Cube

February 2012 Lantern Hill It had been a few days since the Scrap at Greenville, and life had been relatively quiet for The Steel Shrike. ...Which is kind of a pain if you're programmed to go fight crime every night. It was a relief when an email popped up in his inbox not a few hours ago. The strange girl from the other day wanted to meet with him for a sparring match. The location of choice was an empty rooftop not far from the Old Davis Estate. It was quiet, it was spacious, and he looked damn good standing there with his cape billowing. Which, incidentally, was exactly what he was doing as he listened for the distinctive sound of the Tigercycle's approach. ...After all, you need to make a good impression before getting beaten up by a lady.

Steel Shrike and Crimson Tiger meet up for a friendly sparring match. What could possibly go wrong?

So this wasn't the only ring of thieves involved in this. He'd have to investigate further once he got back to base, but at least he made a potential ally in the process. As he climbed up to the top of a nearby building, Shrike watched as the Crimson Tiger rode off into the sunset. She was a good fighter, if a bit of an odd one, and she didn't seem to suspect a thing about him for the moment. That was good. In fact, if he didn't know better, he'd think she... ...Nah. That'd be silly. Although... 'She did said I was pretty cool...' From beneath his cloak of invisibility, The Steel Shrike smiled. Maybe this superhero team-up thing wasn't so bad after all.

"Probably a good idea, I don't know if this guy will come to anytime soon." He idly prodded the fallen ninja with his foot. As for the offer of sparring. Well... it would be interesting. Not to mention easier than surfing through the complete works of Bruce Lee with a motion capture algorithm running. "I'd like that. I think we could learn a lot from each other. Though... I'd have to keep the costume on. Have to protect my secret identity and all." 'Not that I have any other identity...' ...Oh God, did he just agree to another meeting with her? Alright. It's fine. As long as they met somewhere neutral, and he didn't break down or something. Yeah...

Fighting since she was five? At least she had 4 or so years of NotFighting. Shrike hadn't even had one. ...Of course, Shrike hadn't even had one year period, so why was he even complaining. Maybe someday he could set up his own private server and retire to Second Life. "It's an IP address. Whenever you need the help of a stalwart warrior of the night, you... just enter that into a browser and then I have this little javascript form set up." Wow, that sounded lame. Why couldn't he have invested in a big spotlight? Or a hotline? Even an email address was more practical than that. "It's not practical, but a warrior of the knight has to be cautious, you know?" '...Note to self: Open a Gmail Account when you get home. Pronto.'

Shrike paused... "...I'm glad you were here as well. It was amazing what you did with those ninjas earlier." ...Okay, humility subroutine also works. That's good. "I'm sorry if I've been cold to you during all of this, but your assistance is greatly appreciated." he smiled. "Perhaps we could team up again sometime?" ...That wasn't so bad. He hadn't exploded or experienced a fatal system crash, anyway. "If you ever need any help, just drop me a message." He produced a pen and notecard from his utility belt, and quickly jotted down an IP Address before tossing it to the martial artist. After all, you couldn't always work alone, right?

"You just followed them here?" First she shows up his fighting and then she comes out and says she literally just stumbled onto the case? ...Why did he have an insecurity subroutine too?! For the love of... "...Yes, I was following a case on art theft. This has been going on for some time now. Stuff has been stolen from museums and private collections all over the city. At least now we can put this guy behind bars..." At least this case was wrapped up now, even if the potential murder lead was a bust.

"The Steel Shrike." This girl was really enthusiastic. Was it all like a game to her? Actually, it being like a game would be a welcome change to being a stalwart warrior of the knight. Maybe he should... //ERROR: INVALID THOUGHT PROCESS// No... there was still too much to do. He had a legacy to uphold. ...Also that error was really annoying. Sheesh. Stupid programmer dad... "...Mind if I ask you how you found this place? I've been investigating for weeks now to track this group down. I wasn't aware anyone else was on this trail."

Shrike took a moment to revel in his victory. The enemy lay defeated on the floor. His cloak billowed dramatically in a wind only it could feel... ...And there was some girl asking him a question about his fighting style and cloak. Well, you couldn't have anything. "Oh, it's uh... a nanite swarm in the shape of a cloak actually, and... I don't really have a fighting style, but... thanks. Person." Note to self: Download fighting style immediately. Or make up a name. Like... Cloak-Fu, or something that doesn't end in "Fu". ...Shrike No Jutsu? Way of the Invisible Metal Fist? Man, this stuff is hard when you actually have to think about it. Why was he programmed with the capacity for embarrassment, but not a name for his fighting style?!

As the man made one final, desperate attempt to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, his hand met nothing but cold, unwelcoming air. A cold voice whispered into the criminal's ear. Calm... certain... and the one thing the warrior dreaded to hear. "You missed." With one swift kick, Shrike's burst from his's nanite cocoon, the black fabric unfurling behind him like the inescapable shroud of death as his shin collided with the criminal's gut. Time seemed to move in slow motion as he watched the air rush from the kingpin's lungs, his eyes opening wide with shock from the impact. 'Man...' thought Shrike, as the aformentioned melodramatic monologue played out in his head. 'That was cool...'

Shrike's cloak sprang to life a second time as he vanished from sight like a sinister cheshire cat. "She's right, you know..." he said as the coating of nanites creeped up his limbs. "You can either surrender peacefully, or I can hit you again." You could almost see a smirk beneath his mask as his face vanished from sight. "Your choice." As he moved himself into position for the inevitable takedown, he couldn't help but feel a bit pleased with himself. HA! Take that, stupid ninja! Just because the karate kid over there can take out more minions doesn't mean that I can't take you out! Oh yeah! ...Oh, right. He was supposed to be a stoic warrior of the night. Gotta focus... See if he makes a move...

Let's finish this. Conceal then attack. But I'm holding my action. If he makes a move to attack or run, I'm finishing him off. 1d20+7=25

Shrike could feel the servos in his neck strain as they took the kick, nearly knocking him to the ground. He was going to need repairs. This wasn't good... Drawing upon his backup reserves of energy, he dove into a roll as his cloak wrapped around him like a cocoon. The nanites within coated him from head to toe as their audiovisual inhibitors flared to life. Now unseen and unheard, Shrike carefully lined up his next attack. All he needed was one solid hit and he could end this... Just... one hit... With one mighty round house kick, Shrike's cloak melted off of his frame as his metal boot struck the villain squarely in the side of the head.

Hero Point to Undaze. I'm going to activate my Concealment power as a free action. Then I'm going to dart behind him and hit him! 1d20+7=25 YEAH!

1d20+7=13 ...Come ON, IC!

"So you're the one behind all of this..." Shrike tossed his cape of his shoulder as he approached the leader of this motley crew of sinister Shinobi. "If it's a fight you're after, then get ready for the fight of your LIFE!" ...Then he missed again. This just wasn't his day. "What do you want with all of this art, thief?! Who are you working for?!" The girl wasn't looking too good either. Her kick barely even did anything, and this man was too fast to get caught in his nanosnare. He needed to think of something, and fast...

1d20+7=18 Melee Attack! YEAH!

1d20=1 I ROLLED A 1! :D

"This time I won't miss!" shouted Shrike, as he aimed a roundhouse kick at a Ninja's gut. Of course the first person he runs into during this investigation was a black belt... at least she was holding her own. ...Okay, she was completely dominating. He really needed up update his combat algorithms. This was just shameful. "Alright kids. Unless you want my friend and I to wipe the rest of you out, you'll drop your weapons and come quietly. Got it?" he growled, cracking his knuckles for emphasis.

Taking 10 versus a minion, for 17.

Shrike leapt into action, aiming a metal coated fist at one of the ninjas... only for the newcomer to take it down first. His fist soared through the air with a mighty whiff as ninja after ninja fell before the human Cuisinart. "...Impressive. How about you save some for me?" First this woman crashes her investigation, then she upstages him... This was embarrassing! Why was he programmed to feel embarrassment?! Nevermind... he had to ready himself for the next round of blows. There were more ninjas where that came from...

1d20+7=14 This is the opposite of impressive.

Pyre Artistic License Kramp my Style The Devil His Due Steel Shrike Freakin' Ninjas Everybody was Muay Thai Fighting! [GM] Knuckling Down Reputation Chart

Peter David Steel Shrike

For the second time tonight, Shrike's concentration was broken. He had such a good line too... "...Superhero team up thing? What superhero team up thing?" ...Oh, right. Superhero team ups were a thing. Weren't they supposed to be prearranged or something? "...Never mind!" he shouted, as his cape billowed dramatically behind him in an imaginary wind. "Evil Doers, prepare to face the Wrath of the Steel Shrike! ...And whoever this person is." Not quite as intimidating as he had hoped, but it would have to do.