Section Seven
New fighters continued pouring into the ring.
"OMEGA RUGAL!" (King of Fighters '95)
The Rugal of the past, the more gentle, caring Rugal, was gone now. Omega Rugal was here. Omega Rugal was a killing machine. And he wanted Haohmaru.
"SENTINEL!" (X-Men: Children of the Atom)
The gigantic robot stomped down to ringside. All the fighters present briefly wondered how they were supposed to fight something that big.
"EARTHQUAKE!" (Samurai Showdown 2)
Birdman clicked on his com unit. "Brant... can the ring take both of them at the same time?"
"Them, plus Kuma, plus Juggernaut, plus every wrestler from the Slam Masters, 3 Count Bout, and Wrestlemania nodes, plus Wan-Fu, plus E. Honda, plus Axel Hawk, plus..."
"I get the point."
Of course, the ring's structural integrity was of secondary importance to the fighters within it.
Eliminated Seating
Takuma, Cyclops, and Yoshimitsu entered the seating, and quickly headed over to Dan (whom Takuma had noticed talking to Ryo).
"Where did my son go?"
Dan looked worried. "He went looking for information on who we're up against. It might be more than Shao Kahn."
Takuma swore quietly. "Where is he? Shouldn't he be back by now?"
"I was just about to go after him, with Rikuo... he's with us now."
"We're all going, then."
Yoshimitsu agreed. "We're going to save the king!"
"Whatever." muttered Cyclops.
He noticed something. Where was Psylocke?
The Ring
"YURI SAKAZAKI!" (King of Fighters '95)
Seeing Takuma leave, and Ryo not present, Yuri wondered briefly if the two of them had decided, for once in their lives, to fight in private about Ryo's lack of a social life, rather than in public.
She muttered to herself. "No such luck. They're probably both in the bathroom."
"BAEK!" (Tekken 2)
Looking at Omega Rugal, Baek was suddenly very glad that he had signed on with the winning side.
"CHIEF THUNDER!" (Killer Instinct)
"And that would be Chief Thunder, another member of the Killer Instinct team. So, Professor Tym... why exactly have the KI fighters been having such a rough go of it?"
"One of the dangers of internodal combat, my boy. You see, most of the Instinctual Killers base their fighting style around charging moves-rush in and deal damage, set yourself for a combo. However, most of the other nodes, don't you know, have gone for more well-rounded moves. There's only a couple of KI fighters that I feel pose a threat to any non-KI fighter. Jago, because his moves are less charge-based; Fulgore, for the same reason... possibly Riptor."
"But Chief Thunder?"
"A puddle in a rainstorm, my boy."
Workout Room, RumbleDome Hotel
Nunzio nodded at the Highdancers, who left promptly to head back to Central Command. "So. Here we are, back at the workout room. I trust you will stay here until further notice?"
Captain Kidd nodded. "Hey! Ho! You can count on us..."
"Very good. Good day, gentlemen..." and the Italian strode off.
Sie Kensou groaned. "We failed..."
Captain Kidd opened the door. "Things could be worse. We still have people to send out..."
Looking in on the workout room, they saw how wrong that statement was. Kung Lao was pinned underneath a set of barbells. Jago was missing, as was Jubei Yagyu. Iceman was standing in the corner, rubbing his head.
Kidd looked around. "What happened?"
"We got our butts kicked is what happened. Must've been seven or eight fighters... first, Jago just left, then they rushed in, got us by surprise... Jubei ran out, screaming battle cries, we heard him for a while, but then he just... stopped." Iceman groaned out the words rather then speak them. "Come on. We gotta get Kung Lao out from under those weights..."
The Ring
"HEIDERN!" (King of Fighters '95)
The powerful mercenary strode down to ringside, his eyes fixed on Rugal. "You are MINE, Rugal! Mine and no other's!"
"MANTAZZ!" (Time Killers)
"Food for the nezzzt! You will all be food for the nezzzt!"
"MUDMAN!" (World Heroes Perfect)
"Woo-hoo! Woo-hoo! Woo-hoo!"
Up in the control booth, Birdman turned to Reptile. "You know, I can't help wondering if he actually says anything than that."
Room 245, RumbleDome Hotel
Demitri opened the door, surprising Mizuki, who had been stroking the fur of her Demon Dog coolly. After him marched in five fighters...the biggest surprise being Jubei Yagyu.
"I'm impressed. Introductions?"
Demitri bowed. "Blue Mary and Bob Wilson, from the Fatal Fury 3 tourney; Heihachi and Nina Williams, from the Tekken node; and I believe you know Jubei Yagyu, who quite literally ran into me."
"You do good work, Demitri. One of these days you'll go places." She turned away. He certainly was a useful tool, but nothing more...
"WIPEOUT!"
Mizuki turned, to see Demitri directly in front of her, and her Demon Dog stunned on the floor, somewhat burnt. She couldn't react before Demitri had sunk his fangs into her neck.
She could feel his thoughts. "You should have known I would never be content to remain your servant, Mizuki...and now you will be mine. Today, it appears, is the day I go places..."
The Ring
"RASPUTIN!" (World Heroes Perfect)
"Now, now, now! There must be a better way to resolve who the best fighter is than actually fighting, no? How about a dancing contest? That seems like a lovely way to get to know one another, doesn't it?"
Earthquake responded. "Yeah! My butt and your face!"
Rasputin launched a Lightning Ball at Earthquake. "Now now. Sarcasm doesn't befit you, my boy."
and, the final fighter of this section:
"LAU CHAN!" (Virtua Fighter 2)
The Virtua Fighter, before entering the ring, waited patiently.
Birdman grew agitated. "What is he waiting for?"
Suddenly, Heavy D! fell. Instantly, Lau launched himself into the air, and landed on D!'s chest, where he began to stomp repeatedly.
Sub-Basement 32-YT9
Ryo Sakazaki ran towards the Eliminated seating. He was nearly there... only eighteen levels up and six rooms over.
"Ryo. Ryo Ryo Ryo Ryo. What EVER do you think you're doing?"
Ryo wheeled. Behind him, Billy Kane stepped out of the shadows.
"You know way too much, Ryo. I don't suppose you could be persuaded to change sides? Rugal pays well."
"I'm gonna make you eat those words, Kane. I'm feeling MUCH better now."
"Really? Oh, it's not that I don't believe you. It's just that I doubt you can take us all on."
"Huh?" Ryo's query was answered as Eiji Kasaragi stepped out of one corner. Chang Koehan lumbered up behind Billy. The opposite corner revealed Sabrewulf, and yet another Fulgore. Glacius walked up directly behind Ryo, and Eyedol dropped through a gap in the ceiling. Riptor was behind Fulgore, and T.J. Combo behind Eiji.
Ryo was surrounded.
"Close all the doors, boys...we don't want anybody hearing Ryo scream..." Billy flipped his stick in the air once. All the fighters complied with his order.
Ryo decided to go out with a show of bravado. "I can take at least one or two of you bastards down with me, you know."
Billy smiled. "If we got in close, no doubt. But we're just going to whittle you down with projectile attacks. On three, boys. One... two..."
Suddenly, the door behind Glacius smashed open, a metal foot splintering it apart and not coincidentally smashing Glacius in the back.
"LOOOO-SEEEEEE! I'MMM HOOOOOOOOME! AND I BROUGHT COM-PAN-EEEEEE!"
Yoshimitsu sprang forward, followed by Takuma, Cyclops, Rikuo, and Dan. The battle was joined.
WHO WILL LIVE?
WHO WILL DIE?
AND WHAT'S DEMITRI'S NEXT MOVE ANYWAY?
Original Authors
Chris "Birdman" Bird
Brant Rogers
Scott Johnson
Austin Loomis