Second Clue - Text/Commentlog

[huragokwhistler]

I guess I lost a month somewhere, since it's apparently December now. Well, merry Christmas or whatever holiday everyone celebrates in the winter!

[ Rookie can be non-denominational, see? If anyone's looking for him, they'll find him on the snowy jogging track on Deck Two, out for a run in his armor. What? It's warm! And also face-obscuring. ]

Comments

[defiant_rage]

[Oh hey, Rookie, look who just happens to be stalking Deck Two in a huff. He's still agitated over his random encounter with the ship elf... and when he sees you, he stops.

He knows that armor. He's slain countless of your types of soldiers. And he can't believe one of you has shown up here.]

[defiant_rage]

End me? Pathetic! You couldn't hope to accomplish such a feat!

[A small portion of the Elite's flank isn't covered by his armor, just above the hip; the boot against his side hurts, and Ripa's grip relaxes a fraction for a few moments. He's surprised that this human has managed to hurt him at all.]

[huragokwhistler]

Never say never!

[ He feels the grip on his arm loosen and renews his efforts to free it. If he could just get it free he could hopefully scramble onto the Elite's back and get his arms around his neck. Though Ripa isn't the only one surprised that the Rookie managed to hurt him; he's been kicking blind. ]

[defiant_rage]

[Ripa roars and attempts to toss the ODST. He just wants to get that nuisance away from him for one damn second so that he doesn't feel those grubby finger scrabbling over his armor.]

[huragokwhistler]

[ The Rookie yelps in pain - oh God it feels like his arm is being ripped off - finally losing his grip on the Elite's shoulder plate. ]

[defiant_rage]

[Ripa growls in relief when he feels the human let go. He roars once before straightening up. He sticks his head a few mere inches from the Rookie's visor.]

Like the rest of your race, weak. The mere thought that you would attempt stand up against my brethren amuses me.

[huragokwhistler]

[ For his part, he doesn't flinch when all he can see is the face and orange eyes of the Arbiter. The Rookie squares his shoulders once he's got his footing again, not pulling away. Even if he can't be seen behind his visor, he's staring right at Ripa. ]

Better to fight than roll over.

[defiant_rage]

[The mandibles curl back into a cruel smile.]

You're hardly putting up a fight now. Surely that isn't the best you can muster?

[His arrogance means he isn't on his guard. At all. Hopefully the Rookie can see that.]

[huragokwhistler]

[ He does. He's gotten a feel for cockiness since transferring to Buck's squad. He shrugs casually, then aims a swift punch at the Elite's unarmored side. Regardless of whether or not is connects, right after he drops to kick a booted foot out at Ripa's leg. ]

[defiant_rage]

[It hits, and it hurts. Although not incapacitating, the Elite staggers briefly before his leg goes out from underneath him. Down on one side, the Arbiter roars in fury and swings his knives to bear in a defensive position.]

[huragokwhistler]

[ The Rookie scrabbles backwards away from those knives and scrambles to his feet, pulling into a defensive fighting posture. He motions for the Arbiter to get up with a couple jerks of his head. ]

Can muster more, if you want.

[defiant_rage]

[Ripa springs up from the ground and is charging for the Rookie without a second thought. He's infuriated that this human would even touch him, let alone hurt him.

The blades swing forward in a mad dash to close the distance between the Arbiter and the ODST.]

[huragokwhistler]

[ The Rookie doesn't have time to wonder if his armor can handle knives attached to a charging Elite. He's already moving to dodge as fast as possible.

That doesn't mean the Helljumper gets out of the way fast enough, and one of the blades drags along his side where the armor is thinner. Nothing but that Kevlar stuff there. ]

[defiant_rage]

[Ripa snarls with delight when the blade bites in. He drops his shoulder and pushes against his attacker, hoping the drive his knife in deeper. This also brings his neck closer to the ODST's reach.]

[huragokwhistler]

[ He is not liking his current position so much as the blade starts pushing into his armor. He couldn't remember if he'd heard anything about Kevlar and close-range weaponry. The Rookie can only hope it'll hold for a little while longer. Long enough for him to bring a fist up in an uppercut to the Elite's neck.

[defiant_rage]

[Ripa attempts to grab for the fist that hooks into his neck, even as he staggers and coughs. This fight is beginning to be more troublesome than he anticipated.]