12/12/05
Characters: Chun-Li, Vega
Pacific Ocean
Perhaps the largest ocean in the world, the Pacific is a vast expanse of
deep blue water. Island chains dot the water here and there, many
uninhabited.
[Exits : Papua New Guinea, Australia, The Arctic,
Southtown, Japan, United States, South America, Asia,
Antarctica, Russia, Canada, and Central America ]
"Base, this is 2-5-4, beginning approach at 23-58."
Two minutes to midnight. Chun-Li sits in the back of an unmarked military
copter, clad in dark cargo pants and a tight grey t-shirt worn underneath an
unranked army jacket, her hair tied back into a braided ponytail. An odd
transition for the graceful martial artist, to now be dressed as a newly drafted
army brat - but it helps her fit in with the role she has been assuming during
what would otherwise have been 'downtime'. Leader of Charlie's Vigilantes. It
still sounds somehow unbelievable, both strange and surprising, and in so many
ways nonsensical. Then again, the logic of the commander in picking the woman to
direct operations during his hiatus cannot be faulted; her status as an Interpol
agent always gave her a certain amount of official pull, and came with the
expectation of leadership. She's trained for it, even though some of that
training may have been left unrecalled for some time.
Her transport is currently dipping into a slow curve, some fifty miles away from
final destination - simply beginning an approach to the top secret location of
the Vigilante headquarters. It would he tough to discern exactly where the
vehicle is travelling, but certain enough it's not too distant from this
location. The radio transmission certainly says that much, scrambled as it is.
There are no armaments mounted upon the helicopter despite its origin, which
might almost draw attention by itself; but who would act on such a discrepancy?
It appears harmless, nothing of consequence. At least... to mundane senses. Of
the few who would possess these and have any chance of being nearby, Chun-Li has
no fears or doubts, and the eventuality of discovery by her enemies has not been
considered. Why would Shadaloo's most skilled warriors be in the vicinity /and/
focusing upon her telltale signature?
No. There's no intent or preparation for the Vigilante craft to encounter any
resistance. Simply a dutiful pilot and co-pilot, and one very tired Strongest
Woman in the World...
No prepartions for resistance? Sad, so sad. Shadaloo is always watching, after
all. Always waiting - much like that boogeyman behind the closet, or under the
bed. Always prepared to reach out and snag your ankle just when you feel safest.
In the end, it's one of Vega's favorite things to do - to draw on that primal
fear of dark, to force peoplt o fight with fear and the rush of adrenaline
flowing through their veins. After all - negative emotions feed his power. They
make him strong, and they make him even more dangerous than he is normally.
The first sign of any trouble is a slight shift in the lift of the helicopter. A
little bump - perhaps nothing more than a hint of turbulence. Just the change of
air pressure beneath the helicopter, a pocket of cold air, or another easily
explained phenomena. At least - were the Vigilante leader lucky. Instead, it's
something more sinister - and lasts longer. Beneath the helicopter, Vega's VTOL
slowly rises - using the fact that it's wingbase is wider than the helicoptor's
rotorblades to disrupt it's airflow, and increase the difference in lift that
the craft would need. As for Vega, he's standing impassively on the roof of his
craft, watching the vehicle above. It took a few lives to find the woman - to
find the flight plan of the vehicle. But Vega was willing to sacrifice them -
after all, he's on a mission. A duty, even - to crush those that seek him out.
And eventually, Chun would.
He waits until the famed fighter happens to look out, to see the red cape a mark
standing out of the darkness of the night sky, the only other pieces visible
being his eyes, the manic grin - and a ball of energy that forms in one hand.
It's pointed towards the tail rotors of the machine above him, a deliberate
threat to the three in the copter. And there, he waits for recognition..
Eventually? Chun-Li has sought Vega out on two separate occasions, and this is
only counting those times she has successfully done so. For the last few years
she has not once stopped in her search, always actively keeping an eye on
Shadaloo activity and waiting for the manner of operation in which she may
encounter the mighty dictator himself. At times she even seems ignorant of his
secrecy - his lack of involvement with his own operations, but she has to try,
and each scuppered movement is one blow struck for what is right in the world.
Nothing relating to the man's organisation can be deemed as waste of time or
effort... even her two forays into Thailand's jungles have given the woman
valuable experience, and taught her more about herself than she might ever have
learned.
But tonight, tonight she has no intention of seeking an audience with Vega. Nor
at any point in the near future does the Tai Chi mistress have such an
inclination; wise advice has been given and heeded. For the first time since the
death of her father she is willing to ease back the endless strive for
vengeance, at least on a personal level, and focus upon her friends and the
advancement of the Vigilante group. Other plans are being acted on, and it's
these her nemesis now disrupts.
"Ma'am, we've got incoming interference..."
"I can feel that, thank you. What is it?"
"It's a damn sight larger than we are, that's for sure. Not a commerical craft."
"/Where/ is it?"
"It's right-"
"Below us!" Chun-Li barely stops herself shooting out of her seat, hands
slapping down to the violently vibrating metal of her seat as she feels that
monstrous prescence beneath her. "No..." the word coming forth as the barest
whisper, she eases herself along before reaching to open the helicopter's side
hatchway, sliding the metal doorway back on its casters. Not here, not now. In
front of her, the two Vigilantes exchange troubled glances, fighting to maintain
control of their craft but uncertain how to react to the motions of their
leader. For her part, a dozen emotions clamour for attention, forcing the
powerful martial artist to wage war over control of her own body. Flee? Fight?
So many options, some human and some of those of the avenging angel inside. She
has to remain calm, focused.
...then she leans out into the billowing winds, keeping her eyes open with an
effort only to rest upon that bright spark of purple energy. It is him. Vega.
The man who has left her unconscious three times, spared her life three times,
and now threatens that of her comrades... more than that, those for whom she is
directly responsible. "You bastard!" The cry is out before she can halt herself,
Chun-Li's eyes blazing with the light of anger. The hand not supporting her by
the helicopter's frame suddenly blazes with blue-white fronds, fingers clenching
to stop the unbidden rise of her spirit. "Vega! Why are you here? What do you
want?!"
Precisely what she wants. Why else would his appearance occur? It takes every
effort of will not to simply leap down and engage the man... for all she knows,
this could be the day her vengeance is obtained...
"What I want, dear girl - is to send a message. I've sent them, time and again -
and those that are supposed to listen do not. So I have left more, and will
continue to do so. In this case - with you." Vega's voice is booming over the
ragged winds that form from the turbulence, and the simple speed of their
travel. Cape whipping to the side from the force of the air, red and black that
doesn't curl around him as normal, instead almost airborne. He steps slowly
along the wing of his plane, towards where Chun Li can easily see him. In his
hand, that ball of dark purple energy grows, swollen with his anger, and perhaps
even the dark amusement that graces his voice. Still, directly pointed towards
the helicopter's tail, threatening the safety of all those inside.
"In this case, my dear girl - Lord Vega is not truly interested in any challenge
you may be. Consider that a gift - this holds no personal malice." Perhaps he's
just saying that to get a rise out of the woman - suggesting that she's nothing,
compared to him. That she's simply a tool to get at the others that seek him, to
those true warriors that can come close to besting him. Certainly, in most
cases, she can't. At least, so runs the mind of a power mad, petty dictator. He
pulls back that arm, preparing to throw the Psycho Shot directly at the tail of
the helicopter. At this range, it would be difficult to miss - and his force is
certainly powerful enough to destroy enough of the vehicle to make it
un-airworthy. "Or - I can simply send a different message. It is, after all.. "
He sweeps into a gracious bow, then looks up through slitted white eyes, that
grin growing demonically wide. ".. Your choice."
Chun-Li's brow is creased with a frown as she listens to the roaring voice,
though her expression is lost somewhat thanks to the winds barraging her face
and causing a permanent grimace as she struggles to concentrate her senses. Her
hearing and sight are being driven to their limits by the situation, but this
runs far deeper; Vega's unholy aura clouds that odd 'sixth sense' possessed by
all trained martial artists, and his words befuddled and bemuse her. A message?
He hardly explains what he means, obvious as the intent is. Then she's given a
choice, though the nature of that choice seems solely to be two different ways
of meeting her fate... she can meet it in a flaming wreckage or she can partake
in a duel to the death, upon the back of an airborne stealth craft. One could
prove certain death even for a woman of her talents, the other? Less certain. It
has taken the intervention of a henchman to stop her before.
"Very well!" Her cry is clear and determined, Chun-Li forcing focus to her brain
and quelling any uncertainty she may have. This cannot save anyone - but her
decision may. Vega is most assuredly not the type to keep his word, or show
compassion to his fellow man, but he does have a taste for drama. Closing her
eyes for a moment, the world's strongest woman ducks back inside her transport,
leaning forward to converse briefly with the Vigilantes. All Vega may see is a
couple of shadowy images looking back at their leader, but he'll feel a sudden
spark of fear from the pair too - along with that foolish bravery so beloved to
heroic types. This seems to be waved aside effectively, as a moment later...
Chun-Li steps out.
Freefalling in an aerial crouch from her helicopter to the hard black metal of
Vega's plane, she lands without sign of the terror she feels deep inside - this
battle seems hopeless either way, should her comrades be prevented from reaching
base. They are already starting to pull away overhead - struggling in the
turbulence created by the mighty craft below them - and they are her only hope
should she fall. Even if she wins this, a cold drop awaits if she cannot
miraculously learn to pilot her current perch. But no matter; if this must
happen, then it must happen.
"I do not wish to talk with you," the first words spoken as the
militaristically-clad Chinese woman rises smoothly to her feet, slipping into
that familiar stance. "Spare me your boasts and your gloating. I know what
you've done, I know who you are, and you know what that means to me. If I have
my way, 'Lord' Vega, this evening will be your last upon this earth." Sinking
deeper into her stance, the woman draws in a deep breath, settling into the
comparative calm offered by the slanted wings of her nemesis' craft. At least
she can hear herself think, rough as the conditions still are. Perhaps she'll
stand a chance today - maybe, just maybe, this is the moment Rose has foretold.
Watching, waiting, preparing... Chun-Li prays.
For his part - Vega seems unphased by the winds that tear at the surface of the
VTOL. After all, he's fought like this before, and is used to it. He walks
towards the Strongest Woman, dismissing the Psycho Shot from his mind as soon as
the helicopter turns away. Instad, it fades into his hand, races along his
forearms and lights them on fire - brilliant purple flame arching out - to match
that aura of death and terror that surrounds him. "Hnn. That is ..
dissapointing, Chun-Li. I .. wish to talk. Perhaps afterwards, with you lying
broken at the hands of Lord Vega, we will .. converse."
He stops - a body's length between them, speaking coldly and clearly to make
himself heard through the wind - the ship actually slowing down just a hair, to
make his voice echo loudly through the rapidly silencing night sky as the
helicopter leaving. Were it not for the pilot of his own plane - there might be
noone to hear him celebrate this victory to come, already gloating in front of
her. A character flaw, a weakness that he allows himself. After all - he has not
lost to her yet. "This evening is just one of many, Chun-Li. One of many
humiliating defeats for you, one of many losses that fail to finish that anger
that grows within you.. I can feel it festering." With that, he launches into an
attack. His fists glowing with that dark aura - that evil called psychopower, he
takes a swing at Chun-Li's preparing form, a first attempt to force a reaction,
to draw out that seething emotion hidden under the layers of control..
COMBATSYS: Vega has started a fight here.
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li has joined the fight here.
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li endures Vega's Jab Punch.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////////// ]
Vega 0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0 Chun-Li
"You have nothing to say to me."
The reply comes quickly, darted out in curt response to the first words spoken
by Chun-Li's nemesis. She believes this only too adamantly; what is there to say
that has not been said, and is in any way relevant? The preachings of a
do-gooder to one who has strayed from the path of truth and light?
Inconsequential, not least when compared to the terrible wrong he has committed
in her eyes. It seemed as though everything was taken from the girl in one fell
swoop, when she returned from that first mission to discover her father
missing... not yet presumed dead. When the truth arrived hot on the heels of a
fleeing Vega the world began to collapse, only vengeance and hope keeping it all
together. Other reasons for continuing have been discovered, many things have
changed but one thing will never alter - the hatred Chun-Li feels for this
beastly being before her.
"I'm sure you feel a lot, Vega. I understand your power better than I ever did -
I'm prepared for you!" Rose has assured her of this, if not surely and succintly
then in her own meandering way. Preparation is something the world's strongest
woman needs now, and she draws upon her everything as she watches that first
lightning quick fist come in shrouded in abominable flames. She's tried and
tested herself against the Psycho Power of others now, and has already steeled
her emotions for the barrage they will now undergo. It cannot be prevented
entirely, but she can roll with the mental chaos and break through it, if she
can only spot the exact intent from the blow.
"HA!" Twisting at the hip even as she leaps into a backflip, Chun-Li takes the
fist upon her tightened midriff and continues backward, springing off extended
hands to come up a short distance away with hands drawing back to her hip.
"You'll not fell me so easily. Ki-" Sucking in a breath, a golden pinpoint of
light flares outward from her palms, coalescing as those palms are then thrust
forward blazing with a shroud of blue-white energy. "KOUKEN!" That gold is
framed now in throbbing blue, semi-transparent but fully-formed, hammering in
upon Vega with a streaking spiral in its path, the woman's kiai aiding both the
speed and force of the technique. Battle is joined.
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li successfully hits Vega with Kikou Ken.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Vega 0/-------/------=|====---\-------\0 Chun-Li
Pleasant surprise as this battle fights on more than one plane. The physical
plane, of course - literally. The emotional, as well - the anger and pain that
makes up Vega's power battering against Chun-Li's emotions - sliding off and
skidding away as if there were a shield over them. This will be a truly
fascinating fight for the man - a challenge worthy of his expectations. He
braces as the woman flies backwards, less concerned with the hit of his hand,
more focused on the way his psyche reacted in contact. Perhaps she is more ready
than he thought - more prepared than he could have possibly imagined.
So engrossed in this facet of knowledge, he misses the attack brewing, a last
ditch attempt to block the power that comes in, hands coming up and dark energy
swarming in front of him - he fails to defeat the brilliant blue-white and gold
of Chun-Li's attack, and feels himself pushed back along the wide wing of the
aircraft, rocking it briefly with the force of the hit. For the slight pain, he
still grins, perhaps even more so than before. ".. This pleases me, Chun-Li. You
must have spoken to Rose - only she could have given you this knowledge.." And
with that, he stands up, holding one hand out, making a 'come hither' gesture.
"Prove to me what she's taught you - and show me what your power truly is now."
COMBATSYS: Vega focuses on his next action.
Chun-Li has been preparing every day of her adult life, for this moment. It may
be one she has repeated chances to relive, to strive once more for mastery...
and the sands of time have given her the fortune to stand before Vega one more
time. After her discussion with the mysterious psychic, she has considerably
less doubt that one day - some fine, glorious day - her time for vengeance will
arrive. Perhaps the Shadaloo dictator is beginning to realise this himself, or
perhaps not, it does not change anything for the tenacious assassin's pupil.
Ultimately this pitting of skills forms the culmination of her existence. There
is a lot to prove.
"Hmph." Lowering her hands with a light frown, the Strongest Woman in the World
retreats a half-step behind her hurled projectile, watching it scatter across
Vega's form with a stern and analytical eye. It seemed to impact him with less
strength than on previous occasions; has he already learned a lesson about her
own strength? Certainly the man did seem prepared for the assault. Drawing in a
deep breath as she watches his taunting, Chun-Li pauses for a moment,
considering and evaluating her chances, before ducking down low and breaking
into a dash forward. Movements unslowed by the thinness of air, she seems
perfectly adjusted to the environment as she runs in.
No words are forthcoming. It does surprise her that Vega is aware of Rose, as
she is aware of him so very deeply and has explained why... though doubts remain
about the nature of their relationship, these are disregarded. What the Chinese
beauty has been told is all that matters; enough. "HYAH!" On nearing her nemesis
she drops suddenly into a sliding crouch, skidding the last meter before
slamming a palm down upon the dark metal. Resting her full weight upon this
single point of balance, her legs whip outward together, both leather-booted
feet rocketing out to take Vega off his feet. Shinguards be damned.
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li successfully hits Vega with Strong Kick.
- Power hit! -
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////////// ]
Vega 0/-------/----===|=====--\-------\0 Chun-Li
And from those feet he goes. Overconfidence again is his enemy, the Shadaloo
leader already planning on how this event will affect those near her. Stupid.
He's already cursing himself as the two feet plant squarely into the metal
shinguards, Vega's body flying towards the plane's surface with aformidable
amount of speed. He manages to catch himself just before a face-first impact,
pushing psycho-power aura'd hands into the surface of the plane, and spiraling
away a few feet. The indentations of his fingers left in the metal, he lands,
boots crunching into the metal, to regain some stability. ".. Nh. I
underestimated this new power. In this case - a change of tactics is in order."
The compliment tossed out easily, Vega growls, his body moving in something akin
to a blue - the shaded aura around him intensifying, blocking him from view and
making him nothing more than a wrathful wraith, seemingly pure dark energy. At
least, until he appears before her, aiming to grab and throw, to roll her over
his body and boost the speed of her flight with a blazing burst of dark, evil
energy! "I will not make the same mistake again!"
COMBATSYS: Vega successfully hits Chun-Li with Psycho Fall.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Vega 0/-------/--=====|=======\=------\1 Chun-Li
Gen's teachings once more pay off - the blasting double strike crushing all
guard both natural and otherwise, knocking Vega from his feet and giving Chun-Li
plenty of time to recover. She does so easily, breathing in steady breaths as
she draws herself up into her stance and keeps her arms raised about her,
watching and listening to her nemesis as he goes through his own motions;
returning to battle after being initially surprised. The young woman might
almost laugh if not for the severity of the situation... this happens each time
they meet, her improvements showing most effectively only to be met with his own
endless surgings of power. Every little has helped and with each fresh
confrontation she can feel more confident than before - it can only ever have
been a matter of time before she surpassed the man.
Today? Remains to be seen. Most definitely the woman is not ready for what comes
hot upon the tails of an astonishingly rare compliment from her dreaded foe, his
shrouded path barely detectable and by the time she has placed him, hands are
already fastening about her easily grippable clothes. Not that this matters when
fingers can dent the bodies of aircraft by their power, but it is one thing the
world's strongest woman can place blame upon as she's tossed over burly
shoulders onto the hard surface below. Bouncing once, she twists herself to make
a quick recovery, aiming to land in a half-crouch when she instead finds herself
barraged with that hateful energy.
This time the emotional searing is enough to make Chun-Li cry out, teeth coming
down upon her bottom lip too late to halt the telltale sound. She has to remain
calm, intent. Such power must be overlooked to see through to the central
weakness behind it; every mountain can be felled, wherever its roots may dwell.
"You say that every time," the noted phrase comes as the Tai Chi mistress rolls
to her feet, still grimacing slightly from fighting off the pain, drawing her
arms about her and beginning to stalk forward toward her opponent. "Perhaps one
day you'll understand. YA!"
With the kiai upon her lips she surges forward suddenly, breaking into a
three-step sprint and then turning upon a single heel to lash the opposite limb
out in a testing kick to the side of Vega's head. Lightweight, the true power is
not within the first strike but in the multitude that will follow upon success;
a barrage of lightning fast kicks scattered from head to ankle upon the sturdy
figure of Shadaloo's Lord. "YA! YA! YA! YA! YA!"
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li successfully hits Vega with Hyakuretsu Kyaku.
- Power hit! -
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Vega 0/-------/=======|=======\==-----\1 Chun-Li
Vega's laugh is deep, mocking as he feels the girl's emotional energy crumple
briefly under his grasp. It's a start - and certainly, in this case, something
he is well prepared to take advantage of. His voice is taunting, attempting to
influence the fighter as she prepares for her next attack. "Understand? There is
nothing more to un..!"
That's where the first foot hits him. One after another, his hands coming up to
bat and block at each one, only to be deflected away, the kicks to his entire
body blazingly fast - each one powerful enough to fell a normal man. Vega stands
up to this assault, though - meets it head on like a warrior, and refuses to
lose ground. As a result, the attacks damage him more than any normal attack
should. "Hnn.. Good.. Good!" he murmurs, harsh breath as blood drips from his
mouth and nose, caught up in the air, blown away into the night. No more
speaking, though - it's time to let his actions speak for themselves.
He launches himself into the air, cape whipping behind him at the sudden change
in movement - far up, in fact, and then straight down - folding his arms at
chest level, aiming those thick boots directly for Chun-Li's shoulders, as if
intent on pressing her deep into the superstructure of the plane's wing. He's
not attempting to batter her defenses with his psycho power this time - instead,
he'll break her body first.
Her mind? Soon to follow.
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li blocks Vega's Head Press.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Vega 0/-------/-======|=======\===----\1 Chun-Li
Chun-Li's form is almost perfect - offensively she has rarely been better, each
of her strikes hammering home with everything she intends them to be. But how
long can such a winning streak last? This has happened once before, but even
then she was forced to lie in near unconsciousness while the object of her
passionate hate made his gloating escape. Even as the Tai Chi mistress watches
each of her lightweight attacks clamour home with precision, each enhancing the
damage of the one previous, she does not allow herself to become overly
optimistic. Oddly gone is that adrenaline rush, that feeling that today is the
day she achieves what she has sought for so long, and it's replaced by a fierce
stoicism, a safety in the knowledge that she'll obtain what she seeks no matter
how lengthy and difficult the path.
Though if it must end today, she'll embrace that moment when it comes. "YA!"
Snapping off a final exclamation with her last kick, Chun-Li spins away in a
graceful pirouette, coming to with legs snapping out bearing firm footing to
either side. Good? Vega's compliments are unnerving within themselves. But
she'll not allow herself to be so easily cowed. Frowning with concentration, her
dark eyes track his upward progression and follow his motions exactly, in time
for a tensing of the shoulders and a roll backward just as that double-footed
assault comes. And although her body stings with the impact, it is fleeting and
allows her to simply step forward as Vega is forced away by a solid defence.
Turning to face him, she allows herself a brief smile.
Not one of triumph. Simply a pleased certainty.
She'll not die today.
Taking a quick breath of air, the Strongest Woman in the World does not even
pause long enough for her opponent to touch back to the surface of his craft,
the leather of her boots shrieking as she slides forward and leaps up to meet
his continued downward momentum, hurling both hands forward with a cry building
upon her lips. There is not much time, but even so it rapidly climbs in volume
and pitch as her palms are thrust forward suddenly blazing with the extent of
her energies. A blue-white maelstrom swirls into being, a controlled chaos
spinning with light twitchings from Chun-Li's fingers, one of her most powerful
techniques hammered forward to meet Vega in mid-air.
"Kaaaaaaaaaa-KOUSHOU!"
Burrowing deep into his defences, she'll allow the attack to batter and bruise
the man repeatedly before finally allowing her energies to subside in a
brilliant flash - the final rotation hard enough to launch any normal foe out
over the deep ocean below. On this opponent? Perhaps the effect will be lessened
somewhat.. but her full power backs it up, and if anybody can crush him so,
surely it must be her?
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li successfully hits Vega with Kikoushou.
[ \\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Vega 1/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 Chun-Li
This is how the mighty must fall - not at the hands of their true opponents -
but instead at the hands of someone that they underestimated - Goliath falling
to David, in a sense. In this case, Vega's attempts to crush Chun-Li beneath his
mighty boots were warded off, and as he lands, the entire air around him bursts
into brilliant white and blue light. He's buffeted by that energy - that
brilliant power that Chun-Li wields so well, the full force of the woman's
attacks making him grunt in surprise and pain.
The final 'explosion' knocks him back to the very edge of the wing - where he
stops by digging his hand into and through the steel of the surface, causing the
wing to shift slightly from the change in airflow. Blood falls from his mouth,
his body singed, burned with the pressure of this fight. He's raggedly panting
for breath - an almost beaten man. ".. Hnn.. Hnn.." He can't work the energy up
to battle her, and as he straightens, he takes a second to attempt to gain his
power back.
COMBATSYS: Vega takes a breather.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Vega 1/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 Chun-Li
David and Goliath? Maybe. Though few instances of the former have ever trained
so passionately and diligently to defeat the latter, few have the same drive and
dedication, nor the sheer skill. There is little luck involved in anything
undertaken by the powerful Chinese woman, only a manifestation of everything she
strives to be. That same force is contained within the chi energy unleashed upon
her nemesis, a barrage that proves how little of that young, frightened girl
remains inside her soul. Youth never truly dies, but it can be surpassed.
Mistakes can be recovered from, lessons can be learned, and even the most
unlikely of dreams can come to pass. Chun-Li stands testament to all this and
more.
"You're surprised?" She asks quietly once she lands back upon the stealth plane,
fingers of each hand still glowing with blue fronds but set to the metal on
either side for maintenance of balance as she crouches. "Every time we meet, you
underestimate me, Vega... I'm not only the daughter of a man you murdered."
Taking in a deep breath, the beauty eases herself to her feet, starting forward
at a steady pace, hands held at her side and back straight, gaze intent upon her
opponent. "I live to make you pay for everything you've done. Even here, even
while I have nowhere to run, you cannot deny me this. I have given my life to
your pursuit, and your life /will be mine/." The final three words are
enunciated with harsh care, spat out to the roaring winds and delivered with all
the determined belief Chun-Li can bring to bear. Fear still lives somewhere
inside, but now.. she proves the faith instilled in her by those she cares for.
And by that mysterious Italian mystic. Rose, this is for you.
"TRY AND STOP ME!" Lips parting wide, the woman roasrs this last as she breaks
into a dash, leather once more forming a warcry to her steps, the distance
covered in a flashing blur before she reaches out with a hand to secure a grip
upon Vega's torso. Her intent is to grab a handful of clothing, to twist her
body with just the right force to lend her strength; strength to hurl this
terrible man into the air, setting him up for a devastating thrust kick to the
chin. "HYAAAAAAH!"
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li successfully hits Vega with Strong Throw.
[ \\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Vega 1/-----==/=======|====---\-------\0 Chun-Li
Somewhere over here, Vega really is trying to stop Chun-Li. He's .. certainly
not succeeding, at this point. Instead, he simply seems to be unable to phase
her - his strongest attacks are doing nothing - his most powerful energies are
glancing off and spiraling away. For one moment - the thought shatters into his
head, a cold spike of uncertainty. Perhaps, at this time.. Chun-Li CANNOT be
beaten. Perhaps with Rose's training, she's gone beyond the mere annoyance she's
been, and instead, a true threat now.
Vega can't accept that. He can't assume that the woman will defeat him - he
can't allow himself that weakness of thinking of himself as human, mortal -
falllible. "Hnnh!" He's thrown through the air - bouncing once, then twice along
the metal hull of the machine, causing it to tilt downwards with the sudden
force of her throw. And he stops, just short of the edge. But that, it seems -
was part of his plan.
No words at all now, simple instinct and rage as he crouches down, forwards and
then blows into the air, purple energy blazing around him as he flies directly
towards the Vigilante woman, intent on blasting her into pieces with the true
fury of his fierce fighting spirit, the aura strong enough to set the very
surface of the plane on fire as he approaches. Letting her win?! Unthinkable!
Impossible! He will triumph - he is VEGA!
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li dodges Vega's Psycho Crusher'.
Indeed he is, and on recoiling from her titanic follow-up kick, Chun-Li will not
allow herself to forget this. No matter how smoothly a battle is proceeding an
opponent cannot be taken for granted; she has had her share of close matches in
the past solely thanks to this rule being forgotten. Many losses also. But now,
the world's strongest woman is striving to live up to the faith of her friends,
the expectations of her father and the trust bestowed by her teacher when he
agreed to pass on the most deadly of techniques. Teachings which have not only
given her the strength she now displays, but a piercing awareness in the styles
of others; there are a great deal of fighters more capable at spotting the exact
attributes of their foes, but the Tai Chi mistress possesses enough of this
along with enough experience to pre-empt what comes next.
As Vega surges forward, she leaps upward, curling into a high somersault over
the superheating metal that hints toward her fate should she have stayed. The
turning of her body continues when the beauty falls, and she goes into a
handspring to carry her a little further from the raging mass of the Shadaloo
dictator, coming around upon her feet and with hands cupped about an imaginary
globe near her hip. Ducking down low, her eyes close for just a moment after she
has pinpointed her target. Once more golden light flares, and once more a
flashing shroud of electric blue surrounds her hands. Thrusting herself forward
over the extension of one leg, her eyes open to blaze in the reflected light of
the projectile that surges forth.
"KOUKEN!"
COMBATSYS: Vega dodges Chun-Li's Kikou Ken EX.
It was a poor choice to allow Chun-Li the chance to come in so close - arrogance
and overconfidence forming a 'perfect storm' against the Shadaloo dictator. He's
been beaten, bruised and battered by attack after attack, holding onto his will
to fight by sheer stubbornness and the knowledge that if he loses this fight,
this night - the Vigilante will quite probably attempt to claim a final vitory
as well. And that, Lord Vega cannot accept.
He summons up all his skill, all his power - and then waits for the attack from
Chun-Li. When the attack comes forwards - Vega is not there. He fades from view
as the light blazes forth, almost like a shadow would vanish by the bright light
of day. And then, he reappears - again, in shadow, the dark purple aura
revealing him - though he's now behind Chun-Li, his breath hot and smelling of
the blood she's beaten out of him - directly behind her, so she can hear his
whisper behind the raging wind.
"No matter what may come this night, Chun-Li - Rose will never teach you enough
to truly beat me." And with that, the Shadaloo leader stands tall, and prepares
- this will be a truly amazing moment - or a desperate failure.
COMBATSYS: Vega focuses on his next action.
...gone. The realisation brings back that deep-lodged fear inside the world's
strongest woman, snapping home the cold truth of reality; Vega is as powerful as
he always has been, there is nothing lacking in the man since their last battle.
Nor those before it. Her eyes narrow, and Chun-Li draws herself up into a
defensive stance, her legs spreading to find firm footing on either side of her
body, one hand clenching to a fist beside her right hip and the other extending
with fingers curled off to one side of where her opponent once stood. However.
She's wary of anything from any side, the back of her neck crawling as she
awaits the reappearance of her nemesis.
"Huh!" The exclamation bursts past her lips when he appears so suddenly, so
quickly after she has made her preparations. His scent fills her nostrils, his
voice lances deep within her ears. Not simply behind, but /directly/ behind and
seemingly unmoving, the hesitation from her opponent brings a vein of confusion
to Chun-Li's thoughts. Regardless, she speaks in turn. "Rose has taught me only
what was necessary... others have helped, and I've been studying those with
power similar to your own. We'll defeat you, Vega." We. Gone are the promises of
her personal victory, though she may well still intend to be the one who strikes
the killing blow... there are no illusions as to this being her fight alone.
Rose. Charlie. Many more still hold grudges against the Shadaloo dictator,
reasons to take him to the death.
They are not here now. Only one person stands in the night skies with Vega's
breath burning down her neck, his power seething so close to her soul,
encompassing her with his violent aura. There is only one thing she can attempt
to do; there is too much time for him to counter an evasion, not enough space to
launch a true assault, so for a second there is only a visible tensing of the
woman's muscles. Then she launches herself into a backflip, impossibly tight and
graceful, her aim to execute this manuever in order to come around at the
abomination's own rear, planting an extended knee into the crook of his neck.
"YA!"
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li successfully hits Vega with Tenshin Shuu Kyaku.
[ \\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Vega 0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0 Chun-Li
And so - it ends. A desperate attack by the warrior woman, the flip and press,
an attempt to connect her knee to the back of Vega's head - one that gives her a
solid sound, a meaty thud of impact. And drives Vega forwards into the wing.
Onto one knee, a unglorious position for the illustrious leader to have been
placed in. Certainly, he's not happy about this, that rage that consumes him
boiling over. He can't continue this fight - There is no way to beat Chun-Li,
with her brilliant aura, her power that Rose has honed and focused. Not like
this, and not today. So instead, to retreat, as ignoble as that may be - to
force this confrontation to take another place, another day to complete.
Hands dig into the wing, and there is a horrendous cracking noise as metal
seperates from metal, and the wing begins to shear off before Vega - twisting
the metal into a shape garunteed to throw the VTOL out of control, to spiral
towards the sea below. The pilot will probably be able to correct once he's low
enough - which will leave Vega his chance to escape, and quite possibly throw
the World's Strongest Woman from the plane.
As for Vega - he can't give up just yet. There is one last indignity he must
attempt to make the woman suffer, one last painful memory of this fight. He
launches himself towards Chun as the plane tilts crazily, leaping up and
bursting into energy again, circled around by purple fire that flares all the
brighter for his physical weakness, the range and pain he feels fueling this,
his last attack. "Goodbye, Chun-Li! May our next meeting be as challenging!"
After all - losing isn't everything - the promise of another test, another time
- that will be the bone he keeps for himmself.
COMBATSYS: Vega can no longer fight.
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li interrupts Final Psycho Crusher from Vega with Tenshou Kyaku.
[ \\\\\\ <
Chun-Li 1/----===/=======|
Chun-Li's eyes actually widen as her knee makes its vital connection, and her
rebound back to the body of Vega's stealth jet comes with a noticeable stagger
before she can restore her guard. Easing herself down from the brief rush of
surprise - shock that there was no swift interruption coming forward to meet her
desperate technique - the woman once more brings herself back into hard focus,
lips drawn into a narrow line and gaze intent upon the back of the kneeling
dictator's head. Is he standing again? Something about his hesitation says
otherwise, but she is scarce willing to believe it, to imagine she has truly
succeeded where others have failed, and where she has failed three times.
Breathe in, breathe out...
Then all hell breaks loose. "VEGA!" Scream piercing the air, Chun-Li begins to
move toward the man as he sets about demolishing his own craft, but the sudden
and chaotic angling that follows such gargantuan pressure causes her to stagger,
stumble and finally fall onto her back. Her arms barely go out in time to save
her scattering off the slightly raised edge, fingertips clawing at the solid
surface now bucking so uncontrollably. "You... you won't escape me!"
Chun-Li's teeth grit shortly after she calls the last to her nemesis,
desperation manifesting in the contortion of her powerful form as she attempts
wildly to hang on, not to fall away and lose her chance when it is close,
vengeance almost within her grasp - her quest, so nearly over. But the dictator
seems to win again, as with one final tipping motion from the plane, the
Strongest Woman in the World is pitched out into the night air, hanging in the
starlight for a moment before beginning to fall - only then registering the
massive surge of energy from Vega. That telltale prickling of Psycho Power, that
instantly becomes an assault upon her senses, bringing forth flashing memories
of past defeats, and worse. The face of her father, on the last day they met.
"NO! NOOOO!" It's a shriek, a desperate plea to the heavens a moment before
Vega's impact...
Which comes hard, smashing into the Chinese beauty and briefly causing the same
storm across her body as it has already across her mind, but then, before
contact is fully made and the full extent of Psycho Power can be used to torture
her into unconsciousness, the woman's own chi erupts outward in a gargantuan
burst. Flooding outward to mingle with the dark flames, blue-white trails curl
about in each direction, thrashing and spinning as Chun-Li swings herself around
in blind disregard for the injuries she may cause herself - tackling Vega's
continued assault head-on. One leg lashing up to smash directly through the
cyclone of dread energy, her foot barely makes contact with the face of her foe
before suddenly... the world explodes.
Above the depths of the ocean, a fierce battle between chi and Psycho Power
comes to a clashing crescendo, sparking a massive detonation of force, the
subsequent shockwave parting the waves for a mile around. As the colourful
fallout slowly evaporates, it would be easy for an onlooker to miss the small
splash as the world's strongest woman makes a painful landing in the Pacific,
barely conscious with only the thrashing of her limbs keeping her from a watery
grave.
Vengeance has been denied again. But there will be another chance.
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li takes no action.
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li has ended the fight here.
And as one may wonder - what of Vega? What of the Shadaloo man who took that
final hit, that last numbing crack of foot to bone in the midst of his most
powerful attack? That man whose dark energy was speared through by the light and
skill of the World Warrior? He's lost inside the shockwave, the energy from it's
explosion propelling him far away - in fact - directly into the wall of the
cruiser that spirals towards earth. It recovers itself, limping it's way towards
Thailand and towards Vega's underground lair. The Dictator himself? Will need to
be pried from his metal cocoon by those that are there when he arrives, so
strong the final attack of Chun-Li. Until next time - at which point, that
vengance that she seeks will be crushed between a mighty heel.
At least - that is what the unconcious man will hope.
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