Round 3, Fight 12: Neo Iceland vs. Corsair State

[Cardi Doorl]

Morgan retained her stoic mask, unchanged even as her attempt at a killing blow was foiled thanks to that ice wall. Then Neo Iceland's Gundam turned around and, moments later, its fist was glowing.

Careful study of the enemy wasn't required to understand the Aurora Gundam was about to launch a powerful attack. Realizing she was unable to pry her cutlass away with sheer strength, so embedded was it in the ice, that Morgan deactivated the beam blade, freeing her from the ice's grip.

Now, the expected move from there would be to leap away and get some distance, perhaps narrowly escaping the Sub-Zero Fist. Morgan, however, pulled something some might consider insane.

"TWO SWORDS OF VENGEANCE!" she shouted as she pushed off the ice barrier moments before it shattered. Upon shouting the name of her ultimate attack, Morgan threw the cutlass in her left hand and reactivated the right-hand cutlass.

Choosing to go on the offensive had its price, of course. Having not enough time to evade completely, Morgan gritted her teeth as the Corsair Gundam's left arm was removed entirely. Nevertheless, she just barely remained standing. Then, with inhuman tenacity, Morgan marched forward, readying her remaining cutlass for the next phase of her ultimate attack in case Tomas wasn't hit by the first blade.

[Strike Zero]

As Tomas recovered, a glowing red blade came speeding out of the mist like an arrow. He dropped to his knee and the blade passed above his left shoulder, grazing it but otherwise causing no damage.

"You missed Miss Cors--"

Tomas' voice died in his throat as the brilliant light in his cockpit abruptly started to fade away.

No...! It couldn't be happening again! Not now! All of a sudden, Tomas' body started to feel heavy. The power that had been given to him was suddenly stripped away, as was much of his original strength. The glowing lines along his Gundam's body faded to black and its metallic frame shuddered and groaned.

Tomas tried to call power from the Aurora drivers. Nothing. Not even a flicker. The drivers were completely drained.

It was the same as his last match... the Barrage mode had failed him, and now he was now about to pay dearly for it.

[Cardi Doorl]

Tomas' taunting reply was cut suddenly short as Morgan closed in for the coup de grace. Not that the Red Star much cared.

Too bad, Mr. Iceland. You were in terrain you were meant for, and you used it well, but winning wasn't in the cards.

The Corsair Gundam moved in to finish the Two Swords of Vengeance ultimate attack with an upward-diagonal sweep of the remaining arm, clutching a beam cutlass.

[Strike Zero]

The Corsair Gundam charged out of the mist, its cutlass clasped firmly in the arm that hadn't yet been severed, moving to deliver the final blow. Seeing this, Tomas grunted and stood, summoning whatever strength left in his body. He was without the Aurora Energy... and he didn't see how he could win, not after witnessing Morgan take losing an arm in stride.

But he couldn't give up. That was simply not allowed.

"Not yet... I won't be defeated yet--!"

The Neo Iceland fighter was silenced as something struck the right side of the Aurora Gundam's head. He hadn't seen what it was, though he could feel vividly the effects of the impact: The Aurora Gundam's head shattered into over a dozen metal fragments and exploded into the air, leaving nothing but a sparking, exposed neck left on the mobile suit's shoulders.

For several seconds, Tomas stood there in the now-dark cockpit trying keep from falling over.

What just...?

He blacked out a second before his Gundam collapsed to the cold, ice-laden ground.

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

"Got you."

It took every ounce of willpower Maria possessed to keep herself from firing more bullets into the fallen Aurora Gundam. Oh, the satisfaction that would have given her...

But… no. Even Maria had some degree of honor. She wouldn't kick a man while he was down. The humiliation of his loss was a defeat enough.

That didn't mean she wouldn't kill him later, of course. Just, not now.

It was lucky for Tomas that he'd collapsed when he did. It had missed the burning blade of the Corsair Gundam by inches. Idly, Maria wondered what the Corsair State's fighter was feeling right now. Perhaps she was feeling lucky? Relieved even? The Neo Mexican had heard all about Tomas and Morgan's little wager before hand, which had amused her to no end.

Well, who could be sure? Not even she could read the Red Star's true intentions thus far. The Corsair State was simply a big mystery.

At that moment, she decided it would be best to take her leave before she could be discovered by chance. Disassembling her rifle and returning it to the Gundam Tirador's back, Maria stood, still cloaked, and disappeared back into the winter night.

[Wingnut]

(OOC: Rats. And I was looking forward to them going on a date.)

"This match is now over! The winner is Morgan Burke and the Corsair Gundam!"

I guess that means that the guy has to wear a dress when he fights from now on. Never make a bet you can't win. That's what I always say.

"Crews may now retrieve their fighters and Gundams."

[Cardi Doorl]

Match Result: Corsair State wins