#born to play the damsel forced to be good in hand to hand combat

[ninkaku]

thinking about dazai and fighting now .. hhrrggfff he's so lazy and that translates into a bored effortlessness when engaging with one or multiple enemies. he's quick and agile, flexible though you wouldn't think it with the fact he rarely likes to engage, but he's also incredibly skilled at hitting weak - points, breaking bones and using opponents as shields against others with an ease that pisses people off :p

[chaniters]

Psycopathor’s Murder Games, Part 1

After enhancing his powers, Cyrus joins Psycopathor’s games, hoping to defeat the rangers and gain the piece of technology he needs. But Psycopathor has something up his sleeve, as usual. 

(Post-retribution AU part 5)

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You try to push the people away. Both Physically and mentally.

Their thoughts are so loud... It almost hurts.

Your shields are weaker now. Regina explained. Shields are necessary to protect others from your powers as much as to protect others from your own mind.

With her procedure, she can increase your mind's signal strength, but your shields get broken down in turn.

You felt like you were dying as she had her machines work on you. Wanted to break free, escape.. Get out...But she was just doing what you asked. It’s you in control, not her. The thought was strangely comforting as you sank deeper into her manipulations. Let her slowly tear you apart... willingly. 

It's so hard to block their thoughts right now… And you feel strange. Almost like you were drunk. Like you’re not yourself anymore. Humans. They all look so insignificant… so meaningless… you could just…

No. Do not get distracted!

You raise what's left of your shields and take some painkillers from your pocket to stop the headache. That'll have to do for now.

The crowd is huge. A long drive out of town, then a dangerous stroll through the ruins, and you're here.

Apocalyptica Fest.

You heard about it but never visited yourself. Ortega and Anathema did a few times and told you it was an experience.

They weren't exaggerating.

Doom Cults celebrating the anniversary of the destruction caused by the big one, that destroyed old Los Angeles.

Outsider subcultures, on full display.

Criminals, selling drugs and specially hero-drugs freely.

No police force whatsoever.

Several bands are playing in the "End of the world" section. An infernal party like no other.

THere's no formal announcement for Psycopathor, he's not that careless. But you can see the monster-fuckers wearing his memorabilia wherever you look.

They're here for the Murder games.

You're all wearing dark outfits with hoods, hiding your costumes. No masks yet.

Cybra and Aegis. You wish Cestus was here, but he turned against you after the stunt you pulled. He’s too angry for you to manipulate. Cellex and the others voted against it as well.

You should consider yourself lucky though.

You and Cybra are two heaviest hitters on your side. And Aegis has a history of being almost undefeated against other powered individuals.

She can handle Steel if it comes to it.

And your powers... It's hard to even control them now.

You can sense humans having a soft headache around you. Aegis complained a bit about it but told you her mind-defense training would hold.

You smile. Good for her because you've got no way to stop it.

It was extremely painful. But Regina told you she's not done. She's preparing to go all the way next time, once you're ready.

She said you’re not a Cuckoo anymore. You're way beyond infiltration. You're a weapon now.

Cybra points at a large tent in the distance.

The Monster-fucker stand. It's huge You're told to wait there.

"Right. Let's go" you say.

................................................................

Two pints of Monster-Fucker beer and one Apocalypse Sandwich later, Psycopathor makes his entrance from the back, in full costume.

You've already spotted the rangers, wearing equally concealing outfits, on the other side of the closed tent. Herald is there.

It's hard to read his thoughts around the crowd. But he seems to be all over the place.

Psycopathor gives a signal, and the Monster-Fucker tent collapses, revealing a huge stage.

Fireworks fly off, making everyone turn to look in his direction.

A tall woman takes a mic and stands in the center of the stage, lights focusing on her.

LADIES, AND GENTLEMEN AND EVERYONE CAUGHT IN BETWEEN! I GIVE YOU...." Drumrolls start somewhere "PSYCOPATHOR!"

The presenter moves out of the spotlight, letting the tall figure take the mic. He's added some decorated with skulls to his shoulder pads. They look so real you're have to wonder where he got them.  

He isn't wearing his largest skull helm, but he has "Dia de Los Muertos" makeup this time. Nice detail.

He looks badass, you have to admit.   How will your own suit, slender and tall measure up?

"WELCOME! Heroes! Villains!" He starts, sections of the crowd cheering as he mentions them.

"MONSTER FUCKERS!" he adds, addressing a small sector of people dressed elegantly and wearing masks, taking seats in the spot with the best view of the stage.

"AND EVERYONE FUCKING ELSE!" Now everyone cheers. “THIS IS THE EVENT OF THE YEAR, THAT YOU’VE ALL BEEN WAITING SINCE BEFORE YOU WERE BORN!” Ok maybe that’s exaggerating a bit.

"TONIGHT, I'VE ARRANGED MURDER GAMES LIKE NEVER BEFORE!" He goes on "LET US PRESENT OUR CONTESTANTS"

A large screen lighted up behind him.

"LEADING THE HEROES TEAM, A MAN WHO'S GOT MORE METAL THAN FLESH! THE UNFLOORABLE MARSHALL STEEL!"

The screen goes on a trailer of Steel fighting various enemies. At one point you can't help but smile seeing him kick Psycopathor himself out of a building's window.

Steel himself walks on the stage, as the crowd cheers... some of them boo as well. He isn't clapping, and he hates every moment of this. And the crowd knows, and that makes them cheer and boo even harder. Typical Chen.

"SECOND. OUR KILLER LADY EVERYONE LOVES!  A RANGER WHO ALWAYS GETS HER MAN, DEAD OR ALIVE, BUT LET's BE HONEST, SHE GENERALLY BRINGS COFFINS... LADY ARGENT!"

Another trailer. Argent stabbing enemies... And then she's fighting you, atop the heights of that bridge her claws and your fists moving almost faster than the camera can follow.

That footage never ceases to amaze you, that you could keep up against her.

She walks to the stage with a bright smile. Someone screams for her to have his babies. Usual stuff. She isn't always close to her fans, but she loves to have them in this sickening gladiatorial setting. Reminds everyone she's the real thing.

"THIRD! WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS? IS IT AN UNDERWEAR MODEL, OR A HERO?! OH WAIT IT'S BOTH! MAKE NOISE FOR... HERALD!"

Herald's trailer makes people lose it. The crowd goes insane as he walks on the stage... No smile. No bow to the crowd... He turns and gives you the coldest murderous glare you've seen in some time.

His mind is different. Cold. Focused. And that's not all. He's been under some sort of... change. Argent and Chen feel it too. Chen is... concerned? Herald must have unlocked some new power. And he thinks he can destroy you with it.

You clap for him, which only infuriates him more.

"Come at me with everything you got Daniel" you speak to his mind, without words "I fear no one".

Several people turn around. Wow. You wanted only Daniel to hear it, but apparently half the audience did. Your powers are just beyond right now.

The outburst of rage within his mind is phenomenal. For a moment you think he's going to glide for your throat right there... but then he controls himself, and gives the crowd the smile and bow they've been waiting for.  

So... a transformed Herald... What's next?

"AND NOW... LET US PRESENT... THE POD PEOPLE!" You smile. Pod people isn't the worst thing they're calling you these days, and it's actually accurate, you all come from large tubes.

"THE MASTER MINDFUCKER HIMSELF, THE CAUSE OF ALL THIS RANDOM DESTRUCTION... " He begins. You start to stand, trying to make sure your short cape looks presentable.

"RETRIBUTION" he goes on, the spotlight following you as you come down to the stage. A trailer begins, showing you fight all of the rangers, and many, many other heroes. And it ends with you on giants screens threatening the populace, and the Helios blowing up the City Hall with its lasers as your laughter goes over the loudspeakers.

Fuck. You wish you could have done that trailer yourself. Psycopathor's already bested you twice today.

You stand on a threatening pose. There is overwhelming booing from the audience. But a lot of cheers too.

This baffles you. Of course, many of the people in the audience are anarchists with anty-system views. But many of them just came for the show. Why are they still cheering?

You've been preventing casualties, that's why. They still don't get where your rebellion is heading for...

They still think you're going to be old news in a few years.

You just smile behind your helm. Too much irony. You pose. You threaten the ones booing at you.  You bow to the fans that start cheering on a corner.

Let them have this.

Your mind begins considering what's next, as the announcements go for the rest of your team.

Aegis. She's probably the strongest single combatant at close quarters. She's ideal for this match. And Cybra. She might be vulnerable in your mind, but there's no escaping the fact that she's one of the deadliest members of your rebellion hands down.  

"Now let us announce our WONDERFUL PRIZES"

The woman comes back, with a second mic.

"The prizes for these Murder Games are...."

The displays change to show the tacky Hourglass armor. You know you're not good with style choices, but that thing is just hideous.

"The Hourglass Armor! Designed by the Time-Bender, it can freeze anyone in a large radius for a whole minute!"

It does seem like a second-rate trinket given your powers. You smile. Good. Let them think i'ts just a joke.

"And the second prize... Giving a new definition to the damsel in distress... The man everyone wants to rescue...It's Los Diablos's beloved hero... CHARGE!"

He is shown spread-eagled, in full costume, arms and legs restrained by a strengthened plastic device. Psycopathor made some cuts on his costume to give him a "Beaten and recently captured look".

He is struggling with the restraints, actually making it sexier. Of course, he does. You wonder if he knows he's being watched. He probably does, the idiot.

The crowd loses it, cheering. You close your eyes, trying to hold your weak shields together. It's deafening.

Someone squeezes your hand.

Cybra?

You look at her. She's expressionless as usual. But she knows what's going on. It's so hard to tell with her. You can't rely on scanning her mind, and she has no body-language or speech that you can study.

After announcing they'll be having a lottery for everyone attending and where to buy tickets, she hands the Mic to Psycopathor again.

About time.

“ALRIGHT. FIRST RULE OF THE MURDER GAMES! NO OUTSIDE HELP! IF ANYONE HELPS YOU, YOU’RE DISQUALIFIED. ”

“SECOND RULE…. PUT ON A FUCKING SHOW! DONT MAKE ME LOOK BAD, YOU FUCKERS!”

“THAT'S ALL FOR THE RULES. NOW THE GOAL OF THE GAME…”

“FOR YEARS MY MONSTER FUCKERS HAVE BEEN DEMANDING THIS, AND NOW, FINALLY, AGAINST ALL ODDS I’M DELIVERING! THE TARGET OF THESE MURDER GAMES… IS NO OTHER THAN LOS DIABLOS’S VERY OWN… “

“CATASTROFIEND!!!!!!”

A final trailer begins, as your jaw drops to the floor.

Catastrofiend during the Phoenix Massacre. Catastrofiend during the West Covina battle.

Catastrofiend during the Beverly Hills Rampage. It goes on and on. Santa Monica. Santa Clarita. Destroying the Zoo. Catastrofiend killing Whirlwind. Catastrofiend beheading Sunstroke. Catastrofiend stabbing Mantis. Catastrofiend slashing Ortega, as you shoot him and drag both of you away. And then there are the movie posters. “A nightmare on the 13th”. I… II… III… He’s the original slasher villain after all.

Fuck.

The trailer ends with Catastrofiend’s broken voice roaring with that insect chirp he does, chilling your bones.

“I HAVE CAPTURED THE CATASTROFIEND MONSTER FUCKERS!” He yells. “I DONE IT! AND WE ARE GOING TO RELEASE HIM TONIGHT, JUST FOR THESE MURDER GAMES!”

Steel is discussing with his team. He steps up.

“You never said you would endanger civilians!!”

“OH? I GUESS I DIDN’T… WELL, NO ONE SHOULD BE IN DANGER… IF YOU WIN THESE GAMES, THAT IS! “

“THE TARGET OF THESE MURDER GAMES IS CATASTROFIEND! FIRST TEAM TO TAKE IT’S HEAD AND BRING IT HERE GETS EVERYTHING! THE NEWS WILL PROVIDE FOOTAGE OF IT ALL, AND WE’LL BE HERE, SHOWING IT LIVE ON THESE WONDERFUL SCREENS!”

“THE MONSTER IS BEING RELEASED IN 5 MINUTES, AT THE LOCATION! ON SCREEN! IF YOU HAVE ANY LOVED ONES, MONSTER FUCKERS, NOW’S THE TIME TO TELL THEM TO GET THE FUCK AWAY!”

Many on the crowd take out their cellphones. Others just cheer. A 3d projector shows up a map.

Cybra’s eyes flicker as she records it.

Steel looks like he wants to complain some more.

You and your team head run off the stage without a word. You and Cybra each take one of Aegis’ hands, and activate your jump-thrusters, carrying her upwards and gliding over the crowd.  

No time to waste.

“LET THE GAMES BEGIN!” He goes on in the distance. “ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?” he asks. Obviously, he had to ask that question. The crowd explodes.

Fucking Psycopathor.

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My Fanfiction: https://chaniters.tumblr.com/post/181692759294/my-fanfiction-for-fallen-hero    DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fan fiction using characters and the setting of the Fallen Hero: Rebirth and upcoming Fallen Hero: Retribution games written by Malin Riden. I do not claim ownership of any characters from the Fallen Hero wold. These stories are a work of my imagination, and I do not ascribe them to the official story canon. These works are intended for entertainment outside the official storyline owned by the author. I am not profiting financially from the creation of these stories, and thank the author for her wonderful game/s, without which these works would not exist.