10/01/04
Characters: Rock_Howard, Terry_Bogard
*Description: Talena*
This young woman, of average height and build, is dressed not to impress, but to
shock. Her hair, dyed a sickeningly bright shade of blonde best described as
yellow (though this doesn't nearly do it justice), is styled into jagged bangs
that rise up before striking down around the top of her ears like neon lightning
bolts. As for her face; her eyes are a rather dull shade of brown, her features
not unattractive but nothing to write home about, but what does stand out is the
amount of metalwork. Three studs in one eyebrow, a hoop in the other, a small
silver nose-ring, not to mention a spike that juts out of her face just below
the bottom lip and a large and extravagant collection of earrings, that clank
together incessantly as she walks. Her choice in clothing is no less
conscientious: on her torso she wears an oversized, purple PVC jacket with a
high, upturned collar and flared cuffs that all but cover her hands. The front
is zipped up to a little way below the neck, and reveals very little flesh. On
her lower half she wears a pair of shredded blue jeans, cut off just above the
knees, with a pair of black and pink striped tights underneath. Hanging down
from her waist are two lengths of bicycle chain, painted glittery pink, though
the rest of the belt is covered by the hanging ends of Talena's jacket. Her feet
are covered with hideous purple stilettos, which are scuffed and streaked with
dirt, and she wears a single glove on her left hand... a simple black velvet
affair. The final thing you might notice is that her right middle finger is
covered in a chromed steel sheath-ring, a series of jagged interlocking plates
ending in a small, sharp hook.
*THE USUAL RESTAURANT
Rock is sitting at the bar a glass in front of him three quarters full of
whatever he's drinking. His chin rests in one hand, the other holds the glass
half-heartedly.
A rather brightly dressed woman struts in from the bathroom, chewing on a wad of
gum as she makes her way to the bar. Her eyes, hidden behind mirrorshades,
actually flicker towards the young fighter for the briefest of moment's before
she calls out for a soda, voice taking the tone of a slightly rough-edged New
Yorker. As the bartender sticks her drink together, she hops up onto a barstool
with a heartfelt sigh. "Woo.. tough day huh, kid?"
Rock is actually in a bad enough mood where the woman doesn't terrify him but he
nervously replies, "Y-yeah, you could say that." gulp from the glass.
Talena scoops up her soda, lifting her gloved left hand in a perky thumbs up to
the bartender. As he moves off to tend to his duties, she reaches up to flick
her shades down from her eyes, peering over at Rock with a slightly wicked
smile. "Yeah? I know what's up with me, but you go first..."
Rock says, "Well, let's see I'm basically the object of desire for some kind of
holographic projection of a space ships AI...and it dragged me around last night
and ran up my debt pretty high, plus if I make it angry I'll get my ass nuked.
On top of that I feel I'm being followed all day."
Talena tilts her head from side to side, as if weighing up what Rock has just
told her. After a moment she gives a pronounced nod, "Gotcha. And y'know, aside
from the whole holographic projection junk my day's been -exactly- the same.
Well..." she makes a pouty face, "Kinda similar anyway." She doesn't elaborate
on this, instead pausing to spit her gum onto the bartop before taking a long
sip of her soda.
Rock blinks, "Oh yeah?" another gulp. This one making the glass almost empty.
Talena nods twice, "Put it this way: 'uh' and 'huh'." She suddenly gives a
high-pitched whistle, shooting her gaze towards the bartender. "Hey, barboy!
Stick the kiddo's drinks on my tab, got it?" She looks back to Rock with a
toothy grin. "I scratch your back, you scratch mine. Am I right?"
Rock says, "Sure thing. Thanks." actually gives a smile.
Talena smiles in return, a lopsided affair that couldn't be more openly
friendly... "I'm right. I'm always right." She gives a little shrug, her jacket
creaking as she does so. "It's no biggie. So.. yeeeaah." She sucks air through
her teeth, fingers on her left hand drumming against the bartop as she looks at
Rock for a long moment, finally asking, "You get the feeling you're being
followed, huh?"
Rock nods, "Yeah. It's like...hmm...how do I explain it?" he thinks for a
moment, "To put it mildly I can feel it in my skin."
Talena stops drumming her fingers, ending the impromptu rhythm jam by bringing
her entire hand down on the bartop. It makes the sound you'd expect, a rather
loud clanking thump. She looks down at the bartop thoughtfully. "Funny thing is,
Rocky baby.. I get that feeling -all- -the- -time-. Except!" At this she lifts a
finger, all but jamming it up Rock's nose as she leans in close with an amiable
grin. "EXCEPT.. when I'm the one doing the following!"
Rock narrows eyes, there seems for a moment as if blue sparks flit through his
eyes and are gone, "And why would you want to follow me?"
Talena leans back, shaking her head and rolling her eyes with mock indignation.
"Sheesh.. didja hear me say that? Did I at any point that little outburst say
'Rocky baby, I'm the one who's been following you'? Did I?" She doesn't wait for
an answer, immediately leaning in close again. "Of course I didn't! I'd be lying
if I did!" Up close her breath is sticky sweet, syrup-meets-air, as you'd expect
from someone who chews strawberry bubblegum all day...
Rock says, "Oh it seems I misheard you..." the smell almost makes him gag but he
manages to push past the action, "So uh...wait. How do you know my name?" if it
was another fan...
Somewhere on the muck, Ranma has disconnected.
Talena leans back again, eyes widening above her shades. "Ooooh! You are a
clever little man, anyone ever tell you that?" She sets her soda to one side,
lifting her right hand in a fist and slowly extending the fingers as she
speaks... "Numero uno: this is Neo, babe, and your video game is -swell-. Who
doesn't know your name? Numero duo: it's my job to know names. It's what I do.
Numero trio: You're cute. I always get the names of cute guys. Makes things
easier. Y'know?"
Rock blushes at the last comment, "Uh..eh heh..thanks." Stares at his drink and
then quickly finishes it.
Talena gives another toothy grin. "No prob, Bob. So.. when'd you start to think
you were being followed?" She turns back to the bar and grabs her soda, waiting
for Rock's answer as she glances sidelong at him.
Rock says, "Oh about....11 AM." nods to himself, that felt about right.
Talena nods approvingly. "That makes me feel damn good about myself. You be sure
to tell those other guys the same thing - they've not been doing it nearly as
long as me, but still.. to follow someone like you around take balls and then
some. Y'know?"
Rock nods slowly, "Yeah I guess it does." scratches the back of his head idly.
Talena grins, "Like you wouldn't know. So, shall we get going or did you wanna
another drink. Because.." she pauses to pull back the sleeve of her jacket,
glancing at a thick plastic sports watch. "We've got time to spare."
Rock blinks, "Eh? What're you talking about?" somehow he felt like he was
getting dragged somewhere again.
Talena takes in a deep breath, promptly releasing it in a sharp sigh. "You're
cute but... so very, very slow. Y'see, Rocky baby, knowing names is only the
first part of my job. We're now on the last bit.. until the big bad gives me new
orders but that's okay! I usually get a few days free... so anyway." She drains
her soda in one huge sip, gasps and pushes it away before looking at Rock again.
"You wanna meet the boss man?"
Rock blinks, "And whose the 'boss man'?" Never mind that his curiosity is
piqued.
Talena wags a long-nailed finger at Rock, "Oooh no no. I'd LOVE to let that rip,
but orders are orders. If I tell you, you might not come and then I won't get
paid. Unfair, I know, since I already spent the last two months dragging my ass
around behind you, but there it is. I gotta take you to my big bad boss, who
then talks to you about his big bad boss and gives you what he's gotta give ya."
Rock blinks....
Rock says, "Alright I'm interested."
Talena grins, "Yeeaah, I know. You should be, because babe - this is the first
day of the rest of your life." She hops from her barstool, earrings jangling and
thumping together. "And don't be scared, Ry's not such a bad guy underneath all
the grit. Y'see?" She winks, "I gave you a clue. Ain't I a nice girl?"
Rock blinks at Talena, "Ry huh?" starts thinking of people who could be called
Ry that he would know of... "Well either way, you know where we're going, not
me."
Talena nods and strides past Rock towards the door. "Sure I do. Let's make
tracks, Rocky baby. Oh, and er... you can do that ki-sensey thing right? You
guys are good that, huh?"
Rock says, "Yeah you can say that...why?" he puts his glass down having finished
the drink, he followed a little behind still a little nervous.
Talena spins just before she reaches the door, clicking a finger at Rock and
grinning. "Make sure you got that turned on. Not to say I haven't got a few
tricks of my own but.. it'll help."
Rock rolls eyes slightly, 'Turn it on she says...I wish I could turn it off.'
but he just gives a thumbs up in response.
Talena nods and turns back to the door, knocking it open with a stilettoed foot
and stepping through just before it closes. "Time is money, babe!" She calls
back, reaching behind her with one hand to flip the door open for Rock before
she sets off down the street at a fast stride.
Talena strides boldly away, pulling some gum from her jacket pocket and tossing
a piece into the air. After catching it in her mouth, she turns to look at Rock
- who's hopefully catching up with her. "YYoou want gum?"
Rock is catching up just fine actually, and he watches the manoeuvre with only
slight interest, "No, thanks for the offer though."
Meanwhile a strange, incoherent sense of power emanates from either side of the
road, shadows flickering ominously in the alleyways.
Talena shrugs and spins around again, "'K.. it's just down here."
Rock pauses looking at both sides of the road, his ki flaring around his hands
slightly, "Wait...I sense something..."
The shadows begin to coalesce into shapes.. shambling figures moving out towards
the street.
Talena stops with a sigh, thrusting her hands deep into the pockets of her
distastefully coloured jacket. "You're kidding me. You up for a fight, because
if it's who I think it is this won't be easy." She glances left and right over
the tops of her shades, looking rather bored despite the intensity of the
moment.
Rock unzips the cuffs of his jacket sleeves, "Well that depends on if you know
of a shortcut or not."
Talena chews her gum patiently, giving a small shrug. "Kicking ass is usually a
pretty good shortcut. Er, hey, you ever see that movie...?"
Rock says, "Which one?" raises his hands, his Ki crackling around them
slightly...he'd never seen that happen before...He wasn't going to ask questions
though.
"Never mind, babe. You'll get what I mean." Talena shrugs again, turning to lean
against a lamppost as, from the alleyways to either side emerge a collection of
dark humanoid figures. Though it is hard to tell in the gloom and smog, there
seem to be about eight or nine of them, all taking various shapes and sizes.
Despite their physical differences, all are clad in the same uniform: simple
suits of loose black cloth, covering every inch of flesh on their bodies. At the
ankles and wrists these are rucked up around tightly wound bandages, some of
which are clean, some of which are greying or spattered with gore. On their
hands, they wear identical pairs of half-gauntlets that cover the back of the
hand and the fingers - leaving the palms exposed. These are fashioned from some
kind of high impact plastic, interlocking plates jointed to allow for flexible
movement. Some of the figures wear heavy shoulder-pads of a similar material,
but finally... and most disturbingly... ever single one of them is wearing a
smoothly textured black mask, strapped on tightly to their head and leaving not
a hint as to their true identities - even the hair has been cut, or more
accurately shaven, to a uniform length: and where eyes should be there are only
glowing red slits. They move with a shambling gait, though somehow remaining
totally silent and generating that strange, flickering aura of power...
Rock slowly steps back into a fighting stance, flexing his hands slightly.
Talena clears her throat with a little 'ahem', lifting her right hand to cover
her mouth. Meanwhile her left hand curls around behind her, closing over
something underneath the cover of her jacket. "Hey, er, Rocky? Wanna hint?"
Meanwhile the figures draw nearer, taking their time and giving no indication of
moving faster any time soon... though the aura seems to be strengthening.
Rock says, "Yeah sure." he glances over his shoulder slightly trying to keep the
enemies in front of him.
Talena gives one of her toothy grins, whipping her left hand around to point
something at one of the figures. There is one explosion of sound, quickly
followed by another, and the area is lit by muzzle flare. The creature hits the
ground in a shower of blood and chunks of heavy black material. Talena spins the
gun around her index finger, exclaiming, "Fire power, man!" Seeing one of their
number fallen, the remaining eight figures rush in at Rock... the first one
coming towards him with a hand extended - sprouting four-inch long talons with a
*snikt* and aiming the sharp points for the fighter's right cheek.
Rock steps to the side and drives a ki charged palm into the creature's face,
his wings spreading and then disappearing, he then steps back and delivers a
roundhouse to it's kidney...or well where the kidney on a human is at least.
The creature gives a guttural growl as the blow hits its mask. Rock might notice
how damned hard that black material is... something like hitting a brick wall.
Nonetheless, the mask shatters under the force of the ki. The thing drops to its
knees, or begins to when suddenly it takes the blow in its kidneys and collapses
forwards rather rapidly into the floor. Another immediately leaps over the
lifeless form, both hands sprouting talons and slashing out towards Rock's
chest.
Talena smirks and glances across, lifting her firearm and nonchalantly training
it on one of the advancing creatures. "Just yell if you need a hand, right?"
Rock raises his hands and catches the brute's hands but still is sent onto his
back. He pushed back up, "Speaking of which!"
Talena grins and spins the gun before ripping off two shots. She misses the face
this time, instead hammering one bullet into the side of the creature and
another into its leg. It staggers and drops to one knee before leaping towards
Rock in a superhuman display of speed. With no time to extend its claws, it aims
a regular punch for the fighter's cheek. "Oops.." Talena murmurs, glancing at
her gun as if -it- was the one that missed.
Meanwhile, the creature who Rock previously dodged turns and dashes towards
Talena with its talons extended.
Rock as it advances Rock pushes his arms forwards, and catches the creature,
flipping himself up, his foot comes down into the top of it's skull.
This cause a sizeable crack to appear in the creature's black mask, but it
doesn't split all the way. The foul thing gives a gurgling howl of rage and
struggles to rise to its feet. On Talena's side of things, she appears to be
nowhere to be found. The creature that was previously running towards her lies
in a pool of blood, but the girl has mysteriously vanished.
Rock grit his teeth, "Damn it.." he reared back and slammed his ki charged fist
into the creature's face hoping to shatter the mask. He looks around at the
remaining creatures.
And as Rock looks around he'll find two of the things lunging for him, a vicious
claws aimed at his neck and another at his stomach, even as the mask of the
previously struggling fiend cracks wide open... the thing tumbling dead to the
floor.
Rock and that's when the world seems to slow down for him, he feels something
well up, his Ki guiding his actions, he crosses his arms over his chest, "Raging
a..." when the two creatures are right at him he slams his hands into the
ground, Ki erupting in a vortex of destruction around his body, making his
jacket billow as if tossed by violent winds, "STOOOOOORM!"
Caught in the violent attack, the fiends are sent spiralling upwards with
gurgling screams, masks and shoulder-pads shattering into a thousand pieces. A
few seconds later, both bodies hit the ground with a dull thump.. blood running
thickly into the gutter.
Rock is hunched gasping for breath, hands resting on his thighs, he slowly
brings a hand in front of his face not knowing what he did. And then the Ki
welled up again, and his other hand grips it, he gasps heavily, 'Stop! STOP!'
and then the ki extinguishes from view and he can only gasp for air again.
Out of the field of Rock's vision, a couple more gunshots sound, followed by
several vicious tearing sounds and finally a wet thump.
Rock tenses and spins to look in the direction the gunshots came from.
Talena removes her foot from the head of the creature that made that last wet
thump. The ones Rock may have believed were not accounted for now lie scattered
about the street, wide gashes in their clothing and pools of gore surrounding
them. The crazily dressed girl grins as she tucks something away into the
waistband of her jeans. "You're pretty good, Rocky baby. Love the fireworks!"
She appears rather free of the blood that has been liberally scattered about the
scene.
Rock on the other hand has all the makings of waking up a bloodstained mess and
not knowing what happened only..he knows that he was the one he wreaked some of
the destruction, "...But...I've never done that attack before." pant, pant,
pant.
Talena gives the fallen fiend one last kick in the side before she makes her way
towards Rock, casually strolling through the devastation. "Well, then.." she
winks, "You'll be wanting some answers, right? And -that-, babe, is why we're
here."
Rock blinks, "I'd better...be getting some..." He finally catches his bath and
stands, "Lead the way."
Talena nods, pausing to flick her tongue up into the back of her mouth. A moment
later she is happily chewing gum once more. "Cool stuff. Makin' tracks once
more.." she spins on her stilettoed heels, waving a hand across the scene as she
strides past. "I'll get Ry to send someone down for this later. Wouldn't be the
first time."
Rock blinks, "Not...the first time?"
Talena glances at Rock over her shades. "Well, no.. I told you there were other
guys following you. These are those other guys. Since they haven't caught you
before, who d'ya think has dealt with them so far, huh?"
Rock says, "That makes sense...any idea who they are?"
Talena shrugs, "All will be explained, Rocky. Come on."
Rock says, "...Alright" follows after her, feeling suspicion begin to worm it's
way into his thoughts.
Talena leads the way into a small, seedy-looking block of offices, and up to the
third floor. Once there, she steps out and unlocks a door directly opposite the
elevator. "'K. This is Ry's office. He seems like a bit of a depressing guy at
first, but he's okay." She winks, "Don't piss him off too much and you'll be
fine." She then shoves open the door, revealing the perfectly pleasant, but
rather nondescript office room within...
Rock hmms and looks around. "And here I was thinking it was going to be some
grand majestic office."
Talena grins, "Nah. We're not that huge in Neo yet.. besides, wouldn't wanna
scare you to death. Go on in, babe.." She leans in a little ways, calling out
into the room. "Ry baby, Rocky's here to see ya!" Behind the desk, standing by
the window with his back to the door and looking out across NeoTokyo, is a tall,
muscular man in his mid-forties. Despite his bull neck and muscular build, he
holds himself like a man of grace and style, and is clad in an expensive
charcoal-black shirt, and a pair of comfortable black slacks. His hair is
naturally dark brown, but bleached blonde on top, neatly brushed back and
carefully styled into neat rippling waves.
Rock steps into the office all the way and stands in front of the desk examining
the man. Wait a minute...something familiar about that description.
Talena steps in behind Rock, leaning nonchalantly against the wall by the door.
She glances sidelong at Rock and gives him a reassuring grin and a thumbs up.
The man turns around a few moments later... his eyes glimmer with a savage
ferocity and the smile he gives in greeting is almost scarily wolfish. "Rock
Howard." He states, his voice somehow pitched halfway between an angry snarl and
a pleasant purr. He looks the young fighter up and down slowly before motioning
to a comfortable leather seat, placed in front of the long desk that dominates
the room. "Take a seat."
Rock narrows eyes and accepts the chair, settling into it slowly and
cautiously...that guy definitely makes something click, especially how he's
talking. And then it clicks...Ry..."Ryuji Yamazaki."
The Orochi-blooded criminal nods slowly, keeping his wild-eyed gaze fixed on
Rock. "Clever little wolf cub." He smirks, turning back to the window. Behind
him, Talena examines her long fingernails critically, glancing around a little
bored as Yamazaki makes his 'introductions'. "You've heard of me then, Howard?"
Rock says, "Well considering you and Terry have a long standing history? Yeah
I've heard of you. Hell I've seen a few pictures." Never mind the rumours
outside of what Terry had told him, "So let's cut to the chase, what do you want
from me? I know you and my mentor are hardly on good terms."
Yamazaki clenches his right hand into a tight fist, holding it up at his side.
"Bogard can wait. For now at least, my business here is not soaked in blood." He
fixes Rock's reflection with a steady glare, "My.. employer is rather excited at
your presence on this world."
Rock says, "Your employer...and that is who?" he taps a finger against the desk.
Yamazaki keeps his glare intently fixed. Nothing changes in his expression,
though slowly he curls and uncurls his fist. "My employer wishes to remain
anonymous. For the time being." He gives a dangerous smirk, "Though for some
reason they also wish to 'ease your passage' through life." He turns and looks
over to Talena, "Miss Heyorvai?" His tone is veering on the murderous as he
looks over to the brightly coloured young woman. She merely looks up, grins, and
then kicks off from the wall to stride happily over to the desk. "No prob, Bob.
You're a lucky guy, Rocky baby..."
Rock narrows his eyes, "Why's that? You plan on killing me?"
Yamazaki snorts bitterly, "Regrettably not. Someone has big plans for you,
Howard. Why they have big plans for a traitor..." he shakes his head, glare
becoming even more murderous as he leans in towards Rock. "If I had my way you'd
be a bloody smear already."
Rock tilts his head, "Traitor? To what? If you're talkin' about Geese, I'll have
you know I'd rather have been the one to kill him, so I'm not really missing the
bastard."
Yamazaki sneers, eyes beginning to narrow. Talena blinks at the man, calmly
lifting a hand to tip her shades a little further down. She shakes her head and
then reaches up to unzip her jacket. "Like I was saying.. wish I was in your
shoes. Someone loves you to the ends of this and every other earth. Check this
out, babe." She pulls out a metal case, and cheerfully hands it to the young
fighter.
Rock says, "Eh?" takes the metal case and looks it over, before setting it on
the table and hesitantly opening it.
And inside is a -thick- wad of notes. Yamazaki spins back to face the window,
fist still steadily curling and uncurling. "All this for a treacherous streak of
dirt." He snarls out into the night sky. Talena, meanwhile, grins and waves a
hand towards the case. "If you count 'em up, there's a good ten thousand credits
in there."
Rock stares at it and closes it, "Who would...why...?"
Talena gives a casual shrug, "Like I say, I'd tell you but orders are orders.
Though if you ask me, I think someone's starting to feel a whole lot of pent-up
guilt..." Yamazaki snorts and adds nothing further to this.
Rock his hand reaches in and takes some of the notes and shuffles through them
and then places them back inside and closes the case again, "I..."
Talena grins, "You what?" She leans back against the desk, kicking her legs out
in front of her and reclining with her elbows propped on the shiny wooden
surface. "I figure if you got that job you've been wanting, that's maybe - what?
Like, a year's wages. Am I right?"
Rock looks down at the case, "Maybe a little more." he looks at the case and
sighs, "Tell whoever it's from I say thank you and hope to meet him some day so
I can get some questions answered."
Talena glances at the silently staring Yamazaki for a moment, then shrugs and
does his job for him. "Hey, that's our job. This was just his way of making
contact - seeing you're alright and stuff. Um.." she chews her gum quietly for a
moment, "There's just one other thing, babe..."
Rock asks, "Which is?"
Talena holds up a single finger on her left hand, "One itty bitty condition to
all of this. Until Ry's big bad says so, we don't want a word to the surrogate
pop. 'K?"
Rock nods slowly, "Alright...besides there's a lot of stuff Terry doesn't know
about me anyway..."
Talena grins, "Cool! He'll know in time but, the whole thang with him and Ry.."
she waves her hand towards the silent assassin. "Y'know, it's not good to stir
that up. Ry's barely holding the fury in check himself, those two go -way-
back.. so not a word for now. We'll let Tez know as and when." She stands up,
zipping her jacket back up. She was wearing a black t-shirt underneath by the
way... "That it.. you don't wanna tell him anything else?" She asks, looking
over towards Yamazaki. The man gives a single grunt in reply.
Rock asks, "...What about those things that ambushed us huh?"
At that Yamazaki finally speaks again, "Your benefactor.. my employer.. has a
rival in this city. Someone who would, like me, rather see you dead than have
you realise your potential." He turns around slowly, eyes flashing with barely
contained malice. "Those things are his. I judge by your condition that you
faced some already?" Talena nods. Yamazaki slowly grins, "Then you can handle
yourself. Any that Talena doesn't find before they can reach you, I'm sure you
can deal with. As to what they are..." he tails off, turning back to the window
again.
Rock says, "I see...well...I don't know why you care to hate me so much, but if
you're benefactor is keeping you from ripping me to shreds he must be someone
powerful and that even you're afraid of so...anyway. If you've got nothing else
to say." he picks up the case and tucks it in his jacket.
Talena clears her throat softly. "What Ry means to say is, we don't actually
know what they are yet. Soon as we can figure it out, we'll let you know... far
as I can tell they're human so.. don't worry about it." She gives a small,
reassuring grin. "I'll walk you back, just in case huh?"
Rock says, "Fine with me." he adjusts his jacket and stands.
Yamazaki looks up and over at Rock's reflection as the young man stands. "And
Howard?" He grins wolfishly, "Don't get killed on us. If you die, there's hell
to pay, and I don't want to be the one with the debt. Now get out of here.
You'll be sent for when you're wanted again."
Rock hmms and nods slowly, "If you say so." He slowly turns away and begins to
walk out of the room.
Talena nods slowly, "'K. Back in a mo, Ry." She lifts a hand in a cheerful wave
to Yamazaki before striding past Rock and towards the door. "Let's make tracks
again. Better get you back before another pack of chimps comes howling for your
blood."
Rock says, "Good point."
Talena leads the way back to the centre of town, both hands thrust into her
jacket pockets and eyes flitting back and forth across the street. Outside the
Usual, she stops and grins over at Rock. "Well, that was a darn sight easier
than last time, huh?"
Rock nods, "You're telling me."
Talena extends her left hand, the one without the spiked sheath-ring. "Good to
meetcha after the last two months. You're a pretty cool guy, anyone tell you
that?"
Rock looks at it confused and extends his own left hand to shake, "A few have.
Heh."
Talena nods, giving a broad toothy grin. "I'll bet. Er, by the way, I guess you
caught my last name back at the HQ but my first name's Talena." She makes a
face, "Though, er, my friends call me Talon!" As if to illustrate this, she
raises her right hand and wiggles the middle finger. "See?"
Rock resists the urge to facepalm, and instead just smirks, "Yeah I get it.
Clever."
Talena's grin returns, broader than ever. "Well, clever in a kinda stupid way.
Actually, I was called Talon before I got the little ripper here but better to
have a visual aid am I right?" She doesn't wait for a reply to this, but gives a
loose shrug as she shoves her hands back into her jacket. "Anyway, I'll make
tracks back and face the wrath o' Ry. Good luck in the tournament, huh?"
Rock says, "Yeah thanks. I'll need it since I don't know the guy I'm going up
against."
Talena smirks, "Ah, can it. With crazy moves like that thingy you did back
there, you're bound to know 'em dead Rocky baby." She strides past him with a
wink, heading off back the way they came. "Next time we meet there'll be
answers. Promise."
Rock nods, "Good, cause I'm beginning to hate all the riddles."
Talena glances over her shoulder with a grin, waves a hand and then carries on
striding away... a blur of pink and purple disappearing down the dark street.
Rock sighs quietly to himself and leans up against a nearby wall. Thinking to
himself.
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