Description: With Munin captured, Noboru moves to free the woman he promised to protect from the clutches of the mysterious German agent. Unfortunately, his stubborn nature plays right into Franziska's hands.
Evening. Metro City, 11:45 PM.
With the setting of the sun the seedier elements of one of the world's largest metropolises have emerged from their lairs and taken over the streets of one of the many red light districts that sprawl throughout the massive urban landscape like patches of tarnish on a silver plate. Like tarnish, such locales are inevitable without constant care and controlled environments but in a place like Metro City keeping an eye on every single shadow and nook where criminals, vagabonds, and other undesirables might breed is an impossible task. Entire sections of the mega-city have fallen into disarry and borderline lawlessness, controlled by various gangs and ruffians that are in a constant battle for territory and prestige.
It's almost the perfect hiding place. Though few people are willing to dare the dark alleys of Metro City at night the sorts that might be after her are exactly the kind that won't be phased by some common thugs and street toughs. Franziska peers out the window of the small apartment where she has taken refuge for the evening, the bright neon lights of the street below reflected in the dirty window and the pale blue of her eyes. As always, she has a smile on, the satisfied look of someone who knows a private joke that the rest of the world doesn't.
A muffled groan comes from behind her and she turns to peer at the only other person present. Bound and gagged, the woman sits on a simple wooden chair at the center of the room. A thick black bag of cloth rests over her head like a funeral shroud concealing the person's features but Munin's casual clothes are easy to recognize for anyone who's met the woman before. The German woman lets out an amused noise and turns around, stalking over to stand beside her 'guest'.
"Ah, I see you are finally avake. You are feeling vell, I hope?" A muffled series of grunts and unintelligible noises answer her prompting Franziska to smile a little bit wider. "Glad to hear it. You schould know vee haf zee best accomodations in zee house tonight. Van of my organizations special safe houses, complete vis all zee ammenities of home. No van vill disturb us here. So you might as vell relax und enjoy zee peace and quiet."
Mere moments after Franziska's announcement that no one would be disturbing them, there comes a soft 'click' from the lock on the front door. A second later there follows a quiet metallic scraping as the handle on the deadbolt twists itself around to the unlocked position. Both locks come standard with every red light apartment in Metro City.
The door knob twists silently and the door is eased open until its chain catches. Door chains are also standard in every Metro City apartment. However, a large black-gloved hand reaches casually through the 4-inch gap and closes thick fingers around the metal links. With a sharp twist, the chain snaps and falls away with a soft tinkling of metal links.
With no further obstacles remaining to bar its path, the door is flung wide. Predictably, the man framed in the open doorway is tall and broad-shouldered. His midnight blue coat is neatly arranged, free of dust, and pulled closed to hide the habitual weapon harness beneath. His shaggy golden-brown hair is messy as ever, contrasting oddly with his methodical style.
"Hrrrm." Noboru Rumbles as he steps lazily through the door. His good eye flicks idly about, checking, always checking, while he casually palms the door shut behind him with another gentle click. He seems unsurprised to see Franziska here, as well as the pretty blond's captive. But that's only to be expected. Why else would he have come?
Locks and chains may be standard but, despite appearances, the small room in the unassuming apartment complex is anything but ordinary. Long before the scraping at the door it is the infared motion sensors, hidden cameras, and accoustic amplifiers that alert the residents to the presence of an unnannounced, but not unexpected, visitor. Franziska turns to face the entrance to the small room as the handle begins to turn and when the massive ninja barges in he is greeted by her cheerful smile.
"Herr Miyama," she says as if greeting an old friend. "Do come in, vee vere expectink you."
A dull grinding whirr fills the air suddenly as hidden mechanisms spring to life all throughout the room. Thick metal bars emerge from small holes in the door frame, criss-crossing over each other like a portcullis as they seal off the exit behind Noboru. Heavy clattering accompanies the clicks of the grating sliding into place as dense metal shutters unfold to cover the windows sealing the room from prying eyes and barring yet another avenue of egress.
In all it takes only a handful of seconds for the trap to be sprung leaving the ninja no where to go. The cacophany dies down as quickly and Franziska's smirk widens every so slightly. "So glad you could join us. It vas gettink a little borink vis no van to talk to. Zee girl here is not much of a conversation parther."
Noboru doesn't flinch as the room around him bangs and clatters it's way smoothly into a metal-reinforced cell. In fact, he doesn't even appear surprised. Above his black silk mask the ninja's icy blue eye flicks lazily between Franziska and the hooded prisoner seated beside her.
"I could not be sure if this was actually Munin without checking myself. Your organization has some talent at subterfuge." The big shinobi offers, deep voice somewhere between an idle complement and equally idle speculation. He's so casual that it has to be an act. Probably. Maybe. The words are accompanied by a slight lifting of his muscular shoulders in an easy shrug.
"You should consider changing employers." Noboru continues in his accentless English, good eye sliding back up to the pretty blond's face, "You are not bad company. I just don't see us getting along until you change your priorities. I'm afraid this is likely going to end in us fighting again. Unless you'd like to let me out without a struggle." The ninja shows no further interest in the bound figure. Maybe he doesn't feel confident he can get her out? Maybe he doesn't think it's actually Munin. Who knows if he could tell one way or the other at a glance. Regardless, He makes no move toward either woman, leather-clad hands held low at his sides.
"Alvays vis zee flattery. You must be very popular."
Franziska doesn't seem particularly put off by the lack of surprise from the interloper. He's a professional and, judging by their last encounter, not very expressive with his emotions. Whether that is from a life of hardship or merely a facet of his personal discipline she does not know but her ability to tune into the feelings and tone of the surroundings is strained when it comes to him. That challenge just makes it that much more interesting though.
"Unfortunately, I do not haf zee luxury of pickink my employer. I am verking on somethink of a life-long contract. Besides, I am quite happy vis my job. I get to travel zee verld, take in zee sights, meet new people; plus zey even offer comprehensive dental coverage."
She grins at her own joke, lightening the mood with her casual mannerisms. Grabbing Munin's chair by the back board, she tilts it onto two legs and drags the woman to the far side of the room, elicting a surprised squeak from the blind-folded occupant.
"Zere we are, vouldn't vant you gettink in zee vey, mm?"
"Hrrrr. Life long." muses Noboru as he watches Franziska drag the bound figure away. Briefly his good eye drops to flick casually over the German's uniformed body, what is visible of his expression contemplative. he is a man after all.
Lifting his attention away from Franziska, the big ninja gives his shaggy head a slow shake. Turning about, he wanders back toward the door he entered through just moments before. While his jailer is getting the other prisoner situated, he studies the interlocking bars of his cage. Picking a bar roughly 3 feet long, the shinobi reaches up with his right hand and takes hold of it near where it is welded to three other similar bars. Bracing his left hand on the wall beside it he strains. Muscles flex and press against his coat, a soft hissing breath rushes through his teeth...
'CLANG!'
The bar snaps free from its weld with a loud, bell-like ringing of metal. A sharp jerk and twist snaps the other end free as well, and Noboru steps away from the door with his prize. Just how strong is this guy?
Strong or not, he stands with his back to Franziska, three-foot length of metal dangling at his side as he sizes up the remaining bars covering the door. If she wants to stop him tearing a way out she better do something.
The wrenching groan of the metal being forcibly bent free of its casing in the wall causes Franziska's head to snap sideways, her amused smile fading into a curious stare for a few moments. Noboru is big but she didn't expect him to be quite /that/ strong. He's dipping into the realm of the super human which is her area of expertise. Interesting.
"Tch, tch. It's not very nice to go breakink ozer people's sings you know."
Giving Munin's chair a final scoot into the corner, she turns her attention back to the bulky ninja and stalks across the room to stand a few feet away, just barely out of striking range though he might still be able to menace her with the bar if he is quick enough but she doesn't look too worried.
"I suppose zis means our friendly chat is over. Don't vorry though. Vee haf anozer cushy chair in zee back just for you." She drops into her combat stance, one palm extended defensively with the other couched at her waist. "Only zee best for my guests."
"You have chosen this path. it is within your power to change it." Responds Noboru calmly, his broad back remaining turned to the diminutive woman. "Perhaps in time our goals will align."
Giving his shaggy head another slow shake, the bulky ninja taps the metal bar against his thigh, seeming to come to some sort of decision about something he was staring at on the wall. That being done, he steps about to face Franziska, in no real hurry, and widens his stance slightly. The bar remains held low in his right hand, blue-eyed gaze staring off over the blond woman's head toward the window behind her. It doesn't look like he's ready for a fight, but she should know better by now.
The bulky shinobi also doesn't look like he just summoned enough force to break metal. His face isn't flushed, and he isn't panting for breath. There just isn't enough documentation on him, or the Miyama clan. Nothing in any file mentions they can do things like that.
"Perhaps. But for now, let us haf some fun, mm?"
Taking the initiative this time since there isn't much left to talk about, Franziska steps forward and throws a quick strike. Having fought the large man before she knows a fair amount about what he is capable of but it would be folly to assume that she's seen all of his tricks. An intelligent fighter always has an ace in their sleeve and he doesn't strike her as the stupid sort.
Her punch is swift and probing but she doesn't over commit to the strike, leaving herself room to manuever depending on how he reacts. In such a confined space his sheer size could prove to be an advantage or a hinderance but Franziska is right at home in this tiny arena where her surprsing toughness and strength can turn the fight into a slugging match.
COMBATSYS: Franziska has started a fight here.
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Franziska 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Noboru has joined the fight here.
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Noboru 0/-------/-======|-------\-------\0 Franziska
COMBATSYS: Franziska successfully hits Noboru with Jab Punch.
- Power hit! -
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Noboru 0/-------/-======|-------\-------\0 Franziska
Letting out a soft breath through his mask, Noboru watches Franziska step in on him with what might be regret. Leaning in toward her blow, he braces himself for the punch, but her little knuckles dig into that sweet spot right below the sternum and drive hard into his upper abs.
Snorting in mild annoyance, the big ninja curls his left hand into a half-fist and snaps it up in a quick jab punch of his own. Feet braced, he Aims to hit her right in the center of the chest. With the wall only a step and a half behind him he doesn't have much room to back away and make space. The bar hangs limp at his side, useless with his much smaller opponent in so close.
COMBATSYS: Franziska blocks Noboru's Precordial Thump.
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Noboru 0/-------/-======|-------\-------\0 Franziska
Franziska grins a little, instinctively twisting her fist into the soft dimple between the large man's ribs when she makes contact. The action isn't out of spite or hatred for Noboru but an automatic reflex from years of brutal training. Her art of Panzerkunst capitolizes on every weakness displayed by an enemy, overwhelming them with the raw power and speed that only someone with her gifts could possess.
She doesn't let up either. Rather than step back to give them breathing room, Franziska presses herself even closer to leverage the advantage that her shorter arms have by staying underneath the ninja's area of comfort. His thick fist meets the side of her forearm, rebounding mostly harmlessly from the heavy armored plate underneath her greatcoat.
Her counter attack is quick but brutal, a sharp kick delivered towards his legs with enough force to shatter stone. He's certainly seen this technique before but with little room for his usual acrobatics it may prove more troublesome.
COMBATSYS: Franziska successfully hits Noboru with Knochenbrecher.
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Noboru 0/-------/-======|======-\-------\0 Franziska
With Noboru's feet planted on the floor, weight shifted forward to keep from being driven back, there isn't much he can do to block such a low attack. The little blond woman being cuddled up close to him certainly doesn't help matters either. Left with few options, the big man chooses to shift his feet apart further and drop into a crouch, taking Franziska's kick solidly to the side of his knee. There is a solid thud, and she can feel the joint being stressed, but it does not buckle. He's obviously tougher than stone.
"hrrr." Grumbles the shinobi in mild irritation. With the metal bar still hanging uselessly from his right hand, Noboru swings his left hand up and around from where it was deflected away and tries to get a grip on the back of Franziska's neck. If he can manage that he will squeeze hard and lift her easily from the ground, whirling about in a harsh 180 to throw her face-first into the metal bars blocking the door.
COMBATSYS: Franziska endures Noboru's Medium Throw.
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Noboru 0/-------/-======|=======\-------\1 Franziska
Now it's Franziska's turn to suffer the downsides of tight quarters brawling. The ninja's much longer arm easily reaches past her guard coming from behind to snag her around the nape. His massive fingers almost completely encompass the slight woman's neck and she can do little but grin and bear it when he slings her around like a ragdoll.
Her arms come up across her chest just as the metal bars of the door are forcefully introduced to her face and there is an almost comical clanging sound as her forehead recoils from the impact. Rather than stunning her, however, the brutal throw gives her a new position from which to attack and, as always, she adapts to the circumstances with lightning speed.
Using the bars as leverage, Franziska twists and leaps off the ground, swinging her legs up around the ninja's arm to try and snag it before he can retreat further into the room, using her entire body weight to try and pull him to the floor while putting him arm into a joint lock.
COMBATSYS: Franziska successfully hits Noboru with Gelenksperre.
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Noboru 0/-------/-======|=======\=------\1 Franziska
Franziska's legs wrap around the Ninja's thick arm and squeeze tight, twisting hard to try and force him down. Though his joint protests the pressure, the most the woman manages is to force the big fellow into a stooped crouch, muscles tensing like metal bands to prevent her actually breaking anything.
Staring up past the German's legs toward her face, Noboru quirks his unscarred brow just slightly. His blue eye flicks from her face, to her legs wrapped around him, then back to her face. Other than that he remains completely impassive. Dead pan.
The spell is broken when his right fist, pipe in hand, comes rocketing up from beneath the hanging woman to try and smash her free of her grip on the wall.
COMBATSYS: Franziska interrupts Fierce Punch from Noboru with Eisenkorper.
# Disabling hit! #
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Noboru 0/-------/=======|=======\=------\1 Franziska
Franziska grins back at the masked man with an amused look as if she appreciates the awkwardness of the situation. "You know," she says, pausing mid-sentence to blow a strand of loose hair out of her face, "zis vould be a lot more effective if you vere appropriately sized."
Unfortunately, she still can't seem to get much in the way of playful banter out of him. The pipe comes up and smashes against her hands forcing her to release her grip with a startled yelp. She releases her grip on Noboru's arm and hits the ground on all fours, somehow twisting like a cat on base instinct in an usual display of agility.
Taking advantage of this the woman lurches to her feet and drives her fist directly into her opponent's abdomen. Noboru's rock hard muscles stiffle the impact of her knuckles but the kinetic explosion that follows a moment later ignores such defenses sending a pressure wave rebounding through his bones and internal organs.
"Hrr." Noboru grunts back as he is forced up onto his toes by the blast of psycho power in the pretty blond's punch. His icy blue eye stares through her face somewhat unfocussed as he rumbles, "I have been between your legs during both fights now, and neither of us have enjoyed it. Insulting."
With his singular quip of witty banter out of the way, the ninja lets his pipe drop to the floor with a soft 'clunk' of metal on carpet. Still crouching, he swings up two quick hooks, each aimed toward the sides of Franziska's head. He follows them with an attempt to snatch the front of her coat, taking both lapels in one big hand and whirling back around to put his back tot he door and send the German flying across the room toward the shuttered window. His breaths come in short, slightly rasping gasps from behind his mask. That last blow clearly broke something. He's moving a bit slower, without the usual power behind his strikes.
COMBATSYS: Franziska blocks Noboru's Combo Grapple.
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Noboru 0/-------/-======|=======\==-----\1 Franziska
Franziska laughs out loud, her lilting voice filled with genuine mirth. "Oh, it takes so much verk to get something out of you but it is alvays verth it!"
The hook punches are met with a solid guard as her arms raise up to deflect their momentum to the side, the woman's hands tucked in close to her face like a boxer. The grapple attempt thusly meets her wrists instead of her uniform and the two of them fall into a clinch as she leverages her size and strength against his. There is a few moments of dancing about as the fighters each attempt to gain the upperhand but it ultimately ends up in a stalemale with both of them still squared off in the center of the room.
The German takes a step back for the first time, her breathing a little heavy from the exertion of keeping a much larger opponent at bay but the look on her face is one of amusement rather than effort. Casually lifting her peaked cap from her head for a moment, she runs her fingers through her hair to smooth it out. Her eyes narrow a little as she takes up her fighting stance once again, inhaling deeply and letting the breath out in a soft sigh.
"It has been so long since I haf had zis much fun. Vee should do zis more often."
COMBATSYS: Franziska focuses on her next action.
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Noboru 0/-------/-======|=======\==-----\1 Franziska
Noboru continues to stare through Franziska as they pull back from the clench, his left hand moving to press against his stomach while his right twitches, a length of leather cord briefly visible as he twirls it dexterously between his black-clad fingers.
The shinobi seems to have exhausted his store of banter for the fight. His breaths continue to come slow and slightly ragged. Not the heavy breathing of a man doing exorcize, but as if something inside him were making it harder to breathe with each passing moment.
Still slightly hunched, Noboru stalks forward to close the distance with Franziska yet again. Both of his big hands lash out in an attempt to grab hold of her biceps, grip tightening as he tries to drag her in close...
COMBATSYS: Franziska dodges Noboru's Chiropractic Therapy.
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Noboru 0/-------/--=====|=======\==-----\1 Franziska
The big man moves and Franziska moves with him, always managing to stay one step ahead of the ninja. In their present fighting circumstances there are only so many options available to him. She sees the small length of cord appear in his hands and narrows her eyes a little further, remembering the first time she was introduced to that particular trick of his and quite intent on ensuring it was the last.
When Noboru lunges, she ducks, weaving out of his grip and putting her in the perfect position for another counter attack. Her fist clenches tightly and the air begins to crackle as psycho power builds up around Franziska's body, raw kinetic energy flowing down into her arm until the air visibly distorts at its presence.
Thrusting her fist up towards the chest of the man looming overhead, she offers him a devilish grin and a wink before unleashing the energy explosively as a projectile at point blank directly into his torso.
COMBATSYS: Franziska successfully hits Noboru with Panzerfaust.
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Noboru 0/-------/--=====|-------\-------\0 Franziska
The blast slips between Noboru's closing hands and takes him square in the chest, lifting him off of his feet and throwing him across the room. His head and shoulders impact the far wall with a loud 'BANG!'. A normal person would be dead, but the ninja's abnormally tough bones leave large craters in the metal. As he lies there half propped against the wall the big fellow furrows his brows, no sound escaping him. His icy blue eye is very distant, but he does not lose consciousness.
Lifting his right hand from the floor he grabs hold of a protruding bit of metal and drags himself up to a sitting position. Only then does it become clear that his left arm has been knocked out of it's socket, and blood is pooling on the floor beneath him from gashes along the back of his shoulders and head. Waving Franziska away with a tired backhand motion, the big man reaches down and grabs hold of his injured arm.
"Nice accommodations, then?" Asks the shinobi idly as he carefully arranges his bad arm, then, with a sharp twist, cracks it painfully back into its socket. A practice flex of his joint shows it to be moving a bit stiffly. He does not cry out, but his gaze remains far off. Detached from the pain his body is going through right now. With the amount of blood running from those cuts, and the hits to his internals, it's remarkable that he's still alive. If the room wasn't locked so tight he could probably still escape in this condition, but It's doubtful he could snap off metal bars in this condition.
COMBATSYS: Noboru takes no action.
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Franziska 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Noboru can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ G<
Franziska 0/-------/-------|
Lingering spurts of power snap and pop between Franziska's fingers as she slowly rises to her feet, casually shaking her hand in the air as if to cool it off. Her eyebrows raise slightly as the ninja pull himself up and realigns his shoulder with a painful sounding crack but she can tell from the lack of focus in his eyes and the blood quickly pooling around him that the fight is over.
She offers him a warm smile, an almost motherly look in her eyes as she nods in response to his question. "Ja. Zee best in zee house."
A finger goes to her ear and she speaks into her transceiver, muttering something in German that is difficult to make out. The effect is obvious, however. A panel slides open in one of the walls revealing a small passageway that leads down into a hidden stairwell. Unlike the rickety nature of the apartment building the construction of the hidden tunnel looks professional, almost military-grade in its ruggedness, clearly meant to withstand a great deal of punishment.
Half a dozen soldiers pour out of the narrow portal their faces hidden behind grim looking gasmasks. They quickly form a semi circle before the fallen ninja, their weapons trained on him. Franziska speaks in her heavily accented English for Noboru's benefit, saying, "Zese men vill escort you to our medical facilities. Zee may not be as skilled as myself at punchink sings but zey haf very big guns so try to play nice, ja?"
"Honor among thieves." Responds Noboru in his quiet rumble. Bracing a gloved hand on the wall, the ninja levers himself stiffly to his feet. Blood continues to drip out of his hair and patter onto the floor. The back of his midnight-blue coat is soaked in it.
"I need a surgeon." the shinobi adds idly, single eye taking in the arrangement of soldiers and their guns with a detached sort of wonder. How many could he kill in his current state before they took him down? Maybe all of them, but not with Franziska standing there. He'll behave.
Lifting his empty hands out to his sides, Noboru starts to walk toward the secret entrance at a measured pace. As he prowls past his pretty blond opponent he tips his chin down to glance at her soberly and ask, "See you at dinner?" He looks utterly serious. There is no hint of humor anywhere on what is visible of his face. perhaps that's the brilliance of it.
Franziska looks surprised for a moment then smiles as brightly as ever, her eyes closing as she titters a little in amusement. "Ofcourse, I vouldn't miss it. Und don't vorry, our doktor is quite good vis her hands. She vill fix you up in no time." She leans in and adds, "She has had a great deal of practice vis cleaning up after me."
The soldiers show none of the officer's good cheer as they shuffle into single-file behind Noboru but they allow him to walk on his own without any sort of restraints, either on Franziska's orders or because they don't consider him much of a threat at this point. Two of the faceless grunts remain behind as the secret door slides shut and they offer her a salute as she beckons them over.
"If you gentlemen wouldn't mind," she says in German, "please escort the young lady back to her home. She's served her purpose and been quite well behaved."
Nodding once at the 'request', the men move to where 'Munin' has been tucked away in the corner and set about freeing her hands and feet from the chair. Pulling the girl to her feet, they guide her towards the door leaving her hooded shroud in place so that she can't memorize the path they take on the way back to the depths of the red light district.
Now that she has the room to herself once again, Franziska turns around to assess the damage with a smug smile. Her plan went perfectly. With Munin secured she knew it would only be a matter of time before word got around to her protector. A few rumors spread here and an appropriate decoy there and the trap was set.
All that remains now is to deliver her prizes to the man himself. While she's not terribly happy knowing that she's delivering the two unfortunates into what is likely their doom there are far worse things that she is guilty of in the past. Progess demands sacrifices from time to time.
Log created on 17:20:09 07/31/2014 by Franziska, and last modified on 22:32:14 07/31/2014.