>>766955
the fuck? we still can't treat the mom! legal guardian still said no! that'd be both messed up and illegal!
unless kicking his ass will give him some new insight into the error of his ways (instead of entrenching him further into the old ones), we're not going near his mom today.

also am i the only one worried for gg?

>>767092
He's a Warrior, not a human. Might makes right - and GG feels mighty!

Also consider: 1) we are not doing anything to his mom, Jay is and 2) this is what advocate work is about: going places the law won't help and taking care of business in the Visitor community. Our job was to get that kid out of Jay's way, and that's what we're doing.

>>767092
>legal guardian still said no!
He was denying her medical care when she was still conscious and competent. Think that makes him less of a 'guardian,' more of a 'captor.'
>>766221
>"I'd have listened better if I'd heard it from her, Higkritek," Jay says. "Before the coma."

Besides which, 'legal?' What legal system are you thinking of, here? Major governments on both worlds have clearly failed these folks. Right now Zack's on a mission for the People's Republic of Bika. Her law says to get the kid out of the way so Jay can save the mom.

Enemy 2016/12/19(Mon)23:26 No. 767113 ID: f6ba27
File 148221879086.png - (88.18KB , 950x560 , 616.png )

"All right," you say. "Shit. All right. I kind of feel like a screwup for letting it get out of hand."
"It's in hand," GG says. "Big red hand. He needs fixing, Z. Just like his mom does." She cracks four pairs of knuckles.

It's one of those alleys where the rain from two months ago, curdled into a distinctly urban malevolence, somehow finds its way to dripping onto your head.

Higkritek is waiting on the other end of it.
"I finish with you and that floater is in my apartment, he's going out the window," he says.
"That'd hold water if floaters didn't fucking float, my guy," GG says. She unwraps herself from her shirt and tosses it to you. She's bound only by her sports bra, which is doing its best. She starts to step out of her shoes then eyes the scummy ground. "Shoes on?"
"Fine." Higkritek is taking his own shirt off. His insane muscles prowl enormously beneath his skin.
GG limbers up. "Ughzhsuri?"
Higkritek pauses. "I don't do that."
"A four armed man who doesn't ughzhsuri is not a man," GG says. "And the ancestors piss on his face."
"We're not on Golboria."
"If we were on Golboria," GG says, "a hgzjska rughal spkzl like you would be hyperbeast shit."

(Thank U to RML for this panel)

Enemy 2016/12/19(Mon)23:26 No. 767114 ID: f6ba27
File 148221881525.png - (57.95KB , 960x560 , 617.png )

Higkritek charges her.
She laughs as he comes, then takes two punches in quick succession to her stomach.
You wince and gasp.
She doesn't.
She tugs Higkritek's arms in and past her, stepping into his frame, brings her knee straight into his hip, then hooks him around the leg with hers and sends him sprawling to the ground.
"Unbalanced," she says.
She stomps him directly on the chest hard enough that you feel the impact at your feet. A dark patina of alley scum in the shape of her sneaker is stamped across his chest as he scrambles to his feet, wheeling round to see her back turned to him as she walks away.
He charges her again and like water she's not where she was anymore. Her silky hair swishes in his face and then her fist hits the side of his head hard enough you're shocked it stays on.
"Slow," she says.
He comes back with a haymaker that makes your eyes water but seems to have all the effect on GG's jaw that a bug has on a windshield.
"Weak," she says.

Enemy 2016/12/19(Mon)23:27 No. 767115 ID: f6ba27
File 148221883948.png - (79.48KB , 685x393 , 618.png )

Then they're a scarlet thunderstorm of limbs, jabbing, grappling, rolling across the grime like two huge violent spiders. The only time you can follow what's going on is when GG hits Higkritek hard enough to wind him, which seems to be happening constantly. He gets on top of her only to be cartwheeled face-first into the pavement. He takes a wild, three-fisted swing and she is suddenly behind him, driving the point of her elbow into his spine. He gets her in a headlock and she delivers a scorpion kick directly into his junk that nearly makes you bite your tongue. At one point you could swear she pulls a literal fucking DDT on him.
It's just like she told you: she's taking him apart.

He is spat out of her latest throw like a bone from the mouth of a dragon, and wavers in the alleyway.
He turns to you.
You take a step back and he takes three big steps forward.
Then a flying dropkick sends him toppling like a redwood. You scramble out of the way.
"Coward!" GG flips him onto his back and steps on two of his wrists. She grinds her heel and he howls. "See what you have let them make you, Higkritek!"

(Thank u also RML for this panel. everyone go read Coxwette)

Enemy 2016/12/19(Mon)23:27 No. 767116 ID: f6ba27
File 148221885727.png - (94.97KB , 960x560 , 619.png )

She pulls his head up off the asphalt, and cradles it almost.
"I'm gonna show you what you're supposed to be," she says.
She brings her knee up into his chin.
Then she does it four more times.
Just as you're moved enough to start forming some kind of protest, a white fleck comes shooting out of Higkritek's mouth. Her arm snaps out to catch it. Her palm opens. A bloody tooth.
She lets him crumple back down and squats over him, holding it between her thumb and forefinger. "You see this?"
He manages to nod.
"By law of ughzhsuri, I get one promise," GG says. "And you will promise to stop this bullshit. And let Jay do his job. Snrkzjila pakhra ughzhsuri."
"Snrkzjil-- snrkzjila pakhra ughzhsuri," Higkritek repeats.
"Good." GG pockets the tooth. "You don't like it, you get good enough to take it back." She extends her hand. "Not that you will. Until you figure out your drahgahas."
He takes her hand and cranes himself painfully back to his feet. He shuffles down the alley, finds his shirt, and scrapes what's left of himself back into it.

GG takes hers back from you. "We oughta be good now."

>>767116
Laugh and say "Never heard you complain about what I make you." after he's out of earshot. Then we should probably phone Bika.

Take a quick look around for anyone else who may have been watching the fight. If anyone was, it'd be best if they aren't, say... uploading a video to their social media site of choice this very moment.

Drop jaw with your mouth wide open. D:

"My dick still isn't fully healed and I have a huge boner right now. My boner is causing me pain. You have no idea how much pain I'm in right now."

We should follow Higkritek up to where his mom and Jay are because if Jay sees Higkritek by himself he might think Higkritek is gonna throw him out.

"Holy shit, now I'm the one turned on by violence. If we find a thicker mattress this time I will serve you a whole bowl of fruit punch."

kiss her that was hot as hell

holy shit

That was absolutely insane. She is FAR more capable than I have her credit.
We should absolutely ask her to explain drahgahas to us. We need to understand.
>>767125
Also this.

>>767113
>>767114
>>767115
>>767116
3 things.

1.) That was awesome. Truly, truly awesome. Also terrifying. She deserves a reward.

2.) Is she injured? Any pains or anything? She might want to let Jay take a look at her.

3.) Will she please teach us about drahgahas?

>>767140
This.

Suggestion 2016/12/20(Tue)06:49 No. 767151 ID: bb42f1

As incredible as that was, and as baller as GG undoubtedly is, I think this fight may legitimately just showcase the difference between a Warrior who has stayed in touch with their culture whilst adapting and one who hasn't, more than the fact that GG is in the top percentile of skill or something. Honestly I'm glad this worked out as well as it did, I think clearly we did need a Warrior solution rather than the human one. Also glad that things mostly seemed to stay at the level of social violence; thinking about it, with two Warriors that was always reasonably likely, I was just worried that Higkritek might have been feeling so protective of his mother that he'd escalate.

Anyway, in terms of what to do:
1) Congratulate GG on being totally awesome. Kiss/hug her and tell her how hot she is, and that she deserves a reward.
2) Ask if she can teach her puny human boyfriend about drahgahas, because seriously, that was totally fucking awesome.
3) Go check on Jay.

I left out asking her if she's alright because I'm worried it might come off as an implication that she wasn't strong/proficient enough. However if Zack can do it tacitly in a way that avoids that whilst showing concern (and thinking about it, he's an excellent communicator so he probably can) then I'd be all for it.

>>767140
>>767151
These.

"Knew you had him, GG. Still impressed, though. Haven't been lucky enough to see you at work like that before."

As for asking if she needs help without being any sort of downer on her victory, maybe phrase it something like: "He gonna need any help from Jay too, now?" and then "You want anything yourself?" Something like that would emphasize how he was worse off than her, and we'd be asking if she "wants" anything rather than if she "needs" anything.

Once we're in a more private spot/moment, maybe we could also apologize to her for having to step in and fix where we were screwing up. Maybe have a chat about the tactics we were trying to use and what went wrong, since I think the core argument we were aiming for - "holding on to grudges means missing out on good stuff" - was the same as what GG used.

I'm worried about Higgy still thinking poorly of Zack after this, too, but I can't think of a way to set him straight without just coming off as whiny.

>>767172
>I'm worried about Higgy still thinking poorly of Zack after this, too, but I can't think of a way to set him straight without just coming off as whiny.

Who cares, tbh, he's just some jackass.

>>767140
This.

Just had a thought... GG already knew our mother was killed by a Warrior, right?

(I know I should remember but it's been a while since I read through the quest.)

We didn't inadvertantly introduce her to that fact just now did we? :v

>>767242
She already knew. Zack told her at a sleepover once.

>>767243
Oh thank god.

>>767116
jump in her arms kiss her full on and call her your hero.
she did protect you from him when he got desperate

Enemy 2016/12/20(Tue)23:57 No. 767255 ID: f6ba27
File 148230704284.png - (174.86KB , 960x560 , 620.png )

"That was fucking amazing," you say. "That was hot."
GG winks. "I know. That's why I invited you."
Higkritek is steadying himself next to a soggy pile of cardboard. She waves to him. "Take a lap, Hig! Run it out."
"Are you ok? Hurt or anything?"
She snorts. "As if. You saw that shit. Guy couldn't punch out a skuteet."
"What did you say he needed? Drahagas?"
"Drahgahas. Warrior thing."
"Can you teach your puny human boyfriend about it?" you ask, as she leads the way back to the apartment complex.
"Uhhh." GG furrows her brow. "I can try. It's kinda-- I don't know if it's complicated or maybe I'm just dumb at explaining shit. But basically at like the most basic level Drahgahas is this thing that says every Warrior is basically equally strong. That's not 100% true but they're definitely a lot closer to each other than usually humans are. Like the endorphins Warriors get for strength training is like way more than Humans. Or something.

So the idea is that Warriors are all basically the ultimate, uh, warriors. So in a straight up one-on-one fight, they should be exactly equally matched. So Drahgahas is this... philosophy or like training thing. The mind games. Two warriors fight, and one of them if he's conflicted about what he's fighting about, if in the back of his mind he knows he's wrong or whatever like Hig did, it's going to undermine him. His head won't be all the way in it, or it hasn't motivated him to train hard enough, or whatever. It can be a really tiny disadvantage, but since everyone's equal, uh hypothetically anyway, that doesn't matter. Drahgahas says the right one will always win. So if two Warriors fight, the one who's right wins. Might makes right. But like legit. If a Warrior community needs to decide something really important and divisive what they do is spend days and days and days comparing and searching for Warriors who are the most fanatically convinced of their opposite viewpoints and who are as physically similar as possible, like same weight same bench same as much as they can, and then have them fight. And whichever one wins, like, you know their side is right. And it's not because like grrr I'm stronger so you have to do what I say-- I mean they don't even look for their strongest guy to fight they look for their most equal to the other guy to fight-- it's because Warrior logic dictates if they win they have to be right and if they're right they have to win." She scratches her cheek. "I don't know if this is explaining it good."

"What if both of them think they're right?"
"It's not about thinking though," GG says. "It's like-- being. Kind of."
"But say somehow both of them are 100% convinced enough that it's not going to affect either of them. Purely hypothetically."

"Well ok this is where it gets more complicated because... ok so Golborian-- I guess Golborian religion, kind of, says that there is this-- the Garaktonnik word for it is Yzja-- the Yzja is this ideal impossible reality, where everyone made exactly the right choices and did exactly the right things and everyone is living like kings, like their best possible lives, and Golborian like... morality kind of, is all just about acknowledging that this is totally impossible, like to do every single thing right and achieve Yzja, but you have to try to get as close as you can. So always be asking yourself what the best possible version of you would do, and then do that. And I think the idea is that whoever's Drahgahas-- like whoever's reason for fighting is closest to Yzja-- that's who wins. Not even necessarily who's right like, in an Earth sense. Whoever gets to Yzja better. It's like it's like uhhh destiny. Poly could be explaining this to you like 3000 times better."

You're thinking of telling GG why Poly probably wouldn't be in the mood to explain much to you, when you run into Jay on the stairwell, leaning against a wall.

"Cautiously optimistic," he says, before you can ask him anything. "I am cautiously optimistic about this one."
"What do you think her chances are of recovery?" you ask.
"43 percent," Jay says immediately.
"That's-- is that good? For this kind of thing?"
"It's 43 percent more than it would have been."
"The son won't be giving you problems," GG says. "If he does he knows what happens."
"He was right," Jay says. "Not about what to do but the rest of it." He stares past you and out into space. "The collective made a miscalculation. A grave miscalculation."
"Did you agree with it?"
"It doesn't matter whether I agreed or not," Jay says. "It happened. We're not paying for it. She's paying for it, and so's her son. It figures." He sounds deeply tired. "The Voc subjects lasted just long enough to think they were safe. To fall in love and start families. Just long enough."

> Resolve to win determines the tiebreaker between two equal-level fighters
Uh... That actually sounds incredibly stupid. Not from a "might makes right" perspective but a "the viewpoint's resolve in a fighter's mind is pure power" perspective. See, human martial arts believes that EVERYTHING is martial arts; how you fight, how you do chores, how you breathe, how you @#$%, how you see the world, how you make decisions, you get the idea. And the problem with Drahgahas when applied to martial arts is that different perspectives lead to different methods of living life and different styles training and different ways of experiencing martial arts, and that leads to different fighting styles and different body structures, and even though they're still equal, rock beats scissors and scissors beats paper and ultimately what you think is an clash of purely opposing viewpoints may actually be just two options out of like five and they're all each other's weaknesses and it's like using a Fire Type Pokémon against a Water Type Pokémon. You know?

Yeah. Well, if this works, then maybe they actually can after all.

>>767256
m8 this isn't a philosophical debate GG was just explaining how it works because Zack asked and now the topic changed

No it kind of makes sense, like a non verbal debate. Non verbal rhetoric? something like that.

>"It's 43 percent more than it would have been."
Well, is what we're doing now the best case scenario, if not, how can we change that?

seriously what can I do to help I've been about as useful as a screen door on a submarine here.

>>767255
"So is there anything we can do to help that, or what?"

>>767255
We got a biology lesson, a cultural lesson, and a religious lesson. Score!
Also, sorry, Jay. The Collective apparently has a history of making bad decisions.

>>767256
I'd rather not insult GG's culture and beliefs.

>>767266
>>767265
This.

>>767255
Hmm. So Warriors are all (roughly) equally strong? Interesting.
Drahgahas is closely tied to not only their mentality and religion, but to their biology as well. This may require more research. I wonder if there's a book.

>>767265
This.

>>767255
>But basically at like the most basic level Drahgahas is this thing that says every Warrior is basically equally strong. That's not 100% true but they're definitely a lot closer to each other than usually humans are. Like the endorphins Warriors get for strength training is like way more than Humans. Or something.
Fascinating!

>So Drahgahas is this... philosophy or like training thing. The mind games. Two warriors fight, and one of them if he's conflicted about what he's fighting about, if in the back of his mind he knows he's wrong or whatever like Hig did, it's going to undermine him. His head won't be all the way in it, or it hasn't motivated him to train hard enough, or whatever. It can be a really tiny disadvantage, but since everyone's equal, uh hypothetically anyway, that doesn't matter. Drahgahas says the right one will always win. So if two Warriors fight, the one who's right wins. Might makes right. But like legit.
It actually makes sense. A doubtful fighter is more likely to hesitate and make mistakes.

>If a Warrior community needs to decide something really important and divisive what they do is spend days and days and days comparing and searching for Warriors who are the most fanatically convinced of their opposite viewpoints and who are as physically similar as possible, like same weight same bench same as much as they can, and then have them fight. And whichever one wins, like, you know their side is right. And it's not because like grrr I'm stronger so you have to do what I say-- I mean they don't even look for their strongest guy to fight they look for their most equal to the other guy to fight-- it's because Warrior logic dictates if they win they have to be right and if they're right they have to win.
They settle major debates with a TOURNAMENT. WITH WEIGHT CLASSES. Just when I thought I couldn't love them any more.

>ok so Golborian-- I guess Golborian religion, kind of, says that there is this-- the Garaktonnik word for it is Yzja-- the Yzja is this ideal impossible reality, where everyone made exactly the right choices and did exactly the right things and everyone is living like kings, like their best possible lives, and Golborian like... morality kind of, is all just about acknowledging that this is totally impossible, like to do every single thing right and achieve Yzja, but you have to try to get as close as you can. So always be asking yourself what the best possible version of you would do, and then do that. And I think the idea is that whoever's Drahgahas-- like whoever's reason for fighting is closest to Yzja-- that's who wins. Not even necessarily who's right like, in an Earth sense. Whoever gets to Yzja better. It's like it's like uhhh destiny.
The Ideal. It appears again. I imagine that like most religions it spawns its share of conflict. Thus drahgahas.
I wonder what GG's idea of Yzja is. Would it be rude to ask?

Anyway, what can we do for Jay?

Shit sucks, man. What ya gonna do?

BTW, thanks for the skinny on drahgahas, Geeg.

Enemy 2016/12/21(Wed)11:34 No. 767309 ID: f6ba27
File 148234884830.png - (9.75KB , 960x560 , 621.png )

"Is that the best case scenario?" you ask.
"No," says Jay.
"Is there anything I can do to help?"
"There would have been a decade ago," Jay says. "It's too late for anyone now."

"Poor Jay," GG says, as you head back to the truck. "I'm glad your floater is the sexy kind of cool and not the emo kind of cool."
"Poor Jay," you agree. "Poor mom, poor Hig..."
"If everyone's poor nobody is," GG says. "Life just kind of sucks in general."
"Where would you be?" you ask. "In the perfect Yzja world?"
"Probably not on Earth," GG says. "So fuck Yzja."

Enemy 2016/12/21(Wed)11:34 No. 767310 ID: f6ba27
File 148234887177.png - (3.07KB , 960x560 , 622.png )

Jack hears the slot on the door opening and prays to a God he's never prayed to that it isn't who he thinks it is.

Enemy 2016/12/21(Wed)11:34 No. 767311 ID: f6ba27
File 148234888764.png - (3.11KB , 960x560 , 623.png )

But it is.

"Hello, Jack."

Enemy 2016/12/21(Wed)11:35 No. 767312 ID: f6ba27
File 148234890358.png - (3.24KB , 960x560 , 624.png )

"Bend to me."

Enemy 2016/12/21(Wed)11:35 No. 767313 ID: f6ba27
File 148234891854.png - (61.75KB , 800x600 , 625.png )

KILLS 0%

ITEMS 63%

SECRET 90%

>>767309
>"Where would you be?" you ask. "In the perfect Yzja world?"
>"Probably not on Earth," GG says. "So fuck Yzja."
Aww. That's sweet. I think.

>>767310
Oh, geez.
>>767311
Oh, crap.
>>767312
Oh, fuck.

>>767313
That was pure awesome! I'm on the edge of my seat! I can't wait!

>>767309

Oh shit, I was wondering if the Kariket's mind control can work on humans (assuming Jack is human) without making their heads explode.

>>767312
This reminds me of Eivr.

Poor Jack.

This thread left us with some questions.
>What do we do about Polyphema? This static can't last.
>What's up with Meg? What's our resident spy in the sky up to?
>What new spore of madness is Kariket planting?
I can't wait to find out the answers!

>>767312
ooooooooooh myyyyyyyyyyyy GOOOOOOOOOOOOOD, THE KARKIKET WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SUICIDE OF THAT POW EALIER AND HE'S DOING AGAIN!!

>>767325
That actually makes a scary amount of sense.
I've got a bad feeling about this.
>>767322
Same.
>>767323
Also same.

Can we switch back to Bika's sister?

>>767343
Never change, Kome.

>>767343
I would actually like Kome to change

>>767350
He needs more character development first.