Description: El Fuerte has been captured by the immortal Duke. Death has not been able to stop him, but perhaps JUSTICE will have more luck?! Setting aside their differences, May Lee and Brett work together in order to foil Duke's plan, with May providing a distraction whilst Brett sneaks in to free the Lucha Libre fighter! With so much on the line, an explosive battle soon takes place which shakes the very foundations of the Metro City underworld!
What a crappy night for Axl.
Leather Jacket, leather pants, leather boots. Not even a shirt to cover that exposed chest. The other gangsters said he looked like a texas faggot. He carefully considered it, and broke in their god damned faces. Leather did NOT make you gay. There were a lot of real masculine men in full leather. Like Rob Halford! It didn't make him gay, it made him Judas Priest!
And Heavy Metal could NEVER be gay.
Axl smokes a blunt outside the warehouse door, underneath a small overhanging jutting out over the employee entrance. Leaning back, he keeps a foot up against the mossy brick wall of the aging warehouse. Hogan's Hollywwood Imports. The grinning wrestler on the side of the warehouse was anything but Hulk Hogan. For one, the Hulkster didn't have black hair. The company's loading dock was far off, a long march to the loading ports. Naturally, the main garage door, right beside the employee entrance, was an easier trip, only right by the parking lot. Five trucks are parked there, giving some cover. Cover was not a problem here, in fact; the closed construction of the Metro City Harbor made several fenced alleyways to slip and slither through, as long as you were acrobatic enough. The only trouble was the lone guard, puffing away at a toke. Axl had very simple orders of what to do when Brett shows up.
And after 3 hours of standing guard, he didn't think he had to carry them out.
But there's more to Metro City than Brett. There's more to the cause of Justice than the Metro Three. Whilst their relationship has been, to say the least, tense, May Lee has heard that one of the men who stood up to Shadaloo in their mad rampage across the world - none other than the Dynamic Wrestler El Fuerte - has been captured by Duke.
There's really only one question; a question that she asks herself every time she's confronted with evil. What Would Kim Do?
And Kim Kaphwan is not a man for subtly.
So whilst May has asked Brett to try and scope out the warehouse and see if he can find a way to get to the Dynamic Wrestler, the Strongest Woman in the World (in training) has made her way to the front. She's short, wearing a simple green scarf, and looks about as unintimidating as it is possible to look.
She also has no fear.
"Hey." She says, tugging her glove tight down as she looks right at the guard. "I'm going to give you one chance to open that door and let my friend out. If not."
She grins. Her teeth sparkle in the darkness.
"You're gonna taste the foot of Justice."
It was a shock when May Lee offered to assist Brett...what with the rather...bad impression(s) left between the two of them, involving accusations of theft and nearly resulting in flying coffee. The assistance was definitely welcome, considering what they were up against, but even with her help, Brett couldnt' say he felt...easy.
It might have been easier with Bartitsu Mask along, but she'd been terribly hard to grab since that...accident. Meaning it was just MayLee and an unknown vigilante in a leather jacket and a tinted motorcycle helmet...and a long length of pipe strapped to his back too. In another life, he and Axl may have been kindred spirits sometime!...but today, it was all about scoping Hogan's Hollywood Imports, trying to find a way inside around the guard. It was a long sneak around, trying to avoid the obvious (and reasonably guarded) employee entrance, hoping to find a side door that he could finagle himself into.
If only he knew about the direct approach being employed...especialy since MayLee was probably more fit to slip through the fenced off alleyways than Brett was. "NGhh....nnghhhh......should've...brought....cutters...."
Brett doesn't have too much trouble in the fenced off alleyways. Of course, the fences prove to be the most trouble; but at least he is out of the way. Unlike May Lee, who opts for the direct route. As the young korean simply drops in front of Axl, the leather-bound thug suddenly shoves off the wall. Face in a grimace, he throws away the blunt, narrowing his eyes. Focusing dead on May Lee, he puffs out his chest, approaching the girl. And finally, in a thick Metro City accent, he asks a rather dumb question.
"Youse are Brett Neuer?"
Axl tugs out a small photograph. Holding it up, he compares the profile picture of Brett to the heoric Korean Girl before him. Comparing the two, he tilts his head back, a smug smirk spreading across his face. "Youse ain't Brett Neuer. Beat it, kid." Axl grunts, thumbing to the side. "We got a private party here, and if you ain't on the list, you ain't invited." Axl inspects May Lee over one more time, before a leer spreads over his face. "Course, youse could always come to the party with me, honey."
"And did youse get yours teeth to sparkle like that?"
Well, nobody can say she didn't warn him.
May doesn't hesitate - she's here to help Brett find El Fuerte, and that's just what she's going to do. If this guy doesn't know who she is and why he should be worried and taking her seriously, well, she'll just have to demonstrate that first hand. Or, as the case may be, first foot.
It goes against her nature to start the fight, but there it is. In one sudden jumping motion, she springs into action, bringing her foot around with her, and aiming to plant it squarely in Axl's jaw. "I'm not normally one to break the rules..." She says, mid-way through the swing.
"But I'm /crashing/ this party!"
COMBATSYS: MayLee has started a fight here.
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MayLee 0/-------/-------|
Meanwhile, unaware of the party crashing on the partof the disciple of Kim, Brett, trying to be as incognito as a broad 200+ lbs hockey winger in a motorcycle helmet can be, finally got himself through the narrow fencing, groaning and leaning over his knees as he finally gets free of that pinching narrowness. "Nnnhh...." Reminder: bring cutters next time.
With the awful chain-link behind him though, he's got enough room to spread his wings....or to be more literal, unstrap his weapon, the pipe pulled off his back and hefted in his padded hands. Frowning and bracing, he tried to creep around for that side entrance. He feels rather naked without skates, but they'd be a liability here...besides, that training with Lita should've been for these kinds of situations. Of course, once he gets to a door, he has to make another mental note:
Bring a crowbar too.
COMBATSYS: Axel has joined the fight here.
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MayLee 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Axel
COMBATSYS: Axel endures MayLee's Medium Kick.
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MayLee 0/-------/-------|===----\-------\0 Axel
Looks like Brett took the ninja path.
Finally breaking through the fencing, he slips through to one ofhte side alleyway entrances. The large dumpster and number of cans reveal the true purpose of this side route: garbage dropoff. The cries of May Lee and the grunts of Axl can be heard from here; but another sound can be heard as well. Within the warehouse a great roar is heard, the cheers of a crowd coming out. What was happening within? Could they be cheering.... over some kind of torture El Fuerte is undergoing?
Meanwhile, May Lee has a thug to deal with.
May Lee's flying kick is met with slack jaw dumbfoundness. Axl takes the kick hard in the face, drawing a fight or flight reaction from the brute. Unfortunately for May Lee, fight was the dominant force."You stupid bitch!" He roars as he attempts to punch through the kick, smashing through the startling approach with a wild, forceful haymaker. May Lee too can hear the roar from the crowd within.
What were they doing to El Fuerte in there?
COMBATSYS: MayLee counters Fierce Punch from Axel with Blazing Intercept.
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MayLee 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\0 Axel
May Lee's response is as brutal as Axel's had intended to be. Her foot is still extended when he comes in at her, but in a blur of motion she swings herself around, her left leg going from her only support, to a crushing interception of the oncoming fist.
There's a stunning amount of force there, as she smashes into Axel's side and sends him hurtling away without ever connecting his retaliatory blow. She herself stands with her hands upon her hips, scarf billowing out behind her as she regards the thug.
"I already told you. I'm putting an end to this nonsense. You can stay in my way if you like, but if you do, it'll just end badly for you. Because I am the Champion of Justice..."
"MAY LEE!"
Hearing the sounds of fighting from the main employee entrance, Brett finds himself sweatdropping beneath the helmet. Wasn't he the one who usually takes the brute force approach in a fight? Wasn't she the one that suggested he sneak around and case the place. The girl really is an interesting contradiction....shaking his head, Brett TRIES to forget about the brawl starting several yards away....
And instead listens to the cheering coming from the sounds coming from the side door. He frowns, the sound not exactly making him feel at ease. Furrowing his brow, he decides time is of the essence, and slams the pipe into the door lock, trying to break it open and hurry on in there. He'll worry about the cute taekwondoka's enthusiasm later....she can handle herself, after all, right?
The lock shatters with a smash.
The door swinging open, Brett can the hallway open up to him. This must be on the office side; judging by the winding hallways, it was alive with the sounds of chattering and chanting echoing throughout the hallway. There were people here, a lot of people. But while the chants were of only the meanest spirit.... the chattering were reasonably neutral in tone. There are no guards within; Brett has a clear passage to explore the administrative passageways of the warehouse.
Almost as clear as the beating Axl was getting.
Axl's surging haymaker is stopped cold by the sweep of the leg, the kick smashing into the brute hard. Axl's momentum runs cold as he hits the concrete with a thump and a moan. Only his leather jackets keeps the abrasions from coming... but the swollen purple bruise on his abdomen met well with the bloodied lip he earned before. Stunned, he rolls around on the ground, confused, before rising up. ".... He... is... THE PAINKILLER!" The man chants to himself, trying to steady himself. As he reaches the apex of his rise, the brute suddenly charges at May Lee. Rushing in with an elbow, he attempts to plow through her with a rush-down headbutt. To build momentum. To get back at her.
And to break her.
COMBATSYS: MayLee dodges Axel's Ramming Speed.
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MayLee 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\0 Axel
Better men than Axl have tried to break May Lee. He rushes in, and she goes up. She's making it look easy, which probably isn't helping. The fact is that she's having to work hard to maintain this level of expertise... but it doesn't fit the image to acknowledge that. He's a thug. She's a hero. Its only a matter of time before he goes down and doesn't get back up again.
Landing nimble, the girl once again grips her glove, and this time, comes forward with a brutal smashing punch. Putting her full strength into the blow, she aims for the base of the spine, crackling lightning flaring in her path - and if she makes contact, clean into the unfortunate Axl as well. All this, accompanied by the loud cry of -
"LIGHTNING BLOW!"
It's....really weird, being the silent, stalking type. Even if he's not very silent. It's a small wonder that Brett breaking through the door didn't attract attention, and he's understandably cautious as he slips through the hallways. He does a cursory glance of the desks in the office he finds himself in, but the chanting and chattering are what worry him the most.
With his posture low and pipe gripped tightly, he went further and further down the halls, trying to find out as much as he could...particularly anything that might clue in on where Fuerte was hidden. But geez, what the hell are they whooping about anyway?
COMBATSYS: Axel blocks MayLee's May Lee- Lightning Blow!.
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MayLee 0/-------/------=|=======\==-----\1 Axel
The cheers and chants continue to rise and fall.
The contents of the desks are empty. In fact, it seems that the monitors were last produced in the early 90s; the offices almost look abandoned... except for the lack of vermin. Most mysterious was that the small garbage cans are filled.... with deoderant spray and worn bandages?! As he slinks around the cooridors, the noises grow louder and louder... until he turns the corner into the abdomden of a large, man. A familiar man.
The bear-masked thug Brett had fought before, Yogi.
His dull eyes gaze upon the helmeted Brett, the mask showing no other expression. Adjusting his tie, his gaze lifts to past Brett. Behind Brett, another familiar figure steps out of a corner office dressed in a ranger outfit. Garbbed in another bear mask and a wide-brimmed ranger hat, Smokey seemed to also be present here. Caught between Yogi and Smokey, the pair inspects Brett briefly, before Yogi finally pipes up.
"Hey there, buddy, what's a with the lame biker get up? Whata kind of theme is that for a ring fight?"
While, however, Axl proves what makes him unique from the other thugs. As May Lee hurls out her attack, Axl does one of the most annoying and cruel things any thug on the street could pull: He blocks the incoming attack. As the lightning comes, Axl goes to his knee, and turns. Crossing his arms, the incoming punch is caught, and mostly shrugged off. But the lightning, however, is not. Burning over his body, the thug grimaces in pain. "Youse think youse will get anywhere past me, you dumb broad? Youse gonna be a lot of trouble!" He roars as he rises... into an uppercut. Hurling a fist up, he will try to follow up with a violent frenzy of a swinging limbs. Attempting to smash through the woman, he will conclude the frantic combo with a single, long, thrusting kick.
To knock her straight into the door of the warehouse.
COMBATSYS: MayLee blocks Axel's Double Fisted Fury.
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MayLee 0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0 Axel
May Lee moves with the offensive. The sudden surge of energy from the man is impressive, and actually rattles her even through her defense, but she is skilled, there's no doubting that. Blow after blow is met and turned aside, culminating in the huge kick which meets a crossed guard, and sends her skidding backwards - but does not put her down.
Instead, she's actually smirking as she uncrosses her arms. Pretty satisfied with herself.
"I think that's enough from you!"
Back onto the offensive, the girl's elbow leads the way, as she aims to smash into the thug's stomach with all the force she can muster, and, if the powerful blow hits clean, send him away with a rising uppercut, and a cry of "JUSTIIIIIIICE COMBO!"
Oh crap.
Those are familiar faces. Hard to miss two thugs in bear masks, you know. Not many with that kind of ridiculous theme, and this time, he's alone, without the likely sudden emergence of a friendly masked face like last time. Good thing he's got his helmet on...especially since the two don't peg him immediately. Maybe Fuerte and Fuji were onto something with the mask thing....
Keeping silent for fear that his voice would break trying to give some kind of witty riposte, or give away his identity just by saying a single word, he just lifts his pipe and prods Yogi in the chest, helmeted head tilted as if trying to say 'So what?'. Of course, it takes all of Brett's self-control to not bolt out of there quick as possible. Game faces don't put themselves on, after all, at least not so easily.
COMBATSYS: Axel endures MayLee's Strong Punch.
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MayLee 0/-------/---====|======-\-------\0 Axel
It may have been a real benefit that Brett was not recognized.
The pair of thugs continues to keep Brett trapped, though Smokey does push him a bit. "Yeah, seriously. A pipe? A biker helmet? Where is the color?! What's the theme? You like a damn asshole, not a unique face. You wanna make it big with Mad Gear, you gotta stand out, just like Yogi and I." Yogi nods with his partner. "Auya, you gotta aget it a signature style! Otherawise, you won't get the big boss's eye!" Yogi steps aside, as Smokey moves past Brett. "At least he is silent. Maybe he is running that theme? A silent but deadly guy. Isn't Duke's right hand man like that? The frog?" Yogi shakes his head. "I dunno, a boo-boo! Hey, whatsa your name, buddy? We can't a go up until Duke says his mark shows up! If they a don't get a going, we are gonna have a party with that El Fuerte!" Smokey scoffs. "Yeah, you heard about what's going on here, buddy?"
"It's a trap for Brett and his friends!"
Axl remains May Lee's plaything. A hero like May Lee was simply too much for an elite thug like Axl. Sure, Axl was tough for a mook. But in the end, he was still a mook. As he sends May Lee skidding, his brow furrows in rage. "That does it, youse bitch!" He bellows as May Lee hurls in the elbow. Blinded by his anger, he lets her take that elbow jab as he raises both of his arms high. As May Lee finishes with the upper cut, he doesn't get sent away. Eyes bloodshot, face contorted with broken teeth and blood, he finally brings down the full might of both arms down towards the Korean.
To try and smother that burning spirit.
COMBATSYS: MayLee dodges Axel's Gaijin Smash.
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MayLee 0/-------/---====|======-\-------\0 Axel
Both hands come down, but they are not where May Lee is.
Because May Lee is in the air, and her scarf flies dramatically behind her, framing a bright silhouette. One hand is raised up above, and it is with this that she aims to finally put the Mad Gear Minion down once and for all. She'd thrown everything she had at him, and now it is time to finish it in the most dramatic way possible!
"CHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOPU!"
The arc of the hand is flawless as it descends from above, aiming to crash into the point where neck meets shoulder. Really, she's surprised he's been able to keep going as long as he has! But she's confident that a technique with as storied a lineage as this one will not let her down when she needs it most.
Well, that explains things. Firstly, there was some sort of mass pit fighting thing going on for those who wanted into the gang. And secondly, it was meant as a trap...mind, not exactly hard to figure that out, but it was something Brett had to go into anyway, with hands forced. Looks like fate kind of helped him sneak through past that landmine though. Still, he has a more immediate, pressing issue now, as the two bears try to prod and poke him into explaining himself and playing his hand.
Throat dry as he tries to think fast, he pulled his pipe back, gripping it at the middle and lifting it up. The first thing that comes to mind passes his lips behind the helmet, coming out somewhat raspy as he speaks. "Lead."
...yeah, not exactly creative. But it's all that he can think of, hoping it's enough to get him through the door at this point.
COMBATSYS: MayLee successfully hits Axel with May Lee- Chop!.
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MayLee 0/-------/-======|=======\=------\1 Axel
Creative should never be wasted on the stupid.
Yogi and Smokey nod, helping out the younger know-nothing as brotherly thugs should. Leading through the passages, they continue to chatter. "Anyways, Buddy," Smokey pipes up, having decided that Brett's name is Buddy. "The big man makes it easy. We have big fights down here; and this time, we got El Fuerte. The guys a real troublemaker, a friend of some guy named Brett. Well, the big man makes it easy; whoever beats up Brett and whoever he brings, gets into the gang." Yogi shakes his head. "Thats a not gonna be, from what I a hear!" He states forlornly as they approach the double doors, where the roars are at the loudest.
Roars that carry outside to May Lee herself.
As the finishing chop comes, Axl stares up into the air. A dumb look in his eyes, his jaw was slack. He body loose. And then, with a shuddering blow, he takes the hit right between the eyes. The crack runs up and down his entire body. He just stares into space, for a moment longer.
Before collapsing to the ground.
The path to both fighters were clear now, to the heart of the gang, to where El Fuerte was held.
Would they open the door to their friend, and to justice?
COMBATSYS: Axel takes no action.
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MayLee 0/-------/-======|
COMBATSYS: Axel can no longer fight.
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MayLee 0/-------/-======|
A lesser hero might pause to collect their thoughts; take a breather, and focus themselves for the task ahead.
May Lee is no such hero.
With one hand, she grabs Axl by the back of the neck. Hauling him up is tough, but she's in full Hero Mode now, and her heart burns with fierce Justice! She understands as well as anyone that victory is bought as much by your opponent realizing how skilled you are, as by your actual skill, especially when dealing with low-level thugs. A dramatic entrance is worth a thousand rounds, or so they say!
Which is why her foot impacts the warehouse door, and sends it crashing inwards, before she *pitches* Axl's unconscious body into the darkness beyond. She... won't get much range on a guy that big, but even if his bloodied and battered form just thumps inwards and then stops, the fact that she is entirely uninjured - just a little bruised around the blocking arms - should speak volumes as she steps through the doorway.
"Anyone ELSE want to join this guy in a trip to jail?!"
....whatever. At least the two aren't asking more prodding questions about his identity. That's a good thing. He just, for now, sits behind that impassive mask, eyes darting from bear to bear as he listens to them. Well....crap. What to do now. Well....first, he should try to act like he belongs here...and try to push past the two bears down to the floor, like he was ready for a fight. Guys respect stuff like that, right?
Of course, the best laid plans of mice and men, and all that. The fact that this is barely a plan to begin with doesn't matter, as May Lee's own entrance makes things a little more sketchy. Perhaps hiding isn't going to be much of an option anymore...thusly, if he can at least manage to get past the dim bear duo, the would be vigilante will be running rather than walking his way down.
The doors open to reveal...
An arena of illicit fighting.
The side lines are filled with hooligans of all walks of life, of every race and creed. Beers, drugs, and women were sold in the stands, and a makeshift lighting system held overhead. Brett comes in on the close end, a service entrance and exit near the ring. May Lee, however, comes in the main entrance, for all to see.
The ring itself was stained with blood and grit, a wooden wrestling ring that was regularly torn apart. And hanging above it, from the lightning system, was a familiar face. Bound and unconscious, naked save his wrestling tights and his mask, was El Fuerte, high in the air above the ring. Below him, a man dressed as a green-scaled fish was smashing in the head of a besuited man with a pink body suit.... and a blue star across his face. As the scaly man bites the face, the fight comes to a hold as May Lee comes exploding in.
And high in the stands, in his own private booth, a very familiar figure rises.
"So we meet again." Came the deep baritone as a half a dozen of the thugs scramble from the stands down towards May Lee. The red suited man, high in his own private seating, rises up. Glowering down towards May Lee, the crime boss smiles softly. "Do you have another thing you wish to sell me, young girl?" Duke rumbles, as the Korean begins to get surrounded. "Or perhaps.... Perhaps you did not come alone?" Duke casts his gaze to behind May Lee, expecting Brett to come bursting in after her.
There is no ally bursting in hot on her heels.
This means two things. It means that May Lee is all on her own, looing at Duke without fear or doubt... and therefore, she is weak, vulnerable.
It also means that the man beaten and bloodied at her feet, was done all on her own, making her the very opposite of weak and vulnerable.
"Nope. I gave you the opportunity to be rehabilitated under the Kaphwan School Criminal Rehabilitation program, and you turned me down." May Lee declares, loudly, pointing up at the man who is clearly behind all this, and totally ignoring the two men whose fight she interrupted.
"So its time for a different deal. You give me El Fuerte."
"And I don't beat every single one of you down and drag you to a Mexican jail for what you did to him."
She sounds like she really means it! Her scarf flying around dramatically behind her as she makes her serious ultimatum.
COMBATSYS: MayLee equips her scarf for +10 Justice!
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MayLee 0/-------/=======|
Meanwhile, amidst the crowd, coming from the exit closer to the makeshift ring the gang is using for their fights, Brett is...well, mingling. With everyone mostly focused on May, it does give the disguised hockey kid some room to work!
Which is good, since he can see the poor luchador hanging from the ceiling. He mutters under his breath, thankfully muffled by the mask, as he tries to creep closer. And in the hornet's nest, so to speak, simply trying to charge in and fight everyone all on his own (with May's help, of course) just...doesn't seem smart.
So instead, with the handy distraction, the pipe-wielder looks around, hoping he can find some way he can unhook Fuerte from his place above. Controls the lower the lights some how, a way up to the gantryways above....SOMETHING. Think quick, Neuer, think quick!
COMBATSYS: MayLee drops her guard to recover.
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MayLee 0/-------/=======|
COMBATSYS: MayLee takes no action.
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MayLee 0/-------/=======|
May Lee makes some very valid points.
Beating up Axl was a dangerous act. And for the Korean to look unfazed... only intrigued Duke more. Another group of thugs drops down, bringing the total surrounding May Lee to a dozen. Armed with fists, clubs, and knives, the leering dozen dash in and out, testing her reflexes, her reactions. All they needed was a reason to strike. Brett was not seen at the moment... or if he was, no one was stopping yet.
But Duke raises his hands, giving the command to hold.
"Gentlemen, please. We have rules here!" The crime boss rumbles with soft, almost affable tones. "All the fighting happens WITHIN the ring.. as long as the challenger follows the rules. This woman clearly is here for El Fuerte; seeing that Brett was too cowardly to come, she will simply have to do." Snapping his fingers, the thugs back off nervously, clearing the path to El Fuerte... and the ring. It was just rop "If you wish to claim your friend... you simply have to beat all challengers in the ring. Which...." Duke glances towards the stunned wrestlers in the ring. "... Seems to be Star Man and The Amazon." Duke states with jeering tones. "What do you say? Will you accept the challenge?"
"Or will you 'bring justice' to all of us?"
Unfortunately for Brett, it does not seem to be any winch system, any professional system to gently lower El Fuerte down. There was a catwalk system, however; if Brett could slink behind the scenes, he could slip up the catwalks to over the stage, and simply untie the rope up at the lights. Whether he continues sneaking, or assists May Lee, was up to him.
Or perhaps he should just run away, abandoning his friends.
May Lee does not look afraid as the dozen men drop down and surround her. The young Korean has been in war - she's beaten armies of people more skilled than these guys. She'd fought for her life and her country time and again. She doesn't know where Brett is, but the fact he isn't strung up there too, and Duke doesn't know either... means that he's probably doing a good job.
"I'm not playing your game." She says, impetuous as ever. There's heroic spirit and resolve in her voice, and contempt for these men in her eyes. Her hand is raised, and the bracelet that Chun-Li gave her glints in the light - unmistakable as ever. The heavy spiked weight of justice weighs heavily on her. The expectation of a great woman. And a silent reminder of how great her allies really are.
"You've had your fun. I don't even care that you're hosting illegal fights down here. You've made your point to Brett and to El Fuerte. Now. You let him down, and I walk away from this city satisfied that everyone can be reasonable."
"You keep trying to threaten and intimidate me... and you'll find out just what it means to challenge Tae Kwon JUSTICE!"
Well...May seems to know how to keep things talking. Which is....actually a good thing. It gives Brett time to figure out that there's no way to lower Fuerte from the ground...but he can make his way up to the catwalk if he tries. Something that the helmeted hockey kid decides to commit to. In the crowd, he tries to catch May's eyes someway, hopefully gesturing for her to try and keep Duke talking.
Hopefully if his rather clumsy signal isn't caught, he'd take to finding a way up to the catwalks above. After all, he sincerely doubts that even if he and May beat their chosen opponents, Duke would let them leave with Fuerte...perhaps not even leave alive.
...since when did Brett have to be the sneaky one anyhow?
"What a shame."
Words of true disappointment from the looming crime boss. Arms crossed, the thugs look warily between Duke and the girl. Despite the superior numbers, there was something unnerving about May Lee. Her utter heroism, her unyielding confidence. This was no frightened girl, but a true heroine of justice. The whole of the arena was now focused on this odditity.
Giving Brett his opportunity.
The ladder to the catwalk was open for the disguised hockey fighter. May Lee was the distraction. And Brett? Brett was the master of stealth. Once he reaches up the ladder, it was only a switchback or two towards the lights... and the strung up El Fuerte.
But once untied, what was the escape plan?
Duke, however, seemed to be disappointed. "We had hoped to use you for initiation. I am a reasonable man; I would have let you and El Fuerte go, if you had entertained me suitably. But you have no interest in compromise. Therefore, I have to kill you now."
And Duke begins to walk down the stands.
The seats shudder and shake with every step, the massive man approaching towards May Lee with a great, brooding presence.
"I know what it means to challenge Tae Kwon Justice.
Do you remember, outside the police station? When I broke you? You know, even if you smash through all of my men, you still have to go through me. El Fuerte could not even stand up to me. You could not even stand up to me. And Brett... Brett has run scared, afraid to even save his friend. You are alone, young lady." Duke states, as the thugs begin to climb back into the stands, rubbing their hands eagerly. "A single one of my men doesn't frighten you. A whole gang only strengthens your resolve more. But true terror, true power, truly crushing any dream of justice? You know that I am more than capable of that to you." The brutish Don steps down on the concrete ground, peering through the fighting ring, yellow eyes burning as he focuses on May Lee.
"Are you certain you have no second thoughts, no regrets?"
"You're wrong."
May Lee is smiling, and, maybe it is his imagination... but just maybe her eye had flitted to Brett for a moment as he makes his way to do what he has to do. But she is keeping Duke's attention on her. Meeting his eye without any fear, any hesitation. Duke is a frightening man, yes; but he is not Vega. That monster himself had attempted to crush the hope out of her. He'd almost succeeded. But there's no chance that Duke can do the same.
"You're strong. But I know the truth, Duke. I know what it is which scares even you!"
Her foot raises, and then slams down into the ground with enough force to raise dust about her. Her hands ball up at her sides, and she prepares herself. "You can crush me! You can break my bones! You can even kill me!"
"But you can NEVER kill the dream of JUSTICE! That dream is in my heart, in my head, and those are places where nobody - not you, not Vega, not any other person - can touch! Because just by looking you in the eye and saying 'no'."
She looks downright fierce, lips pulled back in a bright smile, energized, ready for the fight!
"I've ALREADY WON!"
Looks like May got his message. And with everyone focused on her, somehow Brett managed to sneak by up to the catwalks. Not bad for someone with the stealth potential of a hippo. With May boasting and putting on her best confident face in front of that demon, no one was able to keep an eye on him as he crept closer to where Fuerte was hung up. Reaching over toward the light rigging he was dangling from, Brett did his best to try and untie him. Dead weight might make it difficult...but hey, he's used to lifting anyhow.
The only question being what to do once he has Fuerte in tow, IF he can even get him free before someone decides to look up....
"And I am about to win as well."
Duke grips the ropes of the ring, and rolls under them. Emerging into the ring, he returns to his lumbering towards May Lee, the steps stomping hollow as he crosses. "Ideals? Justice? Those are dreams... dreams for children. All that matters is that I eliminate three troublesome fools.... or make use of them. You choose not to be useful? Then I will eliminate you. I am more than willing to let you win with your dreams. But in the real world-"
Duke suddenly casts his eyes straight up.
Those yellow eyes double take, as the Don slowly turns his head up. Stepping to the side, he pivots, eyes gradually narrowing as the mysterious biker man begins to untie El Fuerte. It doesn't take long for the crime boss to realize what was happening. The eyes go wide as Duke thrusts a finger up to the catwalk, all eyes on Brett. And the command comes.
"Shoot him!"
Guns are gradually drawn out, fumbled as they come on the move. May Lee is forgotten, for the moment, as everything slowly begins to train on the lighting overhang. Brett has only moments before a volley of bullets hammer away towards him. May Lee has only a moment to do something, anything to cover Brett. Every second was counting.
And one mistake could cost them their life.
May Lee feels sweat bead on her brow, but she is energized, enthusiastic, and ready to kick Duke's ass. Kim wouldn't back down. SHE won't back down. She'll bring this victory home and make sure that, somehow, when the smoke clears, she is the one standing and Duke is brought low.
And then Duke realizes what is going on.
He's no inexperienced man, but even he would have to be surprised by May Lee's response. Duke shouts to fire... and May Lee erupts into the air, immense amounts of power suddenly surging out of her. There's no thought; no strategy, just, pure instinct. She's not going to let Brett get gunned down!
And the entire arena is filled with her energy, with her FIGHTING SPIRIT!
"BREEEETT! HANG ON TIGHT... THIS IS--!"
And the entire warehouse is rocked by the force of the detonation, massive amounts of flame and explosions tearing through the thugs, making the windows explode outwards and the platform rock violently.
As she starts to descend, May Lee is visibly exhausted. The exertion of pulling that out of nowhere is, immense. But the air is full of smoke and, if Duke had hoped there would be any of his men conscious to see his victory... he is going to be sorely disappointed.
COMBATSYS: Duke has joined the fight here.
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MayLee 1/---====/=======|=------\-------\0 Duke
COMBATSYS: Duke has joined the fight here as a boss!
DUKE
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MayLee 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Brett has joined the fight here.
DUKE
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0|---------------|------------===
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MayLee 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Brett
Well, it couldn't last forever. It was mostly luck that kept Brett from being made....luck and the general dimness of the Mad Gear's grunts anyhow. But Duke is no dumb muscle, so it shouldn't be surprising that he's the one that figures out what's going on and actually bothers to look up. "Crap!" he shouts, before hastily trying to heft the unconscious Fuerte onto his shoulders, Fireman's Carry style. Thank god Uncle Joe was a volunteer fireman....
Unfortunately, with things popping, Brett is kind of forced to make haste...which isn't easy with the full dead weight of a human body on one's shoulders. Ducking down and trying to hurry down the catwalk, he's caught by surprise....
Not by gunfire. But by....good god. Whatever May managed to summon up. Enough to cause the catwalk to buckle and force Brett to dive for the top of the very lighting rigging that Fuerte had been hanging from in the first place. Hanging on for dear life (and Fuerte's life too!), the helmeted, in-over-his-head hockey kid tried to keep steady long enough for the explosive assault of JUSTICE to subside....
And as he looks up to the sky (well, ceiling) for a sign of providence....an idea comes to mind. "....this is such a bad idea..." he mutters to himself.
COMBATSYS: Duke endures MayLee's May Lee- The End!.
DUKE
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MayLee 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Brett
And May Lee saves Brett's life.
There was no way to mince words on that. As the Tek-9s and Saturday Night Specials are drawn, it looks for a minute that Brett was going to be filled with lead. But as the explosion comes, the entire interior is consumed by the blast zone. Duke himself is caught off-guard by the explosion, the last action seen by the crime boss is walking towards the Korean, before becoming consumed by the light. As the blast fades, the entire room is overturned like a toybox. The thugs moan and groan, writhing on the ground in pain. Clouds of smoke hang heavy in the air, still consuming the center ring...
And a massive, black hand bursts from the haze.
Duke emerges from the dust, suit torn, dirtied and still on fire in some places. But the man himself seems almost unharmed, save for the singed hairs on his beard and hair. The immortal man. Unkillable, as the scar on his neck showed all too much. For a blast that knocked the whole of his gangster army down... it only seemed to make the Duke angry. And his jaw was locked in a grimace., those yellow eyes were dead focused on the exhausted Korean. And finally, he rumbles force two words, the epitaph for May Lee's grave.
"Stupid girl."
Duke's menacing warning was clear as he hurls forward the punch towards May Lee's face, to stun her with the force comparable of a garbage truck going 88 MPH. Should it land, it would not send her back to the future. He would simply stun her long enough to lift her up by her legs... and with a giant leap, powerbomb her into the center ring....
With a violent explosion of energy.
COMBATSYS: Duke successfully hits MayLee with Volcanic Bomb.
DUKE
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MayLee 1/----===/=======|-------\-------\0 Brett
May Lee attempts to duck around the punch, but it connects firmly. She grunts, and is absolutely helpless to prevent the assault that follows. The energy detonates, and when it clears, May Lee is picking herself back up from the floor. Bloodied, bleeding profusely from a wound in the head, she is... actually smiling?
The look on her features is genuinely amused. Grinning as though the whole situation is a joke that only she gets. Her eyes glimmer with it, and she gives the very slightest shake of her head, dropping out of her stance... though she is still definitely paying attention to Duke - ready to defend herself is she has to.
"What now, Duke?" She asks, "What do you think, you're going to get out of this? You've lost. Is this how you plan to use all your strength? Throwing a tantrum like an upset child?"
Despite her beaten and battered state, her voice is entirely sincere. She's not even recovering as many fighters do, to prepare for the fight ahead. She's just... looking him in the eye, and talking, after he broke open her skull. Damn but it hurt.
"I feel /sorry/ for you."
COMBATSYS: MayLee takes no action.
DUKE
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0|---------------|-----------====
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MayLee 1/----===/=======|-------\-------\0 Brett
And while May is working on the moral victory...above....well, Brett is working on something seriously crazy and stupid. And actually a lot more difficult than it looked, as he still didn't have any cutting tools on his person to help. Not to mention the unconscious ally currently strung across his shoulders.
But somehow, someway, he manages, with a few fierce whacks of his pipe and use of his own body weight. So as May stands before Duke, with no guard or stance offered, she should HOPEFULLY hear a shout from the ceiling. "MAY! DIVE!!"
That's because with a last stomp, Brett would send the lighting just above the ring down in a precipitous fall....with the hockey kid himself riding it on the way down straight toward Duke's head with the unconscious Fuerte still in tow.
COMBATSYS: Brett successfully hits Duke with Huge Thrown Object.
DUKE
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MayLee 1/----===/=======|-------\-------\0 Brett
"Spare me the heroic platitudes."
The ring shudders upon the impact, the ring nearly crashing under the power of the single attack. Also, he was shaking off the damage that May Lee's ultimate attack brought forward. Duke's tone was calm in the face of such defiance. "Whatever feeling you have now will soon be a distant memory." The Don states as he lowers a single massive palm down, and seizes May Lee by the throat taking the other hand, he grabs May Lee by her leg, and raises her high in the air as he brings a knee forward, bracing it. "This isn't a matter of one of us winning, and another losing. I always win, stupid girl. "And now, it is time for you to close your eyes for sleep."
"As I bring you down to HELL!"
Duke come just short of slamming May Lee down hard across his knee, when he hears a clanging. Hesitating, he looks up at Brett, eyes narrowed. He doesn't have time to reflect, when the light fixture begins to fall down... along with the catwalks. And the ceiling. The combination of May Lee's attack, with Duke's thunderous Volcanic Bomb, was proving too much for the aged warehouse. With Brett's smash, the warehouse begins to collapse, the roof caving in. Duke hurls May Lee aside as the light fixtures begin to hammer down on him. The strike to the head was nothing. But as more and more of the roof comes down, Duke suddenly is knocked hard to the flooring of the ring...
And the ring then collapses down, pinning Duke under the rubble that was growing taller and taller.
COMBATSYS: Duke takes no action.
DUKE
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0|---------------|-------========
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MayLee 1/----===/=======|-------\-------\0 Brett
May Lee chokes as she is grabbed and lifted, but she can see what is happening, and, she doesn't panic. Not yet. Hurled to the side, she rolls and skids to a stop. When she finally does come to a halt... there's a part of her which really wants to get out of here; to leave the evil man to his fate. He'd really intended to kill her, after all!
But, there's that question. What would Kim do?
"Get out of here, Brett!" May declares, "Get El Fuerte to a hospital, I'll be right behind you!"
Much of her heroic ... aura, has disappeared. There's times for dramatics, but, that has been beaten out of her, not so much by the fight... but the situation she is now in. Maybe Duke really thought it was a platitude; maybe he thinks May Lee is stupid. Maybe she is.
But she isn't going to let him die.
Rushing back to the pile, she stumbles back a pace as the roof screams and crashes down... and then she's digging into the rubble with her bare hands, hauling at the rubble until she can find one of those powerful hands that had been trying to squeeze the life out of her... grab it, and tug, hauling with all her might.
COMBATSYS: MayLee switches her Mindset.
DUKE
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MayLee 1/----===/=======|-------\-------\0 Brett
It takes a well timed dive off lest Brett ends up in the heap of tangled steel and scrap that results from his rather crazy gambit, but he manages to get off in time before both he and Fuerte were as buried as Duke. Scrambling away, he stands beside May...only to be forced off even further when the entire warehouse starts to cave in, eyes wide behind his helmet's vistor as the hockey kid tries his best to run to safety on legs barely solid after that first landing.
Groaning, Brett finally collapsed to his knees, focused mostly on keeping Fuerte atop his shoulders and from harm, even at the risk of his own body. Still, he has to look back, making sure that May is ok as well....so when he sees her back at the pile, his eyes go even wider. "Hey!" he shouts, lowering Fuerte to a safe place away from the warehouse before hobbling back. Even if she said to get out of here, and that she'd be right behind him, he can't leave well enough alone. Even if it means trying to help her pull Duke out from the rubble. "I should....let this bastard stay buried here..." he mutters to himself, even as he assists May on her endeavor of Justice.
"... How can this be...?"
Duke is pinned underneath the rubble, but is merely stunned. As he recovers, he tries to stand.... and finds that the weight is too much for him. Brett isn't the only one that flees; as the rumbling increases, the thugs and gangsters, recovering from The End, realize that the entire warehouse is coming to an end itself. Fleeing in a panic, they abandon the crime boss under the heap.
But May Lee and Brett do not.
As May Lee approaches, to grab his hand, the vengeful crime lord is ready to seize the Korean, to pin her in place as the whole of the building comes crashing down. Duke was impossible to put down. But May Lee? She was mere flesh and bone. As Brett returns, however, the scowl grows harder, as the pair struggles hard to pull him out. Duke trying to work his legs, loosening the rubble as more of the roof and catwalk crashes into the stands. And how does Duke repay his saviors?
"Fools! Two utter fools!"
With a final heave, the combined efforts of the three manage to get Duke free from the mess of the rubble. The crime boss, wasting little time in recovering, rises up, two fists ready, and casts a glare down first at Brett, and then at May Lee. And with a growl, he makes a run for the exit and to the parking lot beyond. Just as the brick and mortar of the warehouse comes to its death throes, whole walls toppling over. It was a miracle Duke was pulled out.
And for now, he was repaying the favor by not fighting them at the worst time.
May Lee smiles as Brett assists her. She didn't want to put him in danger, but she's glad that he decided to help of his own accord. "There's just no helping some people." She muses, as Duke again insults them, and then flees.
Breaking into a run of her own, May aims to scoop up El Fuerte from where Brett had left him. "Get out of here, Brett!" She calls over her shoulder - she'd love to help him, too, but she couldn't carry both of them - and El Fuerte needs her more.
When the warehouse comes crashing down, she and the Luchador will both have escaped; one of them to the hospital to recover, and the scarf-clad heroine, Champion of Justice...
Will have continued on her journey.
Brett falls back after he finally manages to help extract Duke, grunting as he drops to the ground, with no defense prepaerd for Duke as he roars from the rubble....
...and thankfully runs off as the warehouse finally topples. Releasing a breath he didn't realize he was holding, the hockey kid slowly rises, a false start as one leg nearly buckles underneath him again, showing just how bad an idea trying to take down the lighting like that was. Glancing back to Fuerte to make sure he's still safe, he turns back to May...who's already on her way to scoop him up and get him out of the area, Brett hobbling after her lest he get caught in the collapse as well.
And afterwards, at the hospital....it would look like he missed May before he could thank her for her help...and apologize for a lot of things. "....damn," he mutters, sighing as he slumped down in the emergency waiting room, thankfully empty enough that he could prop up one leg to try and massage it out, even at the insistences of the nurses to get checked out too.
"...stay safe, May..." he mutters under his breath, hoping he'll hear word back on how Fuerte's going to be soon.
Log created on 19:09:06 08/09/2012 by MayLee, and last modified on 18:09:53 08/10/2012.