[center][h3]Risky Business[/h3]
Sakura and Karin’s [@Zoey Boey], Ace Cadet’s [@Yankee] VS the Tinkerslug Marauders[/center]

	[color=f49ac2]”Ace!”[/color] Sakura said happily, briefly glancing over her shoulder. [color=f49ac2]”You’re here! That’s great!”[/color]

	The hunter in question skated closer to the two street fighters, finding it humorous that on the way toward a giant enemy creature Sakura was surprised to see him, not the other way around. [color=salmon]"Of course! I -"[/color]

	[color=fff200][i]”From above!”[/i][/color] Karin shouted, swerving to the side while the Cadet slid the opposite way. Sakura threw a fireball at the cannon ball, but missed due to Karin’s dodge. Another cannon aimed their way and Sakura focused on it this time. The cannon boomed and the ball swooshed ominously towards their area- not direct enough to hit, but enough to slow them down. [color=f49ac2][i]”Hadoken!”[/i][/color] She called out. Fireball and cannonball collided, detonating the massive payload early and with a tremendous explosion the shattered pieces of the Tinkerslug’s projectile scattered across the water’s surface.

	[color=fff200]”Better!”[/color] Karin said, still rowing up a storm. It wasn’t exactly a very dignified charge, her upper body zipping back and forth as she worked, hunched over.

	As the three drew closer, their frantic efforts to weather the Tinkerslug’s onslaught earned them the attention of Risky Boots, who snickered down at them from the vessel’s crow’s nest. “Oho? You’re coming straight to me? You’ve got guts, I’ll give you that!” She signaled to her gunners to change tact. “Aft Cannons, arc fire!”

	[color=f49ac2]”N-not too late for you to surrender!”[/color] Sakura managed to say back, watching with wide eyes as a veritable storm of cannonballs be shadowed against the overcast sky. 

	The top cannons ceased their long-range bombardment of the Adrian’s port side, already mauled and set aflame by the explosives, and pivoted their aim upward. After a moment, both of them fired in impossibly rapid succession, each sending a volley of four explosive cannonballs in a high arc to rain down in the general vicinity of the three attackers. Even if they somehow dodged all the potshots, the effect of the blasts’ concussive force on the water’s surface would wreck havoc on their approach.

	The good news was that for now, they'd technically halted the Tinkerslug's assault on the Seeker's ship. That was all well and good, and now they just had to survive the cannonballs being aimed at them. The Cadet's eyes were on the fusillade, considering whether they could outrun the blasts. Then, he swapped his arrow coating to the blast kind - after seeing the hadouken intercept and destroy one right in front of him, he figured rather than running another explosive impact would work just as well to rupture them before they got too close and it was too late.

	[color=salmon]"Max I can shoot at once is three!"[/color] he advised, preparing a Triple Volley. One of the girls would have to clean up the remaining cannonball, assuming he even hit all three. His aim was great, but unstable ground and moving targets in the middle of battle? It was a tall order. Even so he let the three arrows fly, and they rushed upward to meet their targets. Two struck dead on, detonating the cannonballs high above them. The third glanced the projectile on it's side. It ignited the blast powder on the arrowhead all the same, and the explosion pushed the cannonball off course where it splashed into the water.

	Karin said nothing, trying to figure out where the best place to move this damn rowboat was. Sakura nodded, making a noise of assent. [color=f49ac2][i]”Hadoken!”[/i][/color] She cried out, firing another fireball. It missed, and she fired another. This time it connected, and the cannonball exploded over their heads. Karin grunted as she was flattened against the ever buoyant rowboat, grabbing onto the edges as her gold coils briefly dipped into the sea water. Sakura yelped as she was knocked off into the drink once again. Knocked to the side by the concussive force, Karin would have to row back into position to get to where Sakura was. Under the water, the force traveled well, and a big bubble of air escaped Sakura’s mouth as several shock waves hit her. Desperately, she pushed herself to the surface where she gasped loudly for air, reaching out her arms. 

	She felt the leather and iron of the Ace Cadet's kote as he shifted gears for a quick water rescue, slightly singed by the heat of the explosions but no worse for wear. He grasped her hands and bodily hauled her out of the water and deposited her hastily back into the small rowboat.

	Karin shoved Sakura upright, and the coughing brunette brushed the wet hair and bandana out of her face and gave a barely noticeable thumbs up as thanks. Karin, companion collected, picked up the pace to get to the boat where at least they would be safe from cannonfire and drowning.

	[color=fff200]”Prepare!”[/color] Karin shouted, whether that was a threat to her enemies or a warning to her allies was unclear. Either way, she was closing the gap and fully intended to leap onto the ship and scale the slug. The Cadet, part shipgirl or not, felt almost compelled to answer her authoritative tone with an, [color=salmon]"Aye aye!"[/color]

	A big, ugly visage suddenly loomed over the Tinkerslug’s railing, but Karin didn’t get much time to process it before an anchor zoomed her way. [color=fff200]”Oh, wow!”[/color]  Unable to be blocked, it latched on to her and yanked her straight off her boat like a caught fish, reeling her up to the leviathan ship’s deck. There, a couple dozen Tinkerbats awaited her, eager to overrun the unlucky Street Fighter with sheer numbers. Worst of all, however, was the enemy who brought her hence: Risky Boots’ ghastly quartermaster, the [url=https://i.imgur.com/UkqOcDj.png]Jolly Reaver[/url]. Questionably alive and seemingly one with an octopus whose tentacles functioned as his missing left arm, the piratical ghoul wielded an anchor hook, a heavy cutlass, and a flintlock all at the same time, with a fiery cannon strapped to his back whose barrel was split from overuse. In mere seconds Karin had been separated from her allies and stranded in the middle of a feeding frenzy. As Risky looked down from above, the first wave of Tinkerbats came at her from all sides.

	Karin planted her foot against the railing and raised her arms as bladed weapons came down upon her at all sides. Where she blocked one weapon, blue ki sparks spread, guiding the others away from her. Still, her arms were cut into and her jacket started to fray, and around the edges the sharper blades managed to find her side. Fortunately, multiple opponents meant her ‘meters’ filled much quicker, and she felt her fighting spirit well up within. [color=fff200][i]”Ressen Chou!”[/i][/color] Blocking one swing with a satisfying thwack of her arm on wood, she pushed forward into an elbow that carried the wind with it. It collided with the nearest Tinkerbat and shoved him off his feet. The others would feel the impact to a lesser extent, giving her time to prepare a proper defense. Karin sneered at the grotesque quartermaster in front of her. How this lumbering thing could be trusted with any amount of authority was beyond her. Karin sharpened her gaze, and as she cut a smooth movement through the air with her hands, developed a menacing aura. Whatever Tinkerbat took the next step forward would surely encounter the beating of a lifetime. This was an apparent fact, regardless of intelligence or loyalty. One would have to willingly take a step off a cliff in order to continue to overwhelm her.

	[color=f49ac2]”Karin!”[/color] Sakura called out, bending her knees in Steve’s small rowboat. [color=f49ac2][i]”Yoisho!”[/i][/color] With an impressive standing high jump, she flung herself upwards onto the third from the lowest rung and began to scamper up the ladder. 

	[color=salmon]"Sakura!"[/color] Came the Ace Cadet's voice from below. When she turned back to him the Cadet held a familiar looking device up, one of the things he'd used on her during their spar. [color=salmon]"I'm gonna see what kind of damage I can do to this slug, but here, catch!"[/color] He tossed the sonic bomb to her, a little support if she found herself and Karin overwhelmed when she made it onto the deck. 

	She plucked it out of the air, grinning. [color=f49ac2]”Sweet! Thanks!”[/color] For a moment she thought, but then she just shoved it into the side of her bloomers and used the pressure of her waistband to keep it in place.

	Up above, the Jolly Reaver broke the stalemate. A foul odor preceded a toxic, choking gas, emanating from his putrid, ever-swelling mass. The misma, gross enough to deal mental damage and noxious enough to deal real damage, affected Karin’s composure enough for the Tinkerbat mob to try their luck. The critters approached four or five at a time, but at least they seemed to be on the slower and duller side. If the perfect victor wanted to get off the back foot, she’d need to break through these goons and get away from the Reaver.

	[color=fff200][i]”Ugh![/i] You revolting-”[/color] The swarm began to close in, and Karin clenched her fists, frustrating. As the first group of four came in, she kicked one square in the chest. Then she span into a [color=fff200][i]”Ressen Ha!”[/i][/color], pinwheeling elegantly over the group and bringing her outstretched arms down like hammers onto the Reaver’s grotesque form. Would it connect, she would slide her legs violently into his and push underneath him, launching him head first onto the ground while she switched sides.

	The Reaver had a lot of meat on him, but Karin wielded a lot of strength. She managed to shove him and his rot into the Tinkerbats, squashing one flat as the others floundered. In doing so she got a good look at the octopus on his back, which seemed to be multitasking to an impressive degree with its tentacles in order to hold up the cannon, work as the monster’s left arm, and keep a hold of its flintlock. Still, that accounted for only a small portion of the Tinkerbats on board, and now with Karin center-stage the goons could come at her from all sides. They crowded her way, scimitars upheld, to take their chances.

	Karin frowned, eyelids at half height, eyebrows low. [color=fff200]”Well, this is just wonderful.”[/color] She quipped flatly. [color=fff200]”I shall turn that infernal octopus into a delectable, exotic meal.”[/color] As the Tinkerbats came in, she back flipped, dodging an entire group of swings at once. Behind them, she landed and dashed in, bringing her palm gracefully up and popping one single Tinkerbat fifteen feet into the air. Karin froze, having to hold that pose for a second as she recovered her momentum. And that was that- soon the others turned around and she backpedaled, defending herself from the strikes as best she could. She popped one in the mouth, kicked another in the legs, and then narrowly avoided getting one of her coils cut off as she jerked her head backward. 

	At that point, Sakura leapt from over the railing, arms and legs pinwheeling. [color=f49ac2][i]”Karin-saaan!”[/i][/color] On one Tinkerbat she landed on his shoulders, before shoving him into the ground as she leaped forward. Two more bandana-clad heads were kicked as she used them like stepping stones to reach Karin. She landed on one Tinkerbat right infront her, driving his head into the ground with her feet. Then she span on his head, extending her leg out and knocking three others clean over and away into their fellows. After that she cartwheel off and launched a ‘slow’ and steady Hadoken rumbling into the crowd, shoving a large group back. She punched her fists together and slapped the side of her head. 

	[color=f49ac2]”You doin’ okay?”[/color] She teased.

	[color=fff200]”Of course!”[/color] Karin responded immediately.

	[color=f49ac2]”If it makes you feel better, I’m only this good because of all the practice I got fighting your army of ninjas.”[/color] Sakura said, shrugging. That and fighting SIN, Shadoloo, and Yakuza. But she left those three out.The two were shoulder to shoulder, facing down the pirates. Karin smiled. Sakura saying that actually did make her feel better.

	A bang from above interrupted the friends’ reunion, follow very shortly by a triple shot of leaden bullets. “Welcome aboard, ladies!” Risky called, dangling from the rigging up there. “Save the teary reunion for later, ‘cause you’ll need them for crying once we’ve beaten the tar out of you! Get them, men!” The remaining throng of Tinkerbats surrounded them and moved in, followed by the Jolly Reaver, who attempted to interpose his rot-addled, blade-swinging mass between the two Street Fighters to separate them.

	Both ladies blocked the bullets, dealing not insignificant chip damage. [color=f49ac2]”Bring it!”[/color] Sakura said up to Risky, pumping her fists.

	[color=fff200]”Indeed!”[/color] Karin smirked confidently, adjusting her hair coils.

	As the Tinkerbats and the Reaver closed in, the Street Fighters went to work. 

	Karin stepped towards the Reaver and crouched, shooting her leg out. Striking him there and preventing his forward movement, she shot forward and thrust her palm up into his body to launch him into the air and get him out of the way. [color=fff200][i]”Tenko!”[/i][/color] If anything, she would launch the quartermaster towards Risky Boots above. Instead of Karin having to go on the defensive immediately as before, Sakura covered her friend and socked a Tinkerbat square in the ‘mouth.’ She parried aside a few more strikes and swept out her leg, knocking three over in one. In close quarters, the bodies of a swarm of enemies could be used against each other to decent effect. Like bowling. It wouldn’t get any knockouts but it would trip them up.

	 One swung at Karin with a bladed polearm, and she promptly shattered the shaft with a strike of her hand and palm thrusted the pirate away.  At that point, the Reaver would fall back to Earth and squish one of his allies. Karin moved to the next one, snatching his wrist and flipping him easily over head, crashing him into another one of his allies.

	Sakura was brawling up a storm, her bare forearms lined with small cuts from blocking bladed weapons, and an exhilarated smile on her face. [color=f49ac2]”Whatever she’s paying you, it isn’t enough!”[/color] She taunted, firing out two one handed fireballs into two Tinkerbats on either side, before ducking a swing and driving an elbow into their solar plexus. They had worked through a third of the Tinkerbats without really breaking a sweat. Lacking any real AoE attacks meant they had to put the work in though, so it was a matter of consistency and persistence. 

	If the friends worked together like a well-oiled machine, however, the Reaver was the spanner in the works. Despite Karin’s strength, he’d fallen well short of Risky on account of his bulk, and once back on his feet he made himself as much of a problem as he could. What he lacked in damage he made up for in bulk and disruption; since just getting close to the girls meant dealing damage to them with his Rot, they needed to either deal with him or move every time he got near. He gave Sakura a taste of his hook right in the middle of a finishing attack on a Tinkerbat, saving the enemy and yanking her right into his putrid danger zone. Not long after that, he started doing something even stranger. Whenever the boarding party managed to put a Tinkerbat on death’s door but not quite finish it off, the Reaver would kill it instead, permanently boosting his own health and damage bit by bloody bit.

	[color=f49ac2]”What the-?!”[/color] Sakura, still coughing as she backed up from the rot, was obviously even more disgusted by the behavior of the Reaver. [color=f49ac2]”That’s messed up!”[/color] She accused the Reaver and by extension, Risky. Obviously they were pirates trying to kill her, but killing your own guys like that?! That was just wrong. Given that none of the Tinkerbats seemed to mind though, she wondered if they were really ‘guys’ at all. 

	One of the Tinkerbats came in for a swing she grabbed its arm, before tossing it over her shoulder and [i]thoroughly[/i] overboard. Then she pointed at the Reaver. [color=f49ac2]”Yeah, chomp on that you-!”[/color] Her undoubtedly clever insult was cut off as she coughed again, eyes watering from the Rot. [color=f49ac2]”Ew!”[/color] 

	Karin ducked another swing and sent a Tinkerbat puffing into purple smoke with a knife-edged chop. She was growing quite tired of this repugnant abomination. Buckling down, she EX-dashed across the deck of the ship in the blink of an eye, a trail of golden light following in her wake. She turned and smashed her back into the Jolly Reaver’s, crushing into him hard enough to crumple. [color=fff200][i]"Mujinkyaku!”[/i][/color] She popped him back into the air with a pair of kicks, and then finally slashed across his backside with her legs, sending him crashing near the railing. Meanwhile, Sakura covered Karin by stepping behind Karin and roundhouse kicking a few Tinkerbats away. 

	While Sakura and Karin battled on the ship's deck, the Ace Cadet set his sights on the ship itself. It didn't appear to be a boat resting on top of a creature - rather there were quarters and cannons physically built into the snail's shell. So if the snail were to be defeated and turn to ash, its entire crew would be in the drink taking them right out of the battle. Now, how quickly could the Cadet accomplish his self-imposed task? Faster than the Street Fighters could take down everyone on board? Time would tell.

	He skated around to the Tinkerslug's face, loosing the giant arrows at it. They struck the slug's skin, sinking into its soft flesh. With no natural armor besides its shell, this wasn't surprising - but even with the arrows embedded into it the Tinkerslug seemed unphased. Undeterred, the Cadet continued shooting, including with his rigging. What damage the slug took was minimal at best.

	[i]Okay, so piercing and shots won't do much to it,[/i] he figured. Time for a change of equipment. As the hunter switched to his sword and shield the Tinkerslug's gaze finally settled on him, as if seeing him for the first time. Its eyes were covered by the red filter of Galeem, and though mostly ineffective so far the Cadet's attacks had damaged it. The Tinkerslug shifted, using the only weapon available to it: its mouth.

	With a lurch the creature closed it's mouth around the Cadet's sword arm. Blunt as they were its teeth were made for crushing, and once it was done with this limb it would be trying for the rest of him next - not that the Cadet was about to let that happen.

	[color=salmon]"Hey!"[/color] he exclaimed, tugging his arm at first and finding that it only worsened the pain. With his other arm he rammed the Master Bang's shield into the Tinkerslug's face. It appeared to do just as little damage as his earlier attacks. He switched his tactics to smashing it in its eye. The creature groaned, wincing, but with two other eyes glaring at the man it did not loosen its hold. The Tinkerslug reared its head back up, taking the Cadet with it. Dangling in the air the Cadet's rigging unloaded its ammo into his captor, and the blades extended to cut at the Tinkerslug, to no avail.

	[color=salmon]"This is not exactly how I planned this to go!"[/color] the hunter complained to himself, struggling in the slug's jaws. His arm was going to be a mess after this, it was already throbbing painfully. Only when his next shield bash struck the slug's tooth and shattered the enamel with a sickening [i]crack[/i] did the Tinkerslug let go, wailing its discomfort. Its movement threw off the aim of its cannons, and with the end of their resumed bombardment following the Seekers’ approach, the gutted Adrian was finally no longer under direct attack. Angry now, the Tinkerslug began to move, trying to smash Ace with its head or bull into him and crush him beneath its bulk.

	Glad that those fighting back at the Adrian wouldn't have to deal with any more shots headed their way when they already had their hands full, the Cadet kited the slug's lunges. He circled the creature, watching as it followed his lead until it, and its armaments, were turned almost completely around.

	[color=salmon]"There we go,"[/color] he said to himself. Now he could really put his full focus into it. The slug made to slam its body on top of him again and he skated just out of reach before making a lunge of his own, sword first. He could tell within the first few strikes that it was more effective than the bow had been, but he was still finding it difficult to get through its skin. [i]What gives?[/i] Its body was squishy and it didn't seem like anything else was protecting it. Was it just super thick skinned?

	The underside of its head came down again. This time the Cadet blocked it with the shield, but given he was standing on the sea and not solid ground the force sent him directly down into the water. With no better time to try attacking its underside the hunter raked his sword across it, but found no weak spots. When he surfaced again there was an expression of clear confusion on his face, mingled with frustration. There had to be some trick going on, he'd faced armored monsters with less resistance than this thing. He went through his mental inventory, eventually deciding that if nothing else, an explosion could probably soften it up - and he didn't need a cannon of his own when he had a barrel.

	The Cadet retrieved the Alchemy Barrel from his bag, and with a button press it rapidly grew to proper size. In went some of the gunpowder he'd gotten from the Alcamoth, along with some of the various things he'd picked up from the ship graveyard like flints. Without many options for attack the Tinkerslug was predictable enough to dodge while he prepared the fireball. Once it was ready and thoroughly shaken, the hunter held the barrel tight as it shot its explosive payload at the monstrous snail.

	His homebrewed explosive was just what the doctor ordered. The bomb’s uproarious explosion provoked a violent reaction from the Tinkerslug, delivering such a jolt that it flung a handful of Tinkerbats from its deck and threw Sakura, Karin, and the Jolly Reaver to the deck, while Risky dangled from the rigging overhead. In an almost comedic fashion the Tinkerslug’s head wavered, wobbling from side to side, before slapping down onto the water with spirals in its eyes. 

	Seemed like the Cadet had stumbled upon its weak point. It was a hardy slug for sure, but now that it was stunned it would be much easier pickings. Hopefully the ship's lurching as the Tinkerslug went down wasn't too much for the girls up top to handle - he expected it wouldn’t be, and besides he was close enough to the action that if they were in real danger he’d be able to hear them. With that in mind the hunter grinned and dove in close to make sure it was really down for the count.

	Sakura landed awkwardly on the sonic grenade she was keeping at her side. [color=f49ac2]”[i]Itai-[/i] I gotta invest in some pockets.”[/color] She said to herself as she kip-upped to her feet. Karin pulled herself back to standing using the railing, flicking her ringlets over her shoulder. Both of them were rather quick to get up when knocked down, their quick rises taking less than a second. Still, both girls were short of breathe from how much time they had spent in the Rot, but it was worth it if they could eliminate the Reaver early instead of dealing with him the whole time.

	[color=f49ac2]”We’re winning!”[/color] Sakura cheered. [color=f49ac2]”As for you-”[/color] The Reaver didn’t seem to be the most mobile sort, and he had just gotten knocked down by Karin before the ship exploded. Sakura flashed orange and leapt up into the air, bending backwards and clasping her fists together over her head. She dropped upon him like a hammer, and the impact sent them both upwards.

	 [color=f49ac2][i]”Ichi- ni- san![/i][/color] She followed up with one extra hit that popped them both even higher, before the third hit sent the Reaver crashing back into the deck, while Sakura soared above. There she ambitiously landed on the rigging, closer to Risky herself. [color=f49ac2]”You don’t actually like that gross zombie guy down there, do you?”[/color] she asked. 

	The pirate shrugged. “He does his job, which is more than I can say of most people!” She rolled her eyes as she idly toyed with her flintlock, instead of shooting at Sakura immediately. “Don’t even get me started on the sisters, ugh. Always playing by their own rules.”

	Karin, meanwhile, scooped up a downed Tinkerbat with her leg and foot, tossed him up, and slung him over board. At this point their formation was thoroughly scattered, and she dashed from Tinkerbat to Tinkerbat, dealing with them all individually in short order. It wasn’t long before the Reaver was back on his feet, however, and this time he decided to deal with Karin personally. While she dispatched a Tinkerbat he hooked and pulled her in, but instead of a normal hit he unleashed his ultimate, Dismember. Karin found herself completely disabled as the monster drew her in closer still, hacking away with every limb and weapon at his disposal. In just three seconds the street fighter lost a third of her life, and the Reaver healed himself for the same amount. The handful of leftover Tinkerbats swarmed in to add their own pokes and slaps to the mix, as well.

 	[color=fff200][i]"Aah!”[/i][/color] Karin had screamed in pain as she fell onto the ground, yellow sparks of Ki flying from her body as she reeled from the slashes. A Tinkerbat brought a sword down and she caught it in between her palms, before rolling away. Her jacket had been split on the right shoulder. That bastard had drawn her blood!

	Sakura turned her vision downwards, away from the Pirate Queen. She wanted to pursue Risky, but Karin was going to spend too much energy and health if she let her fight it out alone.

	[color=f49ac2][i]”Attaaack!”[/i][/color] With a battle cry, Sakura jumped from the rigging and launched a heavy fireball to the Reaver, looking to send him and all the Tinkerbats around him stumbling. When she landed, the impact of her rolling fall rattled the floorboards, tripping up the lesser pirates. 

	[color=f49ac2][i]”Take this!”[/i][/color] Cashing out, she fired an EX-Hadoken towards the Reaver, the blue fireball leaving a pink streak in the air behind it. Even being near the impact turned a Tinkerbat into poofy smoke. As the Reaver flew off his feet, Karin dashed in and under him, launching him upwards with a Tenko. Sakura had rolled forward and jumped up and off the mast, meeting him in mid air. Once again she brought her hammer fists down on top of him, sending him crashing down to where Karin was waiting.

 	[color=fff200][i]"Ressen Ha!”[/i][/color] Karin finished up the tag team combo by becoming a veritable pinwheel of golden destruction, sawing into him with her palms as she rose up like a rocket. The two were making this up as they went along, and as a result Sakura was caught in the crossfire, her athletic fall back to the ground eliciting a surprised ‘oops’ from the brunette as she flailed inelegantly onto the deck. Regardless, at the zenith of her EX-Uppercut she pivoted and crushed the Reaver downward, sending him hurtling back first into the mast.

	For as much as he’d boosted his own health from teamkilling Tinkerbats and healed himself up through Dismember, there was a limit to how much punishment the Reaver could take. The mast cracked as his bloody bulk struck it, and though it didn’t shatter or snap, all the amusement left Risky’s face. Between the mast and the Tinkerslug itself, which seemed to be getting the worst of its exchange with the Ace Cadet, the Marauders needed to stop fooling around soon. “Get up, Pudge!” she shouted down. “You’re supposed to be a butcher, aren’t you? Not just some stinking lump of meat!”

	Any sane person would have stayed down, but Pudge, the Jolly Reaver, had long since forsaken his humanity. Eking feculent smog, he rose to his feet for one final bloodbath.

	Karin tsked, shaking her head. [color=f49ac2]”Foolishness. A Kanzuki grants no mercy to monsters.”[/color] With that she dashed forward, one last time into the fog. Baiting out a reactive swing from the zombie, she stepped gracefully out of the way, and much less gracefully shattered into his kneecaps with a spinning leg kick. She crossed her ankles and lowered her body with something almost like a curtsey, but she brought the back of her fist down into his head, caving in his chest. For the coups de grâce she rolled into the air, spinning. When she was perfectly aligned above his head, she grabbed onto it at arms length and pulled both her knees down. One for the Reaver’s skull, the other for the octopus companion. Both were crushed into the deck with a rattling impact that would scatter them both into dust. Karin span back up into an upright position flattened out her skirt with a flourish. 

	Sakura grimaced. [color=f49ac2]”Ouch! Brutal.”[/color] But then she cracked her knuckles, turning her eyes upward to Risky.

	As Pudge fell, Risky rolled her eyes. “Alright, this game is over.” She swung down from the railing, used her hat as a parachute to break her fall, and landed on the deck. With her giant cutlass shining she pointed her off-hand at Sakura. “Catch.”

	Her grappling hook zipped out, a tiny blur at high speed. It latched onto Sakura, be it her body or her guard, with a painful clamping sensation.

	Sakura gasped in surprise, looking down at where the grapple had pinched the skin of her bare midriff.

	Risky then aimed at one of the Tinkerslug’s cannons right alongside the deck and fired again, attaching the other end of the hook to the cannonball. “Bye bye now~!”

	Sakura looked up with wide eyes, gasping even harder. She reached for the sonic grenade in her waistband. 

	At a snap of the pirate’s fingers the cannon fired. Somehow, the cord and both the attach points held, and as the cannonball hurtled away it yanked Sakura with it–instantly and effectively removing her from the equation.

	[color=f49ac2][i]”Shimattaaa!”[/i][/color] Sakura yelled as she disappeared into the distance. The sonic grenade rolled to a stop on the surface of the deck after she had fumbled it.

Risky put on a smug smile and drew her flintlock, assuming a battle-ready stance. “One down, one to go!”

	Karin ground her teeth. They had meant to destroy the cannons, but hadn’t gotten a chance ever since Karin was unexpectedly pulled up into the ship. [color=fff200]”Fool. Now you have left yourself alone with Kanzuki Karin.”[/color] She said, slicing her hands through the air and getting into her battle stance. [color=f49ac2]”Allow me to educate you on why that was mistake.”[/color] 

	“We’ll see who’s teaching who after I school you!” Risky fired her grappling hook at a middle target. Karin didn’t plan to fall victim to the same maneuver her uncouth friend had, so rather than try to block it she slid deftly out of the way. It shot harmlessly past her and latched onto the head of one of the few remaining Tinkerbats, who’d been creeping up behind the street fighter, and yanked it off its feet. As Risky’s line retracted it dragged her underling across the deck at a blistering speed, poised to sweep Karin’s legs out from under her with the flailing miscreant.

	Elbows poshly bent, Karin sharply back flipped over the Tinkerbat and shot her leg out, kicking it in the back of the head and popping it up so it would fly vertically towards Risky instead. 

	Without hesitation, the pirate executed an upward slash with her oversized cutlass, easily wielding it in one hand to deflect the minion above her at the Tinkerbat’s expense. The moment her grappling hook reeled in, she took action once more. After jamming her sword into the deck for a moment she took a triple spread shot at Karin with her flintlock, aiming her other arm as she did. It grabbed one of the red barrels beside the cabin doors behind her, and shot forward as another makeshift projectile.

	Karin had strode forward in her stance, head barely moving up and down as she advanced on her opponent while they made preparations for their next attack. The flintlock was raised and Karin reacted, deflecting one bullet and zig-zagging her upper body to avoid the next two. For the barrel she stepped forward and planted her forward foot. [color=fff200][i]”Meioken!”[/i][/color] Her palm shot out, her other hand horizontal next to her face. There was a gust of wind from the force of the strike, crushing the barrel into wooden bits. Karin was quickly gaining ground on Risky. Yet Risky was smiling. When Karin destroyed her barrel, a vast quantity of black powder had burst from the remnants. Spread far and wide by her powerful blow, it coated both Karin herself and a few square feet of the deck, harmless by itself. Karin looked down at her bold red outfit, now ruined, and frowned. Regardless, she dashed quickly forward, just inside of Risky’s swinging range to cause her to flinch, and then stepped out of range, looking to capitalize on any ill-advised reactions. And if Risky wanted to retreat, well, she’d just be giving up more ground.

	As the fistfighter came in Risky went for a huge cleave of her cutlass in an attempt to stop Karin before she could get in punching range, only for her preemptive strike to be preempted in turn. Her lip curled, and rather than attempt to recover herself she doubled down with a follow-up spin kick. As much as she liked her sword, she was no slouch when it came to dishing out punishment with her legs, either.

	Karin received a taste of Risky’s infamous boots, spit spraying from her mouth as she spun away from the impact against her jaw. There was a sound like breaking glass as the counter attack broke through more of her health than it usually would due to the Kanzuki leaving herself open for the attack. 

	There was no time to quip, but Risky grinned devilishly. For a moment there she thought this girl had her, but it looked like both had underestimated one another. Even if her opponent lacked real skill with martial arts, Karin would find herself in hot water very fast if she thought she had the pirate's number. Risky backpedaled just a touch, one step closer to the cabin behind her, and hurled her cutlass at her foe.

	Karin held her jaw with her hand for a moment but shrugged off the blow quickly, eyes sharpening once more. Karin felt her body could withstand less than another full dose of the punishment it had taken thus far before she could carry herself no further. The cutlass sliced towards her and she elected to crouch underneath as it whizzed over, barely missing the blonde ringlets that trailed behind her head. Though she couldn’t imagine the enemy would dispose of her weapon so easily, even after proving she was a decent kicker. Karin also noticed Risky was retreating closer to her cabin- no doubt a place full of tricks and weapons. Doing some calculations, Karin dove diagonally forward before rolling into a standing position. Closer to Risky and keeping an eye on that sword of hers. 

	As Karin repositioned, Risky moved to cut her off. She threw herself forward into a slide kick, conscious of her scimitar’s position, for her opponent had been wise to try keeping an eye on it. Against all laws of physics, the curved greatsword did not obey gravity as it flew, but slowed down in the air while continuing to spin until it came to a stop. The next second it rebounded like a cartoon boomerang, headed back to Risky with enough speed to slice into anything in between them.

	[color=fff200]”Gracefully!”[/color] Karin proclaimed, dodging backward from the slide, her entire body leaving a dark blue trail in its wake. Still under the effects of the V-Shift she stepped forward and struck Risky with an open hand, knocking the pirate queen away and softening her up for later, dealing grey damage. The speeding sword would also fall victim to Karin’s evasive maneuver as she bent backwards underneath it, eyes closed with a smug smile on her face, before she settled back into her stance. 

	Rubbing her new bruise on her shoulder with one hand, Risky reached out with the other to catch her cutlass on the way back. She then vaulted backward up to the rear deck, landing next to the wheel in an impressive acrobatic display, and put her grappling hook to work. One after another the pirate hooked a barrel, then attached the other end to a spot opposite Karin, sending three more projectiles in quick succession from a variety of angles.

	In a series of dance-like maneuvers and leaps, Karin twisted away from one barrel and leapt over another with an aerial cartwheel, avoiding the third one by being out of position. Karin landed on the railing of the Tinkerslug, looking the picture of prim and proper despite being covered in black powder dust. She dashed to the back wall of the front deck for cover, moved to the side out of Risky’s view, and then wall-climbed and vaulted over the railing of the rear deck to join Risky there from an unpredictable spot. Karin wanted to get a particular distance away from Risky, about 15 feet, so she could punish any more projectile attacks. Thus she walked forward, adjusting her footwork as she went, looking for Risky’s next move.

	Rather than face her opponent head-on, the pirate took the chance to escape again. She leaped over the rear deck railing and grappled to the center mast’s yardarm, swinging beneath it to speed to the ship’s prow. Despite her agility she nearly stumbled upon landing, for the Tinkerslug was in motion. After dishing out a lot of damage to the big snail, Ace had seemingly fled to go help Sakura, which meant that his Galeem-struck target could only pursue him. As it wended through the waves it rocked back and forth, which ticked Risky off. “Don’t go TOWARD them, you stupid slug! Ugh!” Taking her cutlass in both hands, the pirate began to run, quickly picking up speed and power as she charged toward Karin, planning to dash up the rear-deck stairs if Karin hadn’t already descended to the main deck.

	[color=fff200]”My, my, what a poor captain of a ship you make.”[/color] Karin said, calmly pursuing Risky beginning to head to the rear deck. When she saw Risky making her charge, she decided to meet Risky at the least opportune spot for her. She dashed and met Risky halfway, right on the top of the stairs itself. Karin jumped the entire length of the stairs and thus, over the charging Risky. Landing with a flourish, she began to make her way back up the stairs to meet Risky once more on the rear deck. Once there she walked to the right, interposing herself between Risky and the centermast she used to escape last time. She arrived in time to see Risky plant her foot against the rear wall in order to wrench her sword free from the wood. Despite her best attempt to stop in time, she’d only slowed down enough to avoid blowing straight through and out onto the ocean. For a brief moment, the pirate was open.

	Karin zoomed forward, low to the ground as she closed the gap between them. She twisted and smashed her back into Risky’s, turning all of that momentum to flatten her face first against the wall, right next to her sword. Completing the spin she jammed her leg into the back of Risky’s knee, dropping her, and to finish the combo off she brought that same leg up and smacked it into the side of Risky’s head. As a result her head would bounce harshly against the flat end of her own embedded sword with a resounding ‘ding’. Karin took her stance again and didn’t relent, looking to keep Risky in this disadvantageous position.

	After a pained groan the pirate’s eyes flashed open, and she doffed her hat. The sea breeze plus the forward motion of the Tinkerslug combined to blow the hat up to twice Risky’s own size in an instant, like a parachute, and once she grabbed hold she burst into the air. Of course, the next second she promptly flew out over the open water, stopped in her tracks while her vessel continued on, but Risky dropped one hand from her hat in order to shoot her hook again. It latched onto the back of the Tinkerslug’s shell below the opening and pulled her along. Now parasailing, the pirate retracted the cable, coming closer.

	Karin took a few steps backward, watching Risky from a distance. She had no interest in shaking Risky off- if Risky wanted to keep fighting, so did Karin. The blonde wouldn’t be happy until the purple-skinned pirate was laying at her feet. Dusting some of the powder off of herself, she stood in the middle of the rear deck and put on a bit of a yawn, like this fight was boring her. As she did, she subtly cast a look in the general direction of where Sakura had been, spotting Ace moving over to her. That was good. It’d put quite the hamper on her victory if Sakura drowned out there, wouldn’t it? 

	The sight of Karin yawning as Risky reeled herself in left her fuming. She wanted nothing more than to shoot her in her big, dumb, rich face, but in her current situation she didn’t have enough hands. Then an idea hit her. She pulled up her left arm, aimed at Karin, and fired the other end of the grappling line. If it managed to hit her opponent it would pull her straight off the back of the ship, but rather than wait with bated breath to see if it worked, she shot her cable at the Tinkerslug again. This time she aimed higher, at the section of shell that covered the rear part of the deck, and after getting closer she fired the back and at Karin again. She repeated this maneuver to travel over the ship and toward her crow’s nest, continuing to plague her foe with chances to be yanked off the deck until the shell broke her line of sight.

	Karin peeked one eye open and side stepped the first hook as she saw Risky aim it at her. They were too fast to react too projectile wise, but all she had to do was outpace Risky’s aim. She huffed, growing tired of this game. [color=fff200]”Do you intend to fight me or not, Miss Risky Boots?”[/color] She dashed over to the wheel and wrenched it cleanly off its pedestal, before flinging the entire thing like a frisbee towards the flying pirate queen just before she could disappear from line of sight. 

	“Ow!” With a bruised calf, Risky landed in the crows nest a little less elegantly than usual, but her adrenaline made up the difference. She shimmied down the ropes with one hand free, which she used to level her gun at Karin from a high angle. “That’s just the thing, princess! Whatever you call a fight, I’ll do the opposite!” Another triple shot exploded from her flintlock’s barrel, the three projectiles spreading out as they flew. Risky reset the hammer just by running the gun along her other arm, then without reloading fired again. And again. “By the way!” [i]BANG![/i] “Nothing of mine ever runs out of ammo.” [i]BANG![/i] “Bullets, cannonballs, ropes and hooks, you name it!” [i]BANG![/i] “Just a little perk of being me.” [i]BANG![/i]

	Karin blocked the first shot, bringing in her arms and legs as the impact pushed her backwards. Then she advanced, leaping over and dashed to the side of the other shots, bending her torso away from the bullets to avoid Risky’s aim. [color=fff200]”Yes, I have noticed your quaint little parlor trick.”[/color] Soon she was right against the mast, and put it between herself and Risky. Her fingers felt a crack in the mast where the Reaver had hit it earlier, and she drove her powerful elbow into it to see how much give it had. [color=fff200]”But you cannot produce what you do not have. And you do not have what it takes to defeat me.”[/color] Karin said confidently.

	The pylon wavered beneath her impact, and the crack spread. Risky paused to both see and feel the result, curious about what would happen herself, and the threat to her ship’s most important feature did not make her happy. Yet, her lips curled upward; the wound on her pride accelerated her plans. “If you’re so sure, why waste all that breath on bluster?” She switched ammunition types to one she actually could run out of, and jumped. “Let’s wrap this up!”

	Risky attached her hook to the mast’s yardarm and swung down. As she picked up speed she let out the line, swooping down for a giant double kick. In her right hand, however, she held her pistol, and as she zoomed in she unleashed a spread shot of roaring flame–not at Karin, but at the black powder scattered around the upper deck at her foe’s feet. “It’s over!”

	Karin let out a breath, having heard Risky switch ammunition types. Seeing all this powder everywhere, either she had a match, or incendiary rounds. Risky swung in for her finishing move and Karin gripped the mast tight as she flung herself around it and up into the air to meet Risky on her swing. She intended to absorb the incendiary shot herself, and slam her palm into Risky’s belly to trade impacts and finally knock the pirate out of the way and into a losing scenario. 

	“HRRGH!” Taken aback by the self-sacrificing strategy, Risky couldn’t prepare herself before her foe’s palm left her with one hell of an upset stomach. Her grappling line snapped as she flew backward, tumbling across the deck toward the prow in a spray of unspent black powder. Even her grip on her flintlock failed, and the weapon clattered off the boards a few yards away from her. Risky slid to a stop on her back, one hand on her belly as she fought to keep her breakfast down. “...Ugh,” she gasped after a moment, her smirk wiped off her face. “I didn’t think…after all that, you’d still be willing to…” Coughing, she got to her feet. Even at a dead sprint it would take Karin a moment to reach her. Only for a split second did her eyes rest on her gun. Without either of her weapons, she could do little but ball her fists. 

	Karin also pushed herself up to her feet, coughing. The powder on her own jacket had resulted in most of it being burned away. Grinning widely, she grabbed the shoulder of the red jacket and flung it off, revealing the skintight sleeveless back crop top with a stripe running up the middle underneath. She was hurt, but her injuries hardly slowed her down. If anything her blood only pumped faster, more energy rippling beneath her toned muscles. [color=fff200]”But of course! Of course I am!”[/color] She yelled, almost manic. [color=fff200]”Not bluster, no- a warning.”[/color] She took her stance and strode toward Risky. Despite her high emotional state her movements were as calculated as ever. Once in range she dashed in and made to snatch Risky’s wrist, pulling and twisting it at an awkward angle before slamming her shoulder into the pirate’s chest, looking to throw her into the deck.

	This time, rather than swing early, Risky held back in order to block and get a read on her opponent. No more tricks this time, she thought. But Karin was in her head. The next moment Risky found herself thrown over her opponent’s shoulder, and the impact drove the wind from her lungs. Desperate for a moment to think and recuperate, she turned her pitiable writhing into a sneaky sweep with deceptive speed. The advancing Kanzuki was knocked off her feet, and just as handsprung back onto her feet- but that was all the time she needed for a plan. Risky was angry and in pain, her ego as bruised as her body. This snooty snob kept getting the better of her, even after a scrap with the Tinkerbats and Pudge, and Risky herself had only landed, what, one hit, maybe two? And even if she won this, how many foes stood after her, without her crew to do her dirty work? For a woman who could shatter solid stone with a hypercharge and run faster than most animals, she was doing badly. 

	But she couldn’t lose her head–not yet. “Not bad, blondie.” True to her name, Risky would bet it all. “Too bad you’re right where I want you!” She released her hat as a distraction to blow up and fly away, but the pirate wasn’t holding on. As she sacrificed her hat, she shot her grappling hook at her pistol, or rather, above it. By hooking onto the railing beyond it she could speedily drag herself across the deck, with all the black powder lessening the scrap, and snag her gun on the way.

	[color=fff200]”Oh?”[/color] Karin asked, raising one eyebrow. Her golden eyes were gleaming in a different way. She glanced up at the rising hat and jumped upward, out of Risky’s view so she could fire her hook and make her play. Alas, Karin did a backjump, jumping backwards [i]away[/i] from Risky so she could meet her as she ziplined. As a result, she dropped the heel of her shoe on Risky’s back, stopping her dead in her tracks.

  [color=fff200][i]"Mujinkyaku!”[/i][/color] She hooked her shoe under Risky’s chin and popped her back up into a standing position, before doubling her above with her other leg snap-kicking her in the abdomen.  

	[color=fff200][i]”Orochi!”[/i][/color] Flashing with spent power, Karin twisted and thrust her back into Risky’s body, crumpling her around Karin’s shoulders like she was her replacement jacket

	Karin took Risky’s head and rested it on her shoulder.  [color=fff200]”Did you really think the hat would fool me? Why would you ever go for that silly hat escape again?”[/color] She said, looking straight ahead. 

 	[color=fff200]”You wouldn’t. Had you tried, I would have broken the mast once you landed on the rigging or crowsnest. And you would have been totally unarmed, unable to take advantage of the high ground. Retreating would have been guaranteeing your loss, so there was no reason for me to stop it. We both knew this, meaning of course you would try to go for your weapon, guaranteeing your loss. And if you hadn’t gone for your weapon, you would have been forced to take me on in hand to hand combat, guaranteeing your loss.”[/color] Karin chuckled, tsking her tongue. 

	[color=fff200]"Do you see now? How your choices don’t matter? How your defeat was inevitable?"[/color] Karin sighed, content with her monologue, lightly tapping Risky's cheek. [color=fff200]"That is what it means to be a Perfect Victor."[/color] While monologuing, however, her foe had recovered a modicum of strength. Her hand lunged forward like a snake to clasp around Karin’s throat, the grappling hook primed to pierce the tender skin, but Karin was already in motion. She drove her elbow into Risky’s solar plexus and then shrugged her off her shoulders and onto the deck. [color=fff200][i]”Oho!”[/i][/color] Karin let out a short bark of a laugh.

	Risky Boots crumpled, unable to fight but also fully conscious to deal with the wracking pain in her torso. An agonized scowl twisted her face into a mask of rage, but she could do no more than bubble over with loathing as she lay there, defeated. 

	Karin took a few steps forward and then turned around, eyeing the captain's miserable state.  [color=fff200]”Still awake, I see. Apologies.”[/color] She stepped back and swept her foot across the defenseless pirate’s jaw to render her unconscious. She picked up her arm and pulled the grapple hook from it, eyeing it curiously. She fetched Risky’s firearm as well, observing the weapon and wondering if it was Risky who somehow gave the weapons infinite ammo, or if the weapons themselves had an innate, entropy-defying quality. She held the large gun under her arm and attached the grapple hook to her now sleeveless arm. All that was left was to find some rope to tie up Risky and take her prisoner. Perhaps there was a rowboat around she could be stored in. Or perhaps…she looked over the side of the railing at the head of the Tinkerslug. Then over at the sinking Adrian and battle-weary Raptor. The Tinkerslug is a living creature, is it not? Perhaps it could be persuaded to assist the Seekers. If there was any upside to Sakura’s defeat it was that it had drawn the monster hunter away. Karin tapped her chest as Sakura had explained, and considered the Friend Heart. In the distance she glanced up and saw the sinking Adrian. Clearly, a solution was required.

-

	The sound of the cannon firing caught the Ace Cadet below off guard. It was pointed the complete opposite direction of the battered Adrian and the other Seekers, aiming only at open ocean - so why in the world would they bother firing it? Curiosity alone would have drawn the Cadet's attention to the weird shot, but the sound of a familiar someone's voice trailing after the cannonball made his head snap up towards it. Was that Sakura tied to the thing and currently sailing through the air into the middle of the ocean?

	[color=salmon]"Sakura?!"[/color] he exclaimed. [i]You gotta be Kirin me![/i] That was just mean. The Cadet abandoned the Tinkerslug, not keen on letting his friend drift stranded out there for any length of time. Stashing the sword and shield, he sprinted over the water after her.

	The distant figure of Sakura tried to get her thumbs in between her abdomen and the hook, but to no avail, her legs kicking in front of her. The bomb hit the water and as the explosion sent a huge splash into the sky, Sakura vanished almost immediately into the water plume. A moment later she emerged from the top of it, flailing her limbs as she trailed into the sky. Disoriented, she was helpless to prevent her loud slap of a belly flop, flattening against the ocean’s surface. Stunned and semi-conscious, Sakura began to sleepily slip below the surface, bubbles trailing from her lips.

	By the time the Cadet arrived at the splash zone, she had already dipped under the waves. The lack of animated flailing like her previous fall into the water concerned him, so when there was no sign of Sakura besides the bursting of air bubbles on the surface the Cadet didn't hesitate to dive into the water himself. It could be a pain to swim with all of his gear, plus the rigging was less like extra limbs in this case and more like dead weight that longed to resurface, but adrenaline and worry pushed him on. He spotted Sakura slowly sinking and swam over to grab her arm, dragging them both up until they broke water.

	[color=salmon]"Hey, you awake? Sakura?"[/color] The Cadet tapped the side of her face.

	Sakura stirred, eyelids fluttering, before suddenly violently jerking in Cadet’s grasp, coughing up water and swinging her arms around, punching the air and incidentally at Ace. The hook was still tight around her midsection. [color=f49ac2][i]”Uaa- ah-[/i] lemme at ‘em! Get off!”[/color] It was clear she was extremely disoriented.

	[color=salmon]"It's me, it's me!"[/color] The Cadet said, ducking his head to avoid the worst of her flailing and only just then noticing the thing attached to her - a mechanism not unlike his own clutch claw. It was tough to hold her up out of the water, weather her random punches and check on her health at the same time. [color=salmon]"You got shot out of a cannon or something, and this thing-?"[/color] He fiddled with the grappling hook and eventually figured out it's release. Sakura stopped struggling and just held the side of her head, wincing.

	[color=salmon]"There! Are you alright? We'll get back to that snail ship, clean up and patch up."[/color]

	He wasn't sure at this point what enemies were left on board, but they'd find out soon enough. He turned back the way they'd come from, momentarily blinking in surprise. [color=salmon]"Heh, and looks like we won't even have to go that far!"[/color] he said, as the Tinkerslug was headed right for them.

	Sakura flinched and held on tighter to Ace, looking at the Tinkerslug. Then Karin appeared over the top, now jacket-less, and looking very full of herself even from this distance.  [color=fff200]”What ho, Sakura, Ace Cadet!”[/color] She called down.

 	 [color=fff200]”Risky is my custody. Now, I shall tame the beast.”[/color]  Karin vaulted over the side and went towards the head of the three-eyed slug. Tapping her chest she produced a Friend Heart and placed it within. The creature was restored to vitality, memories no doubt rushing back to it. Karin kneeled on its head and went to imprint herself upon it like the animal whisperer she was, using her forceful, dominant personality to cease its disrupted instincts.  

 	Seeing that, Sakura realized the danger had passed; that she had been defeated in a single move. Thus, she hid her reddening face behind her hands. [color=f49ac2]”...I was used like a cannonball, Ace.”[/color] Sakura admitted, dismayed.  [color=f49ac2]”I want to curl up and freaking die. I didn't even use your cool bomb.”[/color] Being carried by her back and knees by a friend wasn’t exactly helping her dignity problem, either. 

	Karin was speaking softly. [color=fff200]”Hush, hush now…my little three-eyed, buck-toothed companion.”[/color] The creature was quite ugly, but it had a certain amount of pluck to it that Karin found endearing. Karin had always been a lover of pets. 

	[color=fff200]”Honestly. Your previous name was an insult. You deserve a noble name, like Triumph. For your three eyes, and for my victory.”[/color] Karin nodded. [color=fff200]”Now, to them!”[/color] She pointed at Ace and Sakura and the Tinkerslug pulled up alongside, coming to a stop.
	
	[color=fff200]”Quickly! The Adrian is sinking. We musn’t delay.”[/color] She called down to them once more. 

	Sakura grabbed the ladder from Ace’s arms, still trying to hide her face from him and hunching her shoulders.  [color=f49ac2]”Uhm…thanks.”[/color] Then she hurried up the ladder.

	There was no time for either of the Street Fighters to collect their previous rowboat, and Karin seemingly had little time to reassure or comfort her long-time friend. Sakura, drenched and aching all over, crawled onto the deck. It was a mess. And off to the side was Risky, captured with rope. Also on the deck was the sonic bomb, rolling uselessly around.

	Karin stood boldly on the mass above the head of the creature. [color=fff200]”Turn, Tinkerslug! Turn, Triumph! To the Adrian!”[/color] She pointed, and the Tinkerslug followed her line of sight and began to go to assist the allies on board the sinking ship and rally with the rest of the Seekers.

	[color=fff200][i]”Ohohohohoho!”[/i][/color] The Kanzuki laughed victoriously, and Sakura tilted her head to the side and tapped some water out of her ears. Maybe if she was lucky, the ringing would fall out, too.

[center][hider=Results][b]Party:[/b] Ace Cadet, Sakura, Karin
[b]Encounter Reward:[/b] +10 EXP
[b]Additional Reward:[/b] Tinkerbat Spirit x10, Pudge Spirit
[b]Wordcount:[/b] 9,922 +10 EXP [/hider][/center]