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a took it all in with keen-eyed%0D%0A%3E interest. I%27d been half afraid she would lose interest quickly when%0D%0A%3E we got into the technical stuff%2C but on the contrary%2C she seemed to%0D%0A%3E become more interested as we progressed. %0D%0A%0D%0AI have to wonder if this was intentional foreshadowing%2C but given her previous interest in Transformers%2C this actually would kind of just be a progression. Admittedly%2C the era of TFs she was discussing wasn%27t as complex%28sometimes excessively so%29 as modern day ones%2C but I%27ve messed about with a few of the G1 era toys. They%27re as manual dexterity building as later ones. Just heavier.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E My spirits restored%2C I all but bounded into the house%2C ready for%0D%0A%3E the next challenge -%0D%0A%3E - and found Gryph sitting on the shag pile in the middle of the%0D%0A%3E living room%2C surrounded by Japanese schoolgirls.%0D%0A%0D%0A%22Oh god%2C they%27re breeding%21%22 ...is exactly the wrong snarky line to go here%2C actually.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E %22Um%2C are you riding the same trains I am%3F%22 Hinata asked%2C but Kei%0D%0A%3E wasn%27t going to be deflected from her defense now.%0D%0A%0D%0AThis line just slew me right off%2C even moreso than the back and forth chatter. Though I%27m reminded of the ending video for DOA4%27s Lei Fang where such%2C ah%2C friskiness gets a poor guy booted out the train window and off a bridge %28played for laughs%2C of course%29. Given Hinata%2C I have to wonder if she exercises more restraint or not.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E %22I -also- told you we should have brought Ibuki%2C%22 she went on.%0D%0A%3E %22She knows how to deal with international travel. And whoever took our%0D%0A%3E tickets would be missing a hand now%2C and we%27d still have our tickets.%22%0D%0A%3E Natsu snorted. %22And then we%27d all have gotten arrested -except-%0D%0A%3E her%2C because she%27d have been all one with the night and stuff by the%0D%0A%3E time the cops showed up.%22%0D%0A%0D%0A%22Ibuki School Shadow Sword Co.%2C Ltd.%2C on the behalf of their clients%2C would like to inform you that said tickets will be returned%2C or you will be %5Bu%5Dkilled to death%5B%2Fu%5D.%22%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E %22Just be glad we didn%27t bring Makoto%2C%22 said Akira quietly.%0D%0A%3E %22Then there would have been compound fractures.%22%0D%0A%0D%0AI know this is a different Makoto %28as to my knowledge%2C there%27s no Mai-HiME%2FStreet Fighter Capcom crossover%29%2C but that name seems to crop up repeatedly attached to small Japanese girls who break people.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E %22Also%2C%22 Kei added%2C %22can I just point out that we wouldn%27t need%0D%0A%3E return tickets if we%27d brought Karin along%3F%22%0D%0A%3E %22No%2C but she%27d still have managed to get us arrested somehow%2C%22%0D%0A%3E Hinata pointed out.%0D%0A%3E %22True.%22%0D%0A%0D%0ADon%27t you just love friends with that reputation%3F And yet it%27s %2Anot%2A inaccurate...%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E %22I wrote you guys letters%21%22 Sakura protested. %22I told you%0D%0A%3Eeverything was great%21%22%0D%0A%3E %22Well... yeah%2C but... we assumed he -made- you write that%2C%22%0D%0A%3EHinata said.%0D%0A%3E %22Oh%2C thank you%2C%22 Gryph said.%0D%0A%3E %22I had to do a research paper last term about human%0D%0Atrafficking%2C%22 said Natsu. %22I thought I recognized the signs.%22%0D%0A%3E %22You what%3F%22 I asked.%0D%0A%0D%0AI have this image of Megazone%27s face with just a flat %22What.%22 expression right here. And wondering how many of those stories out of Japan are true now.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%22Yeah%2C%22 I said. %22It%27s what he does. People stop by%2C he feeds%0D%0A%3Ethem. And after lunch we%27ll most likely see about getting your ticket%0D%0A%3Eproblem sorted out.%22 I shrugged. %22Unless Prince Hassan makes us a good%0D%0A%3Eoffer.%22 She blinked and edged away slightly%2C and I chided myself for%0D%0A%3Eexcessive puckishness. %22That was a joke%2C%22 I told her.%0D%0A%3E %22Zoner%2C%22 Gryph admonished me from behind the range.%0D%0A%3E %22Sorry%2C%22 I said%2C genuinely contrite.%0D%0A%3E %22You know Hassan doesn%27t pay worth a damn for Japanese girls%2C%22%0D%0A%3ESakura threw in offhandedly. %22That%27s why I%27m still in stock.%22%0D%0A%3E %22-Sakura%2C-%22 said Gryph.%0D%0A%3E %22Sorry.%22%0D%0A%3E He shook his head%2C most of his attention on what he was stir-%0D%0A%3Efrying. %22Going to scar these poor girls for life%2C%22 he muttered.%0D%0A%3E %22Don%27t sweat it%2C%22 Natsu said. %22We%27re used to Sakura%27s warped%0D%0A%3Esense of humor. We just didn%27t realize she%27d found a sugar daddy who%0D%0A%3Ecould appreciate it.%22%0D%0A%3E %22Natsu%21%22 Hinata burst out%2C setting everybody laughing.%0D%0A%0D%0AWell%2C I think they%27ve bonded.%0D%0A%0D%0ASo long as Gryphon doesn%27t mention how he threw himself into Sakura.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%22What are you doing%3F%22 Kei asked.%0D%0A%3E %22I%27m putting on a mask%2C%22 Sakura replied.%0D%0A%3E Kei gave her a look. %22I can see that.%22%0D%0A%3E %22Then why%27d you ask%3F%22 Sakura wondered innocently.%0D%0A%3E Kei paused%2C with the look of someone who is mentally counting to%0D%0A%3Esome fairly high number%2C and then said patiently%2C %22I%27ll rephrase the%0D%0A%3Equestion. -Why- are you putting on a mask%3F%22%0D%0A%3E %22Look around%2C%22 Sakura said%2C gesturing to the crowd of people who%0D%0A%3Ehad gathered to watch the match. %22Phone cams -everywhere.- This is%0D%0A%3Egoing to end up on the Internet. Suppose crazy Child Welfare lady%0D%0A%3Egoogles Gryphon-sensei tomorrow%3F That%27s -all- we need.%22%0D%0A%0D%0AI%27m reminded of the recent Gunsmith Cats Burst volumes which also ever so quietly updated the tech base between installments without much visible time change. It%27s a rather amusing and boggling thing to watch how much changed over 8 years. I mean%2C google%27s a verb now.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E This man%27s way of fighting was just as direct%2C just as%0D%0A%3E straightforward%2C as my former master%27s%2C but he lacked the master%27s%0D%0A%3E brutality. No - more than that. He seemed somehow to -eschew- the%0D%0A%3E master%27s brutality%2C like a man who has a gun and chooses not to use it.%0D%0A%3E He possessed a similar psychic gift%2C what Bison calls his %22psycho%0D%0A%3E power%22%2C but harnessed it only to defeat%2C not to destroy%2C his opponents.%0D%0A%3E This required more effort%2C more -finesse-. I realized%2C with another in%0D%0A%3E the long series of shocks my life had become%2C that in this respect his%0D%0A%3E method%2C seen in person%2C made Lord Bison%27s seem...%0D%0A%3E ... crude.%0D%0A%0D%0AI recall a documentary at some point where a given policeman was noting that subduing a random person is both less and more dangerous than a trained fighter%2C because you know where a trained fighter will attack%2C and that they%27ll typically only utilize the minimum amount of force necessary to accomplish a goal%2C in the interests of stamina%2C whereas the untrained person can seriously injure someone because they%27re panicked%2C running on adrenaline%2C and just %2Ahitting harder%2A than they have any right to. %0D%0A%0D%0ABison is most definitely aware of what he%27s doing%2C but I imagine he doesn%27t run complicated combat analysis in his head regarding how badly he%27ll break someone. He just hits them and sees how much is left after. Of course%2C in most fighting games%2C you can afford a little less subtlety when you take off a third of someone%27s health bar with a single direct hit...%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E That%27s crazier than the time I challenged Karin Kanzuki to a hot dog contest.%0D%0A%3E And I%27ve got a much better chance of not puking in Kei%27s backpack.%0D%0A%0D%0AEddie Honda says kids these days have no stamina.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E As the only member of our little group who%0D%0A%3E could even slightly speak the language - and it was VERY slightly - I%0D%0A%3E had to explain to the startled priest what four foreign teenagers had%0D%0A%3E barged into his place of refuge to do.%0D%0A%0D%0APoor Kei. She%27s the only normal one in her group. %3Cl%3E%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E %22Are you girls lost or something%3F%22 the guy repeated in that%0D%0A%3E language. %22We got no quarrel with you. Why don%27t you take off%3F If you%0D%0A%3E go that way%2C%22 he said%2C pointing to the side of the church away from the%0D%0A%3E restaurant and the mob scene we%27d seen on our way over here%2C %22you won%27t%0D%0A%3E run into our friends. Just keep going %27til you get to the the Metro.%22%0D%0A%3E %22What%2C walk away and just let you trash a church and scare all%0D%0A%3E these kids%3F%22 Hinata replied scornfully.%0D%0A%3E %22Yeah%2C uh%2C that%27s not really gonna happen%2C%22 Natsu agreed.%0D%0A%3E %3COh%2C great%2C%3E said the first one who%27d spoken. %3CCouple of%0D%0A%3E tourist chicks who think they%27re heroes.%3E%0D%0A%0D%0AOh%2C those poor fools. Didn%27t their parents ever teach them that Japanese schoolgirls are one of the most dangerous breeds when threatened%3F%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E %22Nice%21%22 she said. %22You get some real friction out of this%0D%0A%3E surface. I wish I%27d discovered these things -years- ago.%22%0D%0A%3E %22You probably did%2C%22 Hinata told her. %22Remember second grade%3F%22%0D%0A%3E %22Only thing I remember from second grade is the time I got sent%0D%0A%3E home for punching Billy Himura%2C%22 Natsu replied.%0D%0A%3E %22Why%27d you do that%3F%22%0D%0A%3E %22Dunno. I probably liked him. I was a conflicted child.%22%0D%0A%0D%0ACheery%2C unrelated banter%3A %2B5 to combat roll%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E T%C3%ADo Fuerte says that the mask gives the fighter his power%2C and%0D%0A%3E that when he puts it on%2C he becomes more than just a man. I thought he%0D%0A%3E was just telling me a kiddie story - even though I%27m almost eleven%21 -%0D%0A%3E until the day I saw Akira put on Rey%27s helmet.%0D%0A%0D%0AAnd the thugs really should have interrupted the transformation sequence. Not that it would%27ve helped them much.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E %3CI%27ve never met the man myself%2C%3E I said%2C %3Cbut from what I%27ve%0D%0A%3E heard about him - from people I trust - I hope I never do. There aren%27t%0D%0A%3E many people on Earth I can honestly say I%27m scared of%2C but him%3F Yeah.%3E%0D%0A%3E %3CBut... by thwarting his plan for Milm%C3%A1scaras%2C you may have put%0D%0A%3E yourself in his path%2C%3E El Fuerte said.%0D%0A%3E %3CI was there anyway%2C%3E I said. %3CHe%27s got a personal connection%0D%0A%3E to Gryph that%27s eventually going to put them on a collision course. I%0D%0A%3E don%27t think Bison%27s really aware of him yet%2C but it%27s only a matter of%0D%0A%3E time. When that day comes%2C I%27m going to be right in the firing line -%0D%0A%3E because I%27m not going to run out on my best friend. Not even when the%0D%0A%3E devil himself is coming after him.%3E%0D%0A%0D%0AYet more Bison foreshadowing. Which%2C ironically%2C has already started creating an image of the guy in mind. Admittedly%2C my own is an odd amalgam of Bison from the games%2C the handful of appearances he made in the Udon books%2C %5Bi%5DRaul Julia%5B%2Fi%5D%2C and an odd final spot%2C namely the archvillain Reichsman from City of Heroes. Which is odd until you consider that he%27s essentially Nazi Statesman in a group that has their primary colors as red and black...which results in%2C well. Let%27s just say I think that the NCSoft crew was playing a lot of Street Fighter Alpha when they designed him.%0D%0A%0D%0AIronically%2C again%2C given the chops he%27s given in WL%2C a lot of Raul%27s hammier lines from the cheesetastic movie could become actually frightening.%0D%0A%0D%0A%22What%27s the matter%2C Gryphon%3F You came here prepared to face a %27madman%27 and instead you found A GOD%3F%22%0D%0A%0D%0A%3E%09%22If that were from anyone else%2C I%27d pretend it got lost in the%0D%0A%3E mail%2C%22 Gryph said heavily.%0D%0A%3E%09%22Yeah%2C but it%27s not%2C%22 I told him. %22And that means you%27re%0D%0A%3E stuck.%22%0D%0A%3E%09He sighed. %22Yup. I did promise.%22%0D%0A%3E%09%22What investigation%3F%22 Sakura asked.%0D%0A%3E%09%22And who%27s %27Li%27%3F%22 Cammy wondered.%0D%0A%3E%09%22Well%2C%22 Gryph said%2C %22it%27s kind of a long story. The first time%0D%0A%3E Zoner and I visited Hong Kong%2C not long after we started Trailing Edge%2C%0D%0A%3E we met this cop... %22%0D%0A%0D%0AWell%2C it could be worse. If it was her %2Asecond%2A most important investigation %28assuming Gen%27s death happened here like in the comics%29%2C things could get nasty.. ""
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version 3.3 © 2001
Eyrie Productions,
Unlimited
Benjamin
D. Hutchins
E P U (Colour)
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