Distorted Spiral: The Whirlpool Design, pt. 1
WHO: Master Asia, Simon, Nia, Aya Kobayashi, Nono, Duo Maxwell, Kazuma Torisuma, Superman, Shin Matsunaga, Isa Reichert, Viral, and a special guest star.
WHAT: The Undefeated of the East presents Simon with an ultimatum: give him Nia, or he'll kill everyone in Kamina City. His objectives behind the threat are even worse than everyone thinks, to the point that even the Divine Crusaders cut him off.
WHERE: Kamina City, the Spiral Planet
WHEN: December 21, 2007 - five years before the end of the world, if you listen to the Mayan calendar.
WATCH FOR: Schrödinger waveforms, epic clone wars, the Superman-Batman combination mech, Viral landing four crits in a row, Shining Drills, giant spaceship drills, a whole lot of drills going everywhere exploding everything, and Nono Getting Pissed. Whew!
P.S. Nia, Isa Reichert and Aya Kobayashi need tags!
The sun is setting in the western skies, yet the East still burns as he enters Kamina City.
Toho Fuhai moves quietly through the streets of the Spiral capital, his distinctive features and clothing concealed by a thick hooded cloak. He is accompanied by a slimmer, slightly taller figure who walks slightly behind him and to his right. The second figure's head turns frequently as he scans the streets, the expression on his face concealed by the shadows beneath his hood.
"Familiar?" Master Asia rumbles in his deep baritone. His ally turns toward the martial artist and shakes his head slowly. "Unsurprising," the old man comments. "Come. There is something I wish to show you before we begin."
The two cloaked men continue walking toward the centre of Kamina City. And the plaza where its namesake points to the heavens.
Viral says, "...did they ever get the statue back?"
Master Asia says, "Presumably? I only dumped it in the ocean."
Viral says, "Well, there was also the Master's tooling around with it."
Master Asia says, "If they didn't I'll roll with it in the next pose and blame Alzheimer's."
Shin Matsunaga says, "I seem to have missed a few things. :("
Viral says, "/Way/ back, the Master stole the Kamina statue, and didn't report it until a week later when he realized he forgot to do so."
Viral says, "So it didn't get a lot of press."
Simon says, "I am... honestly unsure."
Simon, the digger, is sitting in a cafe in downtown Kamina City. The man is slumped back over a chair, arm slung over the chair next to him. He looks relaxed - happy, and indeed, content. He has just finished a nice meal, consisting of a large sub, and has a grin plastered on his face.
Kittan, too, stares off - in what one could only call a food daze. He licks his lips, and then idly wipes his hand with the back of his mouth.
Rossiu, on the other hand, has a frown on his lips - especially at Kittan's poor table manners. "Well," the man says, stiff-lipped and serious as always. "This was productive. The Dai-Tattemen will be operational by the beginning of the New Year."
"Good!" Simon declares. He pauses, for a moment; his eyes drift to two hooded men. One seems... familiar - and not in that way that he has seen him before. Rather, there is something about him. He shakes his head, looking away and back at the rest of his crew.
The woman sitting at the table displays perfect table manners, her plate somehow /clean/ despite her having polished off an order of spaghetti. Her napkin has been folded into a perfect triangle, as well, in a manner a little too fancy for this resturaunt. It just seemed to Nia to be a nice thing to do.
"Don't work too hard during the holiday," she adds. "You need time to relax as well, Rossiu! I wouldn't want to see you get sick from stress. Still, we appreciate the hard work!" She seems to be unaware of the hooded figures. Everything about her stands out even to normal passerby-the iridescent, shimmering hair, the entirely-too-polite speaking mannerisms, the jingle of her bracelets and those unusual pink-jewel blossom eyes.
Toho Fuhai continues down the main drag, brushing past humans and Beastmen alike with nary a glance at any of them. From his conversations with Lord Genome, the old man has learned what he needed to know - that only humans have the potential for the power he seeks, and of the humans only a select few can manifest that power.
Which narrows the old man's options to two possible candidates.
The martial artist stops before the Schrödinger waveform that exists where the statue of Kamina is or is not. He pointedly does not look at it in order to avoid collapsing the waveform of its demiexistence. Quantum states are powerful things indeed.
"Stay back," Master Asia growls as he pushes back his hood, deeming it the fastest way to get what he wants - attention. "Do not speak until I command you." The other figure nods stiffly, and the old man smiles, activating his radio.
Master Asia says, "Digger Simon. This is the Undefeated of the East."
Master Asia says, "We need must speak. Now."
Invader Zim says, "Bah! Undefeateds are only undefeateds untill they have been defeated by ZIM!"
Ben Tennyson says, "..."
Master Asia says, "Silence, cretin. I have no time for you."
Simon says, "I'm listening."
Invader Zim says, "I am no cretin! I AM ZIM!"
Viral hnnh.
Invader Zim says, "I don't even HAVE thyroid hormones!"
Master Asia says, "In public? Ah, very well then."
Shin Matsunaga is quiet. Probably just listening.
Master Asia says, "You have three minutes to bring Lord Genome's daughter or the flame-haired warrior woman to the centre of your city. Failure to do so will result in the destruction of every human on your world."
Master Asia says, "Your time begins...now."
Ben Tennyson says, "... That sounds bad."
Viral says, "..."
Invader Zim says, "Hey, that's my job!"
Shin Matsunaga says, "...Master Asia, what the hell are you doing?"
Wraith: Isa Reichert transmits various jet noises. Systems check, most likely. And the occasional shouted order/bantering with crew.
Ben Tennyson says, "What? Sounding bad?"
Viral says, "I have to second this question."
Master Asia says, "What I must to save my world."
Simon says, "..."
Invader Zim says, "Destroying humans!"
Nia says, "..."
Simon says, "Undefeated of the East, is it?"
Shin Matsunaga says, "By committing genocide in another?"
Shin Matsunaga says, "Stand down, Master Asia. That's an order."
Nono, in true Nono fashion, is here to watch the birds and marvel at the blue sky.
Most times, Nono would take advantage of being able to fly and teleport and having a somewhat cavalier attitude toward airspace control laws, and be watching from a nice picnic blanket laid out on top of the capitol building, also known as Dekabutsu.
But at the moment, Nono is actually spending time like all the other outdoor-lovers of Kamina City - lounging on the grass of the central park, clad in her usual casual ensemble of a baggy purple blouse and a pair of blue jeans Larc bought her after getting flashed for the ninety-seventh time by Nono's favorite too-small skirt.
She looks up, a little bleery-eyed from staring into the sky, as two cloaked men wander into the square - but cloaks are not that uncommon in a place like Kamina City, where rugged men wander in from the badlands often. Nono is about to go back to half-dozing, half-birdwatching, when one of them puts back his hood.
"Toho...Fuhai...?" Nono mutters.
And then the Citizen's Band kicks up, and her eyes narrow. "What...?"
Duo Maxwell says, "This is starting to sound like the plot of a bad sci-fi film."
Simon says, "You show up... You threaten to kill my people... You try to hurt my friends... and then you think you're gonna get away with it."
Master Asia says, "I must respectfully decline, Matsunaga. Some things a man must do."
Invader Zim says, "I do that a lot. Filthy humans let me get away with it all the time."
Duo Maxwell says, "And I'm in the middle of it."
Master Asia says, "And no, Digger. I threaten nothing. I simply make statements."
Master Asia says, "Should you wish to discuss the matter, you know where to find me."
Shin Matsunaga breathes out through his teeth. "Last chance, Master Asia. I /order/ you to stand down. We'll find some other way to solve your problems - some way that doesn't involve mass murder."
Simon says, "Hn... All right. I'll be /right/ there."
Viral says, "Simon."
Simon says, "Eh, Viral?"
Viral says, "--no, not here."
[RADIO] To Simon, Viral radios: Do you remember what I mentioned to you the other day?
Master Asia says, "Your offer is kind. But the difficulty is that you do not understand my problem. Or its solution."
Kazuma Torisuma says, "...someone care to give me a rundown on what is happening out there?"
[RADIO] To Viral, Simon radios: ...Yeah. Yeah, I do.
[RADIO] To Simon, Viral radios: I suggest you keep that in mind.
Invader Zim says, "What is a Viral? Isn't that one of your filthy human sicknesses?"
Alphonse Elric says, "That's 'virus.'"
Shin Matsunaga says, "Seems Master Asia's decided to join the Insane Nutjobs Division. Don't have the specifics yet."
Shin Matsunaga barks, "Would you cretins /shut/ /up?!/"
Alphonse Elric uwahs.
Invader Zim says, "I am not a cretin!"
Invader Zim says, "I don't even have thyroid hormones!"
Alphonse Elric says, "Ah...I'm sorry if we're messing up your concentration, but really."
Viral says, "And once you have one of those women, then what?"
Master Asia says, "Then, Viral, my broken world shall be restored."
Viral says, "How?"
Shin Matsunaga says, "Explain."
Master Asia says, "The Devil Gundam requires a female core to power the world restoration."
Shin Matsunaga says, "And what exactly does this restoration entail, beyond using a human being as a battery?"
Master Asia says, "The Gundam's nanomachines shall spread across the planet, terraforming it into a pristine world, untouched by man."
Master Asia says, "Into Eden, if you will."
Shin Matsunaga says, "Untouched by man? And what happens to the people who live there?"
"Mm... I shall do my best, Lady Nia," Rossiu says, with a smile. The men - all of them - fall silent, as they hear things over the radio. Grim tidings, to say the least. All of them stand; Rossiu's face is painted with worry, as he sees the terrible state that Kamina City has fallen into. Kittan looks grim, but determined.
He looks at Simon - the two men's eyes lock, and both nod, before Kittan departs. Simon whirls, then, his command coat fluttering after him. "Heh... looks like that's my cue, Rossiu. Nia... you get somewhere safe."
"Commander...!" Rossiu shouts after him. The black-haired man stairs. "Commander-- Simon! Don't! It's... you know it's not safe...!!"
Simon walks onward, eyes forward. Rossiu's widen, and he picks up his radio. He speaks into it, quietly. "All units... all units, prepare to sortie! The enemy is at our gates!"
Master Asia laughs. "They shall become one with Mother Earth."
Viral says, "...They'll return to the soil, eh?"
Master Asia says, "Yes."
Viral tch.
Shin Matsunaga says, "...So in short, you're going to plug the girl into this Devil Gundam and purge the planet of humanity."
Master Asia says, "Indeed. And then once my task is finally complete, my life too will end. And the Devil Gundam will sustain the planet and its inhabitants for all eternity."
Master Asia says, "Sheer perfection."
Viral says, "I can see now why you got along with Lordgenome."
Viral says, "The two of you are...alike."
Shin Matsunaga breathes out through his teeth.
Master Asia says, "With age comes wisdom. The Helix King and I have both lived far too long."
Wraith: Isa Reichert mutters a sharp spate of something that sounds like Russian. If anyone knows it, it equates roughly to "damned crazy fool."
Shin Matsunaga says, "That's all I needed to hear."
Viral coldly, "I'm aware."
Shin Matsunaga says, "Comm Central, disconnect Master Asia."
Master Asia's signal crackles out.
Para-Dice says, "Meooooow, what? What is it nooooooooooooooooooow?!"
Shin Matsunaga sounds very angry. "All available units to your stations. We're going to Kamina City. If Master Asia thinks he can get away with this he's sorely mistaken."
Shin Matsunaga says, "OOC: Go for it."
Viral says, "Already on the way."
Para-Dice says, "Get away with WHAT? I almost beat my high score!"
Wraith: Isa Reichert, over a jet engine powering up, "Geist Squadron. We are on our way."
Viral says, "In short, the Undefeated of the East wants to kill all the humans in his world."
Nia stands up immediately upon hearing the radio, a serious, stern frown on the princess's face. She despises the idea that her survival must be weighed against that of the city itself. "Simon, he is going to try to use this against you. If he is determined to take me or find Miss Yoko for some reason, he will try to tear through the city to do so. You cannot let him! If it becomes necessary, I will face him myself." Doing so, however, would be foolish at the time; she has no reason to trust Master Asia.
"Everyone! We must evacuate. I will help the citizens evacuate as I find safety myself." She begins to do just that for the ordinary citizens in the diner. Nono might catch a glimpse of shimmer in the crowds that begin pouring out.
Somewhere several planes away, the battle carrier Kogane navigates deftly through some sort of asteroid field, somehow not getting pummeled into dust as space rocks bounce harmlessly off of the ship's E-field. Gun turrets turn every now and then to blast some of the larger fragments into powder.
"Turret three, incoming bearing forty-one mark twenty-six," Shin lets one of his officers know. A moment later, a silent burst of gunfire pulverizes a slow-moving space rock heading towards the ship. "Nice shooting," the soldier commends the junior officer. "Looks like we're clearing the field...."
And then the radio transmissions begin.
"...Master Asia, what the /hell/ are you doing?"
He mutters a few things into the radio, a dark scowl beginning to etch across his face. Viral had warned him, but he'd thought the beastman's suspicions to be the result of not knowing the man well. Seems he may have been wrong, he reflects. Master Asia - one of the Crusaders who'd fought by his side against the STMC, now showing his true colours?
His right hand closes into a fist, and he bolts to his feet. "Helm," he barks, "course change. Make for the Gate. We're going to Kamina City."
With a darkening expression, he adds in a growl, "And register a new threat entry - for Master Asia."
Para-Dice says, "Oh? That's it? Well okay. Meooow, gonna get my high scooree~!"
Viral has been suspicious of Master Asia for a while now, to the point where he'd told Shin and Kazuma to keep an eye out for him. It wasn't based on anything more solid than a strong feeling--one might even call it paranoia, since it started when Master Asia offered his assistance to Lordgenome in exchange for 'something he needed.' But it was at that point that Viral realized that Master Asia reminded him of the Spiral King, and Viral has been given many good reasons to not trust his creator.
So when this talk started, he'd already gone to Enkiduran and gotten ready to head out; by the time that Shin is ordering the Kogane towards Kamina City, Viral is nearly already there, features grim. Perhaps Kamina City is Simon's problem, but Master Asia is his--and damned if Viral is going to turn his back and ignore this.
"I knew it," he mutters to himself, golden eyes sharp on the city at the edge of his radar scanners. "Damn it...!"
Shin Matsunaga says, "...Simon may not be a friend, but avoid damage to Kamina City when we arrive. We're not in the business of killing civilians." He breathes out through his teeth in irritation, then mutters, "Damn it, Master Asia...."
Viral says, "Agreed. It would be pointless to carry out his ultimatum for him."
It was because of Viral's warning that Kazuma was actually not all that surprised to hear about what was going on. After all, the Beastman had been good about providing intel on problems before, and it seemed that he had been right again. Truth be told, Kazuma actually didn't know all that much about Master Asia. The man had kept to himself, and the Divine Crusaders had been a more independent arm of the Syndicate for a while.
A bolt of gold erupts out of the Gate behind the Kogane, looking around for a moment before finally lancing down and landing heavily on the deck, the burning golden aura dissipating from around Kazuma. He stops and turns around, his right arm encased in the heavier form of his second Alter stage, and he looks back towards the bridge.
Not much needs to be said. They're here for answers, and after that... after that, they'd do what needs to be done.
Kazuma Torisuma switches armor modes to Second Stage.
Three jets race towards the glistening spires of Kamina City, from the direction of the Gate nearest the city limits. There is no radio chatter from them, and no banter between themselves. The pilots are silent, grim at their controls as they guide their path towards the city.
There's little to be done, but perhaps they can offer their support in this battle, because even they have to agree that genocide is a bad thing.
All three pilots pay attention to their instrumentation, and they streak over the outskirts of the city with a thunderous roar of jet engines and, a short distance behind them, white contrails tracing their wingtips.
"Geist Squadron." The three black-and-silver Fulcrums bank, turning to fly a wide arc around the outskirts of Kamina City. "We are over city outskirts." Isa Reichert's voice is flat, and she sounds a mite displeased. "Standing by until further orders. We do not yet see anything on radar," she adds.
Wraith: Isa Reichert says, "Geist Squadron. We are over city outskirts." Her voice is flat, and she sounds a mite displeased. "Standing by until further orders. We do not yet see anything on radar."
"Look, up in the sky!" Some sort of strangely attractive walrus-woman says, pointing.
"How is that..." A frizzy haired human shakes his head, looking at his bald mole-mustached best pal. "Anyway, that's totally an ice menorah."
"Dude, that doesn't even make sense." Said bald man retorts, pulling a large, old fashioned telescope out of his coat and peering at the sky. "Oh damn, the white man's finally learned to fly! Get the jet packs!"
The frizzy haired man looks confused, "...can I fly, Chocolate Bear?"
"...why don't you try, 'nilla wafer. Why don't you try."
"Those two are just an adorable couple." Superman says, walking out of a nearby third story window and finishing his flying leap to the ground, sliding around the street and coming to a stop in front of the rogue martial artist and giant robot pilot. Which seems a bit unfair. Sort of like Batman, but evil.
The Man of Steel can't keep a smile off of his face for a second, before putting one hand on his hip and holding the other out crossing guard style. "Halt!" Superman says, meeting the man in the eye. He's mildly confused as to why the Syndicate isn't backing up what looks like a standard raid, but figures it has something to do with his theory...
Kazuma Torisuma says, "I'm here to have a word with Master Asia. We'll see what he wants here."
Shin Matsunaga says, "Keep your eyes open, Geist One. I have a bad feeling about this."
Shin Matsunaga's voice is flat. "I know what he wants. He wants a girl to power his new toy, so he can kill every human on his Earth."
Wraith: Isa Reichert chuckles, dryly. "Eye, Captain."
Kazuma Torisuma says, "You got that in the clear, Shin?"
Viral says, "He said so himself."
Shin Matsunaga says, "From the horse's mouth."
Isa Reichert says, "/Da/. They speak truth."
Haruko Haruhara says, "Well that's kinda rude."
Viral says, "Remember when I told you I had a bad feeling about him, Kazuma?"
Wraith: Isa Reichert says, "And I will watch. Something does not feel right. What is the saying... calm before the storm, /da/?"
Kazuma Torisuma says, "...right then."
Viral says, "The reason I said that was because he reminded me of Lordgenome." He growls. "...looks like I assessed him correctly."
Kazuma Torisuma says, "You guys know the rules around here. We're willing to tolerate a lot here."
Kazuma Torisuma says, "The line's about a mile behind Master Asia."
There was profit to be made in Kamina City for an experienced salvager. Word was that there were literally tons of scrap leftover from the first Spiral war as well as the other battles that have plagued the city in recent weeks. A good sweeper could make a nice profit off of the scraps, let alone what they could piece together from the leftovers of war.
Hence the presence of a young braided teenager in black clothing picking his way through a pile in one of the town's scrapyards. He wasn't alone, there were other men with welding torches and backloaders taking what they could, lead by a graying man dressed in a loud Hawaiian shirt and bermuda shorts. "Man, this place gives me the creeps," he wheezes. "All those faces up in those buildings, all those odd guys walking around half-man half-animal, its a carnival of the wierd." "Eh, once you've been around the block a few times, Howard, you'll get used to it." The cherubic teenager walks up to him, a long section of pipe slung over a shoulder. He nudges the elder in the side, "And where else are you going to find real-life bunny girls, huh-"
The kid's smile disappears in an instant. The graybeard lowers his shades, noticing his partner's raising of a hand to his earbud. "Something up with your Mithril buddies, Duo?" "No, something's up here. Of all the times..." With a groan, Duo waves his hands in the air frantically to get the salvagers' attention. "Everybody! Clean up as fast as you can and head for the Gate! It looks like this town's gonna host yet another unnatural disaster." "And what about you?", the elder asks.
"Don't worry about me," the kid answers as his smile returns. His eyes dart over to where something large and ominous sits hidden on a flatbed. "This God of Death's been on the sidelines too long. I've got a backlog to catch up on."
Aya had, admittedly, heard a few things about Master Asia. Snippets of things from old reports on the Divine Crusaders (or not-Divine Crusader as it were now). Regardless, Aya's wary of showing up in the R-3, especially if Master Asia can easily take it on foot. As small and agile it is, fighting an adept human-sized opponent is out of the question.
It is for this reason that Aya shows up on foot, her efforts focused on assisting in the evacuation rather than fighting.
As the situation rapidly decays, with superbeings descending from every quarter, Nono stands upright.
Didn't he always talk about protecting the Earth? He always seemed so concerned...and when Nono told him about the STMC, so long ago, he outright flipped his elegant Oriental wig.
She doesn't understand. Doesn't get it at all.
But she can't stand idly by, so when Superman appears, and the Syndicate begins swarming, and Rossiu orders a scramble, and Nia calls for her aid - Nono does what she knows she has to.
A bright red light shines in her star-shaped pupils, filling the entire blackness with radiance. Nono rises up, and moves in the direction she thinks Nia is in. She was asked to help protect her and the people she was guarding...so she will, for the moment, allow the fighters to face the Undefeated of the East.
Nono switches armor modes to Topless.
Master Asia stands resolute in the central plaza, his back to the waveform, his eyes scanning the area. A soft smile slides onto his face as the Divine Crusaders - and through them the Syndicate - cut the old man loose. "A pity," he rumbles softly. Unfortunate...but not unexpected. "So my time with my allies is done," he says in his booming baritone as he turns toward Simon - he can /sense/ the Digger's approach, so powerful is the Spiral Warrior's rage. So focused.
He would have made an excellent King of Hearts.
"So you've come," Toho Fuhai says, his smile vanishing from his face as he sees the Digger moving forward unescorted. "And you come alone...bold as always. Bold....but foolish." The martial artist's face turns angry as he sees Superman's approach. "Or perhaps you do not come alone - a pleasure as always, Man of Steel." The old man clears his throat. "I have no time for games. Your allies arrive, as do my former ones. And yet you do not bring me what I desire." Master Asia nods. "Not unexpected. So be it."
The Undefeated of the East turns his back on Simon, then....pauses for an instant. "But before I leave, Digger, to carry out the promise I just made, there is a small matter of some...pressing business that must be attended to." He smiles at the second cloaked figure beside him. "You have your chance...destroy him. Destroy them all." Master Asia begins to walk away, reaching for his commlink. "Neo Hong Kong forces - attack."
Syndicate and IPA aerial forces will suddenly detect a mass of unfriendly IFF signals approaching at a rapid rate of speed from the east of the city. It seems as though he did /not/ come alone after all.
Kamon has connected.
There is a low, disturbing chuckle as the hooded figure steps forth. What makes it even more disturbing is it sounds.... so familiar. "I thought you might have been smarter than that..." What? That voice! It's...
With a flourish, the hood is drawn back and the cloak cast aside to flow freely in the wind. The figure is lithe and muscled, his facial features sharp, but wide-eyed. His hair is a distinctive blended shade of blue... Familiar indeed. He wears no shirt or jacket, the cloak billowing out behind him in a flared sweep. Upon each wrist are bands of an odd black metal, etched with odd circular patterns. He wears a pair of loose black pants and slippers in the style of his Master.
"After all, you're one of the originals, aren't you?" He laughs, a deeply disturbed sound that echoes through the area. He falls into an unarmed battle stance, a sneer across is face. "But I haven't even introduced myself? My name... is Kamon. A pleasure to meet you. But now... You will pay for disturbing the Master."
---------------------------------- WARNING! ----------------------------------
- KAMON -
- THE DISTORTED SPIRAL -
----------------------------- PREPARE FOR BATTLE! ----------------------------
Simon crosses his arms over his chest. The man looks defiant - resolute, determined to stand against this threat. He swallows, as he looks at Toho Fuhai. His eyes narrow, slowly, as he hears this - and he looks up at him. His eyes turn, then, to the cloaked man. His eyes narrow slowly, then, as he begins to wonder.
Something /is/ familiar about that one. He swallows, and then his eyes widen sharply. The man who throws his cloak off is very familiar, and yet he cannot fully place it. "Undefeated of the East... I'm not sure what the /hell/ you're thinking," he says, before looking at Kamon, "and I don't know who you are. But, you've come into my city, to my world, to kill everything I love..."
He raises a fist into the air, and throws back his own blue coat. It falls away in a flourish, pooling on the ground below him. "Gurren-Lagann!!" he snarls. The ground behind him shudders - there's a mechanical creak, and a red blur. The massive Gunmen flies into the air, and comes crashing down in the plaza. The ground creaks and groans, as it stands tall - immense, glittering, wonderful. The crest on its head glimmers.
"I have one question for both of you bastards..." Simon's angered expression turns into that familiar, hungry grin. "WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK I AM?!"
Sprinting through the Kogane's long corridors, Shin makes pretty good time in reaching the Kogane's main hangar. Leaping into the cockpit of the broad-shouldered white mobile suit waiting for him, he runs through the startup sequence almost mechanically, much of his focus drawn inward towards his anger - anger both at Master Asia and himself. (First Kamina, then Maxwell, and now Fuhai. What the hell am I doing wrong? --No. This isn't my fault, and Master Asia will pay.)
The hangar doors open before him, revealing first the distorted ripple of a Gate, then a flash of transition giving way to the clear skies of the World of Spirals. Immediately the ReGelg's sensor board comes to life, filled with blips and pings that indicate the presence of hostile mobile suits coming in from the east. He scowls; clearly the 'Master' brought some backup.
"Crusader One to all units, both DC and IPA-aligned," says Shin, his voice coming harshly through his comm pickup. "We're picking up enemy forces coming from the east. Any units within range, I suggest you intercept."
With a tap of a key he switches to the Kogane's commline. "Bridge, get course towards those enemy units and prepare for support firing. Mobile units, take the lead. Crusader One, ready for launch!"
An affirmative ping comes back - and with a loud clunk the launch catapult truggers, sending the pearly-white ReGelg shooting off of the Kogane's deck like a shining star into the night. Blue-white drive trails streak behind the modified Gelgoog as it goes shooting towards the Hong Kong army at high speeds.
With narrowed eyes and a clenched jaw Matsunaga lays in a firing pattern from range. Missiles erupt from the eight tubes on the ReGelg's backpack, streaking towards the collection of enemy Zakus in a fiery cloud. He doesn't even bother to banter; he's too annoyed.
Shin Matsunaga misses Master Asia with his Itano Circus jab.
Kazuma Torisuma says, "Seems that Master Asia is going to play hard ball here."
Viral says, "..."
Those above and below may be able to spot Princess Nia among the crowds, if they happen to look hard enough. Her hair stands out, if nothing else, and she is rather visibly directing crowds even as she /attempts/ to be inconspicuous. There's a reason she has asked of Nono to be her bodyguard. The princess gives Nono a thankful look, hanging near her as she helps a young girl run towards her mother.
She gives orders over the radio. "Miss Nono, Miss Aya, we must keep the citizens away from this battle. It is likely to end quite violently, with a great amount of destruction even if Simon does try to hold back. And I suspect...he will not try to hold back." She may not be able to see that vicious battle grin, but she knows it's there.
"Simon, everyone, please, triumph!"
"I'm sorry to say it's not mutu-" Superman stops. Why?
Because there's a twisted monster clone of two of his friends lurking, Bizarro-like, in front of him, and Clark can HEAR the screams of a frillion yaoi fangirls squeeling in terrible, terrible joy! It racks his body, sending the Man of Steel back a stumbling step, gasping at the incoming legions. "Fiend!" Superman manages to say, "To try and create life just to use as some sort of weapon?! I have no choice..." And Superman speaks into his signal-watch. "Toyman Junior!"
"Why," A thirteen year old Japanese boy on the other line whiles, "Am I /junior/?"
"Because I can lift an elephant over my head." Superman explains grimly. "Now call in the you know what."
"Really?! You're going to use it?!"
Superman sighs the moan of a desperate man. "Yes. I don't have a choice."
The Terrific Toyman (Junior!) claps his hands together, kicking his heels up and spinning around in his chair. Little Toushiro's...talented help bounces behind him. "Allright, ladies!" Toyman says, grinning, "Time to make this sucka fly!"
"Right, this'll be a minute." Superman explains again, proceding to pick a manhole cover up and hurl it, discus style, at the back of Master Asia's head. "Also, stop being a big genocidal jerk! Seriously, cut it out!"
Superman misses Master Asia with his He Got This From The Junior Woodchuck Guide jab.
"I'm not sure what he has in mind, but if it's up to no good, then we need to do something about it," Kazuma comments, although its more to himself than anyone else. Shin knows how to fight his ship, and his squadron. Viral can handle himself, as could Isa. Which meant that in the end, Kazuma could just... enjoy the fight.
The large blade on his back spinning up, Kazuma launches himself off towards the forces that Master Asia has summoned to support his assault. He'll work his way over to the Undefeated of the East, because he wants to have a word with the man...
In the meantime, Kazuma aims to land on top of one of the robots in the attacking forces, pulling his right hand back, his Alter pulling air in and converting it into kinetic energy... and he tries to smash the robot backwards into another one nearby.
Kazuma Torisuma hits Master Asia with his Push em back, push em back, way back attack.
"Yes!" Nono chimes, looking back just in time to see Gurren Lagann ARISE FROM THE SOUL OF THE WORLD.
"Coooooool," she murmurs. "Nono can't do that." Well, yes, she can, but warping giant monsters into the Earth's crust is probably on the Don't Do That list.
Nono squeeks as a little boy trips behind her, and says, "Ah! No, don't fall!" before reaching down to scoop the kid up and plant him firmly on her shoulders. "Don't worry! Nono will protect you!" she declares, and then skitters a little faster to keep up with the motion of the crowd. "Niaaa! Are there shelters?" Please say there are shelters. Nono could get the army here to evacuate but it wouldn't be NEARLY fast enough...and the Buster Legion doesn't really have any units designed to carry /people/...
Kazuma Torisuma obviously hasn't seen Kamon yet. "I'd have expected Master Asia to have some sort of trick up his sleeve - Kamina City isn't really a 'soft' target."
Shin Matsunaga says, "He mentioned something called a Devil Gundam. I'm expecting that will show up."
Entering the city from the air and approaching the place where the Kamina City statue may or may not be means that Viral has the opportunity to see and hear all that goes on at the tail of Master Asia's statements to Simon--and the unveiling of his companion, who names himself Kamon.
Viral doesn't get it at first, but he halts in midair, stunned at how much this Kamon resembles the humans he'd fought against so desperately during his time as a soldier of the Capitol. The fact that the start of it sounds like Kamina tips him off further, and the way he stands... But no, it can't be, how could he--?
Viral's breath catches in his throat, and his golden eyes widen, as he recalls the first time he spoke with Master Asia in person. He had shown him, /right then/, a blue thread of Simon's hair. And Viral knows well, having seen the process with his own eyes, that Lordgenome is also called the Helix King for /damn good reason/.
"Oh no you ****ing DIDN'T," he snarls, rage searing through his blood as he crunches the control paddles together under his grip. Enkiduran leaps high upwards, leaving Simon to bring up Gurren-Lagann unimpeded, to land several yards before the Undefeated of the East. The incoming bogeys in the sky are likewise ignored for now; other people can deal with them. Never mind that the leaders of the IPA and the Syndicate, respectively, are going after Master Asia as well--before Viral turns that rage on Kamon (and believe him, he intends on doing that before this night is done), he's got something to ask the former DC member.
"Undefeated of the East!! So then what you *really* received from Lordgenome was *this*!?" He grinds his teeth, glancing very briefly again at Kamon. "In that case... In that case, where and when did you get a sample of KAMINA'S DNA!?"
Isa Reichert, just a bit tensely, "Hard enemy radar spike. We will not engage until they draw closer. We are not carrying extra fuel." Which means there's weaponry instead. Lovely missiles. "We will stand by unless something more important enters operational airspace."
One of these days, Duo will learn how to summon Deathscythe with a simple command. The idea just sounds cool, and he can impress all the other Gundam pilots with it. Take that, Evil Kneivel Yuy! For today, he'll have to make do with having the reaper Gundam rise not so dramatically from the scrapyard. All manner of bogies pop up on the mobile suit's scanner, much to its pilot's amusement. "Gunmen, superheroes, and even a Zeon battleship? Wow, did this guy tick off all the wrong people. That group of unidentifieds over there must be his pals."
Duo's smile is an evil smile, and when Duo smiles evilly... Deathscythe's rocket boosters fire to life with a green glow, and the mobile suit launches itself over tall buildings in a single bound. Who needs a cape and tights when you have a Gundam? "What pretty mobile suits you brought to the party, too bad you're all going to die!" There's another flash of bright green, this time from the end of the Gundam's eponymous weapon. A roar of wind, a sizzle of plasma, and a pair of Neo-Hong Kong Zakus may find themselves the Leos du jour.
Duo Maxwell misses Master Asia with his Insert Stock Footage Here attack.
Shin Matsunaga grinds his teeth. "Maxwell."
Wraith: Isa Reichert sounds like she's frowning. "/K'to/?" What?
Shin Matsunaga says, "Someone I'll worry about later. Can anyone see Asia?"
Viral sounds aggravated. "I'm in front of him!"
The Neo Hong Kong forces scatter as the White Wolf opens fire, missiles sailing around the first line of Zakus, one of them losing a leg from a pair of blasts. <> crackles Red Lead. <> Beam rifles open fire as the six-man wing splits off into two sets of three, separating from each other to ensure Shin can't take them down in one shot. As the other Gundams soar downward, Kazuma manages to surprise Green 3, hurling him into his wingman and causing the pair to fireball against the broken earth. <>
<> roars Green Lead as the remaining four Zakus begin blasting down at the Alter User. Yellow Wing, meanwhile, arcs forward to engage Isa's squadron, opening up with a missile barrage. Blue Squadron rushes toward the Deathscythe Gundam, drawing beam sabres as he approaches. THree of them slip in shoulder to shoulder, blocking the scythe with one unified motion as the other three slash at Duo's back and sides. The remainder of the Mobile Suits (two dozen or so by rough count) begin veerring toward the Kogane, seeking to keep the battleship distracted and out of the main fight.
As for Master Asia, he smiles at Simon's antics. They are, after all, familiar. "I think you are the Digger, Simon. And from your DNA - and from the hair I plucked from Kamina when you interrupted me at the hot springs," he adds with a significant glance toward the Enkiduran, "I created a Spiral Warrior of my own. A warrior without peer." He smiles and raises a hand. "And since you wish to do this the hard way.....ARISE, GUNDAMS!"
*snap*
An enormous metal form slams into the earth in front of Master Asia, Superman's manhole cover smashing off its shinguard as the red eyes light up. Master Asia leaps into the air, his Gundam lifting upward as well, and as he steps into the Master's cockpit, a second black form crashes into the earth beside the Distorted Spiral.
"KAMON!" Master Asia roars. "ENTER THIS BODY!"
As the Undefeated of the East speaks those words, the machine's eyes begin to glow a pale, sickly green, shimmering unlight flickering across its surface as systems power up. Those who assaulted the factory of Frozen Heart Ensnared in a Thousand Bloody Arrows will recognize a terrible haunting sensation as the mecha comes to life.
Soulsteel.
Master Asia switches armor modes to Master Gundam.
Master Asia hits Shin Matsunaga with his Lots of Rifles jab.
Master Asia gets a glancing blow on Kazuma Torisuma with his Ditto jab.
Master Asia hits Isa Reichert with his Missiles HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO jab.
Master Asia critically strikes Duo Maxwell with his Backstabx3 attack.
Wraith: Isa Reichert snarls, over the sound of something slamming into the plane's side. "Geist One, engage! Where the hell did they come from?!" Followed by a hasty, "Geist Two, engage!" from Liese. And an irritable "Geist Three, engage!" from Ancel.
Viral curses. /A lot/.
Shin Matsunaga says, "What's happening?"
Viral says, "So THAT'S what he wanted that ****ing soulsteel for!!"
Shin Matsunaga says, "Explain."
Viral says, "A while ago, the Undefeated cut a deal with Crimson Dawn to get soulsteel, which he must have made into that mech! And the deal he cut with Lordgenome..."
Shin Matsunaga says, "...Damn it."
Viral says, "/Dammit/! It wasn't just Spiral Power--he made a ****ing clone out of Kamina and Simon!!"
Shin Matsunaga says, "Can you destroy it before it gets off th-" Beat. "He WHAT?!"
Haruko Haruhara says, "Wow, this guy sounds like a real jerk."
Rocks fly through the air from the arrival of the Gurren-Lagann, falling around Kamon. He doesn't even blink, nor does he lose his stance through the incredible shaking. The Master had trained him well. "That is your body?" Kamon laughs. "You always give me the easy tasks, Master." It looks like he's perfectly willing to simply take them all on with his hands, but the order is given.
The massive machine that lands behind Kamon in response is a massive hulking beast of dark steel, the surface shifting oddly and etched with unnatural patterns and curls. The feet are spiked, the legs long and swept. The ebon chest bears thick, moulded armor in the shape of a screaming face, the shoulders ending in long bladed points. A series of black finlike projections radiate from the back, and each arm ends in taloned gauntlets bearing the same designs as the bracers Kamon wears. The face itself is chiseled and defiant.
And as Master Asia screams, the screaming face opens, with an unnatural shriek. With a leap, Kamon flips into the machine, and it closes, the eyes beginning to gleam with a dark power.
"What do I think you are?" Kamon laughs, within the machine. "I think you're just an inferior castoff! I'll destroy you all! AHAAHAHAHAHAHAH! Laser Galactic Artificial Spiral Tactical Operational Nemesis, ACTIVATE!"
What a mouthful. But can you handle it?
Kamon switches armor modes to Laser GASTON.
Viral, fighting to keep his temper under control. "That's a *kind* way of putting it. And it's true--even if I hadn't figured it out for myself, he just said it himself!"
That really is a lot of beam rifles. Though the ReGelg takes a couple of hits on its shoulder plates, the damage doesn't seem all that severe, just enough to set a few damage indicators alight in Shin's cockpit. He ignores them, gazing straight ahead through his screen and letting his Newtype instincts begin to guide his hands.
Throwing the ReGelg into a short corkscrewing turn, the White Wolf of Solomon banks left, zipping roughly in the direction of the city center. It hits the ground in the middle of a wide street and reaches back to unsling a long beam rifle from its holster - the same type of beam machinegun his old Gelgoog Jager used.
He pauses, however, at the sight of the two Gundams appearing nearby - particularly the latter - and at something coming through the radio. "...A /clone/ of /Kamina/?! And Simon?!"
He forces down his surprise and quickly changes his target. Bringing the ReGelg about, the White Wolf sends the wide-shouldered mobile suit zipping closer to the center of town. With a roar of rocket thrusters it boosts into the air and begins firing a barrage of fiery red beams down at the soulsteel Gundam, the captain obviously hoping to disable the hellish machine before it can get off the ground.
Shin Matsunaga misses Kamon with his Tactics Neenja attack.
The three jets are taken by surprise as the Zakus manage to charge them, quickly enough that they aren't immediately noticed on radar. The missiles corkscrew towards them, slamming into the rear quadrant of Geist One's plane.
Isa's forced to hang tight as she's jolted in her cockpit, the fighter making an unpleasant sound on impact. The Fulcrum trails smoke from the impact, and Isa trails a steady stream of fierce Yuktobanian curses.
"Captain! Are you alright?" Liese's concern is clear over their communications. "That looked like a direct hit!"
"I am fine. Turn and face them. Charge. Ancel, you take their flank. Liese, handle the other side. I will target their flight lead. Burn them all!"
The jet engines scream as all three Fulcrums turn, swooping to descend on the Yellow Wing. All three jets fire their missiles, two apiece, guns blazing as they surge forward in a reckless charge. At the last possible moment, Geists Two and Three swoop up, while Geist One dives to try and snake past them from a lower angle.
Isa Reichert hits Master Asia with her We Want To Plaaaay <3 attack.
Wraith: Isa Reichert curses, in what sounds like Russian. It is quite scathing.
Oh, good, MORE GIANT ROBOTS. Superman looks at his communication watch. "What's..."
"We ran into some, uh, deployment troubles." The Toyman admits, bashfully, looking over at a certain Caped Crusader who has his arms crossed, a scowl on his face, and a towel around his waist. He grabs the watch. "Damn it, Clark, I was in the shower."
"Sorry, old chum!" Superman isn't, and doesn't even bother trying to sound it. "But duty calls! Seriously, they've got Laser GASTON out here. ...you wear your cowl in the shower?"
"Some of us have to work on our hair." The Batman rumbles grimly, proceding to press The Button. Up in the sky, the assembled forces of good, evil, and EXTRA evil will see a large helicopter shaped unnervingly like a plastic G.I. Joe chopper, right down to the red...things that are supposed to be spring powered real fireing missles. It's carrying what looks like...
...half of Superman, and half of Batman, stick together at a rigid, lightning-bolt pattern; both have sickly green skin, a flat head, and Frankenstienian bolts in its neck. That's right, punks: The Combination Superman-Batman Robot!
It lands with a SLAM, the Man of Steel standing dramaticly in front of the mighty robot for a moment, before a still-soggy Batman sticks his head out of the side. "GET UP HERE, HIPPY."
"Right, right, yeesh." Superman rolls his eyes, "No wonder they all make you the girl in the relationship." With a little leap, the Man of Steel leaps up to his half of the cockpit, slipping in and making sure to buckle his seat belt before grabbing the controls. "Hey, he remembered the little Krypton-shaped air freshener!"
"You planned this." Batman asks, it not being a question. "Why."
Superman shrugs, bashfully. "Everyone else was getting to take out giant robots, and I got kinda jealous..." And, as nature itself dictates, the Combination Superman-Batman Robot lumbers forward, swinging a massive, blocky fist at Laser GASTON's manly chiseled jaw!
Superman misses Kamon with his We've Had Yaoi Fangirls Pairing Us Up For Seventy Years attack.
Superman buffs his AGI to +1.
Superman buffs his ACC to +1.
Superman buffs his POW to +1.
"From Kamina..." Simon hears Viral's words - enough for the gears to start turning, for uncertainty to turn into terrible realization, in time for Master Asia to confirm the thing - no, the /person/ - that has been made. His mouth opens, and he loses his composure for a moment to /stare/ at the clone. "From my brother and from me!!" he concludes.
"Undefeated of the East," he then picks up, his lips twisting slightly, into a truly angered growl. "What you've done here... it's unforgiveable! Using my brother and me like that... and making a person like this! But for now, I'll have to handle your creation!"
He leaps, and there is a soft green glow around him - as the Gurren-Lagann kneels down. The head of it swivels open, and he lands inside it, standing defiantly. He crosses his arms. "You've got that wrong... brother!" he shouts, at Kamon. His eyes widen. "I'm Simon, Commander of the Great Gurren Brigade... and the proud digger! If you'll stand in my way, I'll have to break right through you with my drill!"
The man sits down, and the Gurren-Lagann's head cover closes. He grabs a control paddle, and swings it back hard - and the Gurren-Lagann's left arm moves back as well. Two drills emerge from the wrist, and begin to rapidly spin. "And also..." He flies it forward - the boosters on the back rocketing the red and gold mecha at the Laser GASTON. The left wrist is swung forward, with a might punch.
"THAT'S A STUPID ASS NAME FOR A GUNMEN!!"
Simon misses Kamon with his Drill Fist attack.
"You're going to have to try harder than that if you want to stop me!" Kazuma shouts as the Zakus begin to open fire on him. The Alter User skims along the ground for a moment, and then spins up the spinning blade on his back. He spins around, and launches himself right back towards the Green Leader, slamming his fist into the shot that is roaring down on him, deflecting the shot out of the way and sending it spinning off into the distance, leaving only a gash on his arm.
Picking up more and more speed, Kazuma pulls his hand back, slamming his fist straight forward into the center of the Green Leader's Zaku - trying to punch straight through the mech, and continue onwards towards the city.
Kazuma Torisuma misses Master Asia with his Break on through attack.
Nia pauses for a brief moment to stare in awe. She isn't sure why. That's one strange looking collection of Gunmen there, and some of them need more /faces./
"The shelters are just outside the city," Nia explains, "just below ground. Not as deep as the underground cities were. Please, follow me." She begins leading Nono and the evacuees towards the edge of the city, where doorways lead to staircases that spiral downwards. "It is usually unwise to remain below ground for very long...but it is better than the alternative, at the moment. Please, everyone...!"
The time at the hot springs... Viral was *there* for that, he *saw* Master Asia do it, yet at the time he thought nothing of it. He hadn't even thought about it since then until this very moment. He had seen the blue hair of Simon's that Master Asia had plucked, had seen him do something to Kamina's hair, and yet he never put the two together until just now... And now that mech made of Soulsteel, which Master Asia had *admitted* he'd struck a deal with Crimson Dawn to make. This anger isn't just at Master Asia now; it's at himself for having had all the pieces, for having *suspected* him, and having never put the pieces together until now--when it's far too late.
"You..." Viral seethes, controls rattling under his grip as Laser GASTON and the Master Gundamn slam into the ground of the streets of Kamina City (this place is going to get its faces punched in again, poor city). He waits, as pride and honor dictates (despite being well aware that Master Asia can fight just as well without a Gunmen), for his opponent to enter his mech before he charges forward, both massive swords drawn and slashed forward in a single fluid motion. "...****ing PSYCHOPATH!! There's no way I'll tolerate this!"
Viral critically strikes Master Asia with your Viral's Buttons = Good and Pushed attack.
Superman says, "Check it out, Kazuma! Do you have your own robot?"
Superman honks the horn. It plays the Seinfield theme song.
Haruko Haruhara says, ".../dude/, I want one!"
"Of course." Aya is quick to respond to Nia as she does her own work to corral a group of civillians, directing them along. Currently, she is nowhere near Nia, though she can at least /see/ what's going on. She sees the Neo Hong Kong army engaging both IPA, Syndicate, and neither. She also sees that rather odd and strange-looking gunmen.
No time to stand around staring, though, because at this rate all the fighting /in/ the city is definitely going to get it destroyed.
Sephiroth says, "..."
Superman says, "-don't give me that look, Batman, /you/ installed the spinnas."
Kazuma Torisuma says, "..."
Kazuma Torisuma says, "..I'm not even going to respond to that, man."
Superman says, "Cause you can't."
Kazuma Torisuma says, "Next you'll have your own underwear line, and that'll be it."
Ruri Hoshino says, "He already does."
Superman says, "Nah, Spider-Man has the underoo market cornered."
Kazuma Torisuma says, "And you people call me a criminal."
Ruri Hoshino says, "You are a criminal."
Nono, coming from a universe where absurdly long names are commonplace, immediately squeeks, "The Laser Galactic Artificial Spiral Tactical Operational Nemesis!? That sounds really bad! Nia..."
She looks back, continuing to run. "Is it really OK to leave everyone to fight like this?"
Nono is a nice and kind girl, who really wants to save people... but she's also a weapon and a warrior, and her blood is boiling. Still, she lopes along behind Nia, calling, "Everyone, into the shelters! Please, hurry! This is going to become very dangerous, very quickly!"
Nono looks up to the stars. Even if she calls them now -- would they get here in time...?
Superman says, "Well, Kazuma, that's because you steal things that don't belong to you."
Haruko Haruhara says, "They've kinda gotcha there, man."
Kazuma Torisuma says, "...it's hard to argue with that."
There's nothing like turning the script on its head to ruin a Gundam pilot's day. The Deathscythe finds its first strike blocked. Blocked! "Why you-" The scythe spins around to try to parry whats incoming, but there's too many beam sabers and not enough scythe blades. The mobile suit's armor begins to tear and sparks fly out from shredded holds in the torso. For his part, Duo may no longer be a happy camper, but he's smiling. Its a dark bitter smile, but oh how he's grinning from ear to ear. "I hope you enjoyed your fifteen seconds."
Deathscythe's blade flickers, then suddenly dies without even a fizzle. It didn't have enough time for that, as the Gundam twirls the staff around then rams it head-first into the abdomen mobile suit of Blue Squadron. "Because right now: It's over." Another flash of green, and the scythe bursts back to life - with any luck right in the middle of the Zaku.
Duo Maxwell critically strikes Master Asia with his You're Doing It Wrong attack.
BONUS EXTRA:
==============================================================================
Name: Kamon
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gender: Male
Source: Mobile Fighter G Lagann
Faction: Neo Hong Kong
Group: None
Function: Artificial Spiral Warrior
Quote: "You seek to stop me? To stop my master? WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DEALING WITH?"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Profile: When the Undefeated of the East sought to harness Spiral Power to fuel the apocalyptic weapon known as the Devil Gundam, he needed a living being to serve as its core. When early efforts to recruit one to his purposes were rebutted, Master Asia sought another way - he used the advanced cloning technology of the Helix King to create a hybrid clone of two of the most powerful Spiral Warriors on the planet: Lord Kamina and the Digger Simon. And even though the Devil Gundam rejected him, the Spiral clone known as Kamon still lives...and obeys without question the twisted orders of the Undefeated of the East.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Skills: Who The Hell Do You Think I Am?, Roh, Roh, I /AM/ The Power, I Think I'm A Clone Now, I Draw My Power From The Incestuous Simon/Kamina Gattai Wishes Of A Thousand Yaoi Fangirls, Bitch, So Unless Your Name Is Severus Snape What Chance Do You Have?
==============================================================================
WHAT: The Undefeated of the East presents Simon with an ultimatum: give him Nia, or he'll kill everyone in Kamina City. His objectives behind the threat are even worse than everyone thinks, to the point that even the Divine Crusaders cut him off.
WHERE: Kamina City, the Spiral Planet
WHEN: December 21, 2007 - five years before the end of the world, if you listen to the Mayan calendar.
WATCH FOR: Schrödinger waveforms, epic clone wars, the Superman-Batman combination mech, Viral landing four crits in a row, Shining Drills, giant spaceship drills, a whole lot of drills going everywhere exploding everything, and Nono Getting Pissed. Whew!
P.S. Nia, Isa Reichert and Aya Kobayashi need tags!
The sun is setting in the western skies, yet the East still burns as he enters Kamina City.
Toho Fuhai moves quietly through the streets of the Spiral capital, his distinctive features and clothing concealed by a thick hooded cloak. He is accompanied by a slimmer, slightly taller figure who walks slightly behind him and to his right. The second figure's head turns frequently as he scans the streets, the expression on his face concealed by the shadows beneath his hood.
"Familiar?" Master Asia rumbles in his deep baritone. His ally turns toward the martial artist and shakes his head slowly. "Unsurprising," the old man comments. "Come. There is something I wish to show you before we begin."
The two cloaked men continue walking toward the centre of Kamina City. And the plaza where its namesake points to the heavens.
Viral says, "...did they ever get the statue back?"
Master Asia says, "Presumably? I only dumped it in the ocean."
Viral says, "Well, there was also the Master's tooling around with it."
Master Asia says, "If they didn't I'll roll with it in the next pose and blame Alzheimer's."
Shin Matsunaga says, "I seem to have missed a few things. :("
Viral says, "/Way/ back, the Master stole the Kamina statue, and didn't report it until a week later when he realized he forgot to do so."
Viral says, "So it didn't get a lot of press."
Simon says, "I am... honestly unsure."
Simon, the digger, is sitting in a cafe in downtown Kamina City. The man is slumped back over a chair, arm slung over the chair next to him. He looks relaxed - happy, and indeed, content. He has just finished a nice meal, consisting of a large sub, and has a grin plastered on his face.
Kittan, too, stares off - in what one could only call a food daze. He licks his lips, and then idly wipes his hand with the back of his mouth.
Rossiu, on the other hand, has a frown on his lips - especially at Kittan's poor table manners. "Well," the man says, stiff-lipped and serious as always. "This was productive. The Dai-Tattemen will be operational by the beginning of the New Year."
"Good!" Simon declares. He pauses, for a moment; his eyes drift to two hooded men. One seems... familiar - and not in that way that he has seen him before. Rather, there is something about him. He shakes his head, looking away and back at the rest of his crew.
The woman sitting at the table displays perfect table manners, her plate somehow /clean/ despite her having polished off an order of spaghetti. Her napkin has been folded into a perfect triangle, as well, in a manner a little too fancy for this resturaunt. It just seemed to Nia to be a nice thing to do.
"Don't work too hard during the holiday," she adds. "You need time to relax as well, Rossiu! I wouldn't want to see you get sick from stress. Still, we appreciate the hard work!" She seems to be unaware of the hooded figures. Everything about her stands out even to normal passerby-the iridescent, shimmering hair, the entirely-too-polite speaking mannerisms, the jingle of her bracelets and those unusual pink-jewel blossom eyes.
Toho Fuhai continues down the main drag, brushing past humans and Beastmen alike with nary a glance at any of them. From his conversations with Lord Genome, the old man has learned what he needed to know - that only humans have the potential for the power he seeks, and of the humans only a select few can manifest that power.
Which narrows the old man's options to two possible candidates.
The martial artist stops before the Schrödinger waveform that exists where the statue of Kamina is or is not. He pointedly does not look at it in order to avoid collapsing the waveform of its demiexistence. Quantum states are powerful things indeed.
"Stay back," Master Asia growls as he pushes back his hood, deeming it the fastest way to get what he wants - attention. "Do not speak until I command you." The other figure nods stiffly, and the old man smiles, activating his radio.
Master Asia says, "Digger Simon. This is the Undefeated of the East."
Master Asia says, "We need must speak. Now."
Invader Zim says, "Bah! Undefeateds are only undefeateds untill they have been defeated by ZIM!"
Ben Tennyson says, "..."
Master Asia says, "Silence, cretin. I have no time for you."
Simon says, "I'm listening."
Invader Zim says, "I am no cretin! I AM ZIM!"
Viral hnnh.
Invader Zim says, "I don't even HAVE thyroid hormones!"
Master Asia says, "In public? Ah, very well then."
Shin Matsunaga is quiet. Probably just listening.
Master Asia says, "You have three minutes to bring Lord Genome's daughter or the flame-haired warrior woman to the centre of your city. Failure to do so will result in the destruction of every human on your world."
Master Asia says, "Your time begins...now."
Ben Tennyson says, "... That sounds bad."
Viral says, "..."
Invader Zim says, "Hey, that's my job!"
Shin Matsunaga says, "...Master Asia, what the hell are you doing?"
Wraith: Isa Reichert transmits various jet noises. Systems check, most likely. And the occasional shouted order/bantering with crew.
Ben Tennyson says, "What? Sounding bad?"
Viral says, "I have to second this question."
Master Asia says, "What I must to save my world."
Simon says, "..."
Invader Zim says, "Destroying humans!"
Nia says, "..."
Simon says, "Undefeated of the East, is it?"
Shin Matsunaga says, "By committing genocide in another?"
Shin Matsunaga says, "Stand down, Master Asia. That's an order."
Nono, in true Nono fashion, is here to watch the birds and marvel at the blue sky.
Most times, Nono would take advantage of being able to fly and teleport and having a somewhat cavalier attitude toward airspace control laws, and be watching from a nice picnic blanket laid out on top of the capitol building, also known as Dekabutsu.
But at the moment, Nono is actually spending time like all the other outdoor-lovers of Kamina City - lounging on the grass of the central park, clad in her usual casual ensemble of a baggy purple blouse and a pair of blue jeans Larc bought her after getting flashed for the ninety-seventh time by Nono's favorite too-small skirt.
She looks up, a little bleery-eyed from staring into the sky, as two cloaked men wander into the square - but cloaks are not that uncommon in a place like Kamina City, where rugged men wander in from the badlands often. Nono is about to go back to half-dozing, half-birdwatching, when one of them puts back his hood.
"Toho...Fuhai...?" Nono mutters.
And then the Citizen's Band kicks up, and her eyes narrow. "What...?"
Duo Maxwell says, "This is starting to sound like the plot of a bad sci-fi film."
Simon says, "You show up... You threaten to kill my people... You try to hurt my friends... and then you think you're gonna get away with it."
Master Asia says, "I must respectfully decline, Matsunaga. Some things a man must do."
Invader Zim says, "I do that a lot. Filthy humans let me get away with it all the time."
Duo Maxwell says, "And I'm in the middle of it."
Master Asia says, "And no, Digger. I threaten nothing. I simply make statements."
Master Asia says, "Should you wish to discuss the matter, you know where to find me."
Shin Matsunaga breathes out through his teeth. "Last chance, Master Asia. I /order/ you to stand down. We'll find some other way to solve your problems - some way that doesn't involve mass murder."
Simon says, "Hn... All right. I'll be /right/ there."
Viral says, "Simon."
Simon says, "Eh, Viral?"
Viral says, "--no, not here."
[RADIO] To Simon, Viral radios: Do you remember what I mentioned to you the other day?
Master Asia says, "Your offer is kind. But the difficulty is that you do not understand my problem. Or its solution."
Kazuma Torisuma says, "...someone care to give me a rundown on what is happening out there?"
[RADIO] To Viral, Simon radios: ...Yeah. Yeah, I do.
[RADIO] To Simon, Viral radios: I suggest you keep that in mind.
Invader Zim says, "What is a Viral? Isn't that one of your filthy human sicknesses?"
Alphonse Elric says, "That's 'virus.'"
Shin Matsunaga says, "Seems Master Asia's decided to join the Insane Nutjobs Division. Don't have the specifics yet."
Shin Matsunaga barks, "Would you cretins /shut/ /up?!/"
Alphonse Elric uwahs.
Invader Zim says, "I am not a cretin!"
Invader Zim says, "I don't even have thyroid hormones!"
Alphonse Elric says, "Ah...I'm sorry if we're messing up your concentration, but really."
Viral says, "And once you have one of those women, then what?"
Master Asia says, "Then, Viral, my broken world shall be restored."
Viral says, "How?"
Shin Matsunaga says, "Explain."
Master Asia says, "The Devil Gundam requires a female core to power the world restoration."
Shin Matsunaga says, "And what exactly does this restoration entail, beyond using a human being as a battery?"
Master Asia says, "The Gundam's nanomachines shall spread across the planet, terraforming it into a pristine world, untouched by man."
Master Asia says, "Into Eden, if you will."
Shin Matsunaga says, "Untouched by man? And what happens to the people who live there?"
"Mm... I shall do my best, Lady Nia," Rossiu says, with a smile. The men - all of them - fall silent, as they hear things over the radio. Grim tidings, to say the least. All of them stand; Rossiu's face is painted with worry, as he sees the terrible state that Kamina City has fallen into. Kittan looks grim, but determined.
He looks at Simon - the two men's eyes lock, and both nod, before Kittan departs. Simon whirls, then, his command coat fluttering after him. "Heh... looks like that's my cue, Rossiu. Nia... you get somewhere safe."
"Commander...!" Rossiu shouts after him. The black-haired man stairs. "Commander-- Simon! Don't! It's... you know it's not safe...!!"
Simon walks onward, eyes forward. Rossiu's widen, and he picks up his radio. He speaks into it, quietly. "All units... all units, prepare to sortie! The enemy is at our gates!"
Master Asia laughs. "They shall become one with Mother Earth."
Viral says, "...They'll return to the soil, eh?"
Master Asia says, "Yes."
Viral tch.
Shin Matsunaga says, "...So in short, you're going to plug the girl into this Devil Gundam and purge the planet of humanity."
Master Asia says, "Indeed. And then once my task is finally complete, my life too will end. And the Devil Gundam will sustain the planet and its inhabitants for all eternity."
Master Asia says, "Sheer perfection."
Viral says, "I can see now why you got along with Lordgenome."
Viral says, "The two of you are...alike."
Shin Matsunaga breathes out through his teeth.
Master Asia says, "With age comes wisdom. The Helix King and I have both lived far too long."
Wraith: Isa Reichert mutters a sharp spate of something that sounds like Russian. If anyone knows it, it equates roughly to "damned crazy fool."
Shin Matsunaga says, "That's all I needed to hear."
Viral coldly, "I'm aware."
Shin Matsunaga says, "Comm Central, disconnect Master Asia."
Master Asia's signal crackles out.
Para-Dice says, "Meooooow, what? What is it nooooooooooooooooooow?!"
Shin Matsunaga sounds very angry. "All available units to your stations. We're going to Kamina City. If Master Asia thinks he can get away with this he's sorely mistaken."
Shin Matsunaga says, "OOC: Go for it."
Viral says, "Already on the way."
Para-Dice says, "Get away with WHAT? I almost beat my high score!"
Wraith: Isa Reichert, over a jet engine powering up, "Geist Squadron. We are on our way."
Viral says, "In short, the Undefeated of the East wants to kill all the humans in his world."
Nia stands up immediately upon hearing the radio, a serious, stern frown on the princess's face. She despises the idea that her survival must be weighed against that of the city itself. "Simon, he is going to try to use this against you. If he is determined to take me or find Miss Yoko for some reason, he will try to tear through the city to do so. You cannot let him! If it becomes necessary, I will face him myself." Doing so, however, would be foolish at the time; she has no reason to trust Master Asia.
"Everyone! We must evacuate. I will help the citizens evacuate as I find safety myself." She begins to do just that for the ordinary citizens in the diner. Nono might catch a glimpse of shimmer in the crowds that begin pouring out.
Somewhere several planes away, the battle carrier Kogane navigates deftly through some sort of asteroid field, somehow not getting pummeled into dust as space rocks bounce harmlessly off of the ship's E-field. Gun turrets turn every now and then to blast some of the larger fragments into powder.
"Turret three, incoming bearing forty-one mark twenty-six," Shin lets one of his officers know. A moment later, a silent burst of gunfire pulverizes a slow-moving space rock heading towards the ship. "Nice shooting," the soldier commends the junior officer. "Looks like we're clearing the field...."
And then the radio transmissions begin.
"...Master Asia, what the /hell/ are you doing?"
He mutters a few things into the radio, a dark scowl beginning to etch across his face. Viral had warned him, but he'd thought the beastman's suspicions to be the result of not knowing the man well. Seems he may have been wrong, he reflects. Master Asia - one of the Crusaders who'd fought by his side against the STMC, now showing his true colours?
His right hand closes into a fist, and he bolts to his feet. "Helm," he barks, "course change. Make for the Gate. We're going to Kamina City."
With a darkening expression, he adds in a growl, "And register a new threat entry - for Master Asia."
Para-Dice says, "Oh? That's it? Well okay. Meooow, gonna get my high scooree~!"
Viral has been suspicious of Master Asia for a while now, to the point where he'd told Shin and Kazuma to keep an eye out for him. It wasn't based on anything more solid than a strong feeling--one might even call it paranoia, since it started when Master Asia offered his assistance to Lordgenome in exchange for 'something he needed.' But it was at that point that Viral realized that Master Asia reminded him of the Spiral King, and Viral has been given many good reasons to not trust his creator.
So when this talk started, he'd already gone to Enkiduran and gotten ready to head out; by the time that Shin is ordering the Kogane towards Kamina City, Viral is nearly already there, features grim. Perhaps Kamina City is Simon's problem, but Master Asia is his--and damned if Viral is going to turn his back and ignore this.
"I knew it," he mutters to himself, golden eyes sharp on the city at the edge of his radar scanners. "Damn it...!"
Shin Matsunaga says, "...Simon may not be a friend, but avoid damage to Kamina City when we arrive. We're not in the business of killing civilians." He breathes out through his teeth in irritation, then mutters, "Damn it, Master Asia...."
Viral says, "Agreed. It would be pointless to carry out his ultimatum for him."
It was because of Viral's warning that Kazuma was actually not all that surprised to hear about what was going on. After all, the Beastman had been good about providing intel on problems before, and it seemed that he had been right again. Truth be told, Kazuma actually didn't know all that much about Master Asia. The man had kept to himself, and the Divine Crusaders had been a more independent arm of the Syndicate for a while.
A bolt of gold erupts out of the Gate behind the Kogane, looking around for a moment before finally lancing down and landing heavily on the deck, the burning golden aura dissipating from around Kazuma. He stops and turns around, his right arm encased in the heavier form of his second Alter stage, and he looks back towards the bridge.
Not much needs to be said. They're here for answers, and after that... after that, they'd do what needs to be done.
Kazuma Torisuma switches armor modes to Second Stage.
Three jets race towards the glistening spires of Kamina City, from the direction of the Gate nearest the city limits. There is no radio chatter from them, and no banter between themselves. The pilots are silent, grim at their controls as they guide their path towards the city.
There's little to be done, but perhaps they can offer their support in this battle, because even they have to agree that genocide is a bad thing.
All three pilots pay attention to their instrumentation, and they streak over the outskirts of the city with a thunderous roar of jet engines and, a short distance behind them, white contrails tracing their wingtips.
"Geist Squadron." The three black-and-silver Fulcrums bank, turning to fly a wide arc around the outskirts of Kamina City. "We are over city outskirts." Isa Reichert's voice is flat, and she sounds a mite displeased. "Standing by until further orders. We do not yet see anything on radar," she adds.
Wraith: Isa Reichert says, "Geist Squadron. We are over city outskirts." Her voice is flat, and she sounds a mite displeased. "Standing by until further orders. We do not yet see anything on radar."
"Look, up in the sky!" Some sort of strangely attractive walrus-woman says, pointing.
"How is that..." A frizzy haired human shakes his head, looking at his bald mole-mustached best pal. "Anyway, that's totally an ice menorah."
"Dude, that doesn't even make sense." Said bald man retorts, pulling a large, old fashioned telescope out of his coat and peering at the sky. "Oh damn, the white man's finally learned to fly! Get the jet packs!"
The frizzy haired man looks confused, "...can I fly, Chocolate Bear?"
"...why don't you try, 'nilla wafer. Why don't you try."
"Those two are just an adorable couple." Superman says, walking out of a nearby third story window and finishing his flying leap to the ground, sliding around the street and coming to a stop in front of the rogue martial artist and giant robot pilot. Which seems a bit unfair. Sort of like Batman, but evil.
The Man of Steel can't keep a smile off of his face for a second, before putting one hand on his hip and holding the other out crossing guard style. "Halt!" Superman says, meeting the man in the eye. He's mildly confused as to why the Syndicate isn't backing up what looks like a standard raid, but figures it has something to do with his theory...
Kazuma Torisuma says, "I'm here to have a word with Master Asia. We'll see what he wants here."
Shin Matsunaga says, "Keep your eyes open, Geist One. I have a bad feeling about this."
Shin Matsunaga's voice is flat. "I know what he wants. He wants a girl to power his new toy, so he can kill every human on his Earth."
Wraith: Isa Reichert chuckles, dryly. "Eye, Captain."
Kazuma Torisuma says, "You got that in the clear, Shin?"
Viral says, "He said so himself."
Shin Matsunaga says, "From the horse's mouth."
Isa Reichert says, "/Da/. They speak truth."
Haruko Haruhara says, "Well that's kinda rude."
Viral says, "Remember when I told you I had a bad feeling about him, Kazuma?"
Wraith: Isa Reichert says, "And I will watch. Something does not feel right. What is the saying... calm before the storm, /da/?"
Kazuma Torisuma says, "...right then."
Viral says, "The reason I said that was because he reminded me of Lordgenome." He growls. "...looks like I assessed him correctly."
Kazuma Torisuma says, "You guys know the rules around here. We're willing to tolerate a lot here."
Kazuma Torisuma says, "The line's about a mile behind Master Asia."
There was profit to be made in Kamina City for an experienced salvager. Word was that there were literally tons of scrap leftover from the first Spiral war as well as the other battles that have plagued the city in recent weeks. A good sweeper could make a nice profit off of the scraps, let alone what they could piece together from the leftovers of war.
Hence the presence of a young braided teenager in black clothing picking his way through a pile in one of the town's scrapyards. He wasn't alone, there were other men with welding torches and backloaders taking what they could, lead by a graying man dressed in a loud Hawaiian shirt and bermuda shorts. "Man, this place gives me the creeps," he wheezes. "All those faces up in those buildings, all those odd guys walking around half-man half-animal, its a carnival of the wierd." "Eh, once you've been around the block a few times, Howard, you'll get used to it." The cherubic teenager walks up to him, a long section of pipe slung over a shoulder. He nudges the elder in the side, "And where else are you going to find real-life bunny girls, huh-"
The kid's smile disappears in an instant. The graybeard lowers his shades, noticing his partner's raising of a hand to his earbud. "Something up with your Mithril buddies, Duo?" "No, something's up here. Of all the times..." With a groan, Duo waves his hands in the air frantically to get the salvagers' attention. "Everybody! Clean up as fast as you can and head for the Gate! It looks like this town's gonna host yet another unnatural disaster." "And what about you?", the elder asks.
"Don't worry about me," the kid answers as his smile returns. His eyes dart over to where something large and ominous sits hidden on a flatbed. "This God of Death's been on the sidelines too long. I've got a backlog to catch up on."
Aya had, admittedly, heard a few things about Master Asia. Snippets of things from old reports on the Divine Crusaders (or not-Divine Crusader as it were now). Regardless, Aya's wary of showing up in the R-3, especially if Master Asia can easily take it on foot. As small and agile it is, fighting an adept human-sized opponent is out of the question.
It is for this reason that Aya shows up on foot, her efforts focused on assisting in the evacuation rather than fighting.
As the situation rapidly decays, with superbeings descending from every quarter, Nono stands upright.
Didn't he always talk about protecting the Earth? He always seemed so concerned...and when Nono told him about the STMC, so long ago, he outright flipped his elegant Oriental wig.
She doesn't understand. Doesn't get it at all.
But she can't stand idly by, so when Superman appears, and the Syndicate begins swarming, and Rossiu orders a scramble, and Nia calls for her aid - Nono does what she knows she has to.
A bright red light shines in her star-shaped pupils, filling the entire blackness with radiance. Nono rises up, and moves in the direction she thinks Nia is in. She was asked to help protect her and the people she was guarding...so she will, for the moment, allow the fighters to face the Undefeated of the East.
Nono switches armor modes to Topless.
Master Asia stands resolute in the central plaza, his back to the waveform, his eyes scanning the area. A soft smile slides onto his face as the Divine Crusaders - and through them the Syndicate - cut the old man loose. "A pity," he rumbles softly. Unfortunate...but not unexpected. "So my time with my allies is done," he says in his booming baritone as he turns toward Simon - he can /sense/ the Digger's approach, so powerful is the Spiral Warrior's rage. So focused.
He would have made an excellent King of Hearts.
"So you've come," Toho Fuhai says, his smile vanishing from his face as he sees the Digger moving forward unescorted. "And you come alone...bold as always. Bold....but foolish." The martial artist's face turns angry as he sees Superman's approach. "Or perhaps you do not come alone - a pleasure as always, Man of Steel." The old man clears his throat. "I have no time for games. Your allies arrive, as do my former ones. And yet you do not bring me what I desire." Master Asia nods. "Not unexpected. So be it."
The Undefeated of the East turns his back on Simon, then....pauses for an instant. "But before I leave, Digger, to carry out the promise I just made, there is a small matter of some...pressing business that must be attended to." He smiles at the second cloaked figure beside him. "You have your chance...destroy him. Destroy them all." Master Asia begins to walk away, reaching for his commlink. "Neo Hong Kong forces - attack."
Syndicate and IPA aerial forces will suddenly detect a mass of unfriendly IFF signals approaching at a rapid rate of speed from the east of the city. It seems as though he did /not/ come alone after all.
Kamon has connected.
There is a low, disturbing chuckle as the hooded figure steps forth. What makes it even more disturbing is it sounds.... so familiar. "I thought you might have been smarter than that..." What? That voice! It's...
With a flourish, the hood is drawn back and the cloak cast aside to flow freely in the wind. The figure is lithe and muscled, his facial features sharp, but wide-eyed. His hair is a distinctive blended shade of blue... Familiar indeed. He wears no shirt or jacket, the cloak billowing out behind him in a flared sweep. Upon each wrist are bands of an odd black metal, etched with odd circular patterns. He wears a pair of loose black pants and slippers in the style of his Master.
"After all, you're one of the originals, aren't you?" He laughs, a deeply disturbed sound that echoes through the area. He falls into an unarmed battle stance, a sneer across is face. "But I haven't even introduced myself? My name... is Kamon. A pleasure to meet you. But now... You will pay for disturbing the Master."
---------------------------------- WARNING! ----------------------------------
- KAMON -
- THE DISTORTED SPIRAL -
----------------------------- PREPARE FOR BATTLE! ----------------------------
Simon crosses his arms over his chest. The man looks defiant - resolute, determined to stand against this threat. He swallows, as he looks at Toho Fuhai. His eyes narrow, slowly, as he hears this - and he looks up at him. His eyes turn, then, to the cloaked man. His eyes narrow slowly, then, as he begins to wonder.
Something /is/ familiar about that one. He swallows, and then his eyes widen sharply. The man who throws his cloak off is very familiar, and yet he cannot fully place it. "Undefeated of the East... I'm not sure what the /hell/ you're thinking," he says, before looking at Kamon, "and I don't know who you are. But, you've come into my city, to my world, to kill everything I love..."
He raises a fist into the air, and throws back his own blue coat. It falls away in a flourish, pooling on the ground below him. "Gurren-Lagann!!" he snarls. The ground behind him shudders - there's a mechanical creak, and a red blur. The massive Gunmen flies into the air, and comes crashing down in the plaza. The ground creaks and groans, as it stands tall - immense, glittering, wonderful. The crest on its head glimmers.
"I have one question for both of you bastards..." Simon's angered expression turns into that familiar, hungry grin. "WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK I AM?!"
Sprinting through the Kogane's long corridors, Shin makes pretty good time in reaching the Kogane's main hangar. Leaping into the cockpit of the broad-shouldered white mobile suit waiting for him, he runs through the startup sequence almost mechanically, much of his focus drawn inward towards his anger - anger both at Master Asia and himself. (First Kamina, then Maxwell, and now Fuhai. What the hell am I doing wrong? --No. This isn't my fault, and Master Asia will pay.)
The hangar doors open before him, revealing first the distorted ripple of a Gate, then a flash of transition giving way to the clear skies of the World of Spirals. Immediately the ReGelg's sensor board comes to life, filled with blips and pings that indicate the presence of hostile mobile suits coming in from the east. He scowls; clearly the 'Master' brought some backup.
"Crusader One to all units, both DC and IPA-aligned," says Shin, his voice coming harshly through his comm pickup. "We're picking up enemy forces coming from the east. Any units within range, I suggest you intercept."
With a tap of a key he switches to the Kogane's commline. "Bridge, get course towards those enemy units and prepare for support firing. Mobile units, take the lead. Crusader One, ready for launch!"
An affirmative ping comes back - and with a loud clunk the launch catapult truggers, sending the pearly-white ReGelg shooting off of the Kogane's deck like a shining star into the night. Blue-white drive trails streak behind the modified Gelgoog as it goes shooting towards the Hong Kong army at high speeds.
With narrowed eyes and a clenched jaw Matsunaga lays in a firing pattern from range. Missiles erupt from the eight tubes on the ReGelg's backpack, streaking towards the collection of enemy Zakus in a fiery cloud. He doesn't even bother to banter; he's too annoyed.
Shin Matsunaga misses Master Asia with his Itano Circus jab.
Kazuma Torisuma says, "Seems that Master Asia is going to play hard ball here."
Viral says, "..."
Those above and below may be able to spot Princess Nia among the crowds, if they happen to look hard enough. Her hair stands out, if nothing else, and she is rather visibly directing crowds even as she /attempts/ to be inconspicuous. There's a reason she has asked of Nono to be her bodyguard. The princess gives Nono a thankful look, hanging near her as she helps a young girl run towards her mother.
She gives orders over the radio. "Miss Nono, Miss Aya, we must keep the citizens away from this battle. It is likely to end quite violently, with a great amount of destruction even if Simon does try to hold back. And I suspect...he will not try to hold back." She may not be able to see that vicious battle grin, but she knows it's there.
"Simon, everyone, please, triumph!"
"I'm sorry to say it's not mutu-" Superman stops. Why?
Because there's a twisted monster clone of two of his friends lurking, Bizarro-like, in front of him, and Clark can HEAR the screams of a frillion yaoi fangirls squeeling in terrible, terrible joy! It racks his body, sending the Man of Steel back a stumbling step, gasping at the incoming legions. "Fiend!" Superman manages to say, "To try and create life just to use as some sort of weapon?! I have no choice..." And Superman speaks into his signal-watch. "Toyman Junior!"
"Why," A thirteen year old Japanese boy on the other line whiles, "Am I /junior/?"
"Because I can lift an elephant over my head." Superman explains grimly. "Now call in the you know what."
"Really?! You're going to use it?!"
Superman sighs the moan of a desperate man. "Yes. I don't have a choice."
The Terrific Toyman (Junior!) claps his hands together, kicking his heels up and spinning around in his chair. Little Toushiro's...talented help bounces behind him. "Allright, ladies!" Toyman says, grinning, "Time to make this sucka fly!"
"Right, this'll be a minute." Superman explains again, proceding to pick a manhole cover up and hurl it, discus style, at the back of Master Asia's head. "Also, stop being a big genocidal jerk! Seriously, cut it out!"
Superman misses Master Asia with his He Got This From The Junior Woodchuck Guide jab.
"I'm not sure what he has in mind, but if it's up to no good, then we need to do something about it," Kazuma comments, although its more to himself than anyone else. Shin knows how to fight his ship, and his squadron. Viral can handle himself, as could Isa. Which meant that in the end, Kazuma could just... enjoy the fight.
The large blade on his back spinning up, Kazuma launches himself off towards the forces that Master Asia has summoned to support his assault. He'll work his way over to the Undefeated of the East, because he wants to have a word with the man...
In the meantime, Kazuma aims to land on top of one of the robots in the attacking forces, pulling his right hand back, his Alter pulling air in and converting it into kinetic energy... and he tries to smash the robot backwards into another one nearby.
Kazuma Torisuma hits Master Asia with his Push em back, push em back, way back attack.
"Yes!" Nono chimes, looking back just in time to see Gurren Lagann ARISE FROM THE SOUL OF THE WORLD.
"Coooooool," she murmurs. "Nono can't do that." Well, yes, she can, but warping giant monsters into the Earth's crust is probably on the Don't Do That list.
Nono squeeks as a little boy trips behind her, and says, "Ah! No, don't fall!" before reaching down to scoop the kid up and plant him firmly on her shoulders. "Don't worry! Nono will protect you!" she declares, and then skitters a little faster to keep up with the motion of the crowd. "Niaaa! Are there shelters?" Please say there are shelters. Nono could get the army here to evacuate but it wouldn't be NEARLY fast enough...and the Buster Legion doesn't really have any units designed to carry /people/...
Kazuma Torisuma obviously hasn't seen Kamon yet. "I'd have expected Master Asia to have some sort of trick up his sleeve - Kamina City isn't really a 'soft' target."
Shin Matsunaga says, "He mentioned something called a Devil Gundam. I'm expecting that will show up."
Entering the city from the air and approaching the place where the Kamina City statue may or may not be means that Viral has the opportunity to see and hear all that goes on at the tail of Master Asia's statements to Simon--and the unveiling of his companion, who names himself Kamon.
Viral doesn't get it at first, but he halts in midair, stunned at how much this Kamon resembles the humans he'd fought against so desperately during his time as a soldier of the Capitol. The fact that the start of it sounds like Kamina tips him off further, and the way he stands... But no, it can't be, how could he--?
Viral's breath catches in his throat, and his golden eyes widen, as he recalls the first time he spoke with Master Asia in person. He had shown him, /right then/, a blue thread of Simon's hair. And Viral knows well, having seen the process with his own eyes, that Lordgenome is also called the Helix King for /damn good reason/.
"Oh no you ****ing DIDN'T," he snarls, rage searing through his blood as he crunches the control paddles together under his grip. Enkiduran leaps high upwards, leaving Simon to bring up Gurren-Lagann unimpeded, to land several yards before the Undefeated of the East. The incoming bogeys in the sky are likewise ignored for now; other people can deal with them. Never mind that the leaders of the IPA and the Syndicate, respectively, are going after Master Asia as well--before Viral turns that rage on Kamon (and believe him, he intends on doing that before this night is done), he's got something to ask the former DC member.
"Undefeated of the East!! So then what you *really* received from Lordgenome was *this*!?" He grinds his teeth, glancing very briefly again at Kamon. "In that case... In that case, where and when did you get a sample of KAMINA'S DNA!?"
Isa Reichert, just a bit tensely, "Hard enemy radar spike. We will not engage until they draw closer. We are not carrying extra fuel." Which means there's weaponry instead. Lovely missiles. "We will stand by unless something more important enters operational airspace."
One of these days, Duo will learn how to summon Deathscythe with a simple command. The idea just sounds cool, and he can impress all the other Gundam pilots with it. Take that, Evil Kneivel Yuy! For today, he'll have to make do with having the reaper Gundam rise not so dramatically from the scrapyard. All manner of bogies pop up on the mobile suit's scanner, much to its pilot's amusement. "Gunmen, superheroes, and even a Zeon battleship? Wow, did this guy tick off all the wrong people. That group of unidentifieds over there must be his pals."
Duo's smile is an evil smile, and when Duo smiles evilly... Deathscythe's rocket boosters fire to life with a green glow, and the mobile suit launches itself over tall buildings in a single bound. Who needs a cape and tights when you have a Gundam? "What pretty mobile suits you brought to the party, too bad you're all going to die!" There's another flash of bright green, this time from the end of the Gundam's eponymous weapon. A roar of wind, a sizzle of plasma, and a pair of Neo-Hong Kong Zakus may find themselves the Leos du jour.
Duo Maxwell misses Master Asia with his Insert Stock Footage Here attack.
Shin Matsunaga grinds his teeth. "Maxwell."
Wraith: Isa Reichert sounds like she's frowning. "/K'to/?" What?
Shin Matsunaga says, "Someone I'll worry about later. Can anyone see Asia?"
Viral sounds aggravated. "I'm in front of him!"
The Neo Hong Kong forces scatter as the White Wolf opens fire, missiles sailing around the first line of Zakus, one of them losing a leg from a pair of blasts. <> crackles Red Lead. <> Beam rifles open fire as the six-man wing splits off into two sets of three, separating from each other to ensure Shin can't take them down in one shot. As the other Gundams soar downward, Kazuma manages to surprise Green 3, hurling him into his wingman and causing the pair to fireball against the broken earth. <>
<> roars Green Lead as the remaining four Zakus begin blasting down at the Alter User. Yellow Wing, meanwhile, arcs forward to engage Isa's squadron, opening up with a missile barrage. Blue Squadron rushes toward the Deathscythe Gundam, drawing beam sabres as he approaches. THree of them slip in shoulder to shoulder, blocking the scythe with one unified motion as the other three slash at Duo's back and sides. The remainder of the Mobile Suits (two dozen or so by rough count) begin veerring toward the Kogane, seeking to keep the battleship distracted and out of the main fight.
As for Master Asia, he smiles at Simon's antics. They are, after all, familiar. "I think you are the Digger, Simon. And from your DNA - and from the hair I plucked from Kamina when you interrupted me at the hot springs," he adds with a significant glance toward the Enkiduran, "I created a Spiral Warrior of my own. A warrior without peer." He smiles and raises a hand. "And since you wish to do this the hard way.....ARISE, GUNDAMS!"
*snap*
An enormous metal form slams into the earth in front of Master Asia, Superman's manhole cover smashing off its shinguard as the red eyes light up. Master Asia leaps into the air, his Gundam lifting upward as well, and as he steps into the Master's cockpit, a second black form crashes into the earth beside the Distorted Spiral.
"KAMON!" Master Asia roars. "ENTER THIS BODY!"
As the Undefeated of the East speaks those words, the machine's eyes begin to glow a pale, sickly green, shimmering unlight flickering across its surface as systems power up. Those who assaulted the factory of Frozen Heart Ensnared in a Thousand Bloody Arrows will recognize a terrible haunting sensation as the mecha comes to life.
Soulsteel.
Master Asia switches armor modes to Master Gundam.
Master Asia hits Shin Matsunaga with his Lots of Rifles jab.
Master Asia gets a glancing blow on Kazuma Torisuma with his Ditto jab.
Master Asia hits Isa Reichert with his Missiles HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO jab.
Master Asia critically strikes Duo Maxwell with his Backstabx3 attack.
Wraith: Isa Reichert snarls, over the sound of something slamming into the plane's side. "Geist One, engage! Where the hell did they come from?!" Followed by a hasty, "Geist Two, engage!" from Liese. And an irritable "Geist Three, engage!" from Ancel.
Viral curses. /A lot/.
Shin Matsunaga says, "What's happening?"
Viral says, "So THAT'S what he wanted that ****ing soulsteel for!!"
Shin Matsunaga says, "Explain."
Viral says, "A while ago, the Undefeated cut a deal with Crimson Dawn to get soulsteel, which he must have made into that mech! And the deal he cut with Lordgenome..."
Shin Matsunaga says, "...Damn it."
Viral says, "/Dammit/! It wasn't just Spiral Power--he made a ****ing clone out of Kamina and Simon!!"
Shin Matsunaga says, "Can you destroy it before it gets off th-" Beat. "He WHAT?!"
Haruko Haruhara says, "Wow, this guy sounds like a real jerk."
Rocks fly through the air from the arrival of the Gurren-Lagann, falling around Kamon. He doesn't even blink, nor does he lose his stance through the incredible shaking. The Master had trained him well. "That is your body?" Kamon laughs. "You always give me the easy tasks, Master." It looks like he's perfectly willing to simply take them all on with his hands, but the order is given.
The massive machine that lands behind Kamon in response is a massive hulking beast of dark steel, the surface shifting oddly and etched with unnatural patterns and curls. The feet are spiked, the legs long and swept. The ebon chest bears thick, moulded armor in the shape of a screaming face, the shoulders ending in long bladed points. A series of black finlike projections radiate from the back, and each arm ends in taloned gauntlets bearing the same designs as the bracers Kamon wears. The face itself is chiseled and defiant.
And as Master Asia screams, the screaming face opens, with an unnatural shriek. With a leap, Kamon flips into the machine, and it closes, the eyes beginning to gleam with a dark power.
"What do I think you are?" Kamon laughs, within the machine. "I think you're just an inferior castoff! I'll destroy you all! AHAAHAHAHAHAHAH! Laser Galactic Artificial Spiral Tactical Operational Nemesis, ACTIVATE!"
What a mouthful. But can you handle it?
Kamon switches armor modes to Laser GASTON.
Viral, fighting to keep his temper under control. "That's a *kind* way of putting it. And it's true--even if I hadn't figured it out for myself, he just said it himself!"
That really is a lot of beam rifles. Though the ReGelg takes a couple of hits on its shoulder plates, the damage doesn't seem all that severe, just enough to set a few damage indicators alight in Shin's cockpit. He ignores them, gazing straight ahead through his screen and letting his Newtype instincts begin to guide his hands.
Throwing the ReGelg into a short corkscrewing turn, the White Wolf of Solomon banks left, zipping roughly in the direction of the city center. It hits the ground in the middle of a wide street and reaches back to unsling a long beam rifle from its holster - the same type of beam machinegun his old Gelgoog Jager used.
He pauses, however, at the sight of the two Gundams appearing nearby - particularly the latter - and at something coming through the radio. "...A /clone/ of /Kamina/?! And Simon?!"
He forces down his surprise and quickly changes his target. Bringing the ReGelg about, the White Wolf sends the wide-shouldered mobile suit zipping closer to the center of town. With a roar of rocket thrusters it boosts into the air and begins firing a barrage of fiery red beams down at the soulsteel Gundam, the captain obviously hoping to disable the hellish machine before it can get off the ground.
Shin Matsunaga misses Kamon with his Tactics Neenja attack.
The three jets are taken by surprise as the Zakus manage to charge them, quickly enough that they aren't immediately noticed on radar. The missiles corkscrew towards them, slamming into the rear quadrant of Geist One's plane.
Isa's forced to hang tight as she's jolted in her cockpit, the fighter making an unpleasant sound on impact. The Fulcrum trails smoke from the impact, and Isa trails a steady stream of fierce Yuktobanian curses.
"Captain! Are you alright?" Liese's concern is clear over their communications. "That looked like a direct hit!"
"I am fine. Turn and face them. Charge. Ancel, you take their flank. Liese, handle the other side. I will target their flight lead. Burn them all!"
The jet engines scream as all three Fulcrums turn, swooping to descend on the Yellow Wing. All three jets fire their missiles, two apiece, guns blazing as they surge forward in a reckless charge. At the last possible moment, Geists Two and Three swoop up, while Geist One dives to try and snake past them from a lower angle.
Isa Reichert hits Master Asia with her We Want To Plaaaay <3 attack.
Wraith: Isa Reichert curses, in what sounds like Russian. It is quite scathing.
Oh, good, MORE GIANT ROBOTS. Superman looks at his communication watch. "What's..."
"We ran into some, uh, deployment troubles." The Toyman admits, bashfully, looking over at a certain Caped Crusader who has his arms crossed, a scowl on his face, and a towel around his waist. He grabs the watch. "Damn it, Clark, I was in the shower."
"Sorry, old chum!" Superman isn't, and doesn't even bother trying to sound it. "But duty calls! Seriously, they've got Laser GASTON out here. ...you wear your cowl in the shower?"
"Some of us have to work on our hair." The Batman rumbles grimly, proceding to press The Button. Up in the sky, the assembled forces of good, evil, and EXTRA evil will see a large helicopter shaped unnervingly like a plastic G.I. Joe chopper, right down to the red...things that are supposed to be spring powered real fireing missles. It's carrying what looks like...
...half of Superman, and half of Batman, stick together at a rigid, lightning-bolt pattern; both have sickly green skin, a flat head, and Frankenstienian bolts in its neck. That's right, punks: The Combination Superman-Batman Robot!
It lands with a SLAM, the Man of Steel standing dramaticly in front of the mighty robot for a moment, before a still-soggy Batman sticks his head out of the side. "GET UP HERE, HIPPY."
"Right, right, yeesh." Superman rolls his eyes, "No wonder they all make you the girl in the relationship." With a little leap, the Man of Steel leaps up to his half of the cockpit, slipping in and making sure to buckle his seat belt before grabbing the controls. "Hey, he remembered the little Krypton-shaped air freshener!"
"You planned this." Batman asks, it not being a question. "Why."
Superman shrugs, bashfully. "Everyone else was getting to take out giant robots, and I got kinda jealous..." And, as nature itself dictates, the Combination Superman-Batman Robot lumbers forward, swinging a massive, blocky fist at Laser GASTON's manly chiseled jaw!
Superman misses Kamon with his We've Had Yaoi Fangirls Pairing Us Up For Seventy Years attack.
Superman buffs his AGI to +1.
Superman buffs his ACC to +1.
Superman buffs his POW to +1.
"From Kamina..." Simon hears Viral's words - enough for the gears to start turning, for uncertainty to turn into terrible realization, in time for Master Asia to confirm the thing - no, the /person/ - that has been made. His mouth opens, and he loses his composure for a moment to /stare/ at the clone. "From my brother and from me!!" he concludes.
"Undefeated of the East," he then picks up, his lips twisting slightly, into a truly angered growl. "What you've done here... it's unforgiveable! Using my brother and me like that... and making a person like this! But for now, I'll have to handle your creation!"
He leaps, and there is a soft green glow around him - as the Gurren-Lagann kneels down. The head of it swivels open, and he lands inside it, standing defiantly. He crosses his arms. "You've got that wrong... brother!" he shouts, at Kamon. His eyes widen. "I'm Simon, Commander of the Great Gurren Brigade... and the proud digger! If you'll stand in my way, I'll have to break right through you with my drill!"
The man sits down, and the Gurren-Lagann's head cover closes. He grabs a control paddle, and swings it back hard - and the Gurren-Lagann's left arm moves back as well. Two drills emerge from the wrist, and begin to rapidly spin. "And also..." He flies it forward - the boosters on the back rocketing the red and gold mecha at the Laser GASTON. The left wrist is swung forward, with a might punch.
"THAT'S A STUPID ASS NAME FOR A GUNMEN!!"
Simon misses Kamon with his Drill Fist attack.
"You're going to have to try harder than that if you want to stop me!" Kazuma shouts as the Zakus begin to open fire on him. The Alter User skims along the ground for a moment, and then spins up the spinning blade on his back. He spins around, and launches himself right back towards the Green Leader, slamming his fist into the shot that is roaring down on him, deflecting the shot out of the way and sending it spinning off into the distance, leaving only a gash on his arm.
Picking up more and more speed, Kazuma pulls his hand back, slamming his fist straight forward into the center of the Green Leader's Zaku - trying to punch straight through the mech, and continue onwards towards the city.
Kazuma Torisuma misses Master Asia with his Break on through attack.
Nia pauses for a brief moment to stare in awe. She isn't sure why. That's one strange looking collection of Gunmen there, and some of them need more /faces./
"The shelters are just outside the city," Nia explains, "just below ground. Not as deep as the underground cities were. Please, follow me." She begins leading Nono and the evacuees towards the edge of the city, where doorways lead to staircases that spiral downwards. "It is usually unwise to remain below ground for very long...but it is better than the alternative, at the moment. Please, everyone...!"
The time at the hot springs... Viral was *there* for that, he *saw* Master Asia do it, yet at the time he thought nothing of it. He hadn't even thought about it since then until this very moment. He had seen the blue hair of Simon's that Master Asia had plucked, had seen him do something to Kamina's hair, and yet he never put the two together until just now... And now that mech made of Soulsteel, which Master Asia had *admitted* he'd struck a deal with Crimson Dawn to make. This anger isn't just at Master Asia now; it's at himself for having had all the pieces, for having *suspected* him, and having never put the pieces together until now--when it's far too late.
"You..." Viral seethes, controls rattling under his grip as Laser GASTON and the Master Gundamn slam into the ground of the streets of Kamina City (this place is going to get its faces punched in again, poor city). He waits, as pride and honor dictates (despite being well aware that Master Asia can fight just as well without a Gunmen), for his opponent to enter his mech before he charges forward, both massive swords drawn and slashed forward in a single fluid motion. "...****ing PSYCHOPATH!! There's no way I'll tolerate this!"
Viral critically strikes Master Asia with your Viral's Buttons = Good and Pushed attack.
Superman says, "Check it out, Kazuma! Do you have your own robot?"
Superman honks the horn. It plays the Seinfield theme song.
Haruko Haruhara says, ".../dude/, I want one!"
"Of course." Aya is quick to respond to Nia as she does her own work to corral a group of civillians, directing them along. Currently, she is nowhere near Nia, though she can at least /see/ what's going on. She sees the Neo Hong Kong army engaging both IPA, Syndicate, and neither. She also sees that rather odd and strange-looking gunmen.
No time to stand around staring, though, because at this rate all the fighting /in/ the city is definitely going to get it destroyed.
Sephiroth says, "..."
Superman says, "-don't give me that look, Batman, /you/ installed the spinnas."
Kazuma Torisuma says, "..."
Kazuma Torisuma says, "..I'm not even going to respond to that, man."
Superman says, "Cause you can't."
Kazuma Torisuma says, "Next you'll have your own underwear line, and that'll be it."
Ruri Hoshino says, "He already does."
Superman says, "Nah, Spider-Man has the underoo market cornered."
Kazuma Torisuma says, "And you people call me a criminal."
Ruri Hoshino says, "You are a criminal."
Nono, coming from a universe where absurdly long names are commonplace, immediately squeeks, "The Laser Galactic Artificial Spiral Tactical Operational Nemesis!? That sounds really bad! Nia..."
She looks back, continuing to run. "Is it really OK to leave everyone to fight like this?"
Nono is a nice and kind girl, who really wants to save people... but she's also a weapon and a warrior, and her blood is boiling. Still, she lopes along behind Nia, calling, "Everyone, into the shelters! Please, hurry! This is going to become very dangerous, very quickly!"
Nono looks up to the stars. Even if she calls them now -- would they get here in time...?
Superman says, "Well, Kazuma, that's because you steal things that don't belong to you."
Haruko Haruhara says, "They've kinda gotcha there, man."
Kazuma Torisuma says, "...it's hard to argue with that."
There's nothing like turning the script on its head to ruin a Gundam pilot's day. The Deathscythe finds its first strike blocked. Blocked! "Why you-" The scythe spins around to try to parry whats incoming, but there's too many beam sabers and not enough scythe blades. The mobile suit's armor begins to tear and sparks fly out from shredded holds in the torso. For his part, Duo may no longer be a happy camper, but he's smiling. Its a dark bitter smile, but oh how he's grinning from ear to ear. "I hope you enjoyed your fifteen seconds."
Deathscythe's blade flickers, then suddenly dies without even a fizzle. It didn't have enough time for that, as the Gundam twirls the staff around then rams it head-first into the abdomen mobile suit of Blue Squadron. "Because right now: It's over." Another flash of green, and the scythe bursts back to life - with any luck right in the middle of the Zaku.
Duo Maxwell critically strikes Master Asia with his You're Doing It Wrong attack.
BONUS EXTRA:
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Name: Kamon
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Gender: Male
Source: Mobile Fighter G Lagann
Faction: Neo Hong Kong
Group: None
Function: Artificial Spiral Warrior
Quote: "You seek to stop me? To stop my master? WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DEALING WITH?"
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Profile: When the Undefeated of the East sought to harness Spiral Power to fuel the apocalyptic weapon known as the Devil Gundam, he needed a living being to serve as its core. When early efforts to recruit one to his purposes were rebutted, Master Asia sought another way - he used the advanced cloning technology of the Helix King to create a hybrid clone of two of the most powerful Spiral Warriors on the planet: Lord Kamina and the Digger Simon. And even though the Devil Gundam rejected him, the Spiral clone known as Kamon still lives...and obeys without question the twisted orders of the Undefeated of the East.
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Skills: Who The Hell Do You Think I Am?, Roh, Roh, I /AM/ The Power, I Think I'm A Clone Now, I Draw My Power From The Incestuous Simon/Kamina Gattai Wishes Of A Thousand Yaoi Fangirls, Bitch, So Unless Your Name Is Severus Snape What Chance Do You Have?
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