Description: Vega and Shadaloo make one last-ditch effort at retaking the South Korean capital... with the Master of Psycho Power leading the charge on Cheongwadea and the occupation's commanding officer. But Howard Rust, Munin, and Julia Chang have other ideas. Will Vega succeed in retaking Korea? Will Decapre succeed in aiding him? Or will our heroes win the day once more and free South Korea from Vega's death grip...
Seoul, Korea -
These last two weeks have been utterly rife with turmoil, chaos, and war. Countless lives have been lost in this latest bid for power by the self-proclaimed Master of Psycho Power and Lord of Shadaloo. It was a bid that, as all of them have, drug practically everyone down to the depths of his depravity by sheer necessity and forced them to have to pull themselves free. His influence was like a quick sand... attempting to drag the people of Korea down to a suffocating end all for his amibitions. Yet, as ever... there are always bystanders who are willing to save the day whenever Vega appears. This war has been no different... and the heroes seemed to be growing more effective at thwarting him by the day!
A clenched fist suffused with Psycho Power slams down HARD on the steel arm rest of a seat on the occupied helicopter Vega was being flown in on. Shrouded by shadows at the back of the aircraft... that man... that malicious monster stares out from the darkness with eyes glowing ghastly white. The dull throbbing of psionic energies ebbing and flowing about his enormous muscular frame are providing perhaps the only light on his side of the craft. And what a frightening glow it might be, for someone facing that angry monster and his barely restrained power. Though he barely moved, it should be obvious to anyone he was utterly furious! He was so infuriated that he was practically grinding his perfect teeth. Were they not artificial as they are, he'd have probably grinded them down by now. The only things keeping his anger in check are three: 1. Beneath him, at this very moment, ... Shadaloo's finest agents are entering the city and beginning an attempt to destroy the military opposition that has taken hold, 2. Vega knows he is already on his way... and he expects to UTTERLY destroy every single living thing that crosses his path, and 3. He cannot kill his pilot or anyone who may be onboard the craft with him. They were useful for things besides venting his fury....
Accompanying Vega's craft are a small fleet of specially modified craft. Shadaloo's finest aircraft, built to be able to contend with even the most state of the art plane. As they near the city's edge... however... they each begin to go on their own way... doubtlessly to execute surgical strikes against enemy encampments before they have time to mount a proper defense. Once the bombs have started to drop, that's when Shadaloo's heavy artillery and soldiers will begin to boldly move in on the city through the now open passage ways and destroy everyting in their path.
They had two hours, give or take. He knew all of the allied forces were not concentrated here and it would take time for them to arrive. That is why, today, he decides personal involvement is an absolute necessity. His men alone could not retake the city in such record times. No. ... But /he/ can.
5r Moments after the fleets accompanying Vega's craft depart, the Lord of Shadaloo himself emerges from craft into the open air above the city. He knew exactly where he was going to start... right where the military leadership has doubtlessly taken up resident in the government sector of Seoul, Cheongwadea...
Within mere moments, an explosion resounds through the plaza before the governmental residence... home to the South Korean president when he dwelled here... and the North Korean occupation as of two days ago. Vega emerges from a cloud of dust... having made a show of flattening a tank parked before the building. He then immediately grabs the tank's main gun with his bare hands... and through sheer psionic willpower hefts it and tosses it toward the building right as some of the internal guards come out to play. "YOU THINK YOU CAN DWELL IN MY HOUSE, DO YOU?! YOU WILL PAY FOR YOUR DEFIANCE WITH YOUR LIVES!"
Decapre is not with Vega in his helicopter. She is, however, riding on one of the modified craft--as some of the other Dolls are. The goal, of course, is to decapitate the Korean resistance--and with Vega himself taking an interest and the lead, there is no doubt in Decapre's mind that they will not fail.
She, along with elite troops, was dropped into the the city after the bombs, and she and her elite force have been mowing through the city--though she outstrips her own team. They are elite troops, of course, but nothing like Decapre.
She arrives to the plaza just as Vega takes the tank out. for a moment, she's in awe, standing stock still as he does in fact throws that tank, a feat that is mighty and impressive--only to have to break her reverie as a rebel charges her, shouting--and she has to turn a fraction and stab him through the throat with her claws.
The moment broken, Decapre surges forward to join her lord and master at his side, his shadow of death.
"So it's finally come to this," Julia says to herself as she wraps her gloves around her hands, rolling her neck around as well. "I knew that they would return again, but the fact that Shadaloo is actually making its appearance." She sighs and closes her eyes, clasping both hands around her pendant. "Spirits, I can sense that this battle is going to be a very difficult one. It is going to be the decision of whether freedom returns to this country, or if the evil powers will continue to control it. I ask that you protect me and give me strength." She then reopens her eyes and looks around at the destruction that has been caused by Vega and his psycho power. It is then that she is reminded of how Vega increases his power.
"Rage. Negativity. They are the things that fuel him." Julia takes a deep breath and blows it out, reminding herself about what she's fighting for, and how her intent is not to defeat her opponent, but to protect those around her. "It's bitterly ironic, fighting for a peaceful purpose." Nevertheless, Julia warms herself up a little and then gets into her ready stance. "Nevertheless, I won't let Shadaloo take Korea. It belongs to the people who live here. They cannot be allowed to succeed." Her thoughts are calm, an obvious intent on staying as calm as possible in hopes of keeping Vega's power at bay.
As the assault begins, everyone is abuzz, as combat comes to the epicenter. People running around, getting into position. Weapons fire. Shouts and screams as fighting begins, or someone is injured. Explosions are likely not far off, knowing the normal occurances for war....
(Feh.... if such a thing can ever really be 'normal'.)
As the medics scramble to get things started, Munin wearily trudges out of the makeshift hospital. She is still bandaged pretty heavily, and isn't completely pain free, after her last run-in with Decapre. However, she's in better condition than some, and with the fighting that is coming, they're gonna need even that one bedspace. She quickly dons her clothes overtop of the dressings, and strides out onto the battlefield, black shadowy steam beginning to mist off her shoulders and hands as she moves to assist in the defense.
Beneath the mask of her persona, however, she is quite afraid. Vega is BAD news up close, and she knows it. (May not walk away from this one..... heres to hoping...)
The thing about these war zones, Rust learned the hard way back in the war throughout mainland Asia, is that you never get a chance to really rest back up to a whole hundred percent. Between his encounters with someone who he previously confused for the Zero Doll, Cammy, and the head stomp-(un)friendly Diesel who was of a tragic upbringing of Nepal... well, he feels like crud.
A strong working ethic built into him from his younger years may well be the primary factor that he's willing to come back up so soon when there's word of a great show of force going on by Vega himself. Doesn't matter how sore or tired you are, he told himself growing up, got to get to work. Not that he'd ever hope that this sort of thing would end up becoming an everyday job for him, as he comes along with Julia and Munin towards Cheongwadea alongside those resistance forces able and willing to fight.
Willing to fight is the operative term, when Shadaloo makes an incredible show of force and destruction that masks the more surgical strikes. North Korea made a great show with their help, but this whole thing shows the strength of who is really responsible for the victory quickly slipping out of their grasp.
Compared to Julia, Howard is mostly without words (but has plenty of pained grunts). Ol' Rusty is already drawn, the battered, rusted length of pipe standing in sharp contrast to the military hardware being brought to bear. What Julia speaks is, largely, true - Shadaloo can't be allowed to take any of it.
He takes in a deep breath as he considers that all three of them here are fighting in various states of injury. His head's still pounding, and yet...
C'mon," he speaks, trying to psyche himself up as much as the other two as it is, cracking his knuckles (and a shoulder) as he steps forward at much less a hurried pace than he ought to be, maybe just to give him that extra second to gather himself as they all move towards what is going to be, without a doubt, an ending of some stripe.
Keeping Momoko's advice in mind along with everything else that has been said to him on the subject, Howard points out to the lot of them with Ol' Rusty, as much a challenge as anything else now.
COMBATSYS: Rust has started a fight here.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Rust 0/-------/-------|
That metal construct, warped by Vega's Psycho Powered attack upon it, collides with the side of the governmental residence... crushing roughly six men to death and utterly destroying the front side entrance. Wood splinters, marble debris flies everywhere, and human blood flows freely as the whole front wall of the residence gives way to Vega's rage unleashed... that tank plowing through and impacting the marble floor inside before rolling over on top of what once was a man. Now... merely a smear of crimson upon the floor.
Whoever managed to live within that mess, provided they were able to move, have either produced guns by now or fled. The latter were clearly the SMART ones...
Vega then proceeds immediately up the stone staircase leading into the residence... his titanic, crimson clad, muscular frame alive with violently energetic dark purple energy. He is heedless of the meager show of resistance being made in his presence.... his features twisting into an angry snarl at the sight of it. Though Decapre joins him, he does not seem to immediately acknowledge it... lost to the fury that has consumed him for the time being... "....YOU WITLESS FOOLS..." He seethes darkly... while menacing toward the slowly backing away men. "I GIVE YOU TIME TO SURRENDER AND USE IT TO DEFY ME FURTHER?!" A massive hand snaps out and seizes one of them y the throat, hoasting him into the air... the others proceed to open fire upon Vega but he doesn't even bother to deflect it. Whatever isn't stopped by that thick coating of concentrated psionic energy is certainly stopped by artificial muscles tense like steel fibre. There is a sickening snapping sound... as Vega effortlessly snaps the man's neck... causing his body to go limp.
...He's then tossed aside like so much garbage. "WHERE IS YOUR COMMANDER?! SURRUNDER THE CITY TO ME OR DIE!"
COMBATSYS: Vega has joined the fight here.
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Vega 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Rust
COMBATSYS: Decapre has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
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Decapre 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Vega
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Rust 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Vega has left the fight here.
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Decapre 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Rust
COMBATSYS: Vega has joined the fight here as a boss!
VEGA
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Decapre 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Rust
COMBATSYS: Decapre has joined the fight here on the top side.
VEGA
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0|---------------|---------------
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Decapre 0|-------|-------
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Rust 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Munin has joined the fight here.
VEGA
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Decapre 0|-------|-------
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Rust 0/-------/-------|======-\-------\0 Munin
Decapre knows that Vega won't acknowledge her as such. It would be beneath him to do so publicly. But she doesn't care about that -- see, she knows who she is and what she is... and why she's here. So she simply takes up station at Vega's right side, and behind him by about five feet. Her walk is more of a stalking motion, blades extended, already dripping with the blood of rebels.
She doesn't speak--she doesn't have to. Vega will, of course, do the bulk of the work and take the spotlight; that is his right. Decapre is merely here to provide backup... and to kill whoever Vega does not. She already knows the forces that will be arrayed against them -- has met them in battle before and, knowing the 'heroic' mind, knows that they will be here to try and stop them.
Underneath the mask, she smiles. It is not a good smile, or a nice smile. It is the near-feral baring of teeth. She tore one of the so-called heroes apart -- nearly completely -- but that only slaked her bloodlust partially...
COMBATSYS: Julia has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
VEGA
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0|---------------|---------------
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Decapre 0|-------|-------
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Munin 0/-------/-======|-------\-------\0 Rust
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Julia 0/-------/-------|
In spite of how things are right now, Julia stands tall, no emotion showing on her face at the moment. Even with that evil, powerful man, standing before her. A man who singlehandedly destroyed countless people. She knows that many would show anger and hatred towards Vega, but not Julia. Her mind is clear, and her demeanor is calm. She knows that she is fighting for freedom and innocent people. She does not glare or anything like that. She simply points and says, "Vega, you have gone too far this time. We must put an end to this."
Cautiously, Julia begins to approach Vega, knowing he's truly capable of just about anything. Having a clear mind helps one prepare to fight, which is why Julia is glad she took the time to focus herself before the fight. When she gets a little closer, Julia takes a deep breath, then lunges forward with a right kick, aimed directly at Vega.
Speaking of tearing apart, as Decapre stalks allied soldiers through the battlefield, she is quickly spotted by the hero she 'tore apart'. Munin frowns on seeing Decapre, glowing eyes narrowing behind her glasses.
Deciding to take advantage of the claw-armed womans focus being elsewhere, she moves sideways down and around a truck that sits idle currently, waiting ahead in ambush!
As Decapre moves past she strikes from hiding, coming in low and fast towards her lower back with a lance of chi emitted from her palm!
If successful, she'll lift Decapre up over her head using the lower center of gravity, and slam her onto the ground. Not a word is spoken the entire time by Munin, however.
The lot of them come as fast as they can, for sure, but it is a sad truth that the moment Vega is personally involved, tragedy on some level is inevitable. As Rust traverses the war-scarred cityscape with Julia and Munin, he can tell from the get-go where Vega has exactly moved based on the very path of destruction leading up to the governmental residence. (He could potentially make a fortune writing books about how to track Vega's movements in a small, given area.)
To say nothing of other hints like 'exploded tank that looks like it was knocked over or hurled or something' among the all-too-common scents of blood and death, or... the sound of Vega screaming out his disapproval of whoever he's addressing. The tossed body of Vega's most recent victim flying down the stone staircase sees the older man reaching out with a hand to catch them, as if hoping to at least save one life.
A brief look into their eyes shows that, no, he's dead. With no time nor chance to do anything for them now, Howard gently lets them down in a seated position - this allows Julia time to move up ahead of him and daringly strike the first blow.
"Julia!" Howard calls out. Where'd Munin go, while we're at it? Maybe she'll be able to take care of herself, but, with so much going on at once...
Calling Julia's name out gives away any sort of possible surprise he could inflict upon Vega as he comes face-to-back with him. He's not sure what to say or do for the frightened people within - if he tells them to run, there might be waiting Shadaloo soldiers outside. Telling them to stay, well... there's really only one way through this.
Keeping what Momoko said in mind proves difficult. The act of not showing hatred or negative emotion threatens to dull any blows he might be able to inflict - if any, this being Vega and all! - but he tries to heed to this with every purposeful step forward.
He shakes his head once, as if telling himself not to say the things he wants to, to not tell him off for the things he wants to, as he stares at that human-shaped mass of seething hatred and negativity. His right hand shakes, no doubt in some fear...
He steadies it the best his injury-addled self can, choosing to move forth and swing the pipe in a forehand swing in Vega's direction. The fact he's willing to walk up and try to strike at Vega with little word... an improvement in his willingness to stand his ground now?
COMBATSYS: Vega blocks Julia's Light Kick.
VEGA
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0|---------------|---------------
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Decapre 0|-------|-------
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Munin 0/???????/???????|-------\-------\0 Rust
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Julia 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Vega dodges Rust's Power Pipe.
VEGA
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0|---------------|---------------
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Decapre 0|-------|-------
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Munin 0/???????/???????|-------\-------\0 Rust
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Julia 0/-------/-------|
The gunfire ceases, almost as soon as the captive man's neck is snapped mercilessly like a twig. Bullets clatter and clink to the ground at Vega's feet, and though his uniform might be a bit worn... the Master of Psycho power himself is unharmed. The soldiers stand wide-eyed in fear at the monstrosity before them, and this pleases Vega sufficiently to turn his dangerous snarl into a malicious ear-to-ear grin. It doesn't please him enough not to kill them though, and he immediately turns his menace toward them... even as yet more military personnel come bolting down the stairs in the back of the parlor. "...Tell me who your commander is..." He seethes, still, but the shouting has quietened to his usual commanding tone of voice... "...or I will MURDER you all and destroy this place and everyone inside of it!" Only fools would push Vega's patience much farther than this...
...And apparently, Julia Chang is such a fool. ... Vega turns his empty gaze, slowly and deliberate toward the quickly approaching woman. Her declaration is one he's heard entirely too often... but it was also an indicator of trouble. When a single, unarmed, woman charges someone as powerful as the Master of Shadaloo so boldly... you know they are not ordinary persons. Her presence here tells Vega he has either arrived too early, or his elites have failed to cause sufficient trouble to distract the do gooders and NOW He'd have to rely on his own power. As Vega can NEVER be wrong... this can only mean heads will /roll/ eventually!
"...Stupid woman!" Vega immediately lashes out with his left arm, seizing that kicking leg and stopping it cold before it ever reaches him. The force was sufficient to make his palm sting, but he wouldn't be showing it in the slightest. "Do you ALL want to die soo badly?!" ... Then he hears footsteps, and his head turns toward where Howard Rust approaches from. ... And his eyes narrow dangerously.
That swung pipe would find nothing but air and subtle resistance of residue psionic energies as Vega's merely teleports several feet out of the way. And reappears behind Julia. As much as he'd love to smash Howard Rust here and now... Vega was a fighter AND showman! And he did so enjoy putting on a show, and he knows Rusts never tires of watching. WHY ELSE WOULD HE SHOW UP?
Thrusting a mighty, psionically powered, jab toward the back of Julia's head Vega bursts out laughing suddenly... "I'll kill this woman first! I think I'd enjoy making you watch her die, Howard Rust!"
COMBATSYS: Decapre blocks Munin's Eclipse.
VEGA
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0|---------------|---------------
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Decapre 0|-------|------=
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Munin 0/-------/-======|-------\-------\0 Rust
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Julia 0/-------/-------|
Decapre is a psion. She has Senses(tm). She may not utilize them as finely and as artfully as some, but it's difficult to really get the drop on her by just coming out of the shadows. And Decapre is familiar with Munin's psionic 'scent'. So when Munin comes in low, the masked Doll turns, intercepting the lance of chi with a hand, grasping it behind the wrist and deflecting it away, the energy grazing her rather than going right through her.
And then she, using that grip, seeks to simply fling Munin down, to slam her into the dusty ground, with a deft manuever of wrist and the application of force and torque.
Like Munin, she says nothing... but those eyeslots grow just a touch brighter and more malevolent.
COMBATSYS: Julia blocks Vega's Jab Punch.
VEGA
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0|---------------|---------------
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Decapre 0|-------|------=
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Munin 0/-------/-======|-------\-------\0 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Julia 0/-------/------=|
The instant Julia's leg is caught, she can feel the psycho power from Vega, and it sure does hurt. Julia grits her teeth, trying to keep her cool as she struggles to maintain her balance. At the same time, she watches Vega carefully, waiting to see what he might try now that he's got her under his control. Then it happens, Vega attempts to strike Julia from behind, but the woman turns around and knocks his arm away. Unfortunately, she loses her balance and falls onto the ground, but gets back up quickly. "I will not die here today. Nor will more innocent civilians."
Surprising as it may be, Julia still remains composed while looking at Vega. "The fighting has gone on too long. It must come to an end." Firm but composed, that's Julia. Especially as she rushes in and attempts to deliver a spinning elbow strike.
COMBATSYS: Munin blocks Decapre's Quick Throw.
VEGA
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Decapre 0|-------|------=
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Munin 0/-------/-======|-------\-------\0 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Julia 0/-------/------=|
Thinking fast, Munin turns her upper body with the angle of the torque, then pulls her arm out of the grab as Decapre goes for the throw without the torque to keep the joint locked and/or pained. As she hops back, she spins her arms around in a whirl, lances of chi swinging from the palms in a circle of deadly slashes.
She can't help but smirk ever so slightly as she notices the eyes light up. It must bother Decapre that her prey has survived her twice in a row so far, and returned to give her more grief yet again. Her own eyes violet glow grows a bit brighter as well as she pushes herself to win out over the masked claw fighter this time.
The man visibly shudders in the wake of the psionic residue where Vega stood moments before, one of his knees twinging once more in pain. He grimaces, taking Ol' Rusty in both hands to stop himself from dropping the pipe as he paces to the side, trying to not let Vega's teleporting antics let him escape his field of view... there he is, behind Julia. His eyes widen - he knows Julia's held up well against rank-and-file soldiers but Vega is magnitudes beyond that...!
The way she confidently parries a fist that, alone, could probably kill three or more ordinary people standing very close to one another in a line puts her in a newer light - but not one that invites complacency in so far as Vega is concerned, as Howard paces around the floor, Ol' Rusty pointing outward to wait for his opening.
"I, I don't enjoy watching the others die," says the man of the abominable toupee, as if missing the point of Vega's wholly honest declaration. He only needs to go back to remember the faces of those gunned down in Nepal, those who suffered through the war... they're not pleasa--
Bad emotions, no, don't dwell on them, Howard catches himself. This hesitation might be to Vega's benefit as he moves in at last, thrusting Ol' Rusty towards Vega's belt in an attempt to hook one end in. If he can, it's much less a question of leverage and strength and far more a case of nerves in hoping he can keep the hold, attempting to lift Vega up and hurl him a ways away via Ol' Rusty.
COMBATSYS: Vega dodges Julia's Medium Punch.
VEGA
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0|---------------|---------------
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Decapre 0|-------|------=
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Munin 0/-------/--=====|-------\-------\0 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Julia 0/-------/------=|
COMBATSYS: Vega blocks Rust's Wrecking Ball Swing.
VEGA
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0|---------------|--------------=
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Decapre 0|-------|------=
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Munin 0/-------/--=====|-------\-------\0 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Julia 0/-------/------=|
Vega scoffs as his punch is, quite unexpectedly, deflected by the native american woman he was making sport of earlier. Despite her rather clumsy fall immediately afterward, an opening Vega seizes upon immediately by stalking toward her, she has earned the right to fight Vega by all accounts. Most people would've been turned to dust by that punch... that's the sort of being these fighters are now daring to challenge. Yet she lives... and inadvertently fuels Vega's rage... causing his psionic aura to thicken and turn even blacker than it was before.
Vega is all too aware of where they are fighting and who their spectators are. Despite the fact that he does not feel even slightly threatened by the soldiers standing about, it was the very defiance they stod for that made him desire for them to die.
...And so, as Julia collects herself from the floor and Howard Rust paces... Vega conjures a hand full of his own wretched energy... and effortlessly tosses it over his shoulder toward the staircase where the soldiers had descended earlier. It EXPLODES violently a moment later... blowing out the wall and flinging dust and debris outward. Where there were soldiers... there is now a new doorway complete with skylight... and no bodies to be found!
Then, Vega hears Julia dart toward him again and simply... steps out of the way of that elbow strike. He then attempts to backhand her into the wall across the parlor for even trying.
Whether that goes off without a hitch or not, it provides Rust sufficient time to get that pipe beneath Vega's belt and hoist him into the air! ... And he IS thrown, all the way across the room, where he rolls along the ground and then stops himself just before he hits the wall. ... Yet, it doesn't seem to have hurt him very much at all... for Vega simply climbs to his feet again and proceeds to laugh boisterously once more. He then snaps the cloak bound about his form from his neck, and tosses it carelessly to the floor. "You've gotten weaker... it seems. Or perhaps... I am stronger..." He then spits a bit of blood to the side, perhaps the only evidence Rust HAD hurt him.
COMBATSYS: Decapre fails to interrupt Spin Slash from Munin with Razing Arrow.
VEGA
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0|---------------|--------------=
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Decapre 0|-------|-----==
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Munin 0/-------/=======|-------\-------\0 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Julia 0/-------/------=|
Bother her? Not really. She hasn't had a proper chance to finish Munin off yet. The smirk bounces off the masked visage--but, as Decapre lunges, the tips of those razor claws flaring with the red haze of her Psycho Power, the chi does not. Suddenly, Decapre finds herself flung away from the shadowy warrior--but she does not land roughly.
She has the presence of mind to flip backwards, landing on her booted feet in a skid. If Munin thinks Decapre has anything invested in her... well, that is a notion that might be slightly disabused--as she disengages from the fighter.
It isn't a retreat--rather, it's as if she responds to an order, cutting across the field of battle towards the man with the pipe. Perhaps she is meant to discombobulate him further?
COMBATSYS: Vega successfully hits Julia with Medium Punch.
VEGA
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0|---------------|-------------==
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Decapre 0|-------|-----==
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Munin 0/-------/=======|-------\-------\0 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Julia 1/-------/=======|
A foolish effort on Julia's part, not only because she missed completely, but also because she left herself open for a total counterattack. One that hits her very hard in the face. A normal backhand would be painful enough, but the fact that it's Vega, whose power knows no limits, sends Julia flying towards the wall. And she doesn't just hit it... she goes through it!
Laying in a pile of rubble, Julia appears to be unconscious, untill her eyes open again and she forces herself up. The way she's looking, it's definitely obvious that she's hurt her back. But there's no stopping Julia in a situation like this. She takes a deep breath and blows it out. "Spirits, I won't back down now. I must do what I can to help them."
Stepping over the rubble carefully, Julia almost trips, but catches herself. She looks at Vega and says, "The spirits must guide me more. I wonder what they are thinking?" She clasps her pendant and closes her eyes.
COMBATSYS: Julia focuses on her next action.
VEGA
[ ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
0|---------------|-------------==
[ ||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
Decapre 0|-------|-----==
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Munin 0/-------/=======|-------\-------\0 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Julia 1/-------/=======|
As Munin stands ready, Decapre suddenly runs off! Odds are good to meet up with a larger group and coordinate as a team for better effeciency. Still, Decapre isn't getting away THAT easily! Munin gives chase at a distance, curious what the doll has planned.
COMBATSYS: Munin takes no action.
VEGA
[ ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
0|---------------|-------------==
[ ||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
Decapre 0|-------|-----==
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Munin 0/-------/=======|-------\-------\0 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Julia 1/-------/=======|
It's challenging to go through with the whole maneuver just watching Vega go and destroy another staircase - and, seemingly, unmaking whoever was there. It's evidence of Vega attempting to draw it out and simply toy with them, Rust fears inwardly even as he manages to (seemingly) send Vega flying as he keeps Ol' Rusty held in both hands while taking another few steps around the (now better ventilated) room. Foolishly, he doesn't move to put his back up to /something/, exposing his back to, potentially, Decapre if she chooses to make good on the ambushing potential of an angle he forgets to watch in the heat of the moment.
The heat of the moment involving Julia being knocked into-- through the wall, with only the faint sounds of her prayer being the only thing that stops Rust from thinking Vega might have killed her with that punch as his eyes dart from over there back over to Vega with his mocking laughter and unflattering observations.
Approaching Vega is always a risky prospect, but one Rust ends up taking on - maybe compelled by the taunting, with no doubt as much hoping to give Julia time to get her bearings straight (he remembers full well what it's like to be struck head-on by Vega, how disorienting it all is).
Right hand on one end of Ol' Rusty, left on the shaft (which is to say, all of it that's not the end), he tries to thrust the end straight into Vega's chest in a powerful, lunging blow. It's hard for him to empty his mind of some desire to hurt in putting strength into the blow, wordless as to better save his strength for Julia's sake.
...Where's Munin? His mind almost wanders off with that tangent.
COMBATSYS: Vega blocks Rust's Fierce Piping.
VEGA
[ ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
0|---------------|------------===
[ ||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
Decapre 0|-------|-----==
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Munin 0/-------/=======|-------\-------\0 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Julia 1/-------/=======|
...And Vega meets Rust's furious charge with an ear-to-ear smile. For all of his psychic abilities, he has yet to realize that they are all purposefully restraining their emotions before him. So the arrogant Shadaloo Lord takes Rust's charge for what it appears to be... his taunting worked and he is making Rust dance like a puppet on his strings. "Yeeeeesss..." He says, even as both hands are lifted to stop the pipe from boring into his barrel chest. "Do you feel angry?! Humiliated??" He laughs,even as hands begin to sting and turn red from the force Rust is applying near constantly. "I haven't yet begun..." This last comes out almost little more than a whisper as Vega's suddenly warps again in a flash of violet... finally turning Rust's momentum loose...
...And he reappears momentarily behind the persuing Munin, laughing arrogantly again. "I spy a little mouse...!" Then thrusts his right leg toward her side, attempting to nail her in the ribs... "...You're all fools..." A smirk slowly creeps its way into his features... flawless teeth pearly white exposed like a lion baring its teeth before prey... "...And you are ALL going to DIE!"
It's almost a trade of sorts; Decapre's trajectory alters slightly as she crosses Vega's path, just before he teleports... and those blades are out and aimed for Rust. She recalls, of course, just how hard it is to actually hurt the man, physically, but... that's just a challenge. A challenge to her skills, her knowledge of anatomy, the sharpness of her blades.
Her attitude, as she takes one last, long headlong step towards Rust before looking to rake her claws vertically down Rust's front, is one of 'Remember me?' Of course she doesn't say anything, but there's an -almost- audible click, and then...
Cammy's voice issues from the mask. "Remember me? Rust?" But it's -slightly- wrong. The tone is right, but there's just a touch of something wrong in the inflection... but will he notice it in the battle?
As Julia opens her eyes, she sees that Vega is taking a different opponent, but Julia does not think of this as a chance to strike while her opponent's back is turned. She knows well that Vega can easily sense her from behind, based on what she's seen so far, as well as what she's heard about him as well. Instead, she decides to take this as an opportunity to try to make a comeback.
"Spirits, I'll listen to you and try to do this!" She speaks softly as she stumbles over the rubble again, before regaining her footing and heading towards Vega slowly and steadily. "He knows I'm here I'm sure. I must be careful." Julia slows down a little, trying not to let her boots click or anything like that as she walks.
After a moment of mental preparation, Julia attempts to step towards Vega, hoping to get in close enough for her attack to land. She does a slight spin as if to start a motion, before attempting to deliver an elbow smash followed by an uppercut.
COMBATSYS: Munin fails to counter Medium Kick from Vega with Shadow Strike.
*KNOCKED AWAY*
VEGA
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
0|---------------|----------=====
[ ||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
Decapre 0|-------|-----==
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Munin 1/---====/=======|-------\-------\0 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Julia 0/-------/=======|
Blink?!? It's almost audible as Munin suddenly hears Vega from behind her!
With a spin with all the speed she can muster, she tries to leap with the kick and strike with a chop of her hand, but alas, she still isn't fast enough. The hit sends her small form flying into the top of an overturned jeep, leaving a small dent in the metal, and dazing her for a moment from the impact. Her only coherant thought for the time being: (Shit!)
COMBATSYS: Rust blocks Decapre's Medium Strike.
VEGA
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
0|---------------|----------=====
[ ||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
Decapre 0|-------|-----==
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Munin 1/---====/=======|=------\-------\0 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Julia 0/-------/=======|
Rust isn't content to leave it at just striking him. He moves to swing his leg up into him while his hands are accounted for, but the sudden warping throws a kink in his plan right quick as he staggers off-balance to a kneel before a different figure.
The pigtails, that mask, the voice... the man visibly scowls as he swings his left elbow up into the claw's path to the words that were, perhaps, meant to lower his guard, to ease him into the oblivion planned for him and everyone else who dares stand in Vega's way.
The man's scowl turns to a wince, the arm still fairly tender after Diesel nearly had her way with him /again/.
"Y-Yeah, I do," he grumbles out, knowing this is a second and real complication. He can't turn his back on her, she's dangerous - and yet there's still Vega. Sweat goes down his brow, heart beating a little faster as the predicament continues to worsen with every passing moment.
"'n I want you gone," Ol' Rusty still in both hands, he thrusts the other end upwards towards the mask to try and pry her off with one hard, sudden, decisive strike.
A good update for the intel file can be made here - the target's relationship of Cammy was most certainly not as 'lover' or, perhaps, under any light that could have been considered positive between the two.
COMBATSYS: Vega fails to interrupt Tequila Sunrise Elbow Smash from Julia with Death Tower.
VEGA
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
0|---------------|----------=====
[ ||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
Decapre 0|-------|-----==
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Munin 1/---====/=======|-------\-------\0 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Julia 1/-------/=======|
Vega's uniformed forearm goes up, instinctively, to try and defend against Munin's hand chop. But fortunately, his kick takes so much wind out of her proverbial sails that the hand chop ends up feeling like a love tap against his thickly muscular arm. After Munin goes sailing away, and Julia comes forth once in what he believes to be a futile attempt to harm him, Vega just places that heavily armored kicking leg back down on the ground calmly. "What is it with you fools?!" He then attempts to raise the other kicking leg up off the ground, preparirng to spear her on the bottom on his boot and utterly destroy in what is probably his most favorite way to kill a person. He used it to down and Heihachi and he... -
He apparently gloated for entirely too long! Vega's eyes go wide as that elbow nails him across the jaw far earlier than expected. The sheer shock of being struck by a woman he considered to be an INSECT is sufficient enough to stun the arrogant Lord long enough for the second attack to succeed as well! Vega is then launched skyward with that uppercut...
..And he stops himself in mid-air through sheer force of will and angrily spits MORE of his own regal blood onto the ground below. "...God damned suicidal fools! PEONS! You have spilled my blood for the last time!"
...And then slams back into the ground feet first a ways away, shattering concrete... "...the LAST time...!"
Surprisingly, Julia landed her attack against Vega, but that does not mean she's going to celebrate or do something like that. She knows that Vega will likely come after her in a moment, and she must not let her guard down again. She's already been hit enough times to know that he's not playing around. "You've just been shown that you should never underestimate the power of us." She speaks firmly, but she shows no rage in her voice.
"You can do whatever you wish, but you won't get away." Julia jumps onto a nearby car, and steadies herself carefully while watching Vega and focusing carefully. Once she's gotten her balance, she attempts to leap off and deliver a flying kick at Vega.
COMBATSYS: Rust successfully hits Decapre with Crushing Pipe.
- Power hit! -
VEGA
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
0|---------------|----------=====
[ |||||||||||||||| ]
Decapre 0|-------|-======
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Munin 1/---====/=======|=------\-------\0 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Julia 1/-------/=======|
This was not the expected payoff to her gambit. The sound of the pipe against the mask is deafening, a clashing, clanging ring that is the accompaniment to Decapre being launched roughly twenty feet up and about five back.
Her body describes that arc almost lazily, tipping over at apogee and then whistling downwards... uncontrolled... until halfway down, where her trajectory suddenly alters. She drops to the ground in front of Rust, right leg extended back, left crouched, and then she rises up in front of the man, the claws gleaming dangerously.
A red haze suffuses her body, like the 'battle aura' seen in certain animated productions, and the very edge of it seems to reach out for Rust--to touch him with the raw anger and fury that it is composed of...
COMBATSYS: Decapre gathers her will.
VEGA
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
0|---------------|----------=====
[ |||||||||||||||||| ]
Decapre 1|-----==|=======
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Munin 1/---====/=======|=------\-------\0 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Julia 1/-------/=======|
The daze finally begins to pass from Munins mind as her eyes refocus. What does she see?
Vega, his back to her, taking on Julia.
As her glasses were knocked off with Vegas hit, her eyes bright glow is fully visible as her chi begins to seep out of her body, covering it in a black shell, giving her fingers the appearance of being claws, and her mouth appears lined with razor-sharp teeth, backlit by the same bright purple glow as her eyes.
She screams, sending shadowy, razor-tipped tendrils of chi flying towards the backside of the Red Terror!
After a few moments, hit or miss, her chi returns within her form, the tendrils vanish into black mist, and she stops to catch her breath....
The sound of Vega yelling and the impact of Julia's bold strike is - to a man unable to see what's going on - taken as the complete opposite that's happening, adding a sense of urgency to the man's actions where there was marked caution in the previous encounter. It's only towards the end of Vega's rage-filled yelling that Rust might get an idea that it's not the worst case scenario he's (currently) imagining...
Because he's staring down Cammy's (now airborne) dead ringer - you know, aside from the claws and the mask and the scary red lighting and the entirely different fighting approach, the boldness of that smashing blow switching back to marked caution when she pops upward. It's probably good that he does - if he didn't take a step back, her landing would've seen him underneath her.
The red haze's discomfort seems augmented - FEELS augmented - knowing Vega is close by, as Rust grips Ol' Rusty in both hands again defensively, the energy seeming to taunt him, in a way. Intimidate.
"I, I meant it. You need to... you need to go," he murmurs out as he dares to move into it, to let the anger and fury tap him so as he raises his free hand upward to reach into it, to find purchase somewhere in her head...
And, should he find purchase or not be intercepted, slam the hand down upon her head and try to drive it into the increasingly battle-damaged ground they fight for their lives - and the future of Korea, and more - to reinforce his feelings on the matter as his entire body goes on edge just stepping into her gathering malicious energy.
COMBATSYS: Vega blocks Julia's Light Kick.
VEGA
[ ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
0|---------------|----------=====
[ |||||||||||||||||| ]
Decapre 1|-----==|=======
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Munin 0/-------/---====|=------\-------\0 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Julia 1/-------/=======|
COMBATSYS: Vega endures Munin's Iron Maiden.
VEGA
[ ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
0|---------------|---------======
[ |||||||||||||||||| ]
Decapre 1|-----==|=======
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Munin 0/-------/---====|-------\-------\0 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Julia 1/-------/=======|
That flying kick aimed at his person is effectively deflected by a skillful arm, with Vega batting it away as if it were nothing. It barely even does noticeable damage... but the attack by Munin from behind most certainly catches him by surprise!
Those tendrils of chi lashes out like knives, cutting into his uniformed backside and shredding hs crimson attire and turning his backside as red as what's left of his clothes. Red with yet more of his blood!
Through the entirety of the attack, Vega just grits his teeth and bears it... letting the pain inflicted upon him be turned right back into phenomenal power as he channels the rage produces into pure concentrated psychic energy. He then turns around... slowly... and glares at munin as a snarl more dangerous than any he's had tonight creeps into his features. "I SAID...." He then leaps skyward, propelled by Psycho Power, and inverts himself... channel some of that blackened and purple ambient enrgy into his fist before plurmmeting again... directly toward the car! "DIE!" He then thrusts his fist toward the car... intending to send her and it into oblivion!
COMBATSYS: Rust successfully hits Decapre with Brick Stacker.
VEGA
[ ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
0|---------------|---------======
[ ||||||||||||| ]
Decapre 1|---====|=======
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Munin 0/-------/---====|=------\-------\0 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Julia 1/-------/=======|
Rust will have to be way more authoritative than -that- to get Decapre to go. Or, you know, beat her head into the ground. Which he does--rather handily. The impact rings again, against her mask, against the ground, and the sheer force of it rebounds her, into an ungainly flip--but once again, she lands on her feet. Is she shaky? You bet. But she is not, for the moment, going to allow that to finish her.
There's no cry, no audible one--but the edge of that fury spikes higher towards Rust, the sensation possibly something like hot needles sliding into the skin... Which is just what her blades will do. Suddenly, the aura contracts--and concentrates--into her arms, her claws, as she simply...
... simply rushes at Rust, blades clashing once against each other with a horrible, high-pitched, ringing scrape, and then they're flurrying, flashing, flaying at Rust as she barrels into him, her only interest in cutting the man down, as bloodily and messily as possible, an almost exact repeat of what she did to Munin the last time they met--ending the assault with dual-blade backhanded slash, one blade aimed at the throat, the other at the stomach.
Julia rebounds off of Vega, somersaulting into the air and then landing in a slightly crouched position, albeit with a little bit of difficulty. Her boots skid on the ground as she lands as well, before she stands up and recovers from the impact. "I can't give up now!" Julia thinks to herself, attempting to shake off the pain that's going through her from her injuries.
She attempts to gain a little height again, and then decides to attempt something she's never done before. She's going to attempt to land one of her favorite attacks in the air. It's risky, but it's all she can do. Julia focuses her spiritual power into her fists, and then leaps off the nearby wall into the air, attempting to smash Vega with her fist.
COMBATSYS: Munin counters Devil Reverse EX from Vega with Terminal Response.
- Power hit! -
-+- CALCULATED HIT -+-
VEGA
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
0|---------------|--------=======
[ ||||||||||||| ]
Decapre 0|-------|---====
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Munin 0/-------/--=====|=------\-------\0 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Julia 0/-------/-======|
COMBATSYS: Julia successfully hits Vega with Palm Explosion.
VEGA
[ ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
0|---------------|-------========
[ ||||||||||||| ]
Decapre 0|-------|---====
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////// ]
Munin 0/-------/--=====|=------\-------\0 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Julia 0/-------/=======|
As Vega leaps into the air, and comes down with his fist extended, Munin has a flashback of the battle in India. While this isn't the same move he used then, it's still enough to scare her, being the target of his focus.
Ner glowing eyes narrow into violet slits, and with an almost feral growl of hatred, leaps into the air to meet him with her teeth bared in anger!
Twisting inside his guard and around the arm, she grabs him by the collar, shouting "YOU FIRST!". This is followed up with a jab at his neck with a small lance of chi from her palm. After, while he's stunned, she flips around, and kicks him down towards the car, backflipping in the air, and landing in a crouch a short distance away.
She takes a moment to get her bearings as the rush wears off. That she got that close and is still breathing is a miricle in her mind. She waits to see what effect this has.....
She doubts he's finished yet, though.
COMBATSYS: Rust endures Decapre's Razing Barrage.
VEGA
[ ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
0|---------------|-------========
[ ||||||||||||| ]
Decapre 0|-------|---====
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////// ]
Munin 0/-------/--=====|=====--\-------\0 Rust
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Julia 0/-------/=======|
It's pins and needles just reaching in there. His hairs stand up on end - the act of coming into contact with manifested psionic energy is never comfortable for one who does not draw power in such a fashion. Ol' Rusty is drawn back out of caution as his teeth clench, imagining worse is to come as the aura condenses itself around her arms when considering the stresses of the ruckus going on well behind him.
There's arguably more of a ruckus in /front/ of him, as the evil lights of the psionically-augmented claws put on a foul light show among those who still stand to watch in fear of their lives, and Rust tenses his left hand into as tight a fist as he can. He's pushed along like an erect statue as she bowls into him, claws slicing through the gi top like fine ribbons as she makes her play to carve into flesh.
Flesh that hardly yields, beyond the superficial wounds of claws that know little resistance - claws that rend, tear, and seek to /end/ as they land clean blows to the throat and stomach. They should be killing blows.
His head is not taken clean off. His guts don't spill out - it is much more akin to being rapidly poked and jabbed at at such rapid speeds that the injuries prove largely more concussive and blunt in force, the numerous blows leading up to the double-backhanded slices adding as much as they really could given the circumstances.
Through that finishing blow, his right shoulder and elbow pop loudly as he tests his grip on Ol' Rusty by rotating his wrist a bit before he suddenly answers the flurry at its end with just one strike - an advancing uppercut that threatens to deliver sweet chin music as he glides right back against her, the other joints of his body complaining with the usual pops as they have to flex with his movements.
Vega is caught by surprise, in mid-air, by not one but two attacks! His irisless eyes go wide suddenly as Munin defiantly leaps into his guard and winds herself about his punching arm. He does not have more than a moment for the reality of what has happened to completely and totally dawn on him before Julia's palm strike collides with his ribcage and threatens to break it, jarring the air out of his lungs. Then Munin's chi atack follows, narrrowly missing his neck due to the momentum of Julia's attack, but it DOES cut him... piercing through his shoulder and slicing clean through flesh... causing him to bleed further still. The pain, and the utter shock of being bested AGAIN by a mere worm makes him sit pretty for the final hard kick to his face that sends him plummeting down into the roof of the car. His impact dents the roof heavily and generates so much force that the windows blow out. Perhaps the only satisfaction Vega might have gotten from this attack... were he to even know... is that it is the enemy commander's vehicle Munin just broke with his body.
For a while... Vega seems content to just lie there nd bleed on top of that vehicle. Almost as if that jarring blow to his mountainous ego had caused the whole thing to collapse... breaking his spirit...
Almost.
Suddenly, Vega ROARS out of the car again into the air... alive with violent psionic power and pure killing intent! There were few words left for Vega now except these... "PSYCHO CRUSHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!" He ROARS... his voice seemingly coming from everywhere at once at defeaning volume as his telepathy suddenly kicks in. Vega is venting his fury by attempting to burst their brains with his voice... and break Julia's body by plowing through her with an attack that has him whirling throug the air at her like mad... with a vortex of Psyho Power whirling about him!
COMBATSYS: Vega knocks away Julia with Psycho Crusher+.
! VENGEANCE !
VEGA
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
0|---------------|-----==========
[ ||||||||||||| ]
Decapre 0|-------|---====
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Munin 0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0 Rust
[ <
Julia 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|
COMBATSYS: Rust successfully hits Decapre with Cement Upper.
VEGA
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
0|---------------|-----==========
[ |||||||| ]
Decapre 0|-------|=======
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Munin 0/-------/--=====|======-\-------\0 Rust
[ <
Julia 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|
*WHANG* Decapre's head is snapped backwards by the impact, but she doesn't go flying. She doesn't--but something else does. Her mask. And when it is ripped away--the barrage of powerful strikes from the man Rust Howard having succeeded in making it loose its grip--the truth is revealed.
It is not Cammy underneath the mask. Not exactly. But it is very close. The blue eyes, the elfin face... only marred. Not by a single scar--by a patchwork of scar, across her cheek and chin. It did not heal neatly. The texture is something like a cratered surface, or the rippled, wrinkled look of leather.
... and those blue eyes? If anything, they burn even -brighter- with her anger, hatred... and shame, perhaps. She -screams-, raw, unfiltered, and almost vanishes in the seconds after she is revealed... leaping forward, going into a tumble--and as she comes down, she seeks, once again, to rake Rust's torso with her blades, flaring with psionic power, then looking to simply drive herself forward with another raw yell, blades reaching for Rust's chest--for his heart, to stab--and then rip.
COMBATSYS: Decapre blitzes into action and acts again!
VEGA
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
0|---------------|-----==========
[ ||||||| ]
Decapre 0|-------|-------
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Munin 0/-------/--=====|======-\-------\0 Rust
[ <
Julia 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|
Julia is unable to do anything as Vega comes flying at her. Despite her best effort, she does not know what has happened untill it's too late. Almost immediately, her body is wracked with immense pain, as the psycho power flows through her. The screams she lets out are uncontrollable, as she flies across the area, smashing THROUGH a car, and lying, bent and looking badly broken. In fact, her body convulses for a moment before she somehow comes back up, albeit hunched over and her body bloodied and bruised. "Spirits... I may... lost.... but protect me...."
Julia takes a few weak steps forwards, trying to figure out if she can do this. And then an aura forms around her, almost like the spirits she believes in have come to her aid. Her body seems to ease up a little, and she manages to charge at Vega, attempting to catch him off-guard. If she succeeds, Julia will administer a combination of a strike to the chest, following it up with an uppercut, which will transition into a downwards elbow smash, along with a backhand... and finally a shoulder tackle.
Of course, after that, she's going to be falling flat on her face, unless something else happens...
COMBATSYS: Julia can no longer fight.
VEGA
[ |||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
0|---------------|-----==========
[ ||||||| ]
Decapre 0|-------|-------
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////// ]
Rust 0/-------/-======|=====--\-------\0 Munin
The psycho crusher. Seeing it again, this time from a safe angle, sends a shiver of fear down Munins spine. She was on the recieving end of it once herself, and knows well Julias pain.
She looks sideways as Decapre screams after her unmasking. Seeing her over there fighting Rust, she blinks. It DOES look an awful lot like Cammy. In a flash, she is up and running over, sending a fast palm strike at the unmasked warriors back, hoping that with her downed, Rust will be free to assist her against Vega. Alone, determined as she is, it is not one she can win, and she knows it.
COMBATSYS: Vega endures Julia's Iron Mountain Rush.
VEGA
[ ||||||||||||||||| ]
0|---------------|----===========
[ ||||||| ]
Decapre 0|-------|-------
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////// ]
Rust 0/-------/-======|=====--\-------\0 Munin
COMBATSYS: Decapre successfully hits Rust with Razing Edge Slasher.
VEGA
[ ||||||||||||||||| ]
0|---------------|----===========
[ |||||||| ]
Decapre 0|-------|-----==
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////// ]
Rust 1/------=/=======|=====--\-------\0 Munin
COMBATSYS: Rust dodges Decapre's Power Strike.
VEGA
[ ||||||||||||||||| ]
0|---------------|----===========
[ |||||||| ]
Decapre 0|-------|-----==
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////// ]
Rust 1/------=/=======|=====--\-------\0 Munin
To look into those eyes is something more shocking than the truth of whether or not Cammy has actually been still working for Shadaloo all along like he's led to believe (despite Quon's final letter to him). No, to look into that scarred face, to see eyes full of hatred - those blue, piercing eyes - seems a relapse of what it's like to stare at Diesel. One who eloquently put into words her reason for her destructive desires.
Arguably, Decapre speaks it more fluently and succinctly with the scream of unbridled rage so unrestrained that it drowns out even the monster Vega's call of his heart-stopping technique a ways away.
Howard visibly cowers, bringing up both arms and tensing himself to stop that first swipe. Her conviction holds true as she simultaneously draws blood - cleanly, unmistakably, drawing significant blood - and bats the arms aside as he turns awkwardly to the side.
Then the fatal follow-up as she lunges for his heart, and it's here he does not take his strength for granted as he tosses his entire body weight backwards in a stiff, joint-crackling tumble not a moment too soon.
That lunge scrapes his flesh. A moment later, she would have gotten in. His heart nearly jumps right out of his chest. Even if it isn't the infamous super-assassin of Shadaloo, this one - whoever she is - has proven through sheer tenacity and ferocity that she is just as big a threat.
Even as Munin comes to his aid, the words hastily fall out of his lips.
"Vega, Julia, what, what about," no time to ask the question as he tilts himself back up to a stand to the great protest of his joints at moving so much after tensing so much, not going to take Munin's assistance for granted as he steps back in stiffly... and forces a leg down into Decapre's legs, flexing his knee forcibly to kick over and over. In flexing out the stiffness, it eventually gains the intensity of the Jackhammer Kick - the rapidfire low kick series that summons a comparatively paltry amount of energy that envelopes his shin, barely flickering to existence in its washed out color.
Munin being here might mean the worst - he can't have anything sympathetic to say to this near-lookalike to Cammy other than hoping he can stop her from being able to harm another soul sooner.
Dropping out of the his signature attack almost immediately after impacting Julia and sending her flying into a vehicle, battered and broken, his boots touch the ground solidly afterward. Giving her no time to even so much as breathe, he then proceeds to plod forward menacingly toward the vehicle. By this time, his peaked service cap has been knocked from atop his head... his meticulously groomed ebony mane has been disheveled... his uniform has been shred in places... and he is battered, borken, and bleeding. Any time someone manages to push Vega this far... they have to die for it. And that is exactly what the middle-aged, psycho powered, Commander in Chief of Shadaloo intends to do!
But he is stopped, suddenly, by her charging him... and its an attack he has inadvertently positioned himself far too well for. The punch to his muscular chest connects, with sufficient force to stagger him, followed by an uppercut that nearly breaks his jaw... and an elbow drop that does. This is then followed up by an INSULTING backhand across the face and finally another shoulder tackle to send him stumbling backward.
*CRACK* That's the sound Vega's jaw makes as he forces it to go back into its socket with a snarl. Now she would really have to...
Suddenly, his ghastly eyes sweep the area. No... this girl would soon die anyway. Where is Munin..?
...Rust would soon have his question about Vega's whereabouts answered very shortly... as the Master of Psycho Power EXPLODES from the ceiling of this already broken governmental residence and lands neatly on the ground behind Munin. But it is a death glare he regards her with, completely ignoring Howard Rust for the time being. "I never gave you permission to leave... WORM..." He then attempts to seize her by any free article of clothing he can manage. If he succeeds, he'll hoist her up off of the floor and thrown her face first toward the opposite wall at what for a normal person would be a lethal velocity! "COWARDICE IS EVEN MORE DISGUSTING THAN DISOBEDIANCE! YOUR FOLLY WIL REAP YOU NAUGHT BUT DEATH!"
COMBATSYS: Decapre dodges Rust's Jackhammer Kick.
VEGA
[ ||||||||||||||| ]
0|---------------|----===========
[ |||||||| ]
Decapre 0|-------|-----==
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////// ]
Rust 1/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0 Munin
COMBATSYS: Munin successfully hits Decapre with Aggressive Strike.
VEGA
[ ||||||||||||||| ]
0|---------------|----===========
[ |||| ]
Decapre 0|-------|---====
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////// ]
Rust 1/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0 Munin
Decapre's rage is both focused and yet puts her at a disadvantage--something that the mask helps her control, apparently. Her swings are a bit wild, her motions not as smooth and clean as they usually are. She backflips away from that hammering kick sequence, already set to lunge again--and then in comes Munin. The strike takes her in the side--and she stumbles.
Turning those blue eyes on Munin, they fairly, and literally, blaze with power. She knows--can sense--Vega still focusing on Munin. But somehow, interrupting this fight between her and Rust...
She lashes out at Munin, forgetting Rust, those six blades reaching out for Munin's stomach, a twin-fisted stomach stabbing--intended to be debilitating and painful above all.
COMBATSYS: Decapre successfully hits Munin with Medium Strike.
VEGA
[ ||||||||||||||| ]
0|---------------|----===========
[ ||||| ]
Decapre 0|-------|---====
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////// ]
Rust 1/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0 Munin
COMBATSYS: Vega successfully hits Munin with Deadly Throw.
- Power hit! -
VEGA
[ ||||||||||||||| ]
1|--------------=|===============
[ ||||| ]
Decapre 0|-------|---====
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /// ]
Rust 1/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0 Munin
Munin feels her attack impact Decapre, and blinks as Vega calls after her! Her hesitation is just enough that she is just a bit too slow to evade Decapres claws, and they rake across her stomach painfully.
This pain also slows her down just enough that when Vega appears, she is unable to react in time to stop him as he sends her flying through the air, where she lands in a pained heap. She tries to pull herself up off the ground, eyes full of fire, yet physicly almost spent....
Her shadowy chi forms along her arm, and with a cry of pain, she sends a blast of the stuff flying towards Vega as a last shot in the dark, as well as supression fire of a sorts while she tries to pull herself up with what strength remains....
Even if Decapre didn't leap away, the sudden dramatic entrance through the ceiling by Vega himself - and the resulting debris that nearly rain upon everyone still there - sees him having to halt the motion in order to step away from a particularly large chunk he does not feel like being crushed by. (Does he ever specifically feel like being crushed in better times? That's a question for the ages.)
That Vega's here and Julia isn't... it's easy to fear the worst as Vega bellows out from behind Munin, who finds herself in the unenviable position of being caught between one of the world's dangerous madmen and someone in the upper pecentile for deadliest assassins.
"MUNIN!" Rust calls out loud and clear, the potential despair of it all bubbling all the way to the surface - possibly even gushing, even as she clings for her life as she is flung aside, stabbed at... his face flush with anger, not quite accounting for the meaning of Vega's words for his decree as to why he condemns Munin's actions, steps up along to Decapre as he tenses his grip on Ol' Rusty with his right hand as far as he can allow, given the blood trickling down his arms and the injury to his wrist from years back as he tries to slam the butt of it on the small of her back before just trying to grab her by any article of clothing - hastily, hurriedly - anywhere he can, just to try and fling her as hard as he can to try and remove her directly from the picture.
A gesture that may not boost their chances against the Shadaloo would-be dictator, the uber-terrorist whose hatred-powered strength makes the whole structure shutter under his very presence as Rust dares to take his eyes off from Vega to make sure Munin is all right.
A fear that will most certainly be delicious, yes, yes.
COMBATSYS: Vega overcomes Shadow Wave from Munin with Psycho Shot.
VEGA
[ ||||||||||||| ]
1|--------------=|===============
[ ||||| ]
Decapre 0|-------|---====
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > // ]
Rust 1/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0 Munin
Having hurled the hapless Munin across the parlor and into the hardwood wall, Vega seems utterly disappointed when she does not in fact become a blood stain as he expects. And his disappointment shows, his fists tightening until his knuckles whiten as he marches across the room with an intent to finish her. He does have to walk past Howard Rust... however... to get to her.
...A thing which is entirely unproblematic... as Rust does not seem to pay Vega any mind for the time being. It may well prove to be a mistake he'd pay for later... but now... Vega has Munin to contend with.
When that last ditch effort is made by Munin, a dark mass of chi is sent whirling at Vega causing him to cease walking toward her. He then extends a hand forward, his aura of Psycho Power extending well beyond his body suddenly... and the attack collides with the mass of psionic energy. It is then anticlimactic swallowed whole. In return, Vega launches from his OWN hand a sphere of darkest purple energy filled with malice that streaks through the air at her from his hand! THIS is the very same attack he struck those hapless soldiers with earlier... if it hits... there will be a big boom!
COMBATSYS: Decapre dodges Rust's Armed Pipe Combo.
VEGA
[ ||||||||||||| ]
1|--------------=|===============
[ ||||| ]
Decapre 0|-------|---====
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > // ]
Rust 1/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0 Munin
There are two things burning for attention in Decapre's mind right now. The first is her need to get her mask back--to put her face back on. To regain the control she wants to have, that she, at least thinks she needs the mask for. The other? Is to destroy Rust Howard... both for removing her mask and because it's her duty, her mission.
The rage burns somewhat less bright and immediate now, but it still burns in those eyes, eyes almost devoid of what could possibly be called conscious thought, her movements borne by instinct and training--she drops low, looking to pin Rust's foot with her left-hand set of blades, stabbing to put them through the foot and the pavement... and then she'll tear the blades out as she stands up, slashing upwards with her right-hand blades.
She keeps attacking his body--stubbornness and a refusal to believe that he is a man that cannot die, apparently.
COMBATSYS: Munin overcomes Psycho Shot from Vega with Shadow Wave.
-* CRITICAL HIT! *-
VEGA
[ ||||||||||||| ]
1|-------------==|===============
[ ||||| ]
Decapre 0|-------|-----==
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > / ]
Rust 1/-------/=======|=======\-------\0 Munin
Munins arms and legs tremble as she struggles to stand. She manages to pull herself up with the help of a wall adjacent to herself, and blinks as the area glows with energy, and it isn't her own....
Her pupils dialate and she gasps with some terror as Vegas energy attack comes at her. She focuses what aura she has left, and starts praying.... Once the blast is as close as she can handle, and therefore burned as much as it could before getting close, her eyes blaze with momentary light as she flings her own coupled with a warcry, piercing through the shot, and sending her own once more back towards the Crimson Dictator! She then grasps her head in pain from the strain, as her aura becomes fainter still.....
COMBATSYS: Rust blocks Decapre's Intercepting Strike.
VEGA
[ ||||||||||||| ]
1|-------------==|===============
[ ||||| ]
Decapre 0|-------|-----==
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > / ]
Rust 1/------=/=======|=======\-------\0 Munin
The very motion he's going with in his on-the-spot idea to deal with Decapre works against him. When she goes low to avoid that first disabling pipe strike, he's thinking he can still grab her, he can still--
He doesn't see her spear her claws down into his right boot, a sharp pain going through his foot as she might have actually made some headway down there, his posture jerking with this surprise blow as she tears it out and slices upward. This very important reminder that she is still dangerous aside, the follow-up uppercut swing is mitigated as he jabs an elbow into it. One out of two ain't bad - a damaged foot could be Rust's undoing within the next few moments as his right knee twinges during the back-and-forth exchanges of incredible power (is Munin really matching Vega's psychic strength with her own powers? It casts further worry and concern about her origins and motives, all things told).
"'m done with you," Howard murmurs as he draws back his injured foot, as if considering, broadly... no, I'm not gonna let it slow me down, he resolves as the faint flickering chi energy starts to gather at his foot, teeth clenched as he struggles to put the focus together in such incredible panic.
Using his healthier foot for balance, he strikes out with a low kick too far away to actually hit Decapre with a sharp kiai... except for the small, disc-like shape that teeters and totters like it could lose balance at any time that is ejected from his foot, a much, much humbler expression of power compared to what Munin and Vega over there are flinging between one another.
Its underwhelming appearance belies the fact that it was the very final strike against Vega in his previous defeat in China, as the washed-out, flickering chi disc moves to more than gently massage her shins.
COMBATSYS: Vega dodges Munin's Shadow Wave.
VEGA
[ ||||||||||||| ]
1|-------------==|===============
[ ||||| ]
Decapre 0|-------|-----==
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > / ]
Rust 0/-------/------=|=======\-------\0 Munin
Surprise of surprises... Munin manages TWICE in one night to foil Vega's various attempts to kill her! And now he finds himself staring the same attack in the face that he just snuffed out. It is enough to elicit a feral growl from the normally elegantly composed dictator. And why not? HIS WHOLE COMPOSURE WAS UTTERLY DESTROYED AGES AGO!!!
With not even a shred of his dignity left tonight, the bruised and bleeding egomaniac in tattered crimson uniform just LOSES it! He barrels toward the blast, and Munin, and suddenly bats it away with a Psycho Power suffused hand... sending it screaming into another nearby wall... destroying it. At this point the residence around them all is beginning to emit some very worrying creaks and groans. The ceiling even seems to shudder momentarily followng the blast.
But Vega is still paying no attention to anything at this point except putting Munin out of her misery for good. Two swift rolling kicks forward are executed in mid-air as he screams toward Munin and then slides across the floor powered by psionic energy before his aura suddenly ERUPTS again and Vega suddenly turns himself into a whirling mass of psychic energies headed straight for her! Should he manage to plow into her, that whirling mass of psionic energy will carry her up into the sky above the manor where Vega will drop her from a potentially lethal height and SCREAM back downward toward her body with a Psycho Powered stomp the moment she hits the roof... plowing through it an breaking whatever remains of her resistance and possibly her very body for good!
COMBATSYS: Rust successfully hits Decapre with Detour.
VEGA
[ ||||||||||||||||| ]
0|---------------|--------------=
[ ]
Decapre 0|-------|=======
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > / ]
Rust 0/-------/------=|=======\-------\0 Munin
Decapre ... is done. Rust's chi might be pathetic--but it does for her. The impact jars her to something like lucidity--for a brief moment she stares at him, with a look somewhat like one would expect to see on a young girl of her mid-late teens.
But just as quickly, it's gone, and only that rage remains, fading as the fight drains out of her. She leaps backwards, raking at Rust with a wash of three crimson-bladed slashes of psi--but halfway up she falters, and falls. It isn't a retreat--just a collapse. Shadaloo Elite troops move to cover her position--and though these are hard-bitten men, they look shaken that the Doll was taken care of like that.
She remains, fallen, until another Doll comes to evacuate her--Aprile, in her role as combat medic--affixing the mask back in place before fleeing the area. Vega will understand. She hopes.
COMBATSYS: Decapre can no longer fight.
VEGA
[ ||||||||||||||||| ]
0|---------------|--------------=
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > / ]
Rust 0/-------/------=|=======\-------\0 Munin
COMBATSYS: Munin fails to counter Nightmare Booster from Vega with Terminal Response.
! VENGEANCE !
*KNOCKED AWAY*
VEGA
[ ||||||||||||||||| ]
0|---------------|--------------=
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Rust 0/-------/------=|
COMBATSYS: Munin can no longer fight.
VEGA
[ ||||||||||||||||| ]
0|---------------|--------------=
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Rust 0/-------/------=|
She has done what she can. There's nothing left. Content with that, Munin looks up at Vega as his boots come closer. With a flick, a lance of chi burns at her wrist, flickering and struggling to maintain coherance. She moves, almost in slow motion in mer mind, to deflect the iron boots just enough to move in, but alas, the attempt fails....
Her chi is unable to hold back the psycho-power in Vegas strikes, and that along is suffecient to repel her hands, leaving no resistance remaining for his feet. The impact sends her flying once more, coughing up a gout of blood from the sheer trauma and energy burn of this battle. The last thing she sees is Vega standing there, and Rust downing Decapre behind him, before she impacts whatever structure or object lies behind her, and is knocked out instantly.
COMBATSYS: Decapre successfully hits Rust with Crimson Razor.
VEGA
[ ||||||||||||||||| ]
0|---------------|--------------=
[ \\\\\\\\\ <
Rust 0/-------/---====|
It happens in a blur. Vega's dramatic re-entry crashing through the roof and shaking the entire floor with such a sickening crunch that the entire floor develops spider cracks. The shockwaves from the very impact around them is far too much for Rust to keep a hold of, flung into the air into the half-formed but all-sharp parting shot of the mysterious Cammy near-lookalike. The psionic lacerations and its impact upon both psyche and body blend in seamlessly with the pain of landing a bit too hard on his side when he gets the presence of mind to try and mitigate the impact of his own rough landing.
When the all-encompassing dust clears - Rust coughing all the way as he dares stand - Munin does not. He can see her battered body not too far away from where he manages to stand up... and the thought of Julia meeting a similar, truly grisly end... and then, Vega.
It's down to those two. Both of them wearing their grievous injuries almost as badges of honor at this point, two men who have driven themselves to their very brink. Vega, psionic super-terrorist. Howard Rust... tough guy.
He's frightened. He knows full well the differences in power between them, how many people Vega can go through. All the bodies they never could find after all was said and done, disappeared under his unmatched might. He can't take for granted the idea someone might come to help - no.
Some would say the man's luck has about run out, after so many brushes with death through the years as he faces Vega down, Ol' Rusty in both hands.
"'s come to this," Howard murmurs out, almost as if accepting even as he dares his bleeding body to keep going. His limbs want to lock up, seize up, see him rest. He can't. "You said, somethin' 'bout... havin' more than one, uh... shell," he speaks.
"I... I only got one, Vega." Howard speaks as he paces. "Only got one... 'n, I didn't, treat it too well, I, ah, I g-gotta say. Didn't... know when to quit back when I, I worked construction." His joints are living proof of that, going 8 to 6 and even 7 to 7 when life demanded 9 to 5. "Same for... for everyone else. That, that body of yours, maybe... you aren't gonna be too afraid to, to lose it."
"But the rest of us, the, the rest of us... bleed, every, every god damn drop of it. We, we make it count," stuttering paves way to more confidence in his speech, nodding once, "and for this, Vega... I'm gonna say this."
To this, he closes his eyes and thinks... this is the best way to do it. All the students he did his damned hardest to protect during the Southtown Invasion, all his friends he came to the aid of throughout... the war in Asia. The desire to be able to just get on with life, by making this one, big stand for it.
Again.
In this respect, he's not alone. He might be the only one with fight left in him who might be able to touch Vega for miles around, but he knows he's carrying the trust of so many. There's... only one way to come at Vega like this.
With one more bold step to the protest of his knee, Howard kicks off with his stronger leg into the air towards Vega. He doesn't think about hitting him, or hurting him, or making him pay even as he keeps his eyes open to watch him.
His more injured leg, he lifts up a knee in mid-jump. It is never extended. Ol' Rusty is held up and pointed back over his shoulder, left forearm similarly raised strangely as he goes through the air at his incredibly modest jump height (that's being nice) towards Vega.
In the very moment of his leap, he puts all the force he needs to. The rest, he trusts Momoko's very idea of trying to let go of as much of the negativity as he can while the momentum carries him.
Some would mock the form of this flying knee. Would Vega count themselves among this number of this seemingly underwhelming, desperate maneuver of a man guaranteed to be staring down at death? Through this half-kick that does not speak of strength?
It's an idea Howard Rust goes all-in with.
COMBATSYS: Rust successfully hits Vega with Not-Strong Kick EX.
VEGA
[ |||||||||| ]
0|---------------|------------===
[ \\\\\\\\\ <
Rust 0/-------/--=====|
...Soon after Decapre's defeat, Vega and Munin crash back down through the ceiling together... giving the residence yet ANOTHER skylight. When the dust settles, Vega's boots... weighted by shining, silver, heavy armor stained by Munin's blood and nearly three hundred pounds of body weight are upon her. The vicious psychopath and egomaniac then promptly steps off of her onto the marble tile and kicks her body away in frustration... letting it bounce across the room. Few insects have caused Vega as much as that one and the american indian have tonight... and it shows. Whatever proud elegance there once was in this fighter's demeanor... there is now only a beaten, grievously injured, man whose whole composure is in tatters.
Standing there, in the pale light of the moon flooding in from the 'skylight' above... Vega regards Howard Rust with an ill-tempered stare. For the first time tonight, his eyes shift from Rust to Decapre... and his face goes even more sour than it already had been. Even as she's being ushered out, he watches her depart... regarding her really for the first time tonight. It wasn't so much that she was defeated that irked him... nor did he particularly consider it her failure. It was that she was defeated by HIM. Of all the ways Vega could be further humiliated tonight... this was arguably the worst!
"Stop your muttering, fool!" Vega protests, as Rust goes out of his way to lecture him on the value of life. It is a pointless and BORING tirade to the demon of man standing here today. Had he been a much younger man himself... with his original body and the better part of his soul in tact... it might have even been a message Vega would have given some consideration to. But now? ... None of their worthless lives meant a damn thing except to serve his purposes. And Vega was detrmined tonight to make Rust serve the purpose of venting his pent up frustrations. Until his life were snufed out finally like a dimly burning candle.
...Or so Vega thought. But as that awkward, horribly unskilflul, flying knee comes his way... he is helpless to resist being struck. Vega's OWN body put up enough resistance to his orders to move to allow Rust to plow into his chin... and rebreak his jaw with a CRACK...
..AND NOW... with his senses slowly slipping and pain coursing through his frame... it is only Vega's fury at being struck by such a disgraceful atttack that keeps him going. Vega leaps into the air suddenly, even before Rust touches the ground, and conjures an enormous amount of psionic energy into a drawn back fist. He then attempts to plow it into Howard Rust's midsection mid-flight... and then loses consciousness himself... hitting the floor with a dull thud and a clanking of metal. Whatever happens... Vega's men will doubtlessly soon be in to collect his body... and then.. Shadaloo will be gone once more. They will leave the city, and this entire war will be like a bad dream...
COMBATSYS: Vega can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\ <
Rust 0/-------/--=====|
COMBATSYS: Rust blocks Vega's Hell Attack.
[ \\\\\\ <
Rust 0/-------/=======|
Rust doesn't have any idea of Vega's last, final ditch attack to make good on the attempt to put an end to the one body the aging American man has to give. The only hint - one he doesn't pick up on in time - is how weightless Vega's body seems to feel. He's used to Vega's body being so... well, strong, that landing any sort of direct blow on him with his limbs should leave lingering pain. It is further clouded and muddled by the invasive sensations of Vega's terrible hatred.
Vega puts it all behind his one final, hateful fist. It should destroy the man outright. In midair, he has no traction. Any hit, even if it didn't kill him, should see him finished whenever he impacts against the ground from the inertia. Vega should have him completely, utterly dead to rights in his angry bid to salvage his pride.
It is entirely serendipity - or perhaps, providence - that everything about Rust's mid-air posture in delivering this strike works against this.
The angle of Vega's strike does not make it to Rust's chest. His raised left forearm - never even moved from when he first made the dramatic leap of faith - is flexed with absolute perfect posture to absorb the physical blow between forearm and bicep. The terrible psionic hatred running through him might be the thing that really pierces him, and even so, a part of him feels compelled to believe that this is the same final explosion as before - to last it, not give in, even as the hatred gnaws away at his psyche and gets him to grimace and even cry in pain.
His form, his entire form, is incredibly compact when the blow ushers him to the ground at unsafe speed, one of his knees absorbing the shock as he is embedded a whole half a foot into the already damaged floor which is not at all a pleasant experience. It is a result far more preferable to what could have - or maybe, should have - happened.
A curse echoes through what's left of the governmental residence as the haze of Vega's psionic strength fades gradually, but the overwhelming evil still lingers as Howard spies Vega's unconscious form just a ways away from him. Unmoving... no screams of hatred or desire for revenge, no derisive laughter. Did he...
Though the leg that absorbed the brunt of the fall is extremely resistant to move, with Ol' Rusty for support he pulls himself up with his joints all complaining in unison as he stands over the Shadaloo dictator. His shadow is cast over him under the moonlight, and Howard thinks, for one moment...
He lifts up his foot, but stops half-way. No. It's a fruitless gesture... and a dangerous one, if Vega somehow has it in him to bluff his apparent defeat. This is a man who was resurrected from apparent death. Striking his foot down on him to put him down would do absolutely nothing, not to mention... he still remembers what the overwhelming zeal of Diesel in stomping his head had cost her. He's not keen to pick up her bad habits.
Bloodied, bruised, and nearly broken, Howard soon sheathes the pipe back through the toolbelt pocket, the scrape of rusted metal against fabric cutting through the night air. There's so much he'd want to say to Vega, words he doesn't think he can hear. Maybe... tonight. Tonight, this is all they need to leave it as.
He has more pressing cocnerns, as he turns his back to Vega's unconscious self, rolling his left shoulder to work out a couple kinks. There's something more important than shouting victory to the heavens, however narrow and possibly pyrrhic given the men Vega killed along the way here.
Munin and Julia. He's got to make sure they make it back alive, if they still are after all that. Visibly limping and fighting injury, but not defeated, Howard toughs out the last stretch of the latest of a hard day's work as he goes to pick up Munin and hoist her on his left shoulder. His right hand digs around for his cellphone to make a call, let some friends know the good news through his usual tired, sometimes indecipherable muttering tone of voice... and he'll be sure to pick up Julia on his other shoulder once he finds her.
Maybe there is no truly stopping Vega in the long run for good, but as long as people like himself, like Munin, like Julia... and the others are still able to fight...
All the better reason to really get to work in his Kyokugen study, actually make it up to the proper belt rank for being an instructor. One day, maybe sooner than later, it's going to be the kids' jobs to grow up and be the strong people of character to stand and fight back as he ambles with the other two heroes to relative safety.
For now, for maybe the first time since Vega announced his return, he can sleep without the grinning, malevolent mug of the murderous uber-psion gnawing at him.
COMBATSYS: Rust has ended the fight here.
Log created on 19:44:45 09/02/2012 by Vega, and last modified on 18:04:19 09/04/2012.