lets him get on with it for now.
COMBATSYS: Mr. Humpy takes no action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Rust 0/-------/----===|-------\-------\0 Mr. Humpy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Asuka 0/-------/---====|=======\===----\1 Nathaniel
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Kenneth 0/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Security
COMBATSYS: Kenneth blocks Asuka's Sweep Throw.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Rust 0/-------/----===|-------\-------\0 Mr. Humpy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Asuka 0/-------/----===|=======\===----\1 Nathaniel
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Kenneth 1/------=/=======|====---\-------\0 Security
COMBATSYS: Rust successfully hits Nathaniel with Brick Stacker.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Rust 0/-------/--=====|-------\-------\0 Mr. Humpy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Asuka 0/-------/----===|=======\======-\1 Nathaniel
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Kenneth 1/------=/=======|====---\-------\0 Security
Almost forgotten completely, the UN Secretary General and former Foreign Minister of South Korea is still bowed over behind that double layer of tables. Botht he one that his guarding agent turned over, and the one Rust so helpfully placed infront of them. He and his agent, apparently also of korean descent, are parked right outside of that near totally destroyed Subway shop on the second floor. From where all of the action is currently happening, however, only the agent can readily be seen (without the use of overhead cameras or approaching from behind). The entirety of the second floor is almost completely devoid of people by now, most of whom ran away the moment the bear showed up... that massive, warped, metal guard rail lying infront of the sandwhich shop the major evidence left of his arrival.
INSIDE the sandwhich shop, there is utter chaos. Coke is spewing from the dispensers, there's broken glass and furniture everywere... and two of the Secretary General's agents are engaaging a very large man in a red hawaiian T-Shirt and jeans. Whilst Rust, celebrated hero of the recent world war and foiler of Vega's ambittions is... standing infront of the agent covered in sandwhich ingredients with his head embedded in a cash register. He's also flailing, and falling, practically at the same time... his hand coming to rest on the larger assasin's head - who is bowed over before him - and all of his weight following soon after. It doesn't help there's the added weight of an 800 lb mammel behind it, what with bear still mounting Rust. There would be a loud crashing of body weight and posibly a cash register against the floor... and the assassin would find himself buried facedeep in artificial flooring. No sooner does this occur, however, and the agents flanking him begin to kick his shit in anew.
Kenneth, that red-haired airport security/would-be assassin, is busy dealing with an angry Asuka Kazama. And doing quite awesomely at it, unfortunately for her. As that grabbing hand laashes out for his leg, she does manage to find purchase... and even swing him heavenward. But the attack stop there, with Kenneth colliding with, and latching onto an overhead chandelier, jerking his booted foot out from her grasp shortly afterward. "Get the hell off, bitch!" H finally deigns to speak, swinging his foot back in an attempt to kick her away even as she's still moving. Having done this, he then swngs himself off of the fine chandelier and back oward another table. Landing atop of it, having found a better vantage point, he then immediately proceeds to attempt to open fire on the Secetary General. r he would, if the agent behind the table with him didn't start firing again immeditely.
Nathaniel, meanwhile grabs at the feet of the two agents standing beside him and attempts to jerk them to the ground in te midst of their kicking him. "Fuck off!"
COMBATSYS: Nathaniel knocks away Security with Combo Grapple.
- Power hit! -
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Nathaniel 1/=======/=======|-------\-------\0 Mr. Humpy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Rust 0/-------/--=====|=======\=------\1 Kenneth
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Asuka 0/-------/----===|=======\-------\1 Security
COMBATSYS: Kenneth dodges Security's Long Shot.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Nathaniel 1/=======/=======|-------\-------\0 Mr. Humpy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Rust 0/-------/--=====|=======\=------\1 Kenneth
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Asuka 0/-------/----===|=======\-------\1 Security
COMBATSYS: Asuka fails to interrupt Light Kick from Kenneth with Quick Throw.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Nathaniel 1/=======/=======|-------\-------\0 Mr. Humpy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Rust 0/-------/--=====|=======\=------\1 Kenneth
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Asuka 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\1 Security
The atmosphere in the tower was usually one ordinarily filled with daily stresses and requests on their performance, a high pressure job where a mistake could cost hundreds of lives. Today, the lives in their hands were even more precious to them. The lives that they saved may be their very own.
"There"
A bored pink lacquered nail jabs pointedly at one of the monitors and the plain shirted man with the thick band of wetness around his collar and perspiring heavily shifts the view from that camera onto one of the larger monitors. Still a tiny view, the tower wasn't the best place to be poking around the inside of the terminal.
"Ohhh, that's pretty good! They have a bear."
The hard faced men stalk circles around the superfluous hostages, those not absolutely necessary to the day-to-day tower operations, metallic gleaming limbs and decorated with oddly misshapen and threatening cybernetic enhancements. Mistaking this crew for run of the mill terrorists would require some wishful thinking; the critical staff frets over their stations trying to take up the extra workload all the time worrying about their colleagues and co-workers kneeling with their hands behind their heads in the centre of the room. The captors laughter is both predatory and amused like a pack of Hyena's braying a predatory laughter loudly in response to the females statement, though some prefer simply to openly sneer. What kind of weapon for an assassination was a bear?
"We're all set up here.. I'm going to take a break."
Shock runs through the little squad as soon as soon as what she is saying sinks in, did any of them even remember the plan? Where were they being extracted? Sweat starts to bead on a couple of brows as the terminally unreliable Miss Han shucks the flight attendants jacket and walks back towards the elevator.
'Oi, Spider, you can't just..'
"Try telling me what I can and can't do again and You'll need the rest of that body replaced.. I won't be kind enough to let you die."
The swing from pleased and excited to a dead pan flash of annoyance and gleam of light form her artificial left eye shuts down any hope of stopping her. The sole remaining man in the squad who stayed quiet the whole time leaning beside the elevator holds out his hand palm upwards her, after a moment she slaps a rather chunky device into that palm reticently.
"Feh, spoil my fun."
her smile returns after a tense moment between the two, that was ballsy but it was lucky for him he was her type. The elevator descends like a bomb counting down floors like seconds. This should be some fun!
The cash register adds a much unwanted weight to the older man's neck. As his posture dips lower and lower in (technically) failing to find a stable hold on the man in the Hawaiian-print shirt, the weight of the register proves too much to stay on as it slides off the older man's head and noisily crashes against a floor that barely seems capable of withstanding so many slammed bodies. Ol' Rusty's opposite tip presses against the floor as, perhaps, the only real thing he can count on for support (it is definitely lighter and more hollow than the man before them - shouldn't it be bending or crunching too?).
"--in' neck," comes the tail end of whatever sort of verbal tirade Howard was on as he lays awkwardly bent over with a very large and suddenly friendly(?) bear nuzzling and otherwise laying about dangerously close to his legs. Footwork is important, something his Kyokugen training has drilled him on. A thought crosses him - should I really kick this bear off or away from me? The last thing he wants or needs (or anyone, for that matter) is for that bear to just... well, be a bear. He's still inwardly shuddering from the licking.
With the suspicious Hawaiian-print shirt man down on the ground, Howard thinks to help keep the guy pinned down for the other agents that he's thrashing and fighting off in a spirited last-ditch attempt to avoid detainment (or worse) by lifting up Ol' Rusty and trying to shove it down into the larger assassin's upper back to try and keep him there.
"Hey," the enduring Rust calls as he clears his throat, turning his head in a way that sadly does not quite give him that good a view of what's going on, "think we, we about got the guy here, you guys... you guys good in there?" This divided attention could cost him if that guy isn't almost as done as he's being led on to believe.
No matter how iron, steely, or explosive she attempts to be, the Osakan tomboy just can't follow up her words with actions in this chaotic and abjectly confusing scenario she's plunged headlong into-- almost literally, having leapt from the collapsed railing to defend her cantankerous ursine companion. Now, as her ginger menace scrambles free from her grapple and the dynamic, airborne kick that would follow, she finds herself once more staggering like a mere neophye - nothing like the purported prodigy a fight promoter would see, and certainly not resembling anyone who instructs classrooms full of idolatous children. It's embarassing!
But more than that, it's infuriating.
"Who're you tellin' to get off?!" Rages Asuka, righting herself with a sweep of her arms that comes in the same instant as the dismissive kick of the would-be assassin. It's not so much the incoming foot that raises her ire, as the gun she glimpses in one corner of a hazel eye, and the dawning shame of failing in what she assumed would be a straightforward task - akin to beating down street toughs she's done in a thousand times, all in the name of preventing violence. So it is that her balancing flurry turns to a scrappy grab at the man's ankle. But it's for woeful naught, the kick catching her square in the mouth. She's stumbling again then, cheeks puffing out as she exhales harshly, a little blood flecking out with the more usual saliva. It's pouring from her cheek and forehead already, and the revelation of more, internal damage doesn't help her mood.
"You're the one..." She's breathing hard, and that just angers her further, a hand pushing rivulets of ichor from her face before lashing back through tousled brown hair. "Trying to off people, you stupid jerk!!" Thrusting herself forward, she starts to try and take position on the table behind him, getting one knee up and over to slam a boot against it-- and she's halfway through pulling herself aright when she hears the yell from the Hero of Nepal and cringes inwardly even more. "F-Fine! Totally under control!" She yells out, before starting to push with her arms. "Bears," she grumbles beneath her breath, "Never around when you actually need 'em..."
Because he's totally psychic and super loyal, Mr. Humpy lets out a gleeful rumble and licks at the back of Rust's left knee.
COMBATSYS: Mr. Humpy takes no action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Nathaniel 1/=======/=======|-------\-------\0 Mr. Humpy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Rust 0/-------/--=====|=======\=------\1 Kenneth
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Asuka 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\1 Security
COMBATSYS: Nathaniel dodges Rust's Fierce Strike.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Nathaniel 1/=======/=======|-------\-------\0 Mr. Humpy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Rust 0/-------/--=====|=======\=------\1 Kenneth
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Asuka 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\1 Security
COMBATSYS: Kenneth successfully hits Security with Quick Shot.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Nathaniel 1/=======/=======|-------\-------\0 Mr. Humpy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Rust 0/-------/--=====|=======\=------\1 Kenneth
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Asuka 0/-------/---====|=======\=------\1 Security
COMBATSYS: Security successfully hits Kenneth with Quick Shot.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Nathaniel 1/=======/=======|-------\-------\0 Mr. Humpy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Rust 0/-------/--=====|=======\==-----\1 Kenneth
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Asuka 0/-------/---====|=======\=------\1 Security
*CLANK!*
That's the sound of Ol' Rusty hitting empty tile floor as the Burly terrorist rolls out from under the strike after knocking the agents flanking him out on the floor. He then moves to a crouching position, snarling at the stuttering older man and his gaudy purple toupee. His body was ACHING from the beating he's taken so far, but he wasn't quite finished yet... "You should have left with the other gutless worms, old man. Now your grandkids just might be getting a pay out on your life insurance!" Having said that, he then sprints forward from his crouching position, darting toward Rust and atttempting to ram him with his shoulder. The bear's massive heft might well prevent Rust from being knocked down, should the attack succeed, but the beating won't stop there. He'll then proceed to try and ram his knee into Rust's midsection and then bring both hands together over his head and swing them for his neck!
Kenneth, meanwhile, leaps from the table just before Asuka Kazama kicks it... the bullet fired at him richocheting off the middle table and knocking out a window of another store nearby. He then rolls sideways across the floor, exchanging several shots with the agent behind the table as he does so, and then darts into a crevice of the Subway shops entryway... finding momentary cover from return fire. It's only then that he realizes he's been shot in the shoulder, worse its his gun arm, and e's finding it a bit difficult to hold that pistol with one hand anymore.
The agent guarding the Secretary General, meanwhile, slumps over behind the table... bleeding from a bullet wound to the chest. It's probably not a fatal one, but he's definitely going to find it hard to keep this up pretty soon.
From the ground floor of the food court the sounds of the battle overhead is enough to raise Juris heart rate, the anticipation and not being able to see what is going on. Anything could be happening, there was even a bear! There are other women loitering nearby in various flavours of uniform mixed in with the crowd but she stands out a little due to the slovenly nature of her uniform. The prim and elegant ladylike posture required of a real Korean flight attendant totally absent and if the crowds below were not drawing back from the disturbance their attentions were focused completely upon it.
A fast run up and vaulting between one of the tall art deco pieces and the wall she scales the heights between the ground floor and the on-going fight in an effortless fashion, the crowd below buzzing at the sudden display from within their own ranks (but also to see a woman in heels and a skirt vault into action as such was more than a little scandalous.)
%"So it is a bear after all."
Flipping over the remains of the not so safe railing and landing is a low three pointed crouch she is yet somehow completely at her ease; the faux flight attendant turned assassin smiles as she zeros in on the animal as the most interesting thing she can spy. The harsh pink/purple display generated by her left eye rapidly runs a reticule and scan over each of the people present searching and attempting to begin analysis but arouses her interest most when it glides over the bear. Was that a fighting potential it had? Seriously!! A bear that could fight!?
Tongue darts across her lips and her thoughts turn dark and ominous for the more innocent.
"Now that's interesting. I wonder what it tastes like!"
The eye glides over the impromptu barricade and quickly picks out a shape probably cowering behind the flimsy fortification and the other prey hadn't escaped yet either. Perhaps she might be torn internally in visiting harm upon the intended target or following her on selfish whims, but anyone who believed she wasted any thought on the matter would be dead last wrong.
"You're in my way."
Juris Kicks, like the woman herself are never to be taken lightly but the way she swings her foot around is more about kicking the young girl but more aiming her following trajectory to clear one of the other obstacles, two birds with one stone. The plucky youngster crashing into that barricade might be enough to keep the target cowering until she was ready to collect him.
COMBATSYS: Juri has joined the fight here.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Mr. Humpy 0/-------/-------|=======\======-\1 Nathaniel
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Rust 0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0 Asuka
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Kenneth 1/-----==/=======|=------\-------\0 Juri
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Security 1/------=/=======|
COMBATSYS: Nathaniel successfully hits Rust with Curb Stomp.
# Disabling hit! #
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Mr. Humpy 0/-------/-------|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Nathaniel
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////// ]
Rust 1/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Asuka
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Kenneth 1/-----==/=======|=------\-------\0 Juri
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Security 1/------=/=======|
Not just hitting the floor, but leaning forward a lot more than he anticipated doing given the now total absence of the body he was trying to pin, leaving the older man going to a pretty awkwardly timed double-over as the Hawaiian-print shirt man eludes his grasp and gives a pointed comment.
He is met with a blank look. "Uh, y'know who I am, right--"
It's better to say he doesn't know who Nathaniel is (which is true) as he bowls right into him. The bear's prescence keeps him standing (but his heel might nudge into them a bit too roughly for their liking), but that's not much comfort when it helps keep him up, knee hitting ribs already barely healed from a particularly savage series of blows from a mysterious man of Chinese descent from the demonstration, met with a wheeze that gives that temporary pause to allow him to bring those meaty hands against a neck already sore from bearing the weight of the cash register that previously rested upon his head.
It's met with a pathetic series of wheezing as his head lay up against the larger assassin, as though submitting for another series of deadly blows. It's hard to breathe between what's likely a re-broken rib or two along with his neck getting another bit of pounding, but this is unlikely to be the case for much longer.
There's a loud grumble that censors something coming out of the man's mouth as he pushes back with significantly gentler force in comparison to the larger Nathaniel's charge, but all he needs to do is bend him down enough to get some clear shots at his back, take the wind out of the guy - the difficulty sucking in breath isn't making it any easier.
If he's upset /now/, he's not going to want to look behind himself in the next few moments.
COMBATSYS: Asuka counters Thrust Kick from Juri with Onikubigari.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////// ]
Mr. Humpy 0/-------/-------|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Nathaniel
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Rust 1/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 Asuka
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Kenneth 1/-----==/=======|===----\-------\0 Juri
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Security 1/------=/=======|
It's going poorly on all sides! Though none of the three even seem aware of the involvement of the others, they can certainly be sure of that much. It's at these times that it becomes time for the truly heroic passion to rise, for a change to be made. When men like Rust inspire...
And wannabes like Asuka Kazama just do their best to stay in the game.
With a grunt and a sharp exhalation, Asuka stands fully upright on the table, reaching each arm across in turn to massage the wrist and forearm upon the opposing limb. Hazel eyes sharpen as she quickly sweeps the area, watching the storm of bullets and the instants of action that pass in the brief time this takes. Readying herself, she internally repeats philosophies drilled a hundred thousand times-- the crux of it, that a faltering spirit is not the Kamaza way. To be the open palm that parries conflict, she must rise above her petty frustrations. She must--
"To hell with this!" Her hands sweep aside, as though throwing wide invisible curtains, and with far more speed and grace than she showed in mounting the ravaged table, she hurtles into a front flip that flexes tightly into a controlled roll once she hits the ground, coming up upon one palm clamped to the floor and one leg driving forcefully outward. At this precise instant another lightning-fast limb comes hovering into view at the fringe of her vision, prompting a wide-eyed side-glance and a misplaced 'Huh?' as she begins this intended assault upon young Kenneth. She has approximately 0.01 seconds to do anything about Juri's interfering kick...
And - as 'Huh?' becomes "HRAAAAHH!" - this is exactly all the time it takes. Her other hand darts downward in perfect synch with the spring from the one set against the floor, which makes use of the relative proximity to the incoming heel to smack it aside with a sharp backhand, throwing Juri through the full rotation of her kick without the joy of violent impact. In the same unlikely instant, Asuka is utilizing her extravagant body strength to push off the now-grounded palm into an acrobatic half-handstand. Her striking leg coils around like a hastily retracted whip, cutting a blistering arc through the air so fast it actually explodes with latent chi, creating a momentary flash as she curves upward to deliver an unorthodox variant of her favourite spinning back kick.
"THAT'S RIGHT!" She yells following her kiai, watching Juri (hopefully) rebound as she's smashed right in the dangerously beautiful mouth. Drawing the raised arm back across her own, throwing away another smear of blood from her cheek, the tomboy slams her striking foot back down as she lands in a crouch, drawing in a cooling breath. "I swear, when this is over," she pronounces grimly, flexing powerful legs as she pushes her fingertips lightly to the faux-marble and comes to her feet with a loosening bounce. One hand rises higher than the other, levelling along , now pointing at the meddlesome 'flight attendant'. Imaginary fireworks explode behind the street-brawling maid from Osaka as she dramatically finishes, "I'm never takin' a bear on a cross-Pacific flight again!"
There's a beat for which time seems to stand still, as the universe considers this mighty proclamation, during which Asuka is also given a reprieve, a chance to second-guess her own tentative steps into the insanity that possesses the world around her. Her brows knit, and her glare intensifies.
"Also," she adds, "I'm gonna kick your ass like I did your face! Back off, lady!"
Mr. Humpy is meanwhile doing his job as a support strut rather excellently, as well as moistening Rust's beleagured joints, but when matters begin to grow more serious, there's a quiver in the heart of the third of our noble heroes. A quiver which becomes another basso rumble, and then becomes a tight growl as the lest-we-forget 800lb grizzly rises on heavy forepaws, bracing himself with a dissonant smile still curling his fanged maw, watching Rust's assault and seeming to actually work in tandem with him...
Then, as only a trained Arabian hunting bear can, he throws himself forward into a low pounce, hurling that tremendous weight past Howard Rust and into the legs of the man he's busily assailing, jaw falling open with a louder ROAR suddenly cut off with a slavering chomp as he attempts to bite into a thigh and drag the man who's NOT his favourite man bloody and screaming to the ground between yellowed teeth, muscles rippling beneath his fur.
COMBATSYS: Rust successfully hits Nathaniel with Hammering.
- Power hit! -
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //// ]
Mr. Humpy 0/-------/-------|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Nathaniel
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Rust 1/----===/=======|===----\-------\0 Asuka
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Kenneth 1/-----==/=======|===----\-------\0 Juri
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Security 1/------=/=======|
COMBATSYS: Nathaniel blocks Mr. Humpy's Weakened Strong Bite.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /// ]
Mr. Humpy 0/-------/-------|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Nathaniel
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Rust 1/----===/=======|===----\-------\0 Asuka
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Kenneth 1/-----==/=======|===----\-------\0 Juri
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Security 1/------=/=======|
No, unfortunately, it was safe to say this steroid-infused gym rat who was presently in the process of beating Rust's ass had little to no idea with whom he was dealing.
Having finished delivering the last of his painful blows, Nathaniel smirks with great self-satisfaction as his combination of strikes leaves the older man wheezing. "Not dead yet, pops?" He laughs, arrogantly, completely ignoring the threatening presence of the Bear and the still very capable old war hero now leaning against him. "I guess..." He was going to say '--you're tougher than I thought' but the older fighter does not give him nearly enough time to. He soon finds himself pushed back, with his upper body being drawn downwards, and then smashed all across his backside by the surprisingly powerful Howard Rust. A grunt escapes him, followed by some wheezing of his own, and he pratically collapses to the floor. Down... and very nearly beaten.
As the bear charges in, with it's maw wide in an attempt to bite him, however... Nathaniel manages to grab the nearby cash register and stop the teeth from sinking into his body. The teeth instead scrape against the metal of the register, and dig into his fingers, as he attempts to swing the register out of the way of the Bear's grasping maw and then right back into its thick, mishapen, skull.
Outside the store, Kenneth is pretty much on his last leg himself, slowly bleeding out from various bullet wounds and other attacks he's suffered, whilst leaning against the wall outside the store. As the rather dangerous-looking oriental woman in airport personnel leaps into the area across the way... he instictively lifts his M19 service pistol and levels it at her with both hands nervously. Then, as she and Asuka begin to trade blows, he realizes she probably isn't a threat (for now). Which leaves him to poke his gun instead out from behind the wall, and start firing almost blindly toward the nearby table where the Secretary General and his near-dead security was.
Between the kicks jarring the table, and the bullets bouncing around everywhere, the UN dignitary certainly was doing an excellent job of cowering close to the ground. The warmth of the afternoon's lunch held firmly in his lap had already nearly disappeared and he was beginning to wonder to himself if he'd ever be able to eat again.
Despite his wounds, the only agent still conscious and able to guard the man finally sits up again... and attempts to return fire on Kenneth in the space of a few moments between shots. ... *CLICK* *CLICK* ... T'would seem he was quite out of bullets. Making him revert to the only other use of a gun ever... throwing it at Kenenth's head as it peeks out from behind the wall.
COMBATSYS: Security successfully hits Kenneth with Thrown Object.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //// ]
Mr. Humpy 0/-------/-------|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Nathaniel
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Rust 1/----===/=======|===----\-------\0 Asuka
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Kenneth 1/----===/=======|===----\-------\0 Juri
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Security 1/------=/=======|
COMBATSYS: Security blocks Kenneth's Quick Shot.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //// ]
Mr. Humpy 0/-------/-------|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Nathaniel
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Rust 1/----===/=======|===----\-------\0 Asuka
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Kenneth 1/----===/=======|===----\-------\0 Juri
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Security 1/-----==/=======|
Eyes narrow at the very moment that fist breaks smashes into her leg, the blow throws her off balance and the striking leg has to come down wide, drawing her torso in. Off balance and wide open she struggles to keep her feet in those heels, a most impractical fight wear. The boot crashing against her jaw and the thin lips that were pulled back in a faint snarl snaps the head around and drives The entire upper half of Juri's body backwards absorbing force from the blow, she folds backwards at the waist as though made of rubber though one of her legs quickly steps backwards to brace and hold herself up, she does not fall.
"That's great."
Levering her torso back up with a sinuous and serpentine grace Juri brushes at the corner of her mouth with a flick of her thumb, red smear of blood though the actual damage isn't showing externally but the faint burn and coppery taste in her mouth was familiar enough she enjoys the theatrics of the display.
"I just wanted to get you out of my way, but it looks like you're worth playing with.."
Mores the pity for her opponent. As Juri eyes her with renewed interest there is a warning drone like a heavy electronic appliance being turned on and a faint gleam of purple from her left eye. Energy pours into her ever fibre as the device nestled in her eye socket stokes the flames of her own passion for violence and vengeance. The reticule is dead centre on the younger girls face, information is scrolling by as fast as it's gathered but all Juri cares about is squashing her flat.
One foot shifts backwards, the faint glow and growth of energy the only warning for anyone paying attention a still seemingly relaxed posture as she swivels backward and launches a kick that doesn't connect the aimed foot dispatching all that gathered energy in a ragged mass at the young girl, centre mass.
The strikes are surely slower than he normally could deliver in rapid succession once he has someone good and knelt, but any reservation the older man might have given the trauma his right hand and wrist suffered during the demonstration does not seem to show in the result as he brings the man lower and lower yet. His face is clenched in all the expected ways of a man under significant duress who had somehow survived incredible punishment leading up to this point, even as humbling, pathetic wheezes escape him with every breath.
His grip is loosened at last when the bear breezes past him with all the good intentions of protecting their new-found friend (...or future lunch? There was a lot of licking, after all), and war-honed aggression quickly softens to an almost humane worry - or terror! - as the bigger man of the two is using that cash register to fend the beast off.
"D-Don't do that," it's a begging tone of voice as the titled Hero of Nepal knows full well the consequences of a raging bear in the middle of all this while a vaguely familiar voice coos a ways outside that he can't quite put a finger on because there is BEAR and also there is LARGE MAN WHO IS UP TO NO GOOD, and also HIS RIBS.
More... emphasis on his ribs.
With freed legs, he tries to give one last hard tug on the Hawaiian-print shirt-clad man's shoulder over to a now outstretched leg to trip him down into the debris and shards that surround the entire encounter, hoping one last good toss will be able to keep the man laid low and...
Well he hasn't thought too far ahead as to how the bear is going to take potentially getting hit in the head with a cash register.
COMBATSYS: Mr. Humpy fails to interrupt Huge Random Weapon from Nathaniel with Weakened Aggressive Bite.
*KNOCKED AWAY*
# Disabling hit! #
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //// ]
Mr. Humpy 0/-------/---====|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Nathaniel
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Rust 1/----===/=======|===----\-------\0 Asuka
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Kenneth 1/----===/=======|=======\-------\0 Juri
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Security 1/-----==/=======|
COMBATSYS: Asuka blocks Juri's EX Fuhajin.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //// ]
Mr. Humpy 0/-------/---====|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Nathaniel
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Rust 1/----===/=======|=====--\-------\0 Asuka
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Kenneth 1/----===/=======|=======\-------\1 Juri
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Security 1/-----==/=======|
People react in multitudinous ways to being kicked savagely in the facial area; but Juri's reaction is novel in the eyes of her brash young opponent, whose pointing finger lowers in a faint waver as she takes it in. "Uh..." Unable to sum it up any better, she focuses on avoiding going cross-eyed at the spectacle this alarmingly flexible Korean woman presents, quickly closing in her pointing digit to a fist. Her immediate reply, beyond the crack of her knuckles, is a gritting of the teeth as Juri's dangerous optic begins to glow.
With a sharp rush of air the tomboy's arm jolts back, legs spreading beneath her as part of the same core motion that leads into a solid guard being presented. Psychic energy flares with an alarming impact even before it hits, igniting a panicked sensation in the back of the normally-fearless Osakan's brain. In this action it only hastens her, hazel eyes wide as she mounts a cross-block, pale forearms rippling with a flexion of muscle as they brace hard against the explosive torrent of hateful purple haze. It's all she can do not to cry out in spite of the reduction to the pain, psionic agony creeping back across her body and the impact driving her back a foot before she swings her arms outward with a gasp and lunges forth with an incoherent cry.
Pivoting into her left hip the moment she judges herself near enough, she keeps her guard raised, watching Juri over her right fist as she lashes out with a pistoning side kick to the front of that dapper uniform, throwing all her weight behind it-- but by the standards of the Korean and her cybernetic vision, it's undoubtedly too slow and predictable to seem as solid a retort as Asuka intends in the eager desperation of her racing mind.
"This ain't a game," she barks as she drives her heel toward the sternum, "People could die!"
Meanwhile, Mr. Humpy is faring less well again, a few flecks of delicious blood brushing his teeth unable to be properly enjoyed as he's meet with a heavy metal counter-assault. Looking up momentarily with his disengaged maw lolling open, he seems to be smiling in a manner that would be almost defiant were it not so utterly dopey, and then-- well, then all the bracing of mass animal muscle can't save him, as an attempt to lunge forward in his turn only sees his brawny skull hammered almost flat by the smashing register. There's a whimper from the bear that would be heart-wrenching - were he not an 800lb fighting bear - as he plummets flat into the ground in a cascade of sticky blood, fur about his head and face turning black in an instant. But it doesn't end there...
Nathaniel's mighty strike actually causes a crater as the bear hits the ground zero, and then /rebounds/, an almighty second collision ensuing as poor Mr. Humpy 'bounces' in the most ungainly possible fashion, then hits a sideward roll that ends with all four huge limbs slapping hard enough against the other side of the shop floor that more cracks appear in the tiles. Tongue lolling from his mouth, big brown eyes unfocused, the bear begins to create a puddle of saliva and thick, glutinous headblood as he lies there.
If only the KUMA LEAGUE hadn't ended, the strongarm assassin might mount a challenge to the very Champion of Bears.
Nathaniel rolls sideways, picking up that heavy metal cash register he'd rent from the counter earlier, and smashes the incoming bear across the noggin' with a sideways swiping motion. Then, as the bear is sent flying away from him by the blow, he drops the register on the ground - smashing the marble tile floor with an audible clanking of metal - and attempts to push himself off the floor slowly...
...Only to have his upward motion almost completely stopped by the body weight of one Howard Rust as his shoulder is seized! "H-Hey...!" He looks up at the older man, realizing what he is attempting to do, and snarls before... he begins to continue trying to pushward from his squatting position... trying to resist the throw. If he succeeds, he'll get to his feet, taking Howard Rust's entire body weight up with him and draped across his back and shoulders. He'll then turn right around and pllumet back to the floor back first in an attempt to drive the older fighter into the shards of glass and debris he'd planned to throw Nathaniel through. He'll then riseup on his knees and attempt to pound the very life out of the older man with his fists. ... If not? Well... he gets thrown aross the floor through the debris and knocked out cold from the pain.
Kenneth, meanwhile, is doing nothing of any particular interest at this time for he /tooo/ were fresh out of bullets. He is now going to be spending the next moment or so trying to fetch a bullet catridge for a uniform pocket, release his current one, and jam the next cartridge in as quickly as he possibly can in his wounded state.r
The korean security agent, meanwhile, seeing his chance to get up close and personal... leaps over the table he was hiding behind and charges Kenneth. If he can at all manage, he'll grab his own useless gun off the ground and proceed to pummel Kenneth with a series of maartial arts strikes and bludgeoning blows with the gun before grabbing him by the neck and attempting to slam him face-first into the floor.
COMBATSYS: Nathaniel fails to interrupt Medium Throw from Rust with Jailbreak.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Rust 1/----===/=======|====---\-------\0 Mr. Humpy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Kenneth 1/----===/=======|=====--\-------\0 Asuka
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Security 1/-----==/=======|=======\-------\1 Juri
COMBATSYS: Nathaniel can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Rust 1/----===/=======|====---\-------\0 Mr. Humpy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Kenneth 1/----===/=======|=====--\-------\0 Asuka
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Security 1/-----==/=======|=======\-------\1 Juri
COMBATSYS: Kenneth takes no action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Rust 1/----===/=======|====---\-------\0 Mr. Humpy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Kenneth 1/----===/=======|=====--\-------\0 Asuka
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Security 1/-----==/=======|=======\-------\1 Juri
Juri says, "Guess it's my turn to see how this'll play out"
COMBATSYS: Security successfully hits Kenneth with I Know Gun-Fu.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Rust 1/----===/=======|====---\-------\0 Mr. Humpy
[ \\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Kenneth 1/--=====/=======|=====--\-------\0 Asuka
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Security 1/----===/=======|=======\-------\1 Juri
COMBATSYS: Juri attempts to interrupt Medium Kick from Asuka with Feng Shui Engine.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Rust 1/----===/=======|====---\-------\0 Mr. Humpy
[ \\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Kenneth 1/--=====/=======|=====--\-------\0 Asuka
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Security 1/----===/=======|=------\-------\0 Juri
COMBATSYS: Juri successfully hits Asuka with Feng Shui Engine.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Rust 1/----===/=======|====---\-------\0 Mr. Humpy
[ \\\\\\\\ < > /// ]
Kenneth 1/--=====/=======|=======\=====--\1 Asuka
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Security 1/----===/=======|=------\-------\0 Juri
The two Asian women squaring off is quite the spectacle, a clash of opposites in near every possible facet of their beings. Not that either one of them would want to be on a sharing and caring basis enough with the other to find out what makes the other tick. The moan in front of her hardly even mounts a defense, both arms meet the incoming boot and she catches and soaks up all of that shock and then the pressure of the force without giving much ground, arm muscles are screaming at her about the abuse but she instead wears a her predatory nature and smile like a mask, the joy of the hunt and the suffering of her opponent a salve for her own.
"You're a tough one and kind of cute. We should play more sometime. But for now-"
The Feng shui engine winds up to its fullest pitch and that left eye flares bright and remains constant, Untrained eyes could never follow a movement like Juri made but fighters can, that sharp trail of light like a laser sweeping around through an arc to the place she is currently crouched, Ninety degrees form where she stood, between Askua and the store, but more importantly putting the target between her and the empty air that would lead to a hurried descent to the ground floor.
"Youve become tiresome."
Her fist streaks upwards in a straight aimed just under the ribs but trailing motes of purple energy, she's not holding back even remotely and she doesn't much care if the girl survives to reach a further encounter or not the force of the blow could probably put a lesser fighter through a wall, if they were lucky enough to have one behind them.
"People die all the time. You don't know what you're missing till you try it."
The last is as a soft purr, that reasoning part of her mind certain the girl might only object because she hasn't tried it yet.
The inherent danger in facing a warrior like Juri Han isn't just her skill and unerring technique, nor the obvious muscular power behind that gymnastic frame, but a quality only hinted at by the forbidding glint of that cybernetic eye. She'd have it even without the modification; the cruelty that drives her to target a weakness and throw her every faculty against it, the ability to strike at a single point in a mighty mountain and bring it crashing down under its own, momentous weight. So it is here, and what answer could Asuka possibly have?
Over-extended as she is, the forthright, arrogant brunette hasn't got time to retract her kick and manage anything close to a response as the whine of the Feng Shui Engine offers her a warning she'd normally be capable of capitalizing on; few are as quick of wits and action as Asuka Kazama in close quarters, and when the Korean throws herself forth, quarters couldn't be closer. There's barely time to bring her foot down, and rather than help--
This just allows the striking fist full, unmitigated access to the core of her being, and how.
At key times throughout an individual's life, there are moments where they come to uncertainly question their every belief - about the world, about the past and the future, and most importantly about themselves. Asuka has never encountered the vile force known as 'Psycho Power' except in the most fleeting of fashions, whispers in dark alleys and low-level fighters who nonetheless ignite a disturbing sensation at once repulsive and enthralling. Juri's assault would be unstoppable even had she the greatest familiarity with the power driving it, yet its strange and alarming nature piles something more than mere pain onto the body, mind and soul of the tough young 'Fight Breaker'. Like doubt, but worse, the blow beneath the ribs, into tender flesh and then beyond plants a creeping terror springing upward into her conscious thoughts then seeping through to the very heart not of her physical being, but of what makes her /her/. Her pulse quickens, and pain registers, but it's so much deeper.
What she experiences as she's cast away by the terrific blow is dangerously akin to the most chasm-plummeting of depressions, hazel eyes unfocused and struck by tears of agony coming to light - as she crash-lands with harsh, boneshattering force against an Art Deco pillar, is thrown off to topple to an ungainly collapse within view of the shop front, concrete dust settling in a cloud about her electric blue-clad form, Asuka somehow keeps her head up to settle a lost gaze upon the indistinct figure almost lost amidst the chaotic haze. A demon in human form. Even as consciousness is torn from her clasping fingers, Asuka tries to form defiant words at the feeling that threatens to overcome her in the final instants of wakeful awareness-- that she's not only failed here, to back up her words and defend the innocent, to end a fight that could have awful consequences...
But that this is only the beginning. That she'll always fail.
That she's a tiny, bleeding freshwater fish in an ocean filled with sharks.
To a girl fuelled by pride and the purposeful swagger of unwavering self-belief, to someone whose great strength relies on their equally grand convictions, this 'revelation' is earth-shattering. Through the maelstrom she searches for something else, someone else, anything to help her break through this overwhelming, ongoing assault. In the gloom she finds a stout, familiar figure topped by a flash of hideous purple, and a hand reaches up, imploring, begging-- only to flop uselessly at her side. Her intended words die with a pathetic murmur, as eyes roll up in their sockets and blood dribbles from the side of her mouth. Asuka Kazama hasn't just been beaten - here and now, she's been stripped bare, ravaged and ruined by the inward-turned power of her own treachorous mind.
Nobody can help; because as she passes out, her last thought is that she's got nobody to blame but herself.
People die all the time, it's true. But they don't have to. They die, because she's too weak to prevent it.
COMBATSYS: Asuka holds herself back from the fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Mr. Humpy 0/-------/---====|=------\-------\0 Juri
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Rust 1/----===/=======|=======\=====--\1 Kenneth
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Security 1/----===/=======|
COMBATSYS: Asuka can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Mr. Humpy 0/-------/---====|=------\-------\0 Juri
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Rust 1/----===/=======|=======\=====--\1 Kenneth
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Security 1/----===/=======|
It's a simple trip throw, but it's all Howard needs - anticipating the man's inability to handle good hard falls being able to buy a moment for someone or /something/ to come up and keep him down, with only the tinge of discomfort and lingering pain when Nathaniel actually gets a hand on his neck in the quickly aborted attempt to wrestle him down to size. A harsh wince fills his face as the 800 pound bear whimpers, bounces out of a crater formed by their bulk, and altogether sees the older man turning about-face with Ol' Rusty still pointed down at the large man he just tossed down. Letting the man in the bright shirt out of his gaze had proven to be a serious folly before...
But who wouldn't gaze in genuine worry over a creature - albeit a dangerous one trained for battle - lying seriously wounded, a very small pool of blood forming by their head? Even one Howard Rust, a large battle-hardened man who was prepared to have to somehow subdue and wrestle the bear in a way that would have almost certainly ended in some form of injury, feels a little something going in his heart - whether it's beyond the aches he's been dealing with since the demonstration or just the mounting stresses of the situation or some combination in-between is up for debate. For a man surrounded by blood and death, he is not desensitized.
A second, far greater sound snaps his attention again as an Art Deco pillar crashes to the ground. The dust fails to obscure the bright blue of that strange, brash young girl's outfit, and the very sound of a body hitting something at the speed it does is one he has become increasingly familiar with.
"Shit," and that's understating the whole experience as the older man casts one last looks over his shoulder for the burly man and bear as he finds adrenaline pushing him to storm past the debris in his way to the very sight of her hand reaching out to him. The knee he landed on harshly in the early goings complains through surging pain and popping. His breath is still heavy. His left side screams in pain every time he moves.
He willingly plows through the remaining glass of the shattered window with his own body, uncaring of any lacerations (if any - he is Howard Rust after all) that serve as minor obstacles as he brings his left hand down to her shoulder as if to ask if she's all right.
It doesn't quite brush it before the bright purple glint of Juri Han's eye sees his jaw go agape, as his mind rationalizes what he was hoping would be a distant and vague memory as the time went on. He knows he's seen her... no, that's her. That's one of the ones in India...
He steps once more in front of the young girl who lays wounded, Ol' Rusty drawn in front of him horizontally with narrowed eyes. For all that lie here wounded, or reconsidering what to do next, he knows he only has what could be fractions of a second to say it.
"Run like hell!" He calls out to whoever's listening as he, himself, coughs once after the fact. It's not a position of utmost strength against one like /her/ - heck, her very eye probably highlights to her some particularly juicy and fun places to hit.
His left hand starts to clench again out of sheer habit. It takes an act of will to stop himself from going too rigid on instinct, hoping that anybody still around heeds the briefness in his words as he faces down someone who will probably not be standing so far away for long.
After having taken quite some pounding from Howard Rust, Nathaniel has... finally... lost consciousness in an awful mess of debris and broken glass. His burly, broken, body is left to lying there bleeding by the doorway of the totally ruined sandwhich shop. Even more humiliating for him, were he conscious, is that the coke dispenser which was damaged earlier is now spraying a steady stream of coca cola squarely on his upturned ass. It is leaving a quickly growing pool on the floor beneath him as well. A pool which, having had his attention drawn toward the battle raging outside, Howard Rust thoughtlessly steps into as he bounds with all haste through the shop's last remaining glass window. The manager is going to be OFTLY upset when he gets the repair bills for this place...
The faux airport seurity/assassin, meanwhile, is doing every bit as poorly... and then some. The UN bodyguard rushes right down his center line, charging into his territory and unleashes a series of punches, kicks, elbows, and bludgeoning strikes to the head with the butt of his service pistol. He then drops to the floor, whilst Kenneth is stll dazed from the flurry of pain the agent bestowed upon him, and then sweeps the assassin's legs out from under him whilst grabbing the back of his head mid-fall and slamming him face first into the marble tile.
There's a mfufled groan of pain, and then Kenneth's whole body slumps. He had, apparently, lost consciousness shortly after his face was used as means to utterly destroy the floor.
Standing up slowly, and eyeing Juri's backside very warily, the korean suit is wont to just stand there... and take a few breaths... despite Rust yelling at them to flee. He does look back towrd the table behind him for a moment... weighing his options...
Then, surely enough, he heeds the warning - despite doubting Rust's capability to deal with her - and shoves the heavy table behind him aside with an roaring scraping of metal against hard tile. There is a hushed exchange in Korean, swiftly, with the diplomat he was charged with guarding... before the diplomat stands up and dashes straight for a nearby esclator. The agent then looks back towardd Juri for possibly the last time before finally chasing after.
COMBATSYS: Kenneth has left the fight here.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Rust 1/----===/=======|====---\-------\0 Mr. Humpy
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Security 1/----===/=======|=------\-------\0 Juri
A soft clapping as Juri dusts her hands together is surprisingly loud, that annoyance was rather obstinate even at speed and power it had proved uncannily resistant to her usual -- advances. Expressive and animate eyes give the girl a once over wondering if she will get back up, the downward trend on the readout of her vitals and energy output suggest such will not happen. The outwardly shattering glass reflexively forces her to throw up a forearm to protect her right eye, the left continues to watch heedless of any flying shards thanks to the devices mechanical nature.
"Oh, so you have a friend, how sweet."
That gentle sway when she walks, rms tucked behind her head and appearing quite relaxed as she stretches out. The girl had been annoying but she was a GREAT warm-up, the only problem is that events seem to have gotten away on her. A petulantly frown crosses her face as she notes the bear being down and rather still, the condition of this other fighter.. While generating a surprisingly high set of still climbing numbers.
That mix of emotion in the older man's face positively delights her, was he afraid? Brave.. tormented by seeing a young girl hurt.. or were they an item? Maybe he had more money than he appeared to. Putting the boot in where it might do the most damage, Juri simply sets her foot forward beginning to advance on the pair of them. It would be delicious to draw out the suffering- but the scrabbling behind her in response to Howards Rust stops her cold.
The venom in her look is purely out of spite. The chances of that little rat sticking to his schedule and flight now was probably close to zero, even so she is still experiences a moment where she is torn between punishing the smart move or chasing after the fleeing target. With each second they get a few more feet away, the time limit on her choices ticking town.
The sigh, throwing her arms wide in a shrug, Logic dictated if she chased two hares she would catch neither. But that was the kind of challenge that motivated her. She finally turns just her head to observe the path of their flight.
"Hmm, making me work for my thrills? That's pretty clever... But I ~like it~ when they run."
Juri doesn't waste any further time instead chasing after the fleeing dignitary with arms and legs pumping, for those on the ground floor they finally get a glimpse of the fights going on though they know not who everyone involved is. Up and over any obstacle in her way she event attempts to do the same with the last of the security detail and attempting to leap onto his back feet first and knock him down expediently.
COMBATSYS: Juri successfully hits Security with Kick Combo.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Rust 1/----===/=======|====---\-------\0 Mr. Humpy
[ \\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Security 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=------\-------\0 Juri
COMBATSYS: Rust takes no action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Rust 1/----===/=======|====---\-------\0 Mr. Humpy
[ \\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Security 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=------\-------\0 Juri
That engagement in India was nothing short of absolute terror and horror - the very first time he got to see the monster Vega in person. The thrashing that followed... he knows he was riding with Chun-Li and Munin that day. He and Munin, somehow, escaped unscathed thanks to... someone Munin knew? He never really pressed her for details then, but the vague memories of Juri's appearance and presence - and what happened to Chun-Li after the fact - speaks volumes of the very threat the South Korean terrorist represents.
It's hard to want to open his mouth against her - the chills she senses are very real. It wasn't just some belligerent he was dealing with (and a bear), it's... something more. His mind doesn't want to entertain the possibility that Shadaloo's survivors have found themselves a new line of work. (NESTS, maybe? After the Southtown Invasion he hadn't heard a peep about them, which his... for the best, as he's not in a hurry to hear a peep or hunt them down!)
It's when Juri decides to take off and away that the older man's eyes widen, exhaling something that sounds like 'get' but deciding half-way that maybe he really doesn't want to invite her back here and /yet/ letting her go would allow her to do what he's thinking he just tried to get them to avo--
No time to think, either, even if the sluggishness in his body limits his ability to chase Juri down before she can strike. The collateral damage of the fighting makes the chase slightly hazardous, threatening to have him trip unceremoniously across ruined decor and cracked floor that could give out at any moment!
Struggling to take in breaths - damn, that guy got his side good - the older man dashes after her as best he can in what can only be charitably considered at the rate of a healthy jog, watching in near-helplessness as she leaps onto the guy he's trying to help let escape...
He can't reach out with his arm to grab her, but that's where Ol' Rusty comes into play as the blood pumps through him, through a much-battered forearm that had suffered a series of debilitating injuries as though telling it... yes, you better hold onto the pipe and you'd better keep a damn good grip.
It obeys, as he thrusts out the pipe with one hand to try and hook just under Juri's belt to try and heft her up and - assuming she's still on there and/or isn't punished by a surprising reversal she may have already calculated ideas for prior to running off - direct her down to the ground with about all the strength he can put in that arm, through a hand whose grip had been steadily weakened through the years but nonetheless clenches Ol' Rusty with all it can muster.
He knows at least several people are counting on him to put a stop to it all, even if it seems more and more it's delaying the inevitable to any outside view.
The short, fifty-year old, south korean diplomat dashes as hard as his - completely unfit for strenous exercise - legs can carry him toward the farthest end of the second floor. That navy blue tie of his is whipping from side to side frantically as those well-polished several hundred dolalr dress shoes clap rhythmically against the floor. He'd left the bag of sandwhiches he'd purchased earlier in a pile behind the overturned tables from whence he came, now far more concerned for his life than the aftenoon's lunch. The only thought weighing on his mind, at this time, is whether or not he'd ever manage to see his family again.
Then he hears the sound of the last of his security detail hit the floor, and the marble tile squeak beneath Juri's feet as she lands ontop of him on the floor. ... Slowly, his run winds down to a sideways jog... the short of stature diplomat casting a concerned glance toward the unconscious man on the ground beneath her as he finally comes to a momentary stop. He knew better, he knew he should have just kept running... but losing so many of his men in one day pained him greatly than the wretched female straddles the agent's backside could ever hope to know. There was a short pause... the man casting his gaze back toward the nearby escalator... and then back at Juri. "Damn..." He mutters in Korean, deliberation over as he proceeds to turn on his heels and continue on his way to try make it out of this airport alive.
COMBATSYS: Rust successfully hits Juri with Wrecking Ball Swing EX.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Rust 0/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Mr. Humpy
[ \\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Security 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|===----\-------\0 Juri
COMBATSYS: Security has left the fight here.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Mr. Humpy 0/-------/---====|===----\-------\0 Juri
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Rust 0/-------/=======|
The heels don't give very good traction while running nor are the heels suited for such play as slides across and over the gentle ramp of the man form the security details lower back to shoulder there is a sharp tearing of material as an expensive suit jacket and cheap heels clash. With eyes locked solely on her prey who seems to be slowing Juri squawks with surprise as something both jerks her back and surprisingly into the air. It can't be? This old man, he couldn't have.. he caught up to her? There is little room for anything more than bewilderment on her part before the momentum changes and the seemingly light-weight South Korean fighter is smashed down hard onto the ground. Here now, Is that it? Another chapter in this nightmare over and done with? Not if Juri Han has even the remotest thing to say about it. Writhing around in response to the momentum that has cracked the ground beneath her small frame the South Korean is consumed with murderous thoughts of vengeance even if she has trouble voicing them.
"You hit me in the back!"
Juri doesn't so much stand as she if she appear as it to inflates from her position on the ground, going from lying to standing erect with a twist and then a single continuous rising movement.
"You old basatrd. Fine, you have my attention now. I HOPE YOU'RE PREPARED"
Enraged, shes humiliated, her game was interrupted and to make things worse the worm of a man dared to hurt her in the process. There's no telling what Kind of damage she's willing to do now. She swipes a Kick at Rust that is both brytal and wild but it's her eye thats most worrisome, She's drawing hard on the feng Shui engine, she doesn't care if she winds up bringing the whole place down.""
COMBATSYS: Rust blocks Juri's Heel Kick.
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Mr. Humpy 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\0 Juri
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Rust 1/-------/=======|
The older man lowers the pipe as he lets Juri off, taking it in both hands in brief as if to re-assert his grip as he keeps those tired - focused, yet tired - eyes upon her as she voices her complaint. Nothing about a... plan, or something? Just... hitting her in the back, is that all he's done--
When she's back on her feet in a blink he takes an unambiguous step back (lot of good that'd do him if he were thinking of turning tail right now), and even if he did manage another step back like one of his legs is suggesting, it would not be enough to avoid that wild kick that's coming at him.
By instinct, he brings his left forearm up, fist clenched after it releases the pipe - the telltale gesture of his almost famous ability to tense up and take just about anything that can come at him. As kick meets elbow, there is a deafening crack that echoes through the airport as the impact shudders through the man's body and the floor - a whole new dust cloud, and an even greater fear that the two of them are likely about to fall right through it.
Considering the surge of pain that goes through the arm that dares to stand against such a mighty kick powered by psychotic hatred, clenched teeth fail to hold back a softly-spoken curse as he wonders if she might've broken his elbow.
That he can still flex his fingers ever so slightly suggests that's not the case but he's not really going to want to be hitting things with it any time soon.
"Dunno what... what you're hopin' to accomplish," the older man finally speaks. It's not in the voice of some traditional superheroic bluster - it's tired, grumbly, and altogether the summation of a man who doesn't look he wants to be here (and thus, more than answers her question about how prepared he is).
It's impossible for him not to telegraph any of his movements - the downside of the famed bracing - as his joints all crackle and pop with every attempt to flex them into something of a ready stance, lowering Ol' Rusty down to his right as he leans forward.
"Shadaloo's done with... it's done with," he repeats this as though certain, as if to imply she really has no point in doing anything to begin with, as he fights the stiffness in his shoulder to swing Ol' Rusty upward to the chin, such strength in it carrying him forward a ways in the old mainstay in a pinch - the Cement Upper.
"You're gonna need a, a new line of work," this challenge is delivered awfully meekly, given it ends in a wheeze when his side starts to flare up in pain.
COMBATSYS: Rust successfully hits Juri with Cement Upper.
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Mr. Humpy 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\1 Juri
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Rust 1/-------/=======|
A shift, a downward glance, the wrong movement to make by any measure but it was also her only movement, even the flinch is minimal even if there was a distinctive clong a low resonating peal of metal striking something hard enough as Juri's head snaps backwards; but this time she doesn't fold backwards or roll away. The head just rights itself and then lolls forwards and then hangs loosely as a quiver of weakness makes her sway in place. Son of a bitch. She spits a foamy red fleck of saliva to the floor were already there are a few droplets of steadily falling red from her now bloody nose. Fucking kill him.
The tactical readout and appraisal put forth by the Feng Shui Engine is lost in the red haze of a murderous rage. Gone are the subtleties of combat, tactics or even skill. It's just raw power pouring through every atom and begging to be used for destruction.
"Moron, I'd do this for free and of my own accord. BECAUSE IT'S FUN!"
A snarling rictus of a smile with wild purple eye, one alight with madness and cruelty to an inhuman degree and the other blazing like the heart of a furnace, only to chill the heart rather than warm the bones.
"This is the end for you!"
Arm sweep across the front of her body she bats at the pipe with a clawed hand but the explosion of psychokinetic energy escaping from her pores is no more than a fraction of what is building up in her muscles and tendons. She drops her entire body to strike out at this battered old man's ankle but it is just the opening notes to the symphony of destruction, the spiralling ascent into the air amidst a corkscrew like spinning action and attempt to drill him back down into the air. Wall's nearby are gouged and scarred by the passage of that energy.
COMBATSYS: Juri successfully hits Rust with Kaisen Dankairaku.
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Mr. Humpy 0/-------/---====|=------\-------\0 Juri
[ \\ <
Rust 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|
The downward spike is met by an already sliding to a halt Juri han, fingertips and heels alike digging down trying to arrest all that momentum. She lances up with her leg just in time to catch the noble Howard Rust across the bottom of her heeled foot, the sly smile spreads at the additional pain that must have caused as she coo's into his ear, "Shadaloo is gone? Fool, it's just under new management."
Her face freezes ina look of confusion and revulsion at sudden close proximity to a certain headpiece and the usually crushing downwards spike of her opponent is turned into sling trying to throw him several feet away.
Howard has no illusions of a single strike felling her, already drawing back Ol' Rusty with the movement of her hand to push it aside as he brings his formidable experience and Kyokugen training to bear. His stance is ready, quick (...comparatively) to move with feet spread apart and left arm raised to her declaration of it all being fun.
His knee starts to twitch painfully at her declaration of it being the end, and the wide eyes on his face as he looks to lean back is the last thing he remembers between a point in time between this and being balanced on Juri's leg as he is swept up from a hard kick to his ankle that destroys his balance and carries him up and up and up... with Psycho Power overwhelming his senses, there is no conscious ability to even brace himself for the worst of the array as his body breaks under further battery.
There is one moment of clarity he may very well wish he doesn't have as he's caught on her leg, tongue lolling out as his unfocused eyes try to make sense of where he exactly /is/ after flashes of pain and the color purple fills his mind. That little clarification seems to snap something in him.
The toupee offends greatly not by just being awful, but for some reason deciding not to adhere to the laws of gravity. It is as good a reason as any to make sure whatever sort of person is wearing it gets fed through the grinder.
Yet... new management? He scowls, even works up an angry grunt before he is summarily flung away with a force that is no lesser for the variation of Juri's favored finisher against a floor already battered by bodies and brutal beatings inflicted upon the various belligerents of the evening.
The floor around his landing falls apart to an ever-expanding cascade of flooring and materials that were designed specifically to prevent such scenarios. A single story fall is, in itself, nothing much to write home about.
The shards of concrete and other such things that fall down the new hole makes things even worse as the downed Howard Rust is pelted with a plethora of loose debris. He stares up through the cloud of dust, unable to even see that loathsome flash of her eye that had ingrained itself in some deep corner of his mind while he was otherwise occupied back in those trying days in mainland Asia...
The cash register that had seen action throughout the encounter finally tips over the edge of this new hole, bouncing once on the floor before rolling up against the ex-shop teacher's head as those down below run screaming for help, safety, or perhaps even a photo opportunity. (It takes all kinds...)
The last conscious thought Howard can make, is of a spike of anxiety about what the hell she means by 'new management.'
COMBATSYS: Rust takes no action.
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Juri 0/-------/------=|====---\-------\0 Mr. Humpy
COMBATSYS: Rust can no longer fight.
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Juri 0/-------/------=|====---\-------\0 Mr. Humpy
Log created on 18:12:37 08/01/2012 by Vega, and last modified on 22:42:18 08/07/2012.