Shultz vs Overclock

================================== Tartarus ==================================

Message: 19/7 Posted Author

Notice to Neo Arcadia Sun Oct 16 Overclock

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--Challenge posted to the usual place, in the usual arena.--

HELLO NEO ARCADIA

I have heard various members of your organization have great interest in proving to me the superiority of flesh and bone over iron and steel.

So far you have done a piss-poor job.

The good news for you is I am still happy to take all comers.

Feel free to call and arrange an appointment, or just scream on the radio until I come out to punch you.

OVERCLOCK

Overclock, Stabsarzt, Golem Chair

==============================================================================

[Radio: (H) Global] Hans Shultz synches, "What manner of disgusting deviltry is this?! A TRAITOR to the human race DARES to challenge one of the GLORIOUS Neo-Arcadian troopers?! Well *I*, SHULTZ shall not stand for this nonsense! Overlock, you pathetic excuse of a living creature! I shall be HAPPY to demonstrate what we humans are made of!"

[Radio: (H) Global] Sugar starts listing chemicals.

[Radio: (H) Global] Toad Man transmits, "I got that. And that. And that."

[Radio: (H) Global] Top Man transmits, "Yer gonna get yer butt whooped, Mr Shulzyguy. Mr. Clock nearly beat ME."

[Radio: (H) Global] Hans Shultz transmits, "Wha... no, not like that!"

[Radio: (H) Global] Toad Man transmits, "I don't have that."

[Radio: (H) Global] Top Man transmits, "An' I'm a buttkicker!"

[Radio: (H) Global] Sugar transmits, "It's what humans are /made of/."

[Radio: (H) Global] Toad Man transmits, "I want some of that."

[Radio: (H) Global] Agile transmits, "Top Man you are a push over."

[Radio: (H) Global] Top Man transmits, "Nuh 'uh!"

[Radio: (H) Global] Toad Man transmits, "Well what are kittens made of."

[Radio: (H) Global] Agile transmits, "Ya'huh."

[Radio: (H) Global] Pharaoh Man transmits, "Hrm. If I remember your schematics right...try squeezing your left thigh. That should secrete some of that."

[Radio: (H) Global] Top Man transmits, "Stinkyhead, I kick butt!"

[Radio: (H) Global] Top Man transmits, "Nuh'uh!!"

[Radio: (H) Global] Agile transmits, "I was kicking your but, and it was fun."

[Radio: (H) Global] Toad Man transmits, "I need to make some. I'm hungry. Really Pharaoh?"

[Radio: (H) Global] Hans Shultz transmits, "Bah! Enough prattling! Overclock! I'm calling you out to defend what little honour you have!"

[Radio: (H) Global] Ren Lang transmits, "KITTEN JUICE?"

[Radio: (H) Global] Pharaoh Man transmits, "Well, yes, if I remember my chemistry right."

[Radio: (H) Global] Toad Man squeezes. Water sounds, then dripping.. "Oh yes... your right. That felt /nice/. Hehehe."

[Radio: (H) Global] Hans Shultz transmits, "Mavericks! Tell your little pet that I'll be coming for him!"

[Radio: (H) Global] Overclock transmits, "Well, okay, if you really insist."

[Radio: (H) Global] Pharaoh Man transmits, "...don't be disgusting."

[Radio: (H) Global] Top Man transmits, "Nuh'uh nuh'uh nuh'uh times infinity!"

[Radio: (H) Global] Overclock transmits, "Are you tough or just some random guy?"

[Radio: (H) Global] Toad Man transmits, "Pharaoh. WHy can't I be myself?"

[Radio: (H) Global] Hans Shultz transmits, "I am SHULTZ! I'm VERY tough! Very VERY tough! Very very... well, you get the idea..."

[Radio: (H) Global] Agile transmits, "Top Man, I took down Pharaoh Man, Hard Man. Even Guts Man, why do you think I'm afraid of you?"

[Radio: (H) Global] Top Man transmits, "Cuz I'm cooler'n you."

[Radio: (H) Global] Toad Man transmits, "You get to worship Wily. Can't I get to enjoy what I like?"

[Radio: (H) Global] Agile transmits, "Top Man I would watch your back. Some people might take advantage when it's turned."

[Radio: (H) Global] Pharaoh Man chuckles, " He's got you there. "

[Radio: (H) Global] Hans Shultz transmits, "Where do you want to settle this, Machine? Feh, you're not /even/ a Machine. You're lower than a Machine for your traitorous ways!"

[Radio: (H) Global] Lumine transmits, "You're very tough, Shultz?"

[Radio: (H) Global] Toad Man transmits, "Hehhe. I'll give Top a wet willy."

[Radio: (H) Global] Overclock transmits, "Arena works."

[Radio: (H) Global] Hans Shultz transmits, "Yes... very very tough... like I just said. But in capitals."

[Radio: (H) Global] Hans Shultz transmits, "I'll be there!"

[Radio: (H) Global] Overclock transmits, "S'where I dropped the letter after all."

[Radio: (H) Global] Toad Man transmits, "That's what I'd do. Except it might burn his ear. It wouldn't be water afterall."

[Radio: (H) Global] Top Man transmits, "I'm faster'n that!"

[Radio: (H) Global] Lumine transmits, "Hm..."

[Radio: (H) Global] Ren Lang transmits, "BEAT 'IM UP, HANS!"

[Radio: (H) Global] Hans Shultz lets out what may or may not be a battlecry in reply to Ren, "Grrraaaah!"

[Radio: (H) Global] Ren Lang transmits, "RAAAAR. GRRRRRR. HUMPAHUMPAHUMPA."

[Radio: (H) Global] Hans Shultz transmits, "Grrraarrrrhg GRAAGH!"

[Radio: (H) Global] Toad Man BURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRP.

[Radio: (H) Global] Thunderstrike Minotaur transmits, "Have some dignity as humans, Neo Arcadians. You act like nothing better than the Robot Masters."

[Radio: (H) Global] Pharaoh Man transmits, "How dare you compare us to HUMANS!"

[Radio: (H) Global] Pharaoh Man transmits, "Especially those evolutionary rejects!"

[Radio: (H) Global] Hans Shultz transmits, "How dare you compare us to MACHINES!"

[Radio: (H) Global] Toad Man transmits, "Their not disgusting enough."

[Radio: (H) Global] Hans Shultz transmits, "Especially those design flawed morons!"

[Radio: (H) Global] Toad Man transmits, "Okay. I can solve this."

[Radio: (H) Global] Thunderstrike Minotaur transmits, "Oh, silence yourselves. The both of you."

[Radio: (H) Global] Toad Man transmits, "Pharaoh. Stupid human. Whoever licks me and survives is the better race."

[Radio: (H) Global] Pharaoh Man transmits, ".....agreed."

[Radio: (H) Global] Toad Man transmits, "I got some crust already. Heheh. Can't get that off easy."

[Radio: (H) Global] Bowl Man transmits, "Nah, they should bowl."

Tartarus - Arena - The Sheol Pit

From outside of the arena, the roar of the crowds was bad enough, but here it can be downright deafening to those not prepared for it upon emerging into the open-air bowl shape of the Sheol Pit's combat area. It isn't just fights that are hosted here, and frequently matches of other sorts take place such as races or other competitions, but overall it's the gladitorial bouts that bring the largest crowds, and it's to this that the arena caters. The pit itself is a marvel of modern technology, great machinery hidden strategically from view both underground and at the side panellings to be let loose at a moment's notice to alter the 'landscape' of where the battles take place within minutes. The arena itself is capable of change it's state to suit almost any sort of terrain battle, from simulating high speed winds and being tall enough to host aerial battles, to changing it's makeup and even the temperature to switch to a freezing tundra or burning desert, to even being able to submerge itself completely in water for aquatic matches, the special shielding protecting the crowd from being flooded. It's this shielding that keeps stray blasts and shrapnel from making it's way up into the bleachers where it could injure the audience. Of course it's invisible, but it's fueled by immense power generators set on the ceiling high above ground-level, constantly thrumming and providing the necessary 'juice' to keep them up and going. The bleachers themselves are a constant flurry of motion, people coming and leaving, cheering and jeering, and vendors going about throwing hot dogs and various other snack foods here and there where they are in demand.

Overclock [Standard] [M]

Out <O> leads to Tartarus - Arena Lobby.

Toad Man arrives from the Arena Lobby.

Toad Man has arrived.

[Radio: (H) Global] Thunderstrike Minotaur transmits, "Perhaps you humans could be doing something constructive with your time. Restoring the Earth. Fighting off the Robot Masters."

[Radio: (H) Global] Ren Lang transmits, "LICKING A TOAD, EH."

[Radio: (H) Global] Toad Man transmits, "Yes."

[Radio: (H) Global] Toad Man transmits, "A Toad Man."

[Radio: (H) Global] Bass transmits, "Camping spawns."

[Radio: (H) Global] Ren Lang transmits, "I REMEMBER WHEN I SMOKED PAINT CHIPS ONCE, WHEN I WAS 15."

[Radio: (H) Global] Ren Lang transmits, "AND A DEAD KITTEN."

[Radio: (H) Global] Toad Man transmits, "Hehehe. What's a spawn."

[Radio: (H) Global] Toad Man transmits, "They taste good. Kittens I mean."

[Radio: (H) Global] The Colonel transmits, "That explains a great deal, actually."

[Radio: (H) Global] Bass transmits, "A place where lewts are kept."

[Radio: (H) Global] Ren Lang transmits, "AND THEN I SPENT THE NEXT TWO DAYS VOMITTING PROFUSELY."

[Radio: (H) Global] Lumine transmits, "Actually, Bass, would you like to come along?"

[Radio: (H) Global] Thunderstrike Minotaur transmits, "Yes, well, we don't reach into the wombs of women and rip out their children to devour in front of our comrades in some sort of pride ritual, now do we?"

[Radio: (H) Global] Giga Man transmits, "Phat lewts?"

[Radio: (H) Global] Toad Man transmits, "... You wasted good kitten pieces."

[Radio: (H) Global] Agile transmits, "Not you again."

[Radio: (H) Global] Toad Man transmits, "Lewts? Like newts?"

Styx arrives from the Arena Lobby.

Styx has arrived.

Lumine arrives from the Arena Lobby.

Lumine has arrived.

Hans Shultz is all psyched up for this one! See, the fact of the matter is, Overclock just dissed Neo-Arcadia - and by extension, his entire race - where everyone can see it. Although he actually isn't entirely confident of a victory, he knows that a dissing like that just cannot go unpunished! If nobody else in Neo-Arcadia will stand up for their honour and take it to the ring, then by gee golly gee SHULTZ will!

Shultz, along with a dozen fellow Neo-Arcadians, come into the arena with quite a bit of flash and glitter. Loudly cheering, clapping, proclaiming that the 'traitor to humanity will soon be getting its come-uppance', and shouting all manners of racial slurs against 'those malfunctioning toasters' to anyone who'll listen, the Neo-Arcadians make their way into the arena. It should be no surprise that Shultz does not hang with the smart crowd of Neo-Arcadians.

Shultz himself is in full combat gear, covered head to toe in a red and black leather-like body armour, along with a combat harness that houses many long, deadly looking weapons. Shultz's groupies hang out at the edge of the stands, front row center, as Shultz himself hops down into the pit itself. Raising his black metal gloved hands over his head, Shultz pumps them for the benefit of the humans in the crowd.

[Radio: (H) Global] Bass transmits, "On a trip, Lumine?"

[Radio: (H) Global] Lumine transmits, "Yes, I'm going to watch a human fight a cyborg for the enjoyment of robots, would you like to come?"

How nice, Overclock thinks. They sent the welcome wagon.

He isn't dressed up, but that's because he doesn't wear clothes. He wears armor, and he's shined up nicely, newly waxed. He treats his body as he would a fine automobile, keeps it running and keeps the right fluids in it.

He doesn't have the same kind of sizable crowd that Shultz has with him, but a few other Mavericks have followed to watch him, it seems. Two of them are assistants from the medbay, who are here either to cheer him on, or to repair him if, Sigma forbid, he should fall.

[Radio: (H) Global] Bass transmits, "Certainly."

[Radio: (H) Global] Lumine transmits, "Excellent."

Bass has arrived.

"Glory to President Elpizo!" Shultz shouts at the top of his lungs, amplified by his own audio manipulation devices. "Glory to Aztlan!" Sure, the only people really cheering at his chants are the dozen he brought with him, but this isn't the point. This is to raise the Aztlan flag in hostile territory and to show that humans won't be bullied by Machines, much less a wretched cyborg who's fallen off the path.

The crowd is going nuts, of course. Not because like Shultz, mind you. Probably not because they like Overclock, either. But just because this promises to be a very brutal, painful battle with blood/right fluids being spilled on both sides.

Shultz, turning to face his opposition, looking him up and down as if sizing him up. "Well," he sneers, "Looks like the 'man' himself has arrived. Last chance to take back what you said about humanity, f---er." Sure, Overclock didn't really say anything bad about humans in his message, per se, but Shultz only paid attention to the part about screaming on the radio to get his attention.

Oh no! A battle! For the dominance of the species as well! Could this be any more exciting? Well yeah. But that doesn't stop Toad Man from ruining it for those there. Entering the stands Toad Man brings himself and his body odor with him, leaving a trail of toxic goo from where he walked out of the stands to where he sat down.

The smell too. As soon as he enters the smell becomes rather apparent, drifting across the arena as he waddled there. Toad Man, once he was there, called down to them. He was safe right? "Hehehe. HEY DOWN THERE. STOP TALKING. MORE PUNCHING."

He then kick backed, wiped his hand under the bench and collected the chewed gum. His front vent slides down as he tosses it in. Chewing. "Man it always tastes better the second times around. So much grunge from those machines. MMMMm." He is content.

Lumine isn't sure if Hans Shultz is worth anything, but he -says- he's very powerful, and the best wayy to see for certain is to watch him get himself killed by Overclock or something.

Lumine doesn't have a box, but he knows about Bass's and apparently has assumed that that is where he'll be meeting his 'guest'. By the box! As he's standing right by it.

[Radio: (H) Global] President Elpizo transmits, "I am vaguely curious, Overclock. Are you so willing to delve into death?"

Overclock pops a knuckle, just to line things up. He flips down his visor, which covers his eyes, and makes his expression unreadable. Overclock realizes he didn't say anything in particular about humanity, but he makes the message clear now, in case Shultz wasn't sure on his position. "Humanity sucks. Get ready to have your ass drubbed."

He rolls back a shoulder as he steps into the arena. It's a standard combat preening gesture, but he's also revving the motor on his back as he builds strength in his upper body. "Go time."

[Radio: (A) NA-Chat] Templar Fefnir transmits, "I believe Shultz is fighting him now, sir. Lumine and Bass are entertaining themselves watching."

[Radio: (H) Global] Overclock transmits, "Not death, President."

[Radio: (H) Global] President Elpizo transmits, "No, I'm quite sure it is death."

Elpizo arrives from the Arena Lobby.

Elpizo has arrived.

Settled in a dark area of the stands was a single figure amongst the multitudes of others, his jumpsuit hiding his body and his featureless mask hiding away his face. Styx reclined, watching while keeping his arms crossed before his chest, eyes narrowing behind his mask so as to peer more intently in the direction of Shultz and Overclock.

[Radio: (H) Global] Lumine transmits, "Are you going to be a 'New Challenger', Elpizo?"

[Radio: (H) Global] President Elpizo transmits, "No, I have a diplomatic dinner to attend this weekend."

[Radio: (A) NA-Chat] Styx transmits, "It seems a tad suicidal of him to want to fight a machine in this place."

[Radio: (H) Global] President Elpizo transmits, "It would not be good form to be hospitalized."

[Radio: (H) Global] Overclock laughs.

[Radio: (A) NA-Chat] Templar Fefnir transmits, "He is a brave warrior of Neo Arcadia. Is someone ensureing he can be taken back?"

[Radio: (H) Global] President Elpizo transmits, "I could of course, bring something to tear you apart, with if you really want me to."

[Radio: (A) NA-Chat] Hans Shultz transmits, "Ha ha ha ha ha! I won't be needing any recovery!... but, uh, yes, I have by buddies on hand to help... just... in case..."

[Radio: (H) Global] Overclock transmits, "Not the agreement, Elpizo. If you want to bring a vehicle, an armor, a hunk of METAL, you proved exactly nothing."

[Radio: (H) Global] Templar Fefnir transmits, "Speak with respect."

[Radio: (H) Global] Styx transmits, "People have been using hunks of metals for centuries."

[Radio: (H) Global] Toad Man transmits, "He proved he can kick your ass with something he can create. Heheheh."

[Radio: (H) Global] Styx transmits, "If not even longer."

Bass arrives fashionably late, walking up through the VIP entrance. As he approaches the box seat, he nods to Lumine, steps to the door, and opens it for him. "After you," he says to his guest, and allows Lumine to enter before going in himself.

Closing the door behind him, Bass moves over to his throne-like seat and gestures over a specific area, summoning a Wilybeer for himself. A second appears, brandished at Lumine. "Drink?" he says.

Hans Shultz cracks his knuckles, one after another. This is possibly just to copy what Overclock did and keep up the whole 'anything a Machine can do, a human can do better' theme. Pacing back and forth, but keeping square on with Overclock, Shultz snorts behind his black clad helmet. "You're going to be eating those words, bucko. You've had this coming ever since you abandoned your race to live with the Machines."

Slowly and deliberately, Shultz reaches over his shoulder to draw one of the multiple long weapons he has on his back. The Neo-Arcadian soldier brings forth a standard futuristic rifle with a chord that connects from its base to his combat harness. There's a steady ~hummmmmm~ as he manipulates the gun.

"Kick his ass, Shultz!" "Show him who's the superior race!" "Shultz! Shultz! He's our man, if he can't do it, no-one can!" Thus come the cries from his buddies up in the stands. Most of it is drowned out by the rest of the crowd, but Shultz flashes them a thumbsup anyhow. Toad Man's comments, if heard, are not replied to.

"I'd ask you to say your prayers, Overclock, but it won't help you where you're going..." Shultz refocuses on the Maverick cyborg and brings up his rifle, taking swift aim. There's a loud ~THOOM THOOM THOOM~ as Shultz pulls the trigger three times consecutively, sending three blasts of sonic energy towards Overclock.

You strike Overclock with a glancing hit from your Generic Ranged attack.

The pulses hit Overclock's body, and slap into him. They don't jar him off his feet; he's building power, something that leaves him possibly too preoccupied to dodge effectively. As it's sonic pulse damage, it rattles him, but doesn't leave any visible marks as of yet.

The humming on his back continues, the transparent panels on his arms glowing. It looks like he's still in a building process. His feet still rooted, he lifts one arm up, and slips out a ray-gun that rises up quickly out of his forearm, on hydraulics. It slips into place quickly, and fires a small, bright blue burst.

"Why?" Overclock asks, and there's great curiosity in his voice. It's the prayer comment that interests him. "Do you believe in Jesus?"

Overclock strikes you with a glancing hit from his Cool Ray attack for 6 units of damage.

You take extra damage due to your Ice weakness.

Lumine says, "Why, thank you," politely, since Bass -is- a peer. You don't say mean things to your peers, otherwise you run out of people to talk to, and that's just, well, boring.

Lumine isn't fond of drinks, or ingestion in general, but it's Bass's drink and he says it provides the service of keeping such things out of the hands of peeyoomans, and it's Bass offering, so Lumine accepts, "And yes, please..." He takes the beer, "So this is the famed Wilybeer..." He murmurs.

Hans Shultz peers at Overclock, obviously planning keep on shooting until Overclock dies. That the Maverick doesn't appear very fazed by his attack is annoying, but not too surprising. This was hardly his maximum energy output. He's building up powah, baby. "What? Do I believ i- No! I mean, yes! I mean... shut up!" Shultz isn't used to having to answer questions during his battles. He's just used to either getting the upper hand and mercilessly beating the crap out of someone, or beginning to fall and then having to beg for his life.

Raising his rifle again, energy from his combat harness is slowly channeled into the rifle, building up its strength. "Do YOU believe in Jesus, after all that you've been through?!" Shultz shouts back even though he doesn't particularly care. Just as he's about to fire, a quick blast from the ray gun hits Shultz as he's vulnerable.

He doesn't feel that it's very 'cool' at all. Nosiree! Frost begins to form on his harness, and an odd 'crinkling', brittle sound can be heard. Muttering some swear words, Shultz fires off another round at Overclock, trying through Overclock off his game. Hit or miss, however, Shultz begins closing in on the Maverick, evidently planning to make this a bit more physical soon enough.

You strike Overclock with a minor hit from your Sonic Rifle attack.

An average man with ratty, long blonde hair walks into the stands nonchalantly. A long, old UN miliatary trench coat covers fades fatigues beneath. The man's combat boots are the most obvious thing to note, as they make a distinctive tap, everytime he makes a step. The man seems to be interested in the battle below, and he leans on the railing carefully.

The only REAL notable things about him is that he wears an outdated UN military article, and the fact that his eyes seem to be.. different. Almost, piercing into the soul, or neural net.

============================ Players in your Area ============================

Name Alias Siz Idl Short Description

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Toad Man Toad 4 7m Toad android. Dripping slime. Disgusting

Elpizo Pizo 3 57s Cunning Revolutionary

Overclock OC 4 11m Humanoid, metallic, white/red/black

Styx Mr.Robot4 30s

Hans Shultz Shultz 4 0s 6'5". Black&Red Uniform. Helmet. Guns.

Bass Forte 3 7m The man. The myth. The fins.

Lumine Ignignok3 7m White & violet, purple hair, crazy eye.

Agile Ag 5 10s Tall, Purple, Big Hat, Fast.

========================== Mon Oct 17 22:12:43 2005 ==========================

Sooo. Bass had a friend over? Well not a friend. A large maverick death machine! Hey. It doesn't have any virus that's worse than he could probably have right? Toad Man continues chewing the gum ( That wasn't his ) and leaping up the stands, parting the crowd. He's headed towards the box.

Hopefully it's vacuum sealed. Or the new arrival and Bass are about to smell something that is worse then they probably have ever... alright Bass might be used to it and Lumine might have met Toxic Seahorse. I will however smell pretty bad.

Maverick.. mmm.. Seahorse....Ribbit.

Overclock doesn't mind closing in. In fact... he takes one step closer, and the humming on his back levels off, going even. He spreads his arms a bit further apart, and they seem to settle onto his shoulders in a very inhuman way, as if moving on joints that should not, strictly, move in that fashion.

He steps right into the attack. It makes him lean back slightly, as he takes it in the chest. Then he brings the left arm forward, and flips out another hydralic-attached weapon.

This one sprays a fine mist, right out of the nozzle on his arm. It's his own coolant, and he's venting it out, which is one of the ways he builds power. If it happens to hit the target in front of him, that is generally all right, by him. "Jesus is my homeboy. Be sure you say Hi to him for me when you see him."

Overclock channels power, and charges up his systems to optimize his strength.

Overclock strikes you with a glancing hit from his Coolant Overflow attack for 6 units of damage.

You take extra damage due to your Ice weakness.

Styx has disconnected.

"It is," Bass says, then wrinkles his nose. He can smell Toad Man anywhere. He activates the internal O2 supply and seals the windows, which lock in place with a futuristic *foomf*. The door, conveniently, locks.

"So," Bass says, "you taken over yet?"

The average man, makes his way through the stands easily. People just seem to get out of his way, as he moves. The man finally stops, not even a few feet away from the press box that Bass and Lumine are located, and leans casually on the railing that overlooks the arena.

Hans Shultz stops dead in his tracks as Overclock's torso seems to rearrange itself. He fires off his shots nonetheless, but that little trick of Overclock's is worrisome. "Just what manner of deviltry ARE you?!" Shultz snarls, growing angry at the Maverick's little tricks. In response, however, Shultz just winds up getting a face full of frigid mist. "Ack!.. cough... gack..." Shultz covers his already helmeted face with both of his arms, even though it doesn't really help or anything. He attempts to wave the mist away, but it's a very futile gesture.

"Grrrr...." The human can be heard growling barely over the sound of his own combat harness's continuing hum and the sound of additional crinkling and crackling. The ice is starting to build up, and Shultz realizes very well that this is a BAD THING since it makes his protective armour too brittle to be of much use. Unfortunately, Shultz doesn't really have any manner of defending against it. Footpedalling backwards now (either due to Overclock's sudden torso extension or to get out of the mist), Shultz shouts, "How DARE you mock our Lord Jesus!" Ten minutes ago he couldn't care less about Jesus whatshisname. But since Overclock seems to mock Him, Shultz feels the need to defend Him.

With all the mist, he can barely see anything, much less exactly where Overclock is. So, he does the Shultz thing to do, whipping out his trusty Sonic Pistol sidearm. Slinging his rifle temporarily over his back, Shultz blindly pumps sonic blasts into the cloud, aiming just about everywhere.

You strike Overclock with a minor hit from your Sonic Pistol attack.

As the door locks, Toad Man hears it. He stops nearby the box and frowns. Why? "Heheh.. Damn I'm not smelly enough. Going to need to do some sewer hopping later. Should of been able to smell me from that far away." He continues chewing, looking around. He won't get into that door.... Hey! Who's that nearby the railing. Toad Man walks over to him, taller than him and looks down. "Hehe just a bunch of wimps punching the daylights out of each other. Long as I'm not down there."

The cyborg still isn't fleet of foot, and though a few of the wild blasts miss, a few hit just out of Hans's sheer tenacity. Overclock walks toward him still, and because of the increasing power of the blasts it is a bit like walking against the wind. One step, two steps, and SLAM... a resonance hits his armor, but he keeps walking forward, until he's slammed in again.

The ice mist ceases as he approaches his target; he has an easier time seeing him thanks to having a visor down over his eyes. As soon as it stops, Hans will probably be aware of a fist whipping out through it, headed straight for his face. Following up behind that is another one heading for his stomach. Each fist whips out with uncanny speed and impossible strength. Whatever Overclock has become: it isn't human. "I like your toy. Fight me like a man."

Overclock misses you with his Punch Combo attack.

Lumine doesn't show the smell's effect on his comfortability, but rest assured he smelt it, and can tell who dealt it too. "Oh no, not yet, I've barely made any progress at all, really." Lumine says, fairly relieved that Toad Man will have to at least eat through the walls before coming in. Of course, "They made me a sergeant rather quickly, so I suspect Command has -hopes- for me. In either case, I don't want to do things -too- easily." Whatever that means. He seems comfortable just jabbing on about it though.

The man does not initially respond to Toad Man, as he seems to be distracted by the fight in the arena. He just stares intently ahead. Then, the man murmurs a rather rude response, "Weaklings? Toad Man, you don't even know what you are talking about."

"No, it's better to have to exert at least a /little/ effort," Bass says, "I would agree. Having fought my way back up the food chain at least a few times, I know how that is. You'll enjoy your first climb. The ones after it, not so much."

Tenacity. That's the nice way of putting Shultz's nearly blind enthusiasm. "Stay back! I'm warning you!" he shrieks at the cloud of mist, just in case Overclock wasn't 100% sure where he was and felt like just following the shouting. He knows Overclock is approaching, as he can hear the footsteps even over the roaring of the crowd. He continues to pump laser shots, and can generally tell when he's managed to hit something besides the edge of the combat pit.

Finally, as Shultz realizes that there's not going to be any stopping Overclock, he reholsters his pistol, instead putting up his dukes. "C'mon, you sick... son of a..." Shultz mutters to himself. He may not be a bright guy, but he does have a sort of savage brutality in these sorts of throw downs. He -knows- Overclock is going to make this mano-a-mano (so to speak). Every enhanced muscle he has is tense and ready to react the moment the cyborg appears out of the mis- there!

Shultz ducks his head to the side just as a big metal fist streaks by his face. "Hah!" He lowers his right arm, barely parrying the shot going for his stomach. Shultz is on the edge here, and is struggling to keep up with the punches being thrown his way. But he's a man, and he endures. "Big talk coming from a freak!" he hisses through clenched teeth. Finally, Shultz begins to give as good as he's getting, throwing a punch back at Overclock's face, a kick to his shins, a roundhouse to his metal gut, and following up with a flurry of his own punches in an attempt to turn this around.

You strike Overclock with a glancing hit from your Neo-arcadian Brutality attack.

As the man responds, although barely hearable, Toad man ribbits. "Heheh. Well I mean I'm not going to bother beating on one of them you know." Because he wouldn't go down in that arena. Period. "But Hard Man's stronger than them. And you know, once you had your arms in your mouth what they are doing hardly seems painful."

Lumine not only understands Bass, but sees a little subtext in there: Namely, that he's going to have to climb up the foodchain more than once. This is of interest to Lumine, who hasn't quite thought that far ahead (he's thought far enough on how to keep his placement, but not so far as what would happen -if- he lost it.) "Well I hope so--but you're saying it's inevitable to have to make the, ah, climb again?" Lumine seems quite fascinated by this, it's like hearing Alexander the Great speak, except better because he's a robot.

The first blow is pushed aside with an open hand, but the kick strikes, tripping Overclock up slightly, and then the punch hits his stomach.

It rings against metal, resounding out across the arena, audible to both combatants, if not to the noisy and agitated crowd. Overclock steps back, reeling slightly away from the final kick. The attacks look impressive, and do put a few dents at last in the metal armor. If Hans were a regular human, of course, he'd likely be hurting his hand. The cyborg has an incredibly thick hide. He grunts, frowns, and lifts his head up, responding to the insult. "You're the FREAK. I'm-- a MACHINE!"

FWOOSH-- he throws a long, right-handed, hooked punch for the head of the Neo Arcadian. Unlike his last combo, it's only one hit. It's a wide strike, and he throws his whole mechanical shoulder into it, as well as the fury of his augmented body, his artificial strength.

Overclock misses you with his Skull Cracker attack.

"You would think that, again," The man responds without turning towards Toad Man. He seems pretty content of not even glimpsing at the Robot Master. The man raises his hand and adjusts his mane of hair. Then, the man steps around Toad Man, to knock on the Press box' door. Surprisingly, the man's strikes make a very loud, and distinct clanging sound with each hit.

"There's always something," Bass says, and seems about to go into greater detail when there is a knock at the door. Bass sets down his beer, gets up, and walks up to the door, pressing his eye against the peephole. "Toad Man, you smell awful, and you aren't coming in here," Bass says, as he starts to look.

Toad Man looks back at the man. "Hehehe. Well yeah. I'd think that cause it's true. My brothers all really hurt. I know this because they reminded me recently. Not like any of them is bass, but hey, those people down there aren't as in a hurry to beat me up as my brothers are." As the stranger knocks on the door, Toad Man begins to shake and rock and roll.

"Oh but I'm so very SEXY."

Toad Man strikes Bass with his Belly Dancing attack.

Two piercing ice blue eyes stare back through the peep hole, and with as much sarcasm as possible, "I do not believe I am a robot, nor a toad." Meanwhile, the man ignores Toad Man.

Lumine considers shooting Toad Man, and the only reason he doesn't is because Bass might take offense (or do it first, either way). "But the smell will -waft- in." Lumine notes, "And we might accidently see him." It's true! All possible!

"Would you prefer I throw him over the ledge, and avoid that possiblity? I've avoided looking at it, for the past five minutes," The man responds to Lumine.

"I don't take solicitors or petitioners during matches," Bass says, and then Pliskin makes an offer. "You have my interest. Dispose of Toad Man and I may be convinced to admit you."

Hans Shultz is indeed no regular human. He's been enhanced in many ways (except where it counts, if you catch my meaning). Plus, he has thick black metal gloves that are perfect for punching, and thick black metal boots that are perfect for kicking. "Not so tough... now.... are you?!" Shultz snarls, feeling the rush as he gets the upper hand on the cyborg. Blow after blow, Shultz is feeling rejuvenated. He's got him now! Shultz is certain of it. The cries of his buddies shouting in the stands, the roar of the crowd just desperate to see one beat the crap out of the other, the knowledge that the pride of Aztlan goes with him against this freak... ahhh!

Shultz considers channeling power from his combat vest to his gloves in order to deliver a coup de grace on the Maverick, but before he gets the chance, Overclock very nearly turns the tide. Startled by Overclock's sudden shout, Shultz stumbles backwards. This Maverick had been so polite and calm up until now. "Grah!" Shultz throws his hands up into the air to block even as he stumbles back. The result is awkwardly avoiding what no doubt would have been a game-breaking smash. Behind his helmet, Shultz's eyes are wide with shock and disbelief. That would have hurt. Momentum, along with being off balanced, causes Shultz to slip back and fall, landing on the combat pit ground, momentarily prone.

With Overclock looming over him, clearly Pissed Off, Shultz desperately strikes out with his leg, trying to kneecap the cyborg and buy himself some time. His insults will wait until he's out of this situation.

You strike Overclock with a glancing hit from your Swift Kick attack.

'Pliskin' closes his eyes and turns towards Toad Man. He steps determinedly towards the android, and reaches forward. How he is doing this, no one can really guess immediately, but he attempts to grip Toad Man by the arm and play toad ball.

Elpizo misses Toad Man with his Grasp attack.

This strikes too. It pushes the knee at a bad angle, and causes Overclock to stumble, dropping down to the opposite knee for a second.

At this point Hans has probably learned a lot about this opponent. He's, as a combatant, fairly heavily untrained. He fights like a brawler or maybe a boxer, but certainly not a martial artist, and it's not a strictly military combat style so much as something he's developed. He also doesn't do well at dodging. On the other hand... even if he didn't strike Hans with his last blow, he senses he may have an advantage while the e-human is down on the ground. From the bent-knee position, he leaps forward with a sudden burst of speed. The boost is enhanced by a kick from dash-jets on his legs, and since this, strictly, is an overexhertion of his systems, he feels heat starting to build in the center of his body.

He whips a hand around for one of Hans's arms, and grabs onto it, trying to pull it behind the other man's back and hold him down.

Overclock misses you with his Arm Lock attack.

Lumine can handle listening to Toad Man, for the moment, but keeps on avoiding actually -looking- for him. Still, he tries to keep an 'ear' open for any Toad Man-esque squeals.

As Toad Man kept dancing, he remained oblivious to the man who was descending upon him. Of course then he sees him right there infront of him. "Hehehe yeah?" Then the hand comes forward and grips his arm.

See, there are a few things about Toad Man. One, he's a Toad and a coward. Secondly, he's really slimy, covered in the acid that he himself loves. As the human grips for him, he both jumps and pulls, his hand slithering out of his grip. "Hey watch it!" Ribbit.

He lands nearby though.

Phase 1: Complete.

'Pliskin' moves forward again, this time, he advances against Toad Man, either to get farther away, or throw him off the ledge.

Either way, it accomplishes what 'Pliskin' wants to do.

Elpizo strikes Toad Man with his Grasp attack.

Zero arrives from the Arena Lobby.

Zero has arrived.

Toad Man isn't able to move from this though, the hands continuing despite his attempts to slip free. He then finds himself picked up? ...Geeze this guys strong. "Hey I'll move I'll move put me... NO NOT THAT WAY! THAT WAY HURTS." Then THROWN off the ledge to the ground below.

Toad Man lands, hurt, a large dent on his armor. He yells up. "HEY. Why'd you have to throw me off? It's pretty far. I don't know why I have to be THROWN off things or pushed away. I HAVE FEELINGS TO YOU HIPPIES!" He froces himself up, brushing himself off.

"Can't even take a little smell. Those pansies."

'Pliskin' returns to the door, and crosses his arms. Both of his blue eyes open up, and peer inside the view finder, "Well?'

Bass watches Toad Man fly off the ledge and away from the box. Bass smiles with malicious approval, then unlocks the door and opens it. "Well, you seem like you really want to speak with us, sir. What's on your mind? Looking for work?"

Hans Shultz is no martial artist either. He brawls using thug-skills. It just so happens that he's actually quite good at being a thug. They say that 90% of brawls wind up including wrestling on the ground. Shultz, who's had a lot of experience in normal knock-down beat-up smack-down punch-up fistfights, appears pretty well equipped to handle himself, even laying on the ground. Relieved that he got Overclock briefly off balance, Shultz manages to roll away from the cyborg, avoiding what could have been a very ugly problem.

Rolling back up onto his feet, Shultz grins viciously at Overclock, although it's impossibly to see it through his all encompassing helmet. "You think you're pretty hot stuff, don't you, freak..." Shultz sneers, pacing side to side, staying square with Overclock as he tries to find an opening to strike. "You think you're just SO much better than humans! You think you made a -good- decision when you abandoned your racce... hah!" Shultz laughs. "But you're WEAK!! Your metal and your cables and your wires have made it so!" Shultz feints an attack, but then continues to circle.

"Well now I hope you realize the mistake you made... the error in judgment... you're nothing more than a Machine now, and you have all the weaknesses that go along with it." There's a subtle hum as Shultz's black metal gloves begin to vibrate with power. "And the only good Machine... is a dead Machine!" At this, Shultz storms towards Overclock, once again throwing a barrage of punches his way. These ones, however, are charged with sonic energy. Perfect for cracking thick armour.

You miss Overclock with your Sonic Gloves attack.

Lumine doesn't really listen to Toad Man.

He looks at 'Pliskin's' blue eyes. They seem particularly familiar, in fact, but he doesn't seem to recognize Elpizo. Probably because it's the brown hair. "I hear the Arena pays well." He murmurs quietly, but not as quiet as Quiet Man, except when he's being loud, it's less quiet than that.

"No."

Pliskin moves himself inside of the door, "I was actually looking for a place to sit down. I hope you don't mind me joining you." Even if the two robots did mind, it doesn't seem if Pliskin really cares if they did. The human looks through the window, and looks over Lumine and Bass. "Ah, Lumine and Bass. I can understand why Lumine is here.. but why you, Bass?"

If Pliskin heard what Lumine said, he's decided not to acknowledge it.

Toad Man looks around. Alright so he wasn't in the arena. He was close to it though. And heading up there will get Bass n his case. That by itself should tell you where Toad Man heads.

Right back up to where he was thrown off of.

Bass doesn't mind if Pliskin sits, though his defiance of simple social graces in a room with two tactical nuclear weapons is a source of dull amazement. "This is my arena," Bass says. "I often take in the shows that go on here. It is an excellent source of new weaponry, and gives me valuable intelligence on the soldiers of different forces."

Overclock leaps back, using another burst of jet fire from the bottoms of his feet. On the one hand, his systems are capable of doing this, but, on the other hand, they are not designed to do this for a very long amount of time. He's heating up further. He decides to accept that, however. In fact, he ramps it up.

He flips both of the hydraulic attachments out of both arms, and vents the rest of what's left cold in his systems. Coolant streaks out in liquid form, the last of the ice cold blue leaving his body in a jet... "I am a machine... I accept the UNIQUE pains... the unusual weaknesses..." and just as swiftly as this liquid is ejected, the white metal of his shoulders become orange-red with intense heat, laying that weakness bare. "I've transcended what you refuse to leave behind..."

"What you're missing is that a machine: CAN'T DIE!" The anger he has for the Arcadian, the Arcadian that thinks he can kill him, is swiftly becoming a heat-hazed madness.

Overclock strikes you with a solid hit from his Coolant Blast attack for 17 units of damage.

You take extra damage due to your Ice weakness.

Zero is here, strangely enough. Having shown up at some point during the rush of crowdgoers and simply finding somewhere high up he can stand and watch. It dosen't have to be a front-row seat for his mechanical eyes to see what's going on. He dosen't even know why he's here, probably for lack of somewhere else to go for now anyway. Arms crossed over his chest, he stands quietly, away from the rest of the riffraff. At least as much as he can get away from the local 'scum and villany' of the place.

It's not as uncommon as one would think. For some reason, getting nice and close to a tactical nuclear weapon and being rather rude is a popular way to prove that you have 'balls'. Lumine smiles at 'Pliskin'. The _arrogance_ narrows the list of possibilities down, it's certainly no random stranger.

Pliskin gives an acknowledging nod to Bass at his explanation, "Understandable. It does give you an increased tactical advantage on many levels." The merc carelessly lounges in the chair he's picked. Pliskin is either very confident, or very stupid. Any way you look at it, Pliskin does not seem to think of the fact that it could be possible, he might be dead in the next few minutes.

"Though, one has to consider something. Why are you so friendly to your enemies. Yes, I understand, the all too famous quote, but.." The merc turns his electrical eyes towards the Finhead, "...You do not strike me as one of the more patient beings of this planet." Pliskin scans the room casually, before regarding Lumine, "And to think, perhaps in the next month, either of you would be gunning the other down in battle."

Pliskin pauses, and glimpses at Bass again, "Either kill your minion, or find another way to keep him away."

Pliskin, of course, must be talking about Toad Man.

Bass waves his hand. The door locks and the windows seal once again. "It is costly to fix him," Bass says, then continues. "I do not see Lumine as my enemy. He is in many ways a peer. The fraternity of Buster users is, after all, rather small. Beyond that, he and I have much in common. Surely you can understand a desire to have a conversation with a peer, good sir."

Toad Man has finally made it to the top! Again. He's breathing heavily, not that he needs to breathe, and his stench is not helping, him actually doing something and now the smell that much worse.

It's like he was roasted under heat lamps. Considering this only magnifies his stench it's pretty easy to realize just how bad he smells. Add on to the fact that Toad Man is listens to the wall, sitting against it, and someone might also be able to tell just how dumb Toad Man is.

Not that this was /news/ or anything. As the door closes, Toad Man smirks. "Wimps still can't take the smell."

Pliskin nods easily, "All right. I will give you that." The man seems to be rather comfortable in his position, "One could suppose that your circle of peers might be small. Though, do you only limit your peers to those who just have the same ability as yourself?"

Since Lumine has failed to say anything, Pliskin just does not say anything to him.

"There are a few others," Bass says. "Individuals with comparable ability for mayhem, and the intellectually intriguing. I do so enjoy an interesting conversation now and again. Don't we all?"

"BAH!" Shultz shouts back at Overclock, countering his arguments. Shultz is growing ticked off as well. Not so much because this discussion about humanity and machines goes against his values. But rather simply because Overclock is getting angry, and madness has a way of feeding off one another. That he failed to strike Overclock in what surely would have been a fine finishing blow does not help either.

"Can't die?! Tell that to every Machine I've ripped apart with my bare hands and left to ROT!!" he screeches, amplifying his rant via his sonic systems. The Machines he's done this to, of course, don't actually exist. As the coolant washes over Shultz's raging form, he continues to shout and scream, "Every Machine Neo-Arcadia has killed proves you wrong, Overclock!! You're nothing but a soulless creature now! Do you hear me?! An abomination!!" The crackling of ice cannot be heard this time over Shultz's shouts, but if Overclock is able to get a good look at him through the liquid coolant blasts, he'll see that bits of the Neo-Arcadian's armour has chipped off, as if made extremely brittle by the cold. "You're a traitor! AND YOU'LL --DIE-- A TRAITOR!!"

Swinging madly, Shultz is left a frigid, frostbitten mess with armour that's falling apart all around him. But this is acceptable. Because underneath all that armour is a HUMAN, and that's all that's needed. Diverting what little remaining energy Shultz has into one of his guns on his back, Shultz awkwardly and painfully reaches up and pulls down his latest weapon: the huge, Sonic Bazooka. He levels the weapon down at the cyborg, "Can't die..." he snarls, "We'll see about that."

You miss Overclock with your Sonic Onslaught attack.

Toad Man looks about. Lo and behold there's a certain hunter with long hair. Toad Man opens his mouth to say something, then closes it. No. He's not pissing that off. He didn't really fear that stranger but he sure as heck is scared of Zero.

Well, he doesn't exactly worry about how much it takes to be rebuilt, does he.

Pliskin nods again, and watches the battle for a few minutes, in silence. He does not have anything to offer to the conversation at this moment in time.

Zero, in a trick of the lights perhaps, wouldn't be initially easy to make out, or at least his form. But those lights are always moving here in the arena, and eventually their beams do play across him for a moment, showing that his armored form is, while having the familiar appearance he's known for, colored pure black. A sign that his mood may not be the best. Even as Toad Man simply glances in his way, he glances right back at him, eyes narrowing just slightly, almost as if just waiting for him to say something or another to set him off the deep end, or annoy him, or who knows what by now.

Either way, his expression eventually switches back to the fight once more.

Zero changes into his Black Zero armor.

Bass observes the battle himself, hmm hmming at the brutality.

As Zero's armor switches, so does Toad Man's!

Well if it was able to that is. Toad Man wets himself. The puddle of the chemicals, which are probably acidic and such begin to pool up and spread about, possibly against and under the door if it isn't locked that tight. Toad Man also happens to activate something in the effort to not even start to annoy him. Out of sight out of mind works right?

That's why Toad Man tries to blend in with the crowd as he hops towards it, despite the droplets he leaves in his wake. The crowd begins to look around but nothing is seen. Toad Man calls this one...

Silent but deadly. ( In smell. )

Toad Man activates his stealth mode.

Elpizo has disconnected.

"Huh, good day then," Bass says, as the mercenary leaves. "A rude man, that's for sure."

Lumine hasn't 'failed' to say anything, he has -chosen- not to say anything. As someone who likes poetry, Elpizo should recognize the difference.

However, he chooses to speak now and adds, "There are unique abilities and talents that are less infamous." He is certain, now, of who this person is. Well, somewhere between certain and 'pretty certain'. "I would have to agree with Bass, I do not see him as an enemy either."

Lumine hasn't 'failed' to say anything, he has -chosen- not to say anything. As someone who likes poetry, Elpizo should recognize the difference.

However, he chooses to speak now and adds, "There are unique abilities and talents that are less infamous." He murmurs, looking towards Bass, "For example, Toad Man at least has A-Nnoying."

Zero watches Toad Man hop off, and disappear, before giving something akin to a snort. His head tilts back, letting his long mane of hair swish with it, before he tilts his gaze back down to the pit once more, still remaining thoughtful. He's a quiet and brooding Zero right now, probably why he isn't doing this around home or his own people.

Overclock hasn't fought such an intense battle in a long time. It's weighing on him that every blow counts now, every move, every manuever is important. The worst of it is that, the harder he tries, the more his upgrades will start to fail. He knows that. As he leaps aside from the sonic blast, fire flares up at his feet, giving him lift, destroying him just that much more from the inside. He lands again on the ground; he clenches his fists, retracting the blaster weapons, and his hands flare up with small, visible auras of orange fire.

For a second he's got nothing to say. He's too weary. But he grits his teeth... and with another dash, he moves forward again, throwing one of those super-heated fists at Shultz, and then throwing the other, and then the first again. "Can't die--"

"Won't die--"

"My work... is the future... and you... ARE A DINOSAUR!"

Overclock strikes you with a solid hit from his Overheat Combo attack for 19 units of damage.

Toad Man continues his curling up, looking up at Zero from his hiding place,(behind some fat reploid) and then staying there, trying to keep out of sight. The less he sees Zero, the less he will have a problem FROM Zero.

Can Toad Man stay there forever? Well no, but Zero will leave after the fight hopefully.

Hans Shultz had him! He had Overclock in his grasp and now the cyborg is... slipping... away...! "No... no!" he shouts, starting to grow desperate. And when Shultz starts to grow desperate, he starts making mistakes. He lowers the spent sonic bazooka. How can this disgusting puke still be alive?! How did he avoid that?! Unsure of what to do at this point, and whether he should take another shot despite the massive energy loss, or if he should risk going man-to-man with Overclock once again. He got lucky last time, but he isn't confident about doing it again.

Unfortunately, hesitation means that the decision goes to the Maverick. There's a massive punch to start things off that sends Shultz reeling backwards. His bazooka flies out of his hands and clatters to the combat pit ground, useless. Falling to his knees from the force of the blow, Shultz doesn't stand a chance against the next fury. A massive mark is on his helmet where the fist connected, melting his mask slightly, liquefying it. The next punch clocks him in the combat harness, and the entire vest -shatters- from the force of the blow. Normally extremely tough, the alloy had been broken down by the intense cold of previous attacks.

It begins to dawn on Shultz that he might not get out of this one alive. He can't hear the roar of the crowd any longer; only the ringing in his ears and the shouts of his opponent get through. Summoning what he has left, Shultz, from his knees, tries to tackle Overclock to the ground in a dirty hug of a maneuver in an attempt to avoid that last punch coming his way. Shouting some incoherent battle cry, he savagely throws punches and kicks from the ground, trying to wrestle with Overclock on the ground in a maddening display of fury.

You strike Overclock with a minor hit from your Savage Beating attack.

Overclock didn't believe for a second that he came out here to die. But as he starts to overexert himself as he continues to throw rage-fuelled fists at his all too human opponent, he starts to believe it's possible he may have come here to lose. There's very little energy left in him by the time Shutlz finds wind to strike back, and the blows pound into his red-hot armor, over and over again like a torrential rain. Every strike dents metal now weakened by heat, and Overclock is thrown onto his back. He's disgusted by the human blood, suddenly, flailing slightly to avoid it in virally-induced madness and hate. His eyes glow behind his visor, flaring slightly green. This is all that can be seen of them, which means that Hans will miss the look of shock in them, more the pity. "I won't lose to flesh... not to a human..."

He swings a fist at Hans, aiming it upward, in as much an effort to get the man off of him as it is to strike him. It does not have near the precision of his last set of furious strikes, but it is frantic and still powerful.

Overclock strikes you with a minor hit from his Uppercut attack for 15 units of damage.

You are below your courage-endurance point.

"DIE!! DIE!! DIE!!" Shultz shrieks, throwing punches down at the cyborg he's laying on top of, hammering away at his metal armour. As he wails on Overclock in an exhibition that's bordering on flailing, Shultz's helmet continues to melt from the intense heat. His metal mask, oozing an a near liquid now, can no longer resist the pull of gravity and literally melts off Shultz's face. This reveals a pair of wild, frantic, blood-shot eyes, wide open with exertion and desperation. Shultz's mouth is wide open as he continues to rage against the machine, shouting nearly incoherent dribble as he continues to pummel the Maverick. The man's thick metal gloves are beginning to crack just as much as Overclock's body is.

Slowly, Shultz's vicious punches begin to fade as energy succumbs to fatigue and fear. The blows become weaker and weaker, and the fanatical fervor dims slightly from Shultz's eyes. "Die... die...!... di-..."

A fist flies up and strikes Shultz in the jaw, snapping his head back. Flopping upwards from the impact, Shultz falls onto his back on the ground next to Overclock, sprawled out in a spread eagle, motionlessly starring upwards at the sky.

Overclock is on the ground, and on his back, even after throwing that fist. He doesn't get up until nearly two seconds later. In fact, given how slowly he's moving, a Neo Arcadian sniper would have an easy time taking him down...

But he rises to his knees, armor still red and nearly melting off his body. He lets some of the energy drain out of his body, and it feels good, finally, able to relax just slightly. His anger is abating, but there's still worry there, and confusion, frustration. This human did well. Distressingly well.

If he were a reploid, he would offer him his hand. But he can't bring himself to touch the broken, flesh body.

Overclock powers down systems to their ordinary functioning levels.

Fanfare plays as Overclock, as the only one able to move, is declared the winner. Bass chooses this moment to rise from his seat, put on his poncho, and walk out of the box. He begins descending toward the arena floor.

Overclock needs help to leave, but it's a good thing he did bring some medical assistants with him, after all. They don't say anything to him, but, he seems too tired to quip much anyhow.

Zero turns just slightly, the battle over, and for the moment, the spectacle in the arena done for the crowds, his attention shifts elsewhere. There will be other fights, other challengers, many nameless types will face off down there too, but he's filled his time as much as he wanted, and now he simply turns and starts to stride back in amongst the crowds, to leave Tartarus behind him.