It was early morning. It was that quiet time when even large cities slowed down. The sun had not yet broken the horizon, but the sky was beginning to glow with the promise of dawn. The streets were as empty as Megatokyo ever became, only the occasional car carrying. In a rather unsavory part of town, two young men were huffing as they sprinted down the sidewalk, side by side. One of them was clearly taller and running easier, but the shorter man kept up, running as if the hordes of hades were on his heels.
"YOU'ZE AIN'T GITTING AWAY DAT EASY!" A flurry of cat calls and threats of violence followed.
No demonic horde, just a gang of thugs, but that didn't ease the two men's fears.
"This is... YOUR fault!" Andy gasped as they kept up their straight sprint.
"Me?" Aldo grunted as he struggled to keep up. "Was.. Following you!"
Hoots and hollers were thrown at them by the Megatokyo street gang the two had stumbled upon during their early morning job. Literally, they were cutting through an alley when Aldo had kicked a trash can, stumbled and tripped over four faux-leather-clad punks suffering hangovers sitting in the filth of the alley. Aldo apologized and had two knives, a pair of brass knuckles, and, of all things, a cyberarm with a power drill attachment pulled on him.
At first, Aldo was astonished. Only two week into their stay in Bubblegum Crisis, this was the men's first encounter with the gangs of Megatokyo. Aldo turned to Andy with this "Are they kidding?" look on his face. What followed was a parody of diplomacy. Andy would try to placate them while Aldo kept provoking them, followed by Andy trying to shush his friend.
"Shut up, Aldo!"
"But why? They're just drunk idiots." The reality of the situation just didn't seem to register with Aldo.
It was one half-filled trash can, a knocked out punk (the one with the cyber-arm), and a dozen reinforcements for the original four before Aldo was finally convinced of the dire reality.
And so it was the rapidly brightening glow of the pre-dawn sky that met the two young men running, if not for their lives, then at least to avoid severe bodily injury.
Normally, it would not be much of a feat for the two very fit young men to outrun a group, and with the group drunk or high it should have been laughable easy. However, it seemed that more than one member of the gang had extensive cybernetic enhancements. At least three kept up when the others dropped out, loping behind, content to keep up their game. Another pair hopped on a motorcycle at some point and were continuously revving their engine to add to the noise.
"We need..." Aldo was heaving for breath at this point. "A cop."
"Well, there aren't any around since you dragged us into the bad part of town to go running!"
It was an testament to Andy's character that he hadn't left Aldo behind. Where Aldo was able to do push ups and sit ups forever, Andy was built to be a runner. It was a point of pride for him that he could leave Aldo eating his dust in any race.
"Go. Get. A. Cop."
Andy spared a glance over. "What?"
"Can't keep up. Shopping zone. That way." Aldo began to slow, Andy slowed with him. "GO!" Aldo whacked the other man across the back, and, startled, Andy jumped forward. "Come back with a cop!"
Aldo staggered to a stop as his friend sprinted away. "Hurry it up, Mr. Bower." He gasped before turning to face the gang as they drew up in a semi-circle around him.
"Your buddy left you to die."
Hands on his knees, he kept an eye on the gang as he slowed his breath till the wheeze disappeared and became controlled and even.
"You hear that you stupid mo'fooker?"
Aldo slowly straightened up his body, "Well I forgot to get him a card for Christmas so now we're even." He reached across his body with one arm and began stretching it. "Give me a few moments and I'll get around to kicking your butts."
This is it, Aldo. He thought to himself as he warily eyed his opponent. This guy has probably been in more street brawls than I've ever dreamed of. The only chance I've got is by being more aggressive.
*WHAM* "FREAKIN' MAKER!" Aldo cried out in pain as the enhanced fist slammed through his block like a hammer through wet tissue paper.
There was the unmistakable whine of overcharged servos as the guy posed and flexed his arms. "I guess you don't know me. I'm Steelfist, there is no fist that hits faster or harder than mine."
Steelfist? Where the zark is Twister when you need him? This guy is practically the whipping boy of Bubblegum Crisis fanfiction. Of course with the usual self-insert character this chromed-out street punk wouldn't stand a chance. Man, I don't even have martial arts training by Ranma. Oh well, go with what you know.
Aldo rush in, avoiding one wild swing before getting in too close for Steelfist to take advantage of his reach or mechanically-strengthen punches. Dropping to a knee, Aldo hugged his opponent's leg and stood up while jerking the leg out.
Surprised by the tactic and unable to maintain his balance Steelfist landed heavily on his back, the wind knocked out. Aldo followed him down to the ground, not giving him a chance to recover. It was a testament to his toughness and experience that Steelfist wasn't finished there. Straddled his chest, Aldo yanked the collar across the windpipe and arteries in the neck and pulled tight, but in the seconds it took for the blood to be cut off to the brain, Steelfist managed to seize Aldo's wrists and with overwhelming strength pull them from his neck. Wincing at the pain of the grip, Aldo twisted his hands free and the fight continued.
Aldo kept the fight on the ground trying to grab and achieve positions of dominance. Trying for an eye gouge it was intercepted and countered with a mechanical thumb digging into a pressure point on his hand which he reversed into a wrist lock. However, not being normal flesh and bone wrist, the lock didn't achieve much. Aldo quickly realized he was much more skilled in technique, but it was taking all of his training to keep up and adapt.
Aldo focused on performing his techniques perfectly and mentally reviewed the moves he was putting into effect. Anything less than perfection would be disastrous. The Mount, his mind recited as he achieved that position. Straddling the opponent on your knees while the opponent is on his back. Keep your knees in tight and up high in the opponent's arm pits to restrict the opponent's arm movement and feet out to prevent the opponent from grabbing a foot. Kinda like he just did. Steelfist's arms apparently could reach further than normal humans, and, managed to snag one of Aldo's feet, he tossed Aldo off his body. Fortunately, Aldo had a firm grip on Steelfist's collar and dragged the man with him, falling back into...
The Guard, legs wrapped around the opponent's torso and used to control the opponent's distance. Use the legs to pull the opponent in close when you want to strike. Aldo popped Steelfist a quick one on the temple that he quickly shook off. Or to push your opponent away. He stretched out his body to keep his head out of range of the chrome fists. Steelfist quickly realized he couldn't reach that face he wanted to break and grabbed for Aldo's collar intending to pull his target to him and began to stagger to his feet. If the little bastard wouldn't let go he'd smash him against the ground AND beat the living daylight out of him. Which puts Steelfist in position for...
Scissor sweep. Aldo dropped one leg to the floor and slide the other one high on Steelfist's chest. His hands grasped Steelfist's reaching arm and collar on the same side as his dropped leg and by scissoring his legs while yanking on the collar his staggering opponent, already top heavy because of the metal arms, lost his balance and rolled onto his side, followed closely by Aldo rolling with him into...
The Mount. Back where we started, oh joy.
The fight degenerated to Aldo achieving a position of strength from which he'd try to perform a disabling move, Steelfist using his vastly superior strength to break free, then Aldo rolling with the punch into another position of strength. He was trying to not give Steelfist the chance to attack, but Aldo was still absorbing damage, without the strength to deal it back. The only wall between him and panic was that silently whispering voice reciting every move he made. His left arm went numb from blocking a jab, his ears were ringing and his head pounding from being boxed. There were more injuries, but the adrenaline and endorphins were keeping him mostly pain-free and still fighting.
Finally, Aldo tried for another choke. Again the Mount, Aldo grasped both sides of Steelfist's leather jacket collar and making fists he used the collar to create the leverage to dig his knuckles into the sides of Steelfist's neck, cutting off blood and air to the brain. The Nutcracker choke. This time, to further distract his opponent, he removed all distance between them, pressing his chest into Steelfist's face with the weight of his body and with the grip on the collars pulled Steelfist's head up and moving together with his body, he slammed it against the ground. His body smothered Steelfist's face while the chokehold cut off the blood. All Steelfist could think to do with his opponent so close was to use the his mighty arms again and wrapped them around Aldo's back in crushing bear hug while his legs flailed attempting to roll away, buck his opponent off, anything. For seconds Aldo felt his ribs and spine crack as the pain threatened to make him insensate.
Then it was over.
Aldo rolled off the unconscious Steelfist to the side, dazed and desperately trying to stop the world from spinning.
"FUCK YOU, ASSHOLE!" One of the gang yelled. Aldo looked up, the encircling gang members had been standing in shock, even as their leader laid screaming on the ground. The reality of their strongest member being defeated hitting them almost as hard as one of Steelfist's punches had hit Aldo. Now they were waking up from their shock. And they were pissed.
He would deny it later, but a sound very close to a whimper escaped from his lips.
"You'ze be dog meat." They closed in.
*****
Nene didn't particularly enjoy her job in the ADP. Sylia was the one who encouraged her to take the ADP examination, citing the usefulness of a member of the Knight Sabers in the police force and emphasizing the excitement of being a spy. The ADP examination had been child's play, in fact she had to hack the computers to record a lower score than what she had earned.
"I'm a sucker." Nene hung her head despondently. She was currently on a punishment detail, early morning traffic duty, for her last time at the firing range. It wasn't her fault she hadn't joined the ADP or the Knight Saber to shoot things. Her talents laid in the realm of the mind. Stifling a yawn she sat in her mini electric patrol car waiting for the morning rush hour to start.
*BAM* "AHHH!" Nene let out a shriek as something hammered at her mini's windshield hard enough to shake the vehicle. Gulping a couple deep breathes she stared at the wreck of a man yelling and wild-eyed outside her car. He was dressed in a baggy running outfit literally dripping with sweat. His wild eyes stared into hers and she could only stare back into them, temporarily paralyzed by fright and his brown eyes. They looked so desperate and full of fear. Lost in those eyes it took a moment for her to realize he was yelling.
"My friend needs help!" He was pointing down the street. "Some gang attacked, and we need to go save him!"
The words spurred Nene into action. Starting the motor to her police mini with one hand she gestured with other for the man to enter the passenger side. "Get in. Where is this?" The man collapsed in the seat and pointed. She barely allowed him to close the door before taking off, tires squealing.
*****
Aldo was rolled over onto his back, and he look up fuzzily "Bower?" Andy appeared in triplicate and spinning along with the rest of the world.
"Crap, Aldo, what did they do to you?" The gang had vanished by the time the police car had reached the scene, evidently scared off by the siren. All that was left was a bloody and battered Aldo unable to move.
Andy was hurriedly laying out the first aid kit and trying to find something recognizable as painkiller. Unfortunately, his outdated medical knowledge was baffled by the medical technology of the year 2031. Nene, pushed Andy out of the way and began pulling items out of the kit. At a loss, Andy knelt beside his friend while Nene began applying her, admittedly rudimentary, first aid skills.
"It really freakin' hurts, Mr. Bower." Aldo's voice was garbled. He weakly spat some blood, managing to dribble it down his cheek. "Bubblegum Crisis is a pretty tough place." He said, this time his voice a little clearer.
"Shut up, moron. This is not some stupid anime or movie, you are not going to die right here in front of me."
"I'm dying?" Apparently the prospect hadn't entered into Aldo's mind.
"Oh carp! That's not what I meant!"
Aldo seized Andy and Nene by their sleeves, forcing them to halt their actions and look at him. "If I don't make it..." He gasped, trying to draw breath.
"You're fine." Andy tried to reassure his friend.
"Promise me..." Aldo wheezed.
"Sir, you should let us go so we can treat you." Nene tried to release the bloody hand from her blouse.
"Promise me... You'll get together, have a kid, and name it after me." Aldo finally blurted. His head fell back on the ground, apparently exhausted from the effort.
Both Andy and Nene blinked, shocked at the request. Andy glanced at Nene before coughing uncomfortably. The sound shook Nene and she blushed, looking everywhere except at the man next to her.
"Uh, I think he's just hallucinating or something." Andy said.
"Er, right. I'm sure it is just his injuries talking." Nene was just realizing that despite the baggy running outfit and the unshaven stubble, the man next to her was handsome and with a lean and athletic body.
"Well, maybe not only the injuries. He always says crazy things."
Nene looked at him. "Yeah, crazy." With the desperation gone, his eyes were very warm.
"Hey!" Aldo interjected, distracting both of them. "Try to save my life first!"