Description: Shadaloo makes its final stand in the outskirts of Metro City... represented by Diesel, Decapre, and Vega himself. A group of pursuing US military are destroyed, and from out of the smoke comes a group of heroes to stand up to the epitome of evil and his 'lovely ladies'. A battle ensues between Zach Glen, Farah, Diesel and Decapre while Howard Rust, Athena Asamiya, and Mike Haggar assault Vega together. It is a long, frightful, battle and at least one hero is downed but Shadaloo is driven away.
Metro City, Outskirts - It's the 14th day since the dark shadow of Shadaloo fell upon this city, and its thugs and military came to rape and ravage it from the inside out. And they've been enormously successful... what once was a beautiful city has now been reduced in large part to a smoldering urban wasteland. Over the last two weeks, between the gangs and Shadaloo troops, the US Military, and the heroes who came to save the city, the paved streets have become littered with craters... entire city blocks have been obliterated... City Hall and many of its elected officials have been killed... and that's just the tip of the iceberg. The economic damage done to this city will take a decade or more to undo and it may never be the same again even then. If Vega had succeeded at anything at all in this seemingly useless assault of his... it would most certainly be imprinting the fear of his organization deeply in the minds of those affected. That, and, letting the whole world know... Shadaloo does not simply /die/. Nor does he. Perhaps... that would prove even more frightening an idea than anything else.
...Regardless of that, his siege of the city has - at least apparently - not been successful. Today, what portion of Shadaloo's military was here has either been destroyed or driven to the outskirts. There was very little left... a battlion or two perhaps of foot soldiers, a couple of tanks, and handful of aircraft. It wasn't going to last long... not against the much larger US and Tekken forces and not against the would-be heroes who have come to the city.
That is why, it was decided drastic measures had to be taken. Today Lord Vega and two of his strongest elites would square off with pursuing heroes at the outskirts... giving the fleeing remnants of his military time to make a tactical withdrawal safely.
...And as always with Vega, he is as prompt as he is ruthless. Descending from the heavens, and touching down in the middle of this long stretch of highway that leads out of the city, the Lord and Master of Shadaloo stands like the immoveable mountain of muscle he is dead center of the highway with his his agents flanking his side. His empty white eyes stare toward the city not so very far away in the distance, his visage an emotionless mask.
As a trio of US tanks approaches... giving pursuit to the Shadaloo military making their escape behind him... a hand is extended into the air before him. Pure, concentrated, psycho power is channeled into that hand... forming a dark purple sphere of energy. It is then thrown effortlessly into the center of the gvroup of armored vehicles... where it EXPLODES violently and throws dust and rock skyward in a massive plume. ... Once the dust settles, there is only a smoking crater littered with the charred remains of whatever was there. He then crosses his trunk-like arms again wordlessly and waits. He knows /they/ are coming... and soon.. and given who they are... it'll likely take abit more than that to stop them.
COMBATSYS: Vega has joined the fight here.
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Vega 0/-------/-------|===----\-------\0 Yoshimitsu
COMBATSYS: Diesel has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
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Diesel 0/-------/-------|===----\-------\0 Yoshimitsu
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Vega 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Decapre has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
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Decapre 0/-------/-------|===----\-------\0 Yoshimitsu
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Diesel 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Vega
COMBATSYS: Zach has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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Decapre 0/-------/-------|===----\-------\0 Yoshimitsu
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Diesel 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Zach
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Vega 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Rust has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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Decapre 0/-------/-------|===----\-------\0 Yoshimitsu
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Diesel 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Rust
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Vega 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Zach
COMBATSYS: Vega has left the fight here.
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Decapre 0/-------/-------|===----\-------\0 Yoshimitsu
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Diesel 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Rust
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|-------\-------\0 Zach
COMBATSYS: Vega has joined the fight here as a boss!
VEGA
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Decapre 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Rust
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Diesel 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Zach
COMBATSYS: Diesel has joined the fight here as a left henchman!
VEGA
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Diesel 0/-------/-------|
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Decapre 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Rust
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|-------\-------\0 Zach
COMBATSYS: Decapre has joined the fight here as a right henchman!
VEGA
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Diesel 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Decapre
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|-------\-------\0 Rust
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|-------\-------\0 Zach
COMBATSYS: Athena has joined the fight here.
VEGA
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Diesel 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Decapre
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Athena 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Rust
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|-------\-------\0 Zach
COMBATSYS: Haggar has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
VEGA
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Diesel 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Decapre
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Haggar 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Rust
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Athena 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Zach
Rust's already run himself ragged and he hasn't been back into war for very long. He had strongly hoped those days would've been over, but... here we are. What inflicted wounds there are haven't been treated beyond the bare, basic necessities - he has been too tense since coming to Metro to really let his guard down or relax. How did any of this come to happen again, so soon? Any of this?
Rust, by dumb luck, had been moving from behind the tanks. Even without being able to see Vega by his vantage point, he can feel that unnatural fear creeping down his back when there's a sudden explosion of power before him that consumes the tanks he was moving behind.
He shields himself (and some who may have been nearby on foot) with his left arm, sharp metal debris and flaming embers failing to leave much of a scratch nor scorch as he takes to one knee (partially from the sudden twinge of pain out of nowhere). As the smoke clears, the older man visibly shakes as the pure hatred and fear in the shape of a human being slowly becomes visible through the dust cloud rising from the nearby crater.
To the man in the familiar garb with their arms crossed, Rust slowly rises again, the length of rusted pile named Ol' Rusty pointed down and to the side. His left fist tenses... and unclenches, as he dares to look up upon them again.
"It's... there's... there's, there's no doubt," Rust stutters, clearly fearful in tone of voice. Then... what was it all for, back in Asia? For Quon to still take his own life, for the soldiers he fought alongside in Nepal and others that had entrusted him with their future?
As the smoke draws clearer, Rust stands tall and sweeps his left arm out, taking in a deep breath before he bellows one word at far louder a volume than most people have ever really heard him talk before.
"VEEEEEGAAAAAAAA!!" With this shout, Rust braves the crater at as brisk a pace as he jogs alongside the crater, ever closer. It's him, he's thinking to himself, it's him, and that's why he can't let the fright hold him back.
Decapre is -not- Vega's right-hand woman, really. She is but one of the twelve Dolls, and while they are elite indeed, there's another layer, at least, of more elite above her. Possibly several. It's nothing she's ever questioned too hard--she's never wanted to, or had to. Her place in the organization just is. So it is that the masked Doll stands at rigid attention, to Vega's right and just about two steps behind him, at least until he summons up that burst of Psycho Power.
That seems to be a signal, really, and her arms come up, the trios of blades sliding from their housings within her gauntlets and locking into place, gleaming razor-bright, and she slides her right leg back. Soon. Her powers are not as strong as Vega's, not nearly, but she can sense it too...
And it is going to be a grand, glorious battle. She wishes the rest of the Dolls were here--but they are not, off doing other things for the glory of Lord Vega, and in truth, of the Dolls, only 2 or 3 are more well-suited to being on the battlefield, most obvious for the task, than Decapre herself. The others can be more subtle. Decapre settles for being invisible, when she can. Which is not here, but she'll deal. Vega doesn't pay her--and doesn't pay her to be neurotic.
What an honor. For one who is not even a true doll, to stand here today.
It is not everyday that Diesel is given the grand opportunity to see Lord Vega out in the field, gracing these filthy unworthy peasants with his formidable power. Of course, she is quite ashamed herself that he even needs to be here, his mere presence means that she has not being doing her own job to capture Metro City, Lord Vega should be back on his throne at Shadaloo planning the future of the world, not sullying his hands out here blowing up meaningless tanks. The dirty work is something that she is glad to do for her Master!
The statusque Amazoninan warrior will however admit that she had always dreamed of the opportunity of watching him fight, this is a fight that she will not be soon forgetting and one that she will endeavor to give it her all. Most of the time she usually lapses to uncontrollable Berseker rages and lashes out against everything and everyone, but today in the presence of her Lord, Diesel is sure to be in her best behavior.
Standing at Vega's left flank, whilst Decapre shares the high honor of acting as his Honor Guard, Diesel crosses her own tree trunk like arms to stare at the smoke rising from the crater Vega made, waiting for these so called impudent heroes that dare stand in their way. And wouldn't you know it? The first one that does appear is the one she was expecting to see first, he's screaming too at that, letting his presence be known.
"Rust..." Diesel whispers under her breath, daring to take one step forward, closer to Vega. From what she has heard Rust has proven to be quite a thorn in Shadaloo's side, and her request might sound bold but she hopes that her feats in the field of battle have earned her the right to ask something of him, as it earned her the right to be called one of the strongest Shadaloo elite.
"Master, please, let me kill that one for you."
A long time ago, a certain young woman in Southtown found herself under the subtle influence of a particular individual. That influence wasn't the sort of brute force mind control one sees in comics. No, it was actually something a lot worse: a negative voice in her head, pulling her down dark paths, breaking bonds of trust with friends, confusing her feelings and basically making everything terrible. While she eventually fought this influence off -- through, primarily, the persistence of her friends even in the face of strange behavior -- the feel of it has never fully left her thoughts.
And afterward, there wasn't much time to think about such things. The Gaia cult and the Orochi took up much of her time, and in the end she stood fast with friends against one of the Anemoi, helping to seal that terrible power before it could be loosed on the world. Too injured to participate in the final push, she retreated to Japan and helped in the rebuilding effort. But in truth, since then Farah Tenjou has not been seen by many.
The reason why, as one might expect, is that her trials drove her to train in seclusion. While the young Egyptian had always had a preternatural talent for controlling her psychic powers, she had perhaps neglected developing their use in fighting. Farah had always hoped her martial arts training would see her through, but her experiences during KoF taught her that in so doing, perhaps she was shying away, afraid of her own potential. And so she set off to try and face that fear, to master it, and to turn her biggest asset -- the power of the heart -- into her most potent weapon.
It necessitated staying out of some bigger conflicts, including the war in China, which weighed heavily on her heart. But when word came of the problems in Metro, she knew that she couldn't stay uninvolved. And her suspicions were confirmed the second she landed nearby: she could feel that same presence in the air. Having been marked by it, she could never forget it: the evil shadow of the man who put that influence on her in the first place. Following it is what has led her here.
Surprisingly calm, she walks -- not runs, not dives -- into the area. At first glance the ribbon that used to be her trademark appears to be gone, but closer examination finds it wound through her hair, the cobalt blue an odd contrast to her dark skin and white clothing. Instead, she now wears a white heavy shawl around her arms, seeming to float just above her skin like a mythical hagoromo. Her violet eyes take in the scene, the destruction, and above all the forces arrayed before Our Heroes, and she breathes out slowly. "It's time," is all she says, under her breath.
Haggar has certainly felt his limitations in the following days when Shadaloo's full force was brought to bear. Although he commanded the assault that defeated the gang members, he has managed little against the tanks and military that followed. He cannot be everywhere at once, and Metro City is large... no sooner then he was piledriving tanks and men on one side, people were dying on the other. It has left him ragged and exhausted, having barely slept or eaten in nearly a week. But all of it has resulted in success. With Tekken Force's critical interference early on preserving the city's infrastructure, when the U.S. Army and Military arrived after Heihachi's inappropriate hanging, it was a slow but devastating victory on Metro City's half.
But all that can change. Vega himself has finally arrived yet again, the menacing figure dismissing even heavy armor with disturbing ease. Haggar is at the forefront of the heroes coming to try and stop his last efforts, but feeling the oppressive Psycho Power emanating from the dynamo makes even his fearless soul tremble slightly. "Take heart, Mr. Howard." he murmurs to Rust nearby, rubbing at the stubble beneath his once proud but now more bushy moustache. "This is not a man that anger and fear will work against... from what I understand, that only makes him stronger!"
The Monster at the helm of Shadaloo has always been the most glaring example of what someone with phenominal psychic gifts could do when their mind is set to self-empowerment. Throughout the years, there may be other powerful psychics that have caused harm to many, but none have ever been so brazenly open about the catastrophic damage focused Psycho Power could actually do. But he had met his end this year, bookending his campaign in another part of the world with his well deserved demise.
Or so the story went. Turns out it was just a story and the pinnacle of psychic corruption continues to command impressive forces to this day. What his goals in Metro were Athena can only begin to guess at. It's hard to read the motivations of a man driven tragically mad with power.
Unlike many taking a stand against him today, she doesn't bear the scars or wounds of weeks of battling in the heart of Metro or defending the lines against almost impossible odds. Late to the battlefronts, she focused her attentions on finding that one man, the demon of Psycho Power behind it all. Her own gifts were supposed to allow her to take a stand against the likes of him, or so she had been taught all her life.
Now following the convoy lead by the formidable battle-wearied Mayor of Metro, she senses the dark presence of Vega long before her violet eyes can make him out on the highway. A shiver runs down her. Just being this close to him makes her ears ring and her head ache from his corrupting presence. He is the potential end state for all psychics that give in to the temptation to use their power to dominate, and just seeing him in person is all the lesson she needs in the dangers of ever even contemplating that path.
Still, she's here to reinforce, to follow the lead of those fighting for their home turf. That she hangs back some steps behind may be mistaken for reluctance to actually face the monster in person, but she would be forced to admit that she has her own uncertainties to wrestle with in facing a creature such as Vega. But if there was ever a fight she needed to be a part of, this most certainly was it.
Zach is, unsurprisingly, running just behind Rust. Even had the violence and destruction not given Zach the clues that he needed to find the place, that burning hatred, that fierce /rage/ that drives Vega would have been like a beacon light to Zach's mind. It is almost overpowering. Zach takes Athena's advice, finding those memories of calm and peace to bring to the front of his mind to act as the foundation of the mental wall he constructs to keep the madman's influence out of his mind.
He notices, on the periphial, other psychics on the proverbial mindscape. One of them in familiar, and brings a smile to his face. If Vega is here, then the Psycho Soldier Athena Asamiya will most certainly be welcome. He grins a bit. There is a force arrayed here that would rival, or even surpass, the team that stood in China against the dictator.
Zach cracks his knuckles grinning a bit at the challenge in front of them, the excitement of the thing bubbling under his control. Amber light slides and rolls across his frame. "Stand strong," Zach says quietly. "We can do this."
Zach's hand reaches over his left shoulder, carefully pulling the Miraitou free of its sheath, giving the wakazashi a light jog in his hand before blasting forward. Whoever tries to stop the psychic warrior doesn't matter to Zach; the field needs to be cleared of Shadaloo.
COMBATSYS: Farah has joined the fight here.
VEGA
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Diesel 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Decapre
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Farah 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Rust
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Haggar 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Zach
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Athena 0/-------/------=|
COMBATSYS: Zach equips Violet Miraitou.
VEGA
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Diesel 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Decapre
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Farah 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Rust
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Haggar 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 [E] Zach
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Athena 0/-------/------=|
Few in Vega's organization had any rights beyond what their gracious lord bestowed. That was the way of it, always, so when the request for Diesel comes... Vega merely says, "No. He must die by my hands.", and Diesel should feel blessed he even gives her a reason. After all, just 'no' would have sufficed. But Vega is feeling generous today for though he wore an emotionless mask, he was utterly elated. As elated as he ever was. The chance to kill Howard Rust with his own two hands had finally come! ... And every scream would be savored.
As for Decapre, he does not address her. But he does not have to. The Dolls understood better than any in his organization that Vega would give the orders as he pleased... and they had but to wait. It /was/ indeed a pity the other Dolls could not be present, but they all had their own objectives to be occupied with that were more important. Especially Marz. After all, with him not in Asia right now she was the only other person with the qualifications to run his operations.
As Rust charges his way toward his regal person, Vega just /smiles/ from ear to ear.... his excitement was growing by the step. The mix of fear, hatred, anger and despair coming from the charging Rust and the two that were following him an absolute pleasure to Vega. Nothing in the world could be wrong, today! ... He had, however, taken notice of 'talents' Athena Asamiya possessed... and though his attention is upon Rust for the moment he realizes immediately the threat she poses. She was one of the few on this battlefield with enough psionic experience to trouble him. As for Haggar... well, he didn't think much of /him/. Not yet anyway.
...As Rust draws nearer Vega himself proceed to charge forward... conjuring a mass of Psycho Power from within. There's so much of it that it overflows immediately, turning the air around him nearly black. "...HAHAHAHA!!! YES! I HAVE BEEN WAITING A LONG TIME FOR THIS..." He then leaps into the air, high above Rust, inverting himself and dropping from the sky toward Rust again with a Psycho Powered punch extended. "DIE!"
COMBATSYS: Vega successfully hits Rust with Devil Reverse.
VEGA
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Diesel 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Decapre
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Farah 0/-------/-------|======-\-------\0 Rust
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Haggar 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 [E] Zach
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Athena 0/-------/------=|
Three versus several. Potentially? This is very bad. She can see the raw numbers already--and she knows some of their power intimately. From experience (Haggar) or just renown and research (Athena). The others are more or less wildcards--certainly several have been quite intimately documented, but there are some who are relatively unknown... to Decapre at least.
Some information scrolls across her vision, bits and pieces really, but she's only absorbing it peripherally--her concentration is more upon the targets presently in front of her. The masked head turns, towards Diesel, but if there's any communication, it isn't made obvious. Then the head swings back around, glowing eyeslots burning through the dust and the air, selecting a target. Ah... there.
When Decapre bursts forward, it's with frightening speed, her lunge taking her towards Farah, right arm cocked back, left held up and across her chest--and as she closes in, a red, hazy energy flares across her cocked right arm, leaving a trail as she drives in and powers a driving, forward slash, from upper right to lower left.
Flexing his considerable muscles, Haggar stares Vega down when he finally moves to attack. And then the one to recieve his opening wrath turns out to be Rust; a man he considers not to be at the forefront of combative threats starting out. Is it simple sadism?! Either way, the Fighting Mayor will react the same. He roars as Vega rushes forward and crashes down into Rust, shirtless as always as he charges the brief distance between. Before he suddenly pulls out a massive iron pipe, leaping the last distance and brutally swinging it down, trying to crash it painfully into the back of Vega's head, prefrably knocking off his admittedly trendy hat. "You'll regret battling here personally, fiend!!"
COMBATSYS: Vega blocks Haggar's Random Weapon+.
VEGA
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Diesel 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Decapre
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Farah 0/-------/-------|======-\-------\0 Rust
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Haggar 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 [E] Zach
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Athena 0/-------/------=|
Has the man who became famous for being the last man standing in what was truly and honestly believed to be Vega's last stand forgotten Chun-Li's words and advice to him as to how to face him? The confusion in the older man's very soul is laid bare as another little appetizer to the feast of emotions that Vega is, no doubt, very much enjoying.
Rust's advance slows when he watches the Psycho Power flare again into that shade of pinkish-purple that haunts his psyche every so often. He doesn't need this visual indicator to positively identify Vega any further than he already /has/, but the fact that it /is/ remains a cause for shock.
When Vega goes into the air, the older man takes a few steps back to better track his movement in a moment of clarity and sense, left fist tensing up as he knows how fast Vega's moving into it--
The collision goes unseen. The display of power cannot be contained by the very ground they stand on, a new crater of wrecked asphalt and crushed concrete at the point of impact. Those closer to Howard can see him tumbling back, finding himself in a seated position in the final moments of his skid. Blood runs down the side of his face... a cut in his back (shrapnel somehow got in there, probably)... in one blow, Vega does more than several of his men could have in many.
He shakes his head and fights to stand himself back up, his every limb fighting him loudly with crackling and popping in their attempt to convince the body's owner that he should stay seated and down, teeth grit as he staggers along back up.
There's many things this man wants to say to Vega, all in all, but between the wellspring of emotions that bubble to the surface, the pain that threatens to silence him, and the adrenaline that pushes him onward as Haggar brings his massive iron pipe out to the forefront, Rust, too, moves forth.
"Vega," Howard speaks the name in a more hushed tone compared to the earlier call, "h-how did you... manage... to... to come back," he says as he dares to lunge into Vega with both hands on Ol' Rusty with a powerful thrusting motion.
...that is...acceptable.
Diesel knew that Vega would probably not grant her request, but she still felt entitled to ask, if only to show Lord Vega her eagerness to obliterate the enemies of Shadaloo. The tall Middle Eastern warrior stands firm and does a salute at Vega's order, giving him the pleasure of taking care of the pesky Rust Howard once and for all.
With Rust given the honor of being killed by Vega's hands, that leaves her and Decapre to watch Lord Vega's flanks. The Diesel turns to look at the masked face of the other Killer Doll and the two stare for a silent second. No communication needed between the two, honed practice and perfect synch make voice unnecessary when in the field of battle. The message is clear.
Diesel takes the left and Decapre takes the right.
When Decapre surges forth so does Diesel, charging directly towards Vega's side to take one of Rust's notorious allies, Zach Glen. Defeating him will be almost as pleasurable as dealing with Rust himself.
Diesel explodes forward aiming to ram her extended left fist directly on Zach's chest! "Stand aside cur! This is the hour of Shadaloo!!"
COMBATSYS: Rust successfully hits Vega with Power Strike.
VEGA
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Diesel 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Decapre
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Farah 0/-------/-------|======-\-------\0 Rust
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Haggar 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 [E] Zach
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Athena 0/-------/------=|
COMBATSYS: Decapre successfully hits Farah with Razing Arrow.
VEGA
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Diesel 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Decapre
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Farah 0/-------/----===|======-\-------\0 Rust
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Haggar 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 [E] Zach
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Athena 0/-------/------=|
Rust's bold charge forward against something like Vega could easily be dismissed as reckless temerity. But to Athena's eyes, it's not quite like that. There's history there though she doesn't personally know what it would be. Haggar's pointed attack, iron pipe in hand, as if intending to stand alongside Rust as a fellow pipe-wielding brother, is definitely understandable. One need only glance behind them toward the war-ravaged Metro to sense a sliver of the outrage the Mayor must be feeling.
Athena does glance briefly over her shoulder before turning her focus back toward Vega. What would be just punishment for a man like this? No amount of justice could undo what had already been done, not just here, but in so many places around the world. She breaths in then exhales, focusing herself on the matter at hand. There is only one course to focus on for now: Destroy the self-proclaimed Lord of Shadaloo once and for all. But what about the two girls fighting alongside him? She glances to the side, nodding slightly as she sees Zach and another girl with a similiar gift moving forward to clash against them. Good, she'll consider them handled for now. Tightening her hands at her sides, she closes her eyes for just a moment, unleashing that well of psychic potential that exists within her. Anyone sensitive to such things may barely be able to feel her presence, a miniscule shard of light beneath the dark shadow cast by the forboding dicatator.
When she opens her eyes again, she's focused only on Vega. With Rust and Haggar in the front lines against him, she approaches more slowly, faint traces of energy crackling over her fingertips. Rust weathers a direct attack impressively well. She'd heard Rust Howard was a remarkable man from some, an average, unremarkable man from others. Now she gets to see for herself where he stands.
COMBATSYS: Athena focuses on her next action.
VEGA
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
0|---------------|----------=====
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Diesel 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Decapre
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Farah 0/-------/----===|======-\-------\0 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Haggar 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 [E] Zach
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Athena 0/-------/------=|
Well. Apparently that man's subordinates don't waste any time, do they?
Forced to defend herself immediately, Farah's eyes track the array of soldiers and fix on Decapre as she leaps through the crowd, following the Doll's movements. From practically no movement, Farah actually steps forward, moving *toward* the attack... and with a hazy faerie fire of cobalt-blue energy, the white shawl with its beaded fringe leaps to life as well, animated by Farah's will. Though she's cobbled together a style all her own, this ability is a legacy of Farah's fateful meeting with Rose in her youth... and apparently just a natural talent. The animated cloth sweeps through the air as Farah prepares to use it like a shield against Decapre's attack, but the Doll is too swift for that, and lines of angry red appear on Farah's torso as the clawing attack lands.
However, with a backwards twirl, the Egyptian is back in stance, staring down the girl who just attacked her with an even gaze. "I can feel it," she says carefully. "His influence... he's gotten to you, too. Apparently he has a thing for young women. I can't say that does a lot for my opinion of that man..."
And then the Soul Star is surging forward, looking to grab Decapre's arm. If Farah gets her grip, she plants one foot, does another spin in place, and hurls the Doll skyward, while the Soul-animated shawl snakes up after her, pummeling Decapre midair with psychic energy before sweeping down to settle on Farah's shoulders. "I'll free you from this!"
COMBATSYS: Zach blocks Diesel's Yudhisthira Khagga.
VEGA
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
0|---------------|----------=====
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Diesel 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Decapre
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Farah 0/-------/-----==|======-\-------\0 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Haggar 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 [E] Zach
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Athena 0/-------/------=|
Zach bats the punch aside with with his right hand, yellow sparks flying from the point of impact as Zach raises an eyebrow. He is a touch too focused on who is in front of him now to hear Farah's comments. Shaking his right hand loose, Zach looks a touch incredulous.
"Cur? Seriously?" Zach fights the smirk down; it would not do to underestimate this woman. "Who talks like that anymore?" Zach doesn't recognize Diesel's fighting style, hasn't seen enough of it. Best to move forward then.
Zach fires off a quick right jab, amber light flowing along the arm to provide some extra snap. Hopefully, this will give Zach /some/ indication of how to fight this brash woman.
COMBATSYS: Diesel endures Zach's Jab Punch.
VEGA
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
0|---------------|----------=====
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Diesel 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Decapre
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Farah 0/-------/-----==|======-\-------\0 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Haggar 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 [E] Zach
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Athena 0/-------/------=|
That meaty fist overflowing with psionic energy finds its way into its target, Vega's smile growing even more as he feels the crushing impact of the blow. He then immediately stops himself in mid-air, flipping away from Rust just as Haggar rushes past to swing a pipe where his head had been. Because of this, the pipe does not strike Vega's skull but inside finds an awaiting palm. Vega's fingers curl around the pipe as he feels the sting of Haggar's strength impacting his hands, the Master of Psycho Power's sadistic grin does not falter however. "...How does it FEEL to know that no matter HOW strong you ARE... you utterly failed the citizens of your fair city?" Vega was taking a shot at the fighting Mayor, not a physical one no... but a potentially painful one never the less. Vega did so enjoy wounding his opponent's hearts and minds every bit as much as their bodies. In fact, he felt it often worked better than crushing bones ever could.
...His momentary distraction does present a problem though. He /isn't/ looking at Howard Rust... and this proves... a tad painful a mistake. Ol' Rust may as well be referred to as the Pipe of Vega's Bane... for when the familiar weapon strikes the dictator in his right shoulder... he immediately turns his attention from Haggar and back to Rust. He then promptly retreats... teeth clenched as the pain in his joint flares momentarily and intensifies. "CURSED INSECT!" He roars, flinging his blackened silk shroud from his b body and touching down on the ground. "...HOW? What a stupid question! I am VEGA, the greatest Master of Psycho Power to walk this unworthy earth! ...And, I am IMMORTAL!" How true this is, he will not say, but what he will do is barrel back into their territory and thrust a booted foot awash with Psycho Power upward at Haggar's chin... intending to kick him skyward!
COMBATSYS: Decapre blocks Farah's Northern Cross.
VEGA
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
0|---------------|----------=====
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Diesel 0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0 Decapre
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Farah 0/-------/-----==|======-\-------\0 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Haggar 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 [E] Zach
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Athena 0/-------/------=|
Zach shouldn't feel bad for not recognizing Diesel's fighting style, there are very few in the world that do.
Given her choice of vocabulary though, it is safe to assume that it is quite quaint, perhaps even obsolete? Actually, does she even have a fighting at all? Diesel seems to be the prime image of all brawns and no brains when her massive arm gets batted out of the way and her defense to the swift counter attack Zach gives her is...
Swing her head directly at the fist.
"HMRG!" Diesel's steel like forehead descends right on Zach's knuckles to bash his fist out of the way swinging a side kick to his ribs, aiming to slam her shin right on his ribs! There's no actual sign of any fighting style just yet, just plain brawling.
The haze in one's mind one feels in just being in Vega's presence continues to overwhelm even when Howard Rust is one of the exceedingly rare number of people to be able to survive violent contact with such strength, if only... just.
To physically make contact at all with Vega is still a difficult prospect for a mind that can only comprehend so much of the depths of what Vega /is/, drawing back his pipe with a stumble at Vega's roaring. The bold declaration of his nature - immortal?!
"I, I was there, Vega," Howard reasserts himself as he clears his throat, taking a cautious step as Vega ultimately turns his attention over to Haggar. Mike Haggar, a man he (and so many) admires. A man he had cribbed so many notes about pipe wielding from in just watching him in action...
Howard forces himself into action again, willing to step ever closer to the mad dictator-to-be as he raises his left hand up towards Vega's hatted scalp, summoning the entirety of his courage to force it down upon him. To force it down upon Vega's head and force him down to the ground, face-first.
"I-I watched you fall apart!" Howard growls out as he commits to this, as much for Haggar's sake as anyone else's standing here.
COMBATSYS: Haggar endures Vega's Medium Kick but gets knocked away!
VEGA
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
0|---------------|--------=======
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Diesel 0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0 Decapre
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Farah 0/-------/-----==|====---\-------\0 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Haggar 0/-------/-======|=------\-------\0 [E] Zach
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Athena 0/-------/------=|
COMBATSYS: Vega dodges Rust's Brick Stacker.
VEGA
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
0|---------------|--------=======
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Diesel 0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0 Decapre
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Farah 0/-------/-----==|====---\-------\0 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Haggar 0/-------/-======|=------\-------\0 [E] Zach
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Athena 0/-------/------=|
Oh, if Farah only -knew-. Well... it's not like Decapre could tell her. _She_ doesn't have any knowledge of just how much Vega's twisted her, no memory of who she was before her time as a Doll... it would be hard to say that there would be anyone -left-, if Vega's influence were erased from Decapre. She might just be an empty shell.
Decapre's arm is grasped, and she's flung skyward--but midair, she twirls, bringing her arms up to protect against the lash of Farah's own psionic power, and that twirling helps her control her flight; she lands facing Farah. Her voice, filtered through a vocoder, is flattened, unnatural. "'Save me'?" she says, sardonically. There's no laugh, though it seems to bubble just behind that mask, dark and mirthless.
"Save yourself -first-!" And off she goes again, long, strongly muscled legs propelling her for Farah again, her blades cocked--and then she stops, suddenly, on her left leg, pivoting to throw a swift, high roundhouse for Farah's face, black-booted foot whistling through the air.
COMBATSYS: Farah blocks Decapre's Light Kick.
VEGA
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
0|---------------|--------=======
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Diesel 0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0 Decapre
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Farah 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Haggar 0/-------/-======|=------\-------\0 [E] Zach
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Athena 0/-------/------=|
COMBATSYS: Diesel successfully hits Zach with Light Kick.
VEGA
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
0|---------------|--------=======
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Diesel 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 Decapre
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Farah 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Haggar 0/-------/-======|===----\-------\0 [E] Zach
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Athena 0/-------/------=|
A brief grunt leaves Haggar when he finds his trusty pipe caught, but almost immediately he abandons it, having countless ones hidden within a pocket dimension inside arm's reach. Yet the resolve apparent within the Mayor, even so far into the campaign, is not one of a weak, vulnerable soul. "Did I fail...?! What do you know, monster! Had I done nothing, the damage would have been far more!!" Rust manages to get in a solid lick, and even if the physical damage isn't incredible, he did manage to annoy Vega. That's a good thing, right?
But then Haggar finds himself on the recieving end of Vega's rage. And he actually rushes towards the offending kick, without a moment's hesitation. The blow strikes true, blood splattering into the air, but clenching fingers seek to grasp Vega by the chest in the same motion. Although lifted off his feet, he still manages to keep the tyrant held... and then rushes forward, attempting to heft Vega up and brutally piledrive him into the ground, not once, not twice, but three times, before hurling him into the air!!
So he can jump upwards, catch him, and do an impossibly quick rotating final powerbomb right into the middle of the crator!! "YOU BROKE THE CITY... BUT NOT THE HEART OF THE PEOPLE!!"
COMBATSYS: Vega interrupts Final Haggar Buster from Haggar with Hell Attack EX.
VEGA
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
0|---------------|===============
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Diesel 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 Decapre
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Farah 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Haggar 0/-------/---====|===----\-------\0 [E] Zach
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Athena 0/-------/-----==|
With a moment to prepare, this time appears to be different. As Decapre swings her leg towards Farah's head, the Egyptian swings the shawl upward, the kick slamming into the rippling cloth as if it were a solid object. This makes the defense SEEM perfect, which is an illusion; wielding the shawl as an extension of her body means that impacting it like that takes a toll, the impact being a jarring feeling of pain through Farah's arm. Still, the cloth whips down and around, and when Farah is revealed behind it as it settles into place, she seems unperturbed in this situation. She's got to keep fighting if she wants to help the former Doll.
"Believe me, I had to," she says, circling Decapre warily, looking for an opening... and not just a physical one. Maybe if she can reach out to Decapre, she can find a chink in the proverbial armor, but the grimace that shows briefly on her face says a lot about the power of Vega's control over her. The evil man's influence is intensely powerful, as far as the Soul Star can sense... much stronger than it was with her.
"But I had friends to help me," Farah says, shaking her head clear of those thoughts and focusing on the battle. Deciding to push forward rather than play it safe, she ducks forward and strikes with an open palm, attempting to plant a swift palm strike right in the center of Decapre's stomach, hoping to send her stumbling back a step or two.
Zach frowns. Diesel reminds him a lot of Takako. Who ELSE would headbutt an incoming fist? Diesel's kick crashes into Zach's ribs, drawing a grunt from the boxer. He takes a half step back, drawing a quick breath as he assesses the situation. Berserked, maybe? Brawler? Doesn't matter.
Zach gives another grin, despite the seriousness of the situation. He steps in, reversing the grip on his sword in order to slam the hilt into Diesel's stomach before driving a crushing right hook across Diesel's jaw.
COMBATSYS: Diesel reflects Rapid Combo from Zach with Nakula Carmika.
VEGA
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
0|---------------|===============
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Diesel 0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0 Decapre
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Farah 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Haggar 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 [E] Zach
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Athena 0/-------/-----==|
COMBATSYS: Decapre dodges Farah's Medium Punch.
VEGA
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
0|---------------|===============
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Diesel 0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0 Decapre
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Farah 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Haggar 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 [E] Zach
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Athena 0/-------/-----==|
A good five yards behind Rust, it's hard to make out what he's saying exactly to the spectre back from the grave he's swinging for, but the emotion behind his words is enough to lend context to what she does pick up. Athena takes in the thought of it, the idea that Rust had seen Vega perish before, falling to pieces no doubt as his Psycho Power consumed him at last. But the force that battles them is no figment, no spectre from the grave. Was it some kind of illusion that concealed his escape before? With so many psychics here to fight him now, there's no way such a mistake would be made again!!
His rictus smile only makes him more horrific. He takes pleasure in the spread of misery. No doubt it feeds into his power just as at times the hopes and faith of others have strengthened hers. He tries to crush Haggar's morale but the Mayor stands resolute, charging back against Vega without hesitation. Sucking in her breath, Athena commits to attack as well, drawing her arms back, rose-hued energy cascading down her arms to collect in her hands.
"Anyone who takes a stand against you has nothing to do with failure," the girl declares, taking a half-step forward, sweeping her arms from behind her to in front of her. The energy she gathered is slamed together before ripping across the distance between her and Vega with remarkable speed. Of course, he would sense it coming easily enough - it isn't all /that/ different from the dark power he commands so fluidly afterall. But there's no one that knows better than he that Psycho Power /can/ hurt!
COMBATSYS: Vega blocks Athena's Psycho Ball.
VEGA
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
0|---------------|===============
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Diesel 0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0 Decapre
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Farah 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Haggar 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 [E] Zach
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Athena 0/-------/----===|
Decapre might comment, pithily, on how her life is in danger -right now-, but with those red-streaked lines on her torso, she probably already knows. Friends. Hah. Decapre... has comrades. Friends? That's probably beyond her reach. The bond that the Dolls share is strong, but friendship, Decapre can't compare it to that. Farah might be able to sense the rage that's being controlled behind Decapre's mask, the source of that red haze...
That palm strike is well-thrown, but at the midline, it's pretty easy to see coming, and Decapre fades back a half-step, and then turns, pivoting on her right leg to let that strike brush just past her. Her response is immediate... and could be very painful... as she pivots again, to her right, using the motion, the stored and potential kinetic energy, to drive the three razor-sharp blades on her left gauntlet--right for Farah's stomach.
It wouldn't be a killing blow, per se, but disabling, perhaps--and certainly painful at the very least. Gut wounds are often the most painful, if also the most survivable under many conditions.
Diesel may give the impression that she's nothing but a big burly brawler that blocks punches by headbutting them, but that position has already been filled in Shadaloo by Mike Bison, she has her own secrets that make her indispensable to the organization.
Zach's first mistake is to assume that her fighting style is like the little fire cracker known as Takako, or that her fighting style simply 'doesn't matter'.
Because it does matter. A lot in fact.
Her headbutt to the knuckles followed by a kick to the ribs was just a hooligan technique to catch Zach off guard, drawing him into a confident state of mind. She sees him grinning and instantly she knows he fell for her rouse. The hilt of his sword comes crashing to her rock solid abs well enough, with the woman shrugging it off entirely and when the devastating hook to the jaw comes, the woman returns the favor and slaps Zach's hand out of the way before she crashes an open palm Psycho Energy strike right into the boxer's face to crush his nose and drive him backwards!
"You should have stayed in the NDP, /boy/." Looks like someone has seen Zach's televised fights before. "You are way out of your league."
COMBATSYS: Farah dodges Decapre's Medium Strike.
VEGA
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
0|---------------|===============
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Diesel 0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0 Decapre
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Farah 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Haggar 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 [E] Zach
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Athena 0/-------/----===|
Nobody's interested in a claw to the stomach, that's true. And in a strange way, Decapre's single-minded determination to enact Vega's will means that she is in some ways easier for the empathic Farah to read than a typical person; after all, the Psycho Dictator's hold of the Doll's unswerving devotion makes him central in their thoughts, gives them purpose. A typical person with more free will lets their thoughts and feelings range about, making them difficult to read. Thus Farah lets her intuition guide her, flowing out of the way as Decapre's vicious gut strike sails her way. Of course, the evasion is narrow either way; Farah may have the benefit of insight, but Decapre still has a significant advantage over her in terms of strength and speed.
"Answer this for me," the Egyptian says, squaring off with her opponent, trying to keep her amethyst gaze locked onto the burning red eyes of the Doll she's fighting, barely visible through the bone white of her mask. "Who IS he? Who is this person you serve so intently? His hold on you..." Here, Farah shudders. She can feel it, the pulsing violence of Vega's hand on Decapre's soul. "Do you even want to shatter it? Have you lost yourself THAT completely?"
The baleful woe in her voice is palpable. To Farah, losing that freedom is tantamount to death.
"Don't let him take your life away!" the Soul Star shouts, extending both hands and focusing her will. The air around Decapre suddenly sparkles with cobalt blue, like a summer night sky, that swirls into a glittering sphere and then explodes with a burst of Soul Power. "Break free!"
COMBATSYS: Decapre blocks Farah's Photon.
VEGA
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
0|---------------|===============
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Diesel 0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0 Decapre
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Farah 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Haggar 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 [E] Zach
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Athena 0/-------/----===|
Zach is surprised, not so much that Diesel waded through the technique. That /happens/. The Psycho Power. That's as much of a shock as strike to the nose. Zach gives Diesel pretty much what she was after, staggering back. Watching Zach's fights shows one side of him, yes. The fact of the matter has always been that he doesn't fight the same way in professional fights as he does in situations like this. Those fights are for fame, money, glory. In those fights, he's always holding something back, even if that thing is small, done unconsciously.
This is a fight to protect something. In this case, a home. A dream. He also doesn't go down quite easily as the NDP fights might lead someone to believe. He keeps his feet, even as his head is knocked back. Zach brings his head forward, rubbing under his nose to wipe away the blood. He looks at the bloody palm almost meditatively, most certainly appraisingly.
It's not that Diesel's style is irrelevant because of any lack of style. Or whether or not that style is strong, or has some storied past. It's more that Zach doesn't know the style yet, so any trick or strategy he comes up with is going to end up irrelevant.
"Nah," Zach says after a moment. "That place was only ever a stop on the road." Amber energy builds around Zach. It seems he is going to bet on the confrontation of Soul POwer versus Psycho Power.
COMBATSYS: Zach gathers his will.
VEGA
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
0|---------------|===============
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Diesel 0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0 Decapre
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Farah 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Haggar 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\1 [E] Zach
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Athena 0/-------/----===|
It's pretty true that Vega's brainwashing of Decapre is nearly total. Is there much of her there? Sure, in a basic sense. One might understand that she was probably imbued with some measure of that rage, which probably made her an easy mark for Vega's machinations. Can she answer that question? Actually, yes, she can. And while it is an answer that is influenced by Vega's touch on her soul, it isn't one manipulated into her directly. "No," she says, flatly. No what? Probably to the question, 'do you even want to shatter it?'
The explosion seems to engulf Decapre, but when it fades, she's a good ten yards away--residual energy sizzling off her crossed arms like steam off hot food, tinged with that blue...
And then it's supplanted by that dark, evil red, the color of blood, shot through with malevolent purple, rising around her body in a haze, her body sinking down into a defensive stance. Farah's questions are still bouncing around in her head--but whether they'll gain purchase, be allowed to take hold...? That's a different question.
COMBATSYS: Decapre gathers her will.
VEGA
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
0|---------------|===============
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Diesel 0/-------/----===|======-\-------\0 Decapre
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Farah 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Haggar 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\1 [E] Zach
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Athena 0/-------/----===|
Vega's boot connects soundly to Haggar'ss chin, blood spraying as bone threatens to give way to the enormous force of the kick. But give way, it does not. Nor... much to Vega's chagrin... does the Fighting Mayor. Instead, the man attempts to wrap his massive arms about Vega's own similarly massive frame and heave him skyward. And heave him, Haggar does... the crushing strength of his arms innflicting tremendous PAIN upon the egotistical madman before the rest of the maneuver even starts! He then manages to pile drive the Master of Shadaloo into the ground HARD once, his militry cap falling off in the process, before Vega conjures yet more Psycho Power from the depths of his soul. Now with even greater strength than before, he manages to break Haggar's hold on him before the next hit comes. He also manages tto respond with one of his OWN... a psionically powered punch right beneath his ribcage!
Vega then collects himself from the ground, dusting his uniform with his right hand, and sneering as Rust charges him. "What you saw..." Vega replies, casually, as he sweeps a loose strand of ebony mane back into place. "...was nothing more than the end of a shell that had ceased to be useful..." Just a mere moment before that hand makes contact with his head, the Master of Psycho Power warps... vanishing in a blur of pinkish purple energy that leaves an afterimage behind. ... And he appears, suddenly, behind Rust again.. "...and the beginning of a new, more powerful, existence..."
As Athena's Psycho Powered sphere speeds toward him from behind, Vega does not even bother to look. Someone with senses like the ones they share simply does /not/ have to! A hand is extended, as he steps to the side... and the sphere of energy collides with it... rose-hued energy becomes suffused with the black and purple energy of his aura momentarily. It may not look like it did much, but the effect her energy has on his twisted aura BURNS him enough to make him snarl... even as the is swallowed whole. "...You all are fools. You came all this way just to DIE!" Saying this, Vega's right hand lashes out and attempts to grab Howard Rust. If he succeeds what will follow is simple, but painful. One kick to the the middle, and a toss into the air with said foot before Vega whirls in place and lands on that kicking leg as his other is thrust high in attempting to catch Rust somewhere painful. He'll then balance Rust on that skywardly held foot for merely a moment, and then whirl again and toss him to the ground behind like so much trash.
COMBATSYS: Vega successfully hits Rust with Death Tower EX.
VEGA
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
1|------------===|===============
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Diesel 0/-------/----===|======-\-------\0 Decapre
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Farah 0/-------/---====|=======\==-----\1 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Haggar 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\1 [E] Zach
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Athena 0/-------/----===|
Zach shouldn't be surprised, Diesel may not be a true Doll, but she is a brain washed warrior of Shadaloo. It would be a safe guess to assume that she had been blessed with Lord Vega's power.
When the indomitable Zach Glen staggers back and recoils by brushing his nose, boldly claiming that his fights at the NDP tournament were naught but mere showmanship, the tall Amazon warrior assumes her Kalaripayattu stance, a sideways horse stance with her arms shaped like an L, to stare at the psychic boxer with narrow golden eyes. "Very well.."
"It is your funeral."
Diesel is willing to take that bet, putting all her chips in on the Psycho Power. When Zach merely stands there letting his amber colored energy flow through his body, The Diesel charges directly towards him like some kind of crazed bull in crack and sends a piston like strike right for the boy's face!
No answer, other than 'no'... rather than angering her, Decapre's answer simply makes Farah seems disappointed and sad. Never mind that she is a little frustrated at not getting the name of 'that man,' but that fact is secondary. As Decapre gathers that tainted power to herself, the Soul Star watches her, trying rapidly to think of a solution, some way she can end this... but the simple truth is that she may not be able to. Her thoughts stray to her own 'possession' by this force... its insidiousness, and just how far she had to fall before she could rise again. It's obvious just from interacting with her that Decapre has it much worse off...
"Maybe I can't save you right now," Farah says quietly. "But there's always tomorrow. I just need to keep hope..."
And here, she gives in to the urge to do battle, to fight back against this corrupting influence. The Doll's defensive stance means that Farah picks her battles carefully, not risking a big, wide-open technique. Instead, she is very simple, dropping low and attempting to sweep Decapre's legs out from under her, following it up with a two-handed push to send her tumbling to the ground.
COMBATSYS: Farah successfully hits Decapre with Quick Throw.
VEGA
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
1|------------===|===============
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Diesel 0/-------/----===|=======\-------\1 Decapre
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Farah 0/-------/---====|=======\==-----\1 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Haggar 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\1 [E] Zach
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Athena 0/-------/----===|
COMBATSYS: Zach endures Diesel's Strong Punch.
VEGA
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
1|------------===|===============
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Diesel 0/-------/----===|=======\-------\1 Decapre
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Farah 0/-------/---====|=======\==-----\1 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Haggar 0/-------/---====|=======\===----\1 [E] Zach
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Athena 0/-------/----===|
Rust shudders as his hand catches nothing of Vega - no, in a sense, everything of Vega, his inner madness given incredible strength enough just as mentally taxing - traumatizing! - to touch as he overcommits to the attempt in brushing his hand through lingering Psycho Power, falling to a kneel as his hairs go on end. He just saw what he did to Haggar - Mike Haggar!
Well... not the hair(?) on his head hasn't stood up, but the older man's eyes remain widened from the sheer feeling of something having stabbed through him even when it physically has not, but Vega's words are razor-sharp knives unto themselves. A shell... another body? Is it really possible for someone to have just more than one body?!
The passing help of Athena's own power elicits a turn of his head, but it's too late for him to react when Vega grabs him by the throat. The man chokes as what air is in his lungs rush out from the kick, caught in his grasp with a bit of flair as his entire body tenses up. His own personal experience starts to remind him even through the colors of Vega's hatred that drowns out his senses... move, move, move with it, fall down first before they're ready--
Too slow. The ground shudders under Rust's form at the velocity he is hurled at. His shoulder pops as he scrambles to get up, to see Vega's armored shoes...
"D-Didn't just... come here to," Howard snarls as he tries to lift himself above the lingering dread. He flexes the fingers on his right hand... Ol' Rusty's still there. Even if he didn't treat his body well in his youth, on some level he knows he can trust on more than just his pipe. There's Haggar who needs strong people like him to fight, Athena who has lent her own spiritual strength, his best friend Zach... Farah, the mystical woman who helped him find his way during those dark days of the King of Fighters 2011...
And Rust pops up with a grunt, even as his body crackles and almost wins the fight to stay stiff and locked up, Ol' Rusty spinning in his right hand despite the weaker grip he has in his hand these days as he rises up - and then forward, gliding across the ground - with his trademark uppercut swing to force Vega back.
"Not today," he murmurs in a quieter tone of voice than is appropriate for the ferocity of what he actually puts behind the swing, "didn't... fight just so, so you could..."
He doesn't finish the murmuring.
There is no saving Decapre. That is the God's honest truth. She doesn't have the memories to help her break free, doesn't have anyone who misses her. All she -has- is Vega. The proposition that she should break away from that doesn't even compute. It's not as if she could just walk out--she isn't as trusted as the Zero Doll, or... wasn't. Whichever it is. And there are things that would keep her from living a 'free' life.
By the time all those thoughts have been, well, thought, Farah's upon her again--and despite the defensive stance, Decapre finds herself swept and pushed over, landing on her shoulders--and flipping over, landing in a low, low crouch.
It's an unnatural pose, but one she doesn't hold for long, as she propels herself up to a near-stand, her right leg kicking up and then descending for Farah's shoulder, booted foot slashing the air as she looks to crush the joint into immobility. That flickering rage is starting to build higher, a low growl almost rumbling from her throat--almost, but not quite.
Haggar is not exceptionally happy to have been suckerpunched in such a fashion while in the midst of a chinbreaking maneuver, staggering backwards and doubled over with a growl of discomfort. Still, he's not out of the fight indefinitely as a result. It seems Rust is a much more potent vessel for torture, although that gives all the time needed to recover. Rather lacking in stealth, Haggar roars out once more as Rust is kicked away, hurling himself through the air and attempting to capture Vega once more into a whirling upwards leap, so he can be spun down into yet another piledriver. Such maneuvers have been tested time and time again against despots like Belger successfully. "Ignore him... he fights a lost battle, and knows it!!"
The Diesel's fist strikes true, Zach's face head and upper body turning away from the strike as it echos in his ears. He turns back to face Diesel, unintimidated, unperturbed. Blood runs from his nose, and the corner of his mouth. "Eventually," the psion says as he holds his right hand just off to his side, summoning a ball of sunlight to the open palm. "But somehow..."
The sphere, perfectly imagined and formed, starts to spin in that hand. It starts to wobble from sheer speed, and Zach grips the construct firmly. The sphere folds, bleeds across the hand that is now clenched into a fist. Still, the energy spirals as it grows in intensity, the boxer chambering a right straight. With a bit of a twist.
"I don't think today is that day!" Zach throws the corkscrew right, enhanced by that drill-like construct wrapping around the arm, directly at Diesel's heart.
"HEARTBREAK SHOT!"
COMBATSYS: Zach successfully hits Diesel with Heartbreak Shot.
VEGA
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
1|------------===|===============
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Diesel 1/----===/=======|=======\-------\0 Decapre
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Farah 0/-------/---====|=======\=------\1 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Haggar 0/-------/---====|-------\-------\0 [E] Zach
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Athena 0/-------/---====|
Even with the pressure of being attacked by three fighters at once, Vega holds his own with terrifying composure. Standing back as she is, Athena is able to see everything play out in exacting detail - the counter assault against Haggar, the brutal combination executed on Rust, the effective defenses against the attacks repeatedly thrown his way. There's room enough to doubt in the face of such evidence. A glance cast toward the duo taking on the two menacing soldiers of Vega's reveals that their battle is every bit as heated.
She can't leave Rust and Hagger alone to bear the brunt of Vega's force, however, making the decision to close in and fight alongside them rather than from behind. Rust's words can't be made sense of anymore, but Vega's reply provides a dim clue into how the dictator can keep coming back time and time again to haunt the nations of the world. A new shell? Is it possession? Some kind of soul migration made possible by his impossible levels of Psycho Power? Maybe Master Gentsai will be able to offer thoughts to it later... but for now, Haggar's call to not back down snaps her attention back to the immediate.
Sucking in her breath, Athena sprints forward two yards before taking to the air and, at the apex of her leap, tucking into a ball to tumble sharply down into the malevolent dictator. That same rose-hued energy from before shimmers ovdr her being, making her a feather-weight torpedo of Pyscho Power as she tries to crash right into Vega with hopes of bowling him over or slowing him down. If she's able to land in a roll, she'll convert her forward momentum into a swift, snapping kick, targeting his sternum with all the coordinated force she can muster!
COMBATSYS: Rust successfully hits Vega with Cement Upper EX.
VEGA
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
1|-----------====|===============
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Diesel 1/----===/=======|=======\-------\0 Decapre
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Farah 0/-------/---====|=======\==-----\1 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Haggar 0/-------/---====|-------\-------\0 [E] Zach
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Athena 0/-------/----===|
COMBATSYS: Haggar successfully hits Vega with Screw Piledriver.
VEGA
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
1|---------======|===============
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Diesel 1/----===/=======|=======\-------\0 Decapre
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Farah 0/-------/---====|=======\==-----\1 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Haggar 0/-------/-======|-------\-------\0 [E] Zach
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Athena 0/-------/----===|
COMBATSYS: Vega dodges Athena's Phoenix Arrow.
VEGA
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
1|---------======|===============
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Diesel 1/----===/=======|=======\-------\0 Decapre
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Farah 0/-------/---====|=======\==-----\1 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Haggar 0/-------/-======|-------\-------\0 [E] Zach
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Athena 0/-------/---====|
COMBATSYS: Farah blocks Decapre's Heel Terror.
VEGA
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
1|---------======|===============
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Diesel 1/----===/=======|=======\-------\0 Decapre
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Farah 0/-------/-======|=======\==-----\1 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Haggar 0/-------/-======|-------\-------\0 [E] Zach
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Athena 0/-------/---====|
A punch for punch brawl usually works in Diesel's favor. There are little people in the world, men or women, that have her type of endurance and girth. What chances does someone as small as Zach poses of trading blows with her and come out alive?
Apparently, pretty good ones.
Zach demonstrates why he was the second best in the NDP championship, showmanship or not it must have been a lot of grueling fights, and why he has been able to overcome such formidable fighters like Captain Guile. It is now Diesel who is brought to a false sense of security when she sees the boy attempting to mimic her defensive maneuvers, headbutting punches to land your own?? That's the stuff of hardcore warriors like Diesel! Not puny little psychic boxers!
And then she promptly gets hit square in the chest, right between her breasts.
"HMMRRGGGH!!!" The giant of a woman gets sent backwards, skidding on the war torn pavement as she digs her heels in, her heart threatening to explode right inside of her rib cage. Is this what Cody felt when she hit him with her Fist of Kali technique?? No wonder he was barely able to stand after that. The blond brawler of Metro City lacked one thing that Diesel has however, something that keeps Diesel going where others go down.
Sheer, freaking, insanity.
"GrrrrrrRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
So much for keeping herself in her best behavior. Diesel /forces/ her heart to start beating again by sheer adrenaline powered rage and charges at Zach with a murderous look on her golden eyes after her blood curling cry. Leaping towards him, she aims to wrap a strong pair of legs right around the boy's neck, giving a 360 degree spin once she gets a hold of him and give Zach's neck a good nice twist.
COMBATSYS: Zach fails to interrupt Padmini Puspa from Diesel with Dynamite Punch EX.
-+- CALCULATED HIT -+-
VEGA
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
1|---------======|===============
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Diesel 0/-------/-------|=======\-------\0 Decapre
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Farah 0/-------/-======|=======\==-----\1 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
Haggar 0/-------/-======|======-\-------\0 [E] Zach
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Athena 0/-------/---====|
There's a disturbing noise when Decapre all but *lands* on Farah, the Egyptian having erected a hasty defense in response to the Doll's swift movement. For a moment the two are locked in tableau, Farah grimacing at the pain running through the entire right side of her body as Decapre seems to be more or less standing on her right shoulder, before the Soul Star pushes herself away and the two separate, sending Farah backwards, hand on her shoulder, grimacing. Even the sinuous movement of the soul-empowered shawl that's floating about her becomes fitful for a moment, echoing its controller's feelings of pain.
Tactically, this seems like a lost cause. There's no way Farah can take Decapre down; the latter simply has too much of an advantage in training and raw physical power for the former to make up with her psychic abilities. The smart money would be to cut her losses and leave.
And naturally she can't do that.
Surging forward, Farah puts the dance-like moves of Baguazhang to work, her circular movements being slightly difficult to read. Perhaps more importantly, the psychic-imbued scarf dances around her like a striking snake. It never really seeks to make contact, but the whirling pattern might make retaliation that much more difficult in the end.
COMBATSYS: Farah successfully hits Decapre with Southern Cross.
VEGA
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
1|---------======|===============
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Diesel 0/-------/-------|=======\-------\1 Decapre
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Farah 0/-------/=======|=======\==-----\1 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
Haggar 0/-------/-======|======-\-------\0 [E] Zach
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Athena 0/-------/---====|
Zach winces as Diesel simply loses whatever grasp on sanity she may have had. The strength of her rage, combined with all of the other strong wills clashing on this battlefield, threatens to overwhelm Zach. He's not /used/ to psychic backlashes like this. The Diesel makes her move, and Zach attempts to stop it; she's practically two Zachs, sizewise. Her landing on him would be... /bad/ to say the least.
Zach lashes out with a right handed Smash, hoping that the punch (plus the burst of Soul Power) would prevent Zach's being used as a landing pad. Sadly, his concentration is thrown off owing to the previously mentioned clashing of wills, along with the output of energy he had just displayed.
He feels something /wrenching/ in his spine and neck, and crumples to the pavement almost immediately. He doesn't stand after that, but seems to be breathing still.
Confusing. Decapre's head moves fractionally, as she attempts to read the pattern, but to no avail; the strikes push her back, making her stumble. Not a particularly painful set of strikes--but such things can build up. She's learned well the philosophy of the 1,000 cuts... something she has applied, occasionally. Had she the time--and, perhaps, a slightly different mentality than she does as the moment... she might be using the same.
But she has to help Vega--not just by disposing of this Egyptian Soul Power user, but in a more direct manner. Expedience is on her mind. But the blades? The blades are retrated--briefly--as Decapre reaches for Farah's head. Should she manage? She'll twist around, imparting a twist to Farah's neck and also trying to drive her into the ground, head-first.
After discarding Howard Rust to the ground, arrogantly assuming he won't rise again any time soon, Vega steps over to collect his peaked service cap from the ground. He proceeds to dust it off, with his right hand, shaking and remnants from it before he promptly places it back on his head. It's then that he turns back toward one of his most /hated/ opponents from the war... and smiles broadly again... eerily perfect teeth exposed all of the way across his face. "The fear in you is positively /delicious/...." comes a mocking statement from the proud, demonic, leader of Shadaloo... "You can FEEL it, can't you?! The futility of this battle should be utterly apparent to you by now. You cannot defeat me, not then... not now... not ever!" Even as this arrogant declaration of his is made, Rust is charging him again... despite his overwhelming fear and despair. It's a thing which causes Vega's smile to slowly begin to crawl back where it came from!
Then, before Vega has time to realize it, the folly of his boasting becomes apparent. There is a loud, resounding, CLANG as Ol' Rusty strikes Vega in his chin with enough force to send him flying back... spitting blood.
Then, seizing upon Vega's moment of weakness, the formidable strength of a Mayor who just WON'T give up finds him. Haggar's arms snare the mountainous frame of Vega, threatening to crush him again. The Master of Psycho Power's world is then sent spinning as he's hauled skyward and SLAMMED into the earth once more hard enough to shatter rock and drive the man's head into a crater!
Rather than bother to collect himself from the ground, Vega decides to wrap again... making a tactical withdrawal from beneath Haggar and away from Rust before they can manage to hurt him even further. Even /he/ was beginning to realize he'd need to play this a bit more carefully. It is because he warps, a good ways from where he once stood, that Athena's aerial assault fortunately misses him entirely. By a good few feet at least. She was beginning to catch his attention, however. He didn't like the power he could sense within the girl, even if his own eclipsed it by a good ways still. At least, practically. Vega knew little of what lie at her depths, even if he could sense it ran deeper than he might be able to see.
That's why, for now... Vega chooses to (perhaps foolishly) ignore Haggar and Rust... assuming them injured enough to make them easy to deal with. He then ROARS toward Athena as fast as his legs wll carry and proceeds to execute a rather unorthodox move. One flip forward in mid-air whilst suspended by Psycho Power, heavy booted feet lashing out to kick at her, followed by a gravity defying second roll and two more kicks before he plants his feet firmly back on the ground. It's a fast and vicious aerial manever, with enough force possibly to send a person flying if it connects. "STOP INTERFERING!"
COMBATSYS: Farah deflects Medium Throw from Decapre with Aurora.
VEGA
[ ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
1|-----------====|===============
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Diesel 0/-------/-------|=======\===----\1 Decapre
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Farah 1/-------/=======|=======\==-----\1 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
Haggar 0/-------/-======|======-\-------\0 [E] Zach
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Athena 0/-------/--=====|
From Decapre's point of view, Farah's choice of defensive maneuver must seem very strange -- as the Doll reaches for the Egyptian's face, Farah herself doesn't appear to move. In fact, she simply stares the claw-wielding young girl down with a steady look from her violet-eyed gaze. Is she going to do nothing? Perhaps that's how it looks... until, without a single physical movement from Farah herself, the Soul-empowered shawl whips out of nowhere, wrapping itself around Decapre's wrist with a grip like an iron vise, keeping her entirely in place.
If anything, the mild expression Farah gives Decapre, in that brief moment that she holds the Doll prisoner, doesn't seem to belong on a battlefield. It's the bittersweet expression of both joy and sadness combined that many people associate with regret. And indeed, Farah does regret what she's been forced to do today. If there were any other option, she'd take it. As it is...
"Hopefully we can meet in a different way, someday," is all Farah says, before there is a powerful burst of midnight blue, and the Soul Power in the shawl briefly discharges in a flash of light, filling Decapre's body with a psychic power other than Vega's own.
COMBATSYS: Vega successfully hits Athena with Double Knee Press.
# Disabling hit! #
VEGA
[ ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
1|-------========|===============
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Diesel 0/-------/-------|=======\===----\1 Decapre
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Farah 1/-------/=======|=======\==-----\1 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
Haggar 0/-------/-======|======-\-------\0 [E] Zach
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Athena 1/------=/=======|
There is never doubting any fear on Howard's part. Even in a small victory of striking Vega in the chin - an act he has achieved before in what he believed was Vega's final stand - but perhaps the greatest possible development in showing the differences between then and now is that he doesn't drop Ol' Rusty on impact with Vega. It takes his left hand to grip it to be sure as he lowers it back down, but this time, his hand - and resolve - holds.
Why shouldn't it, when Haggar walks up and shows Vega what for as he piledrives him into the ground, or when Vega chooses to move away from an oncoming arrow of psionic power who stands at the opposite end of the spectrum Vega stands?
"Haggar," Rust shoots a glance at the mayor as he takes in heavy breaths. His injuries are starting to take their toll, and yet, there he still stands, "I know that, uh, that we came to this just... goin' in," he says as he moves to approach Vega. There's a visible limp in his walk. The forward gliding motion of the Cement Upper disguised the injury well enough on his recovery, but the slower pace of an already slow walk is made evident as he now has to work to move in to the repositioned Vega.
"We should... we should just, j-just kick his ass," so Howard states the obvious as he limps ever closer. Vega's roar should slow him, but perhaps adrenaline is saying... no, don't slow. When he draws in close enough from Vega's left side, he kicks off his stronger leg, swinging out the stronger leg in the first horizontal midair kick of a familiar Kyokugen technique and - immediately, in mid-air - twists to try and deliver another one with the weaker while he positions himself to land on his stronger. The slightly backwards motion might be slightly counterproductive for the approach, but the fact he's willing to use a leg that's hurt should say volumes.
Afraid as he is, he appears to remain fully onboard with the very idea of kicking Vega's ass.
One can dare to ignore Haggar at their own risk. He is about to begin curbstomping the fallen Vega when he whirls away in a burst of his psycho energy, foot instead impacting already broken concrete. There's a sort of curse now, more of annoyance then anything else. "Who is fleeing from who now?!" he boldly declares, finger pointing at the Chin. "You are just trying to inflict as much damage as possible before you lose... who is the true coward here!!" And then he launches himself skyward, rotating in a sitting position as if he was holding some phantom invisible body. Were he to impact Vega, he'd find himself suddenly upside down, perfectly slotted into the rigid position, only to be piledrived for the third time. You can tell Haggar is mad when he only uses piledrivers and nothing else.
Never.
It isn't thought with anger or malice. It's simply fact. Decapre will never be 'free' of Vega, and if she were she wouldn't know what to do. She is destined to meet only on the battlefield. In conflict. In war.
She staggers back; her defenses against psychic attack are pretty strong, but they don't make her invincible--and she definitely feels that burst of psi, perhaps more than anything else. That invasive power, so different from Vega's own, and in its own way, just as damaging.
There's no regret in Decapre's manner, and thus probably-certainly none on her face, though of course the mask hides that. Almost... she's almost at that point... She flings herself forward again, giving voice to her growl, which is made all the more inhuman by the instrumentation of her mask, muffled and electronicized, as she brings both of her blades to bear on the woman in front of her, slashing outwards in a giant X formation, using the backs of the blades as the leading edges.
Her focus on Farah has been impressive, but maybe she's starting to lose a bit more control now, her aura starting to almost spark a bit, invisibly, as her emotions start climbing towards a peak.
The true question here is; did The Diesel ever had any hold to sanity at all? The giant woman didn't get all her formidable strength from psycho power alone, nor did she get her psychosis from getting brain washed. Those were just traits that made her the perfect candidate to be forced into the SIN program.
This is why she does not hesitate at all when Zach attempts to simply punch her right in the crotch. She slips right pass his guard and gives him a sharp twist on his neck whether he likes it or not! Once the blood letting starts, Diesel can simply not stop herself, no amount of brain washing programs could ever hope to tame the beast within, they can only really just redirect her rage to someone that is not them.
Diesel jumps off Zach's broken body and offers no witty one liner, no snarky come back or whimsical pun about almost breaking his neck. No, that's for evil overlords like Vega to do. She is something else, something more primal..
The woman is just rage incarnate.
"GRRRRRRAAAAAARRRRRR!!!!!"
Not satisfied at all after seeing Zach collapse to the ground face first, Diesel swiftly goes to sit on the boy's back and begins raining down punches on the back of his head, simply going for a brutal merciless beatdown!
COMBATSYS: Diesel successfully hits Zach with Arjuna Naraca.
VEGA
[ ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
1|-------========|===============
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Diesel 0/-------/------=|=======\===----\1 Decapre
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Farah 1/-------/=======|=======\==-----\1 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > /// ]
Haggar 0/-------/-======|=======\=------\1 [E] Zach
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Athena 1/------=/=======|
Zach doesn't have enough time to react. His body... isn't moving at all like it ought to, a part of him thinks. He has just enough time to roll onto his back before Diesel mounts him to try to turn him into paste. His head bounces from her fists to the pavement and back into her fists for a disturbing length of time.
Zach's face is a mass of blood, bruise and swelling, but those emerald eyes stay on Diesel's golden eyes. There's something there, despite the deformed face, that might lead someone to think that Zach feels not rage, or anger, or pain. There's not much of the first two, and plenty of the third though.
There's pity in his eyes. As if he knows that Something was Done to this woman. Not that this stops his last gambit. He slowly, jerkingly (because that's the only way he can manage it at all) tries to place his right hand on the woman's ribcage, before forming a sort of pile bunker-like construct from his palm that will hopefully knock Diesel off of him before passing out. The sword, tightly held in his left hand the entire fight, finally clatters to the pavement.
COMBATSYS: Zach can no longer fight.
VEGA
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1|-------========|===============
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Diesel 0/-------/------=|=======\===----\1 Decapre
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Haggar 0/-------/-======|=======\-------\1 Farah
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Athena 1/-----==/=======|=======\==-----\1 Rust
COMBATSYS: Diesel blocks Zach's Pile Bunker.
VEGA
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1|-------========|===============
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Diesel 0/-------/----===|=======\===----\1 Decapre
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Haggar 0/-------/-======|=======\-------\1 Farah
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Athena 1/-----==/=======|=======\==-----\1 Rust
COMBATSYS: Farah blocks Decapre's Power Strike.
VEGA
[ ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
1|-------========|===============
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Diesel 0/-------/----===|=======\===----\1 Decapre
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Haggar 0/-------/-======|=======\==-----\1 Farah
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Athena 1/-----==/=======|=======\==-----\1 Rust
Her tumble from above doesn't connect with her intended target. She doesn't even try to kick out for him, having seen the man relocate out of her trajectory and proximity from Rust and Haggar in a way that can't be written off as simply 'incredible speed.' Her own momentum carries her into a slide along the cratered highway, but she recovers out of the acrobatic move with little trouble.
No, the trouble is what comes flipping toward her feet first. The bone crushingly strong kick is the first she's felt of Vega's physical prowess. He isn't simply muscular and talented in fighting, but the same power that he exudes with such ease must be strengthening his limbs far beyond what most people could ever hope to achieve. The blow to the side of Athena's head is staggering as the featherweight fighter is sent stumbling to the left.
The second kick catches her in the side with crunching force, folding the smaller fighter over his foot before sending her flying to the side, crashing into a guardrail with a metallic clang, leaving a dent in its surface as she crumples to the street. The two-fold kicks serve as a profound warning of Vega's physical might. But that isn't the source of the pain that echoes through Athena as she forces herself to keep moving, gripping the same guardrail that ended her careening to get to her feet. The attack was also the first time she came in contact with Vega's Psycho Power and the effects thereof are simply overwhelming.
Her own well of energy seems so distant, hard to focus on, hard to shape and summon to her fingers as she levels a violet-eyed glare back toward the dictator. Haggar's words are heard, ringing of truth. The people of Metro have fought back against the occupation, Shadaloo is on the retreat. No, this fight isn't about holding Vega back... it's about possibly /stopping/ him here and now, for good! "Interferring?! After all you've done here, all the lives you've ruined?! I have yet to begin interferring!"
It takes incredible effort to draw her rose-hued energy forth again, having to fight against that corrupting touch of Vega's. Gritting her teeth, Athena forces herself to move forward, closing in against the dictator along with the other two who have chosen to take a stand against him. At first it seems she isn't going to manage anything beyond a feeble strike but in the last second, she's able to summon forth, breaking past the interferance of his energy to unleash a point blank explosion of her own. The blast of Psycho Power is enough to possibly obscure Vega from sight if he ends up caught within it as she channels the attack for as long as she can sustain, teeth grit in concentration.
Like two great powers clashing, Decapre goes all Wolverine and Farah almost mimics her movements, arms moving in a cross pattern as well, directing the soul cloth like a symphony conductor, the white shawl streaking into position. Claws clash against psychic-empowered defenses briefly, and in a very surprising result, even more lines of red criss-cross Farah's stomach, even though it was her suddenly-erected defense that got hit. Sympathetic damage, perhaps, between the cloth that's an extension of her body, and the empathic girl's body itself. She gasps in pain, letting out a sharply exhaled breath, even as her arms and the shawl wind backwards. Hands come in, palm-down, on her bleeding stomach, and the Egyptian's breathing becomes long and shallow.
Perhaps a similar show of force is needed, in the end, Farah decides. It's not her way, typically, to overwhelm the opponent; her style is primarily defensive, intending to use the opponent's strength against them. It's a physical manifestation of her emotional desire to encourage self-reflection... but occasionally, a Star must burn bright and hot. Never mind that the chaos of the battles around her -- of Zach, and in the distance, of Vega against many heroes -- assaults her psychic senses. She will push through no matter what.
Practically diving at Decapre, Farah lands in a crouch, and then advances on the Doll, shawl whipping through the air. The Soul Star suddenly launches herself forward and upward, an almost 45 degree angle with the ground, intending to smack into Decapre and bring her along for the ride. The shawl whips around her in perfect circles, each revolution creating a sparkling line of cobalt blue Soul Power, the end result looking like a shining sphere of power, until at the very end of the aerial trip, Farah inverts herself and attempts to slam Decapre back to the ground with a kick.
COMBATSYS: Decapre blocks Farah's Celestial Sphere EX.
VEGA
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1|-------========|===============
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Diesel 0/-------/----===|=======\====---\1 Decapre
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Haggar 0/-------/-======|=------\-------\0 Farah
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Athena 1/------=/=======|=======\==-----\1 Rust
Farah's launching strike is intercepted, barely, by Decapre's cupped, doubled palms--blades retracting an instant before impact, lest she cut her own fingers off. But it does the job--Decapre's body is launched upwards. Each whipping strike is deflected, perhaps minimally, by Decapre's arms, a frantic dance of twisting that, over the time of the attack, keeps the Doll from being destroyed. The final kick, also caught, does send Decapre hurtling back towards the ground... and then she stumbles, upon landing, and has to bleed off more momentum in a quick cartwheel.
Is she closing in on the endgame of this fight? It's hard to tell. But she can, at least, prepare herself for it... she hopes that Diesel will go help Lord Vega, because he is the key. She can fall. Diesel can fall. But if _Vega_ falls... That's why they are here. To keep that from happening. And Decapre gives full reign to the power inside her, that haze of red and purple thickening around her once more, the claws popping out again with a bright, harsh sound.
COMBATSYS: Decapre gathers her will.
VEGA
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1|-------========|===============
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Diesel 0/-------/----===|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Decapre
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Haggar 0/-------/-======|=------\-------\0 Farah
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Athena 1/------=/=======|=======\==-----\1 Rust
PITY!!!?
Diesel doesn't want pity!!
Much like Decapre, she will never be free from Vega's grasp, all that she ever wants, all that she strives for, all that she needs...
Is Violence.
Though Diesel's furious golden gaze locks eyes with Zach's emerald own, she misses the pitied look that he gives her. It is a look that she has seen many times in those that are on the receiving end of her punishment, learning quickly to ignore them and block them from her view via swift brutal punches to the face. That /usually/ does the trick to get them to stop looking at her that way.
Despite her rage, Diesel is not leaving herself totally vulnerable. She has demonstrated an enormous amount of skill before in ways of defending herself that do not rely on brute strength. She does not let her rage control her, she embraces it and bends it to her will. This is why she can see through the red veil of berserker rage to see an incoming blast of energy aimed right for her ribs. The woman brings her arms down to protect her upper body with her forearms and gets pushed away from Zach, forcing her to her feet where she breathes in and out, eyes wild with anger, canine like teeth bared as she stares to the fallen body of Zach, waiting for him to stand up.
But he does not stand up.
"GGGGGRRRRrrrrr......" Diesel deflates, the neuro containers restraining her from simply trying to attack the closest person next to her and focuses back on her mission. Her blurry vision turning away from Zach and back to the task at hand. Where did everyone go? Looks like she got separated from the fight.
She reaches for her radio comm-link and switches to Decapre's frequency.
"Sister, what is your situation? Have you bested your opponent yet?"
COMBATSYS: Diesel gains composure.
VEGA
[ ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
1|-------========|===============
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Diesel 0/-------/-----==|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Decapre
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Haggar 0/-------/-======|=------\-------\0 Farah
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Athena 1/-----==/=======|=======\==-----\1 Rust
COMBATSYS: Vega blocks Rust's Girder Sway.
VEGA
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
1|------=========|===============
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Diesel 0/-------/-----==|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Decapre
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Haggar 0/-------/-======|=------\-------\0 Farah
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Athena 1/-----==/=======|=======\===----\1 Rust
COMBATSYS: Haggar successfully hits Vega with Flying Piledriver.
VEGA
[ ||||||||||||||||| ]
1|----===========|===============
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Diesel 0/-------/-----==|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Decapre
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Haggar 1/-------/=======|=------\-------\0 Farah
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Athena 1/-----==/=======|=======\===----\1 Rust
COMBATSYS: Athena successfully hits Vega with Round Psycho Reflector.
VEGA
[ |||||||||||| ]
1|--=============|===============
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Diesel 0/-------/-----==|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Decapre
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Haggar 1/-------/=======|=------\-------\0 Farah
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Athena 1/----===/=======|=======\===----\1 Rust
When she lands, Farah finds herself breathing hard, staring down her opponent... who resists attacking, continuing to build that dark psychic energy to herself as surely as Farah struggles to keep her inner fires glowing. The problem is that she feels another presence potentially heading her way... and fighting two of these twisted young women at once does not appeal to her at all. One on one, she might break through to Decapre somehow... two on one, she'll simply get herself killed. Slowly, she starts to back away from Decapre, watching her steps, preparing to leave.
In the process, her eyes range over the battlefield, and she espies the unconscious Zach, as well as the towering form of Diesel in the distance. Biting her lip, the Soul Star realizes what she must do. Breaking off at a run, she beelines directly for Zach, hauling him to his feet by herself if necessary when she gets there. Looking at his face and appearance, there's a moment of instability, as if she knows who he is, but can't quite place it... but then the looming presence of Decapre and Diesel breaks into her awareness, and she knows now isn't the time to think of such things.
"That man... someday I'm going to find him," she says, limping from the battlefield with Zach in tow. "Someday this mystery will get solved..."
...And after those rolling kicks flying forward, smashing into Athena Asimiya into the street, Vega stands tall again. He's battered, he's bruised, HE'S DIRTY, but he's still standing proud... for the moment. "You fools....! You're all just wasting your time, and my own!" He conjures forth yet another burst of Psycho Power from deep within that massive frame... the cloud of billowing energy tainted by hatred around him was growing even larger. He had every intention to jerk that psychic girl up off of the street and savagely beat her until she could not stand!
...But one Howard Rust had other ideas. He leaps into Vega's territory throwing not one but TWO kicks at him, forcing the dictator to suddenly have to concentrate on someone else. Vega's massive arms are thrown up as shields, both kicks impacting thick artificial muscle and bone built harder like steel. It does manae to stagger Vega, and it causes considerable pain in his weakened state, but it's not enough to do anything substantial...
...besides give Haggar time to grab hold of Vega's person, turn him upside down, and piledrive him again! This time, Vega's skull fractures... and his spine bends upon impact in ways it should not sending white hot pain through him!
Stumbling to his feet a third time, now thoroughly injured, tired, and PISSED OFF, Vega snarls and wipes yet more crimson fluid from his mouth. He doesn't even bother fixing his hair this time, nor collect the cap that got knocked aside, all he can do is GROWL ferociously and rush Haggar in rage!
..But as with Haggar, the persistent Athena Asimiya just will not give him even a breath. She rushes into his territory and... before he can do little more than stop andd glare at her... blasts him with an enormous amount of her own Psycho Power sending the egomaniac FLYING through the air backward AGAIN! The things that energy does to the mind and soul of the twisted psionic fiend... it feels like the closest to being raped as he's ever come. His dark, fiendish, energy mixing with her own is a painful and mind shattering experience... his mind suddenly flooded by thoughts and feelings he utterly DESPISES and thought himself rid of eons ago!
...But midst flight, the egomaniac rights himself again... boots scraping the filthy earth and kicking up dust as he lands and skids backward. His body has had it, it was utterly ready to give. But the Will of Vega forces his body to rise again... just once more... and to glare at the insolent wretches who'd dared to attack him. The top half of his uniform was now damn near gone: naked, muscular, burned flesh and scraps of clothing are all that remains. He does not attack again, however, choosing to retreat and fight another day. But not before a cryptic warning escapes him... "You fools have NOT seen the last of me! Once my plans have bore fruit, I will be coming to kill you again..." He then casts a sidelong glance at the fighting still raging nearby... "DIESEL, DECAPRE... FALL BACK IMMEDIATELY. WE CANNOT RISK A LOSS HERE. WE HAVE /BUSINESS/ ELSEWHERE..." ...And then, he leaves... vanishing in a blur of violet energy as he has several times now. But this time, he is truly gone....
As Farah disengages, or tries, Decapre is well-prepared to give pursuit. Let no one say she is not tenacious. Until... until. Until Vega makes his call. That decides the matter for her. Without a word, Decapre turns to run--she doesn't even look to see if Diesel will obey. In such a mental state as Diesel is, she is not likely to listen to Decapre.
All that rage and power she has built up has to go somewhere, though, and she unleashes it in a massive slashing of a building as she passes by--blood-red haze solidifying to brighter and darker lines as she cuts up the facade... causing the building's face to fall off, literally, behind her, creating a cloud of dust and debris to cover her escape. Her thoughts are in turmoil, as much shock at Vega's defeat, however temporary, as Farah's words unwillingly come back to echo again.
Save her? There's no saving her. She is Vega's Doll, until such time as she can no longer function. That's the truth... isn't it?
Decapre, on her way out, transmits to Diesel, "They are leaving. I suggest we do likewise. The tactical situation will not be tenable without Lord Vega on the battlefield."
The impact of feet against Vega's seemingly unyielding will given physical strength is especially unpleasant, but he follows through with both kicks all the same as he lands skillfully in a crouch as Vega staggers back. Howard winces as he puts a bit too much weight on foot, but Haggar and Athena move in and throw in their weight in the ways that have made them famous. Haggar's brutal piledriver earns another vaguely sympathetic grimace, even with Vega being who he is and crowing full well that a 'shell' seems to mean little to him.
Pain is still painful to imagine. Athena's Psycho Power nearly blinds him just watching it as he stands taller, covering his eyes with the back of his left arm as he (hesitantly) peeks out the side as it dissipates... and his stance lowers a bit more as he makes out the human-shaped nexus of negative emotions that is Vega.
"Wait," Rust mumbles out, but of course Vega wouldn't heed a meekly-mumbled word to the contrary of his will and ambitions as the violet energy makes the man flinch anew, as if afraid he was going to run through them on the way out like he remembers from India...
Yet, when Vega fades - leaving ruins, blood, tears, fear, and death in his wake, there is no last violent gasp to be witnessed. To this, Howard stands silent for a number of poignant moments when it all dies down.
"Son of a... bitch," and that's putting it lightly, "that, that... that was him." He's mostly speaking to himself as he looks all around... wait, that's Zach's sword on the ground, what's that doing there... shit, Zach, is he all right, where's Farah while we're at it--
His mind occupied with worries and concerns nestled in a veritable ocean of personal tragedies surrounding those who stood tall for Metro City and its people, he holds his left hand out towards nothing in particular as he just takes in the whole picture with what the hell just happened.
"'m... 'm sorry, I s-should've... come sooner," he speaks out as he limps along over to pick up Zach's blade. He doesn't want to see anybody unpleasant making out with that thing, that's for sure, casting glances over to Haggar and Athena along the way.
"You, you two okay, I mean... cripes," where does he begin in communicating all the questions he has on top of it all? His shoulder does, and it voices its opinions with a painful creaking as he rubs at the wound on the side of his head.
Retreat!?
Decapre's and Vega's response on her radio draw a surprise from Diesel. She was so certain they would win this time! They had all mighty Lord Vega to back them up! How could they have failed yet again when she had come out victorious from her own match!? There is a sensation that is not often seen on the likes of Diesel, usually the only emotions the Amazon warrior can transmit with her face are stoic neutrality and utter unbridled rage. Today, a third emotion is added to Diesel's slowly growing list of reactions.
Doubt.
It isn't enough that she bested Zach. Diesel wanted to prove to Lord Vega that they had what it took to defeat the defenders of the city, that they would overcome all odds unlike what happened in the war and emerge victorious. But they yet again flee, and what's more, Rust Howard still draws breath!!
Her rage tells her to stay and /at least/ take one of them with her, such is her surprise that she fails to react quickly enough to Farah dashing right past her and run off with Zach. "HEY!!!" Again, her warrior instinct tells her to pursue, they have them on the run, all they need to do now is go for the kill.
But doing such would go against Lord Vega's will.
And that is something she simply cannot do. It is mentally impossible for her to disobey.
"Under--Understood." Diesel transmits back on her radio, eyes glancing out towards Rust and his allies one last time.
"I'll show you yet." The feral berserker leers, unable to hide the hatred she feels for the man as she leaves.
"I'll show you who is the true Hero of Nepal, Rust Howard."
Haggar doubles over when Vega finally flees, the last onslaught driving him away successfully; and the remnants of his forces similarly begin to pull back, although the wounds to the flesh and city will be long to heal. "...It is not over for me." mulls the Fighting Mayor, still feeling the psychic echo from Vega's twin impacts. "It will take months to repair the city. But luckily, the civilians were little harmed. That is what is important." A massive hand goes to heavily pat Rust on his shoulder, in obvious appreciation. "Do not think you did nothing. I consider every soul who rose for Metro's aid a hero. Even a thousand ants... can move mountains!!" Maybe that quote isn't a hundred percent right, but he begins to limp in the direction of the city's center. Smoke and flames paint a gruesome portrait for him, but to Haggar, it remains home... and the true heart of Metro City, at least, was unscathed by all this rampant destruction.
While she can't exactly see over her large ball of Psycho Power, she can sense when Vega has backed off out of its effective range, and the young psychic fighter finally stops channeling the draining energy. Standing up straight, she clenches her hands at her sides, eyes fixed on Vega as he gains distance from them. And then he's gone. All things considered, it might be for the best. Everyone that came to fight this last stand is looking rather damaged by now, some suffering from weeks worth of accumulated battle fatigue, others more fresh to the warzone but no less harmed by being involved here and now.
To Rust's concern, Athena lifts her hand to the bloodied injury on the side of her head, giving him a nod and furtive smile to suggest that she'll be fine. The physical injuries were severe for how few times she was struck, but the contact with that violet, corrupted power Vega manipulates with such ease... that is going to take some time to shake off. The gulf between her and the madman has been realized now. There's so much more she has to learn, so much more power she has to obtain for herself if she's to fight something like /that/.
"You are as heroic as I've heard," she observes of Rust, looking at the battle-worn everyman with quiet awe before turning to watch the famous Mike Haggor begin the slow, limping journey back to his city to resume his duties in helping Metro's population. The recovery efforts from Shadaloo's assault will be extensive, to say the least. "I wish I could have done more," she murmurs thoughtfully. This will not be the end of things, however. The Psycho Soldiers will need to prepare now that Vega's presence is no longer the slightest question.
One last glance is cast around the battleground, confirming those that fought on Vega's side are gone, and no one has been left in the wake to be tended to thanks to Farah's quick thinking after Zach's brave stand. Quietly, Athena turns to take her leave as well, mind caught up in thoughts of what the future could hold.
COMBATSYS: Athena has left the fight here.
VEGA
[ |||||||||||| ]
1|--=============|===============
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Diesel 0/-------/-----==|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Decapre
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Farah 0/-------/------=|=======\===----\1 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ <
Haggar 1/-------/=======|
COMBATSYS: Farah has left the fight here.
VEGA
[ |||||||||||| ]
1|--=============|===============
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Diesel 0/-------/-----==|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Decapre
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Haggar 1/-------/=======|=======\===----\1 Rust
'I'll show you yet.' The voice pierces the calm - what little calm that exists - between the roaring of retreating engines, fires, engines, and screams. Even in the wake of the encouraging and pleasant smile of Athena, and the inspiring enduring might of Haggar, Howard turns his head to the gigantic woman who walks away.
"Nepal?" He murmurs aloud - he doesn't recall ever seeing her there. With Haggar's friendly pat on his shoulder, the man inwardly cringes as an already tender spot from Vega's kick-toss combination just flares up in excruciating pain.
Incidentally, when he's done holding in a cry of pain by shutting his eyes tightly for a moment, he opens his eyes to see that the gigantic woman who addressed him is no longer there.
What's this about Nepal, now...?
Log created on 19:25:40 08/19/2012 by Vega, and last modified on 15:54:51 08/20/2012.