Searching for Answers (open)

[Roth O'Roak]

Once upon a time Roth was compared to the character of Superman. A strong man who lived for the greater good but was easily lost in a sense of self doubt who desperately wanted to be called a hero. Difference was Superman was sent to Earth to save it by the Kryptonites. Roth was sent to PHS: 259 do destroy it by a man named Esau. Roth O'Roak was breed to destroy. A tool to be used by the rich to do their dirty work. A Gladiator, a Slave.

Slowly Roth was searching for a way to fight back. To fight back against his master. This would no doubt lead to his death. Nonetheless he had been searching for methods to fight back against Esau. Right now he was in a research phase. Learning all he could about PHS:259 and it's dark past. Sean Barker, Mr. Asiv, Correctional Facility, and Brimstone. He had never met Barker or Asiv, but h knew somewhat of their story. Brimstone was a mystery to him, but he knew it was made by Barker and issued at the Correctional Facility. Which lead him to the massive pile of rubble that Roth was currently standing in.

Roth stood amongst the wasteland of concrete formerly known as the California State Correctional Facility. He had heard a few stories, mostly rumors, about the things that had transpired here. It made Roth wonder what could have been. If he had started at 259 from the beginning. Would he have been sent here? Would he have been one of these experiments?

No, he was already an experiment. Not Brimstone, but Superbus. Esau told Roth that Superbus meant Arrogant in Latin. Arrogant to God by defying death. He wasn't sure how many times the Superbus Drug saved his life by forcing his heart to supply massive amounts of blood to keep him alive. He assumed at least twice, maybe more. All he knew was that because of the forced pumping and production his heart was preforming he had little time to live before his heart gave out. 5 years if he lived cautiously. 1 if he ever came near death again.

That was the motivation. The motivation to go against Esau. For taking his life away from him. For making a man into a slave to feed his master's greed. That's why he was starting to disguise himself as Blacksmoke. A man covered in black tribal tattoos, a black trench coat, black combat boots, and a sleek black motorcycle helmet. Blacksmoke. This was the identity that Roth would use against Esau.

Right now Roth was searching the rubble in his Blacksmoke identity. The visor made this a little hard to see, but it was a necessary precaution. What he was searching, he didn't even know. Anything. A loose paper caught under rubble. A hidden stash of some sort of secret document. A picture, a broken computer with a salvageable hard drive. Anything at all that would help him understand what happened here, and what might happen in the future.

His black metal baseball bat was with him via an attachment on the inside of his coat. Protection was always needed, especially where he was and what he was looking for. If anyone was watching, or anyone was nearby, Roth only hoped they would cause him trouble, or perhaps even help him in his search for answers.

[Gabriel Seran]

Nostalgia running through his veins as Gabriel sat in the rubble of the Correctional Facility, his hands buried and muddled in the dust and rocks clinging to the edges of a large jagged one and relaxing his forearms there carelessly. All the same his eyes drifted, wandering across the savage wasteland.

He was no experiment here but he remembered quite clearly what had taken part here. Experiments, drugs to enhance the physical limits of a person, the mental capabilities it was all just a series of shortcuts. His fists crunched the rocks under his grip shattering in an instant without the slightest bit of effort. He remembered them all, all of the experiments as they passed through this place. He'd been one of the many who had saved them from this hell only to be on the receiving end of one of those experiments at their full power tearing out his chest. Bleeding and near death on the floor Gabriel realized then he would go to any extent to surpass them.

Now what would be some two years later, the unrefined ground of the correctional facility remained unchanged while Gabriel had become the strongest of all possible warriors, gone unmatched in this area for some time now as he had promised himself. No shortcuts, no simple tricks to the top, all raw ability, sacrifice, blood sweat and tears as he fought the strongest to where he was. A Dragon at heart.

Emerald hues cascading across the scene to catch a figure on the horizon to which he'd make a standing motion, pacing slowly to the man's position wavering overhead from the boy's flank remaining in utter silence whether the distribution of rocks around him alerted the boy to his presence or not was unclear but the statement would be the same.

"Curious providence you'd be drawn to this place.... I only assume you come to dig up the past, something that should otherwise remain....buried."

[Roth O'Roak]

Roth would stop searching for a small while. He began to stare at a lake nearby. The moonlight gently bounced through the water peacefully. It was odd seeing something so tranquil where so much evil had been committed here. Unfortunately Roth didn't know the specifics here. He knew that he had some sort of connection here, but he had to find it first.

Then he heard the sound. Feet moving among the rumble followed by a voice behind him. The mans words seemed to be full of wisdom. It was a smooth calming voice, but there was something in the tone. As if this man was also connected to this former Correctional Facility. Except this man knew why he was connected.

Roth would slowly turn his body around to face the man. His helmet would morph his voice enough to distort it, but he was still able to be heard pretty clearly. His metal bat was still hidden inside his coat just in case this ended up turning ugly. Something he'd rather not do, but he was prepared nonetheless.

"Then perhaps you can tell me about this place."

The man covered in black took a few small steps toward the man. He had never seen this person before, but even so Roth found it best to keep his disguise as Blacksmoke. He wasn't entirely sure if this man was an enemy or an ally. Part of 259 or part of Esau's experiments. He decided to take a chance. Tell this man enough information to become interested. He knew he wouldn't get answers for nothing.

"I've never been to this 'former' Correctional Facility, but I'm an experiment in my own right. I came here searching for answers. If I can learn from other experiment's past perhaps I can forge my own future."

He might as well have been sent here. From Boston to Chula Vista Roth had been transfered from school to school to become corrected. To shape a delinquent into a proper member of society. Yet there was the problem. Four years ago Roth was an anger filled rebel doing as he pleased. In his older age he had matured into something much bigger than that. In fact he fought for life so he could become that bigger part of society. Perhaps it wasn't that students needed to be tamed, but to have the space to grow.

It didn't matter much though. Esau was taking that away from Roth. With that Superbus drug he had stripped Roth of a chance and being something more then an enslaved gladiator. That's why he was here. His ultimate goal was to become stronger. To become as strong as he possibly could. Not only to defeat Esau, but to know he had become one of the strongest before his heart gave out on him.

[Gabriel Seran]

"Then perhaps you can tell me about this place."

Gabriel took a prophetic stance, his knees buckling inwards into a crouch to lower him to the ground. His hand would lower down to the ground grappling with his grip into the ruble and fishing around lightly as he'd pick up a small rock and toss it too the side weakly with an abysmal gesture. He had no intention of digging back quite yet, much less at all, Gabriel was a man of the future thats what it had always been. Ambition alone determined his path.

"I've never been to this 'former' Correctional Facility, but I'm an experiment in my own right. I came here searching for answers. If I can learn from other experiment's past perhaps I can forge my own future."

A brow cocked consciously determining that he had been a test subject. Curious, he didn't look much like one of course neither had Emily and yet the girl had been among the top most powerful warriors in 259's history. Raising from his prone position Gabriel pocketed his hands and raised his chin.

"An experiment you say?"

Attention derived and focused as the man spoke. He bore a measure of intelligence this one, surprising though as very few did have that degree of such. Gabriel returned his hands from his pockets and would teasingly play with his wrists rolling them with little interest in the matter.

"Well then I suppose we're at an impasse. You see I've seen my share of experiments, and in all honesty you seem a little.....weak."

Gabriel played his usual taunting, mother always said don't play with food, apparently he didn't listen.

[Roth O'Roak]

"Weak?"

Now that certainly through him off. Weak. Roth had never considered himself weak. He had thought himself as useless, undeserving of life, a human shield, a man, a fun-loving friend, an airborne fighter, an arrogant warrior, but never weak. The man covered in black would turn around to face the older male taunting him.

"From what I've already gathered the experiments here were given a drug that made them physically stronger at the cost of their mind. My drug however, forces your body produce blood after losing massive quantities at the cost of your heart.

Because of this I've faced death in the face and came back. I certainly wouldn't call that weak."

That was the difference between Roth and those 'others'. Those others were MADE stronger. Roth however had to train himself to be stronger, he just received more second chances. But that weak comment, that was infuriating. Roth had his knee broken, thrown off a 3 story building, flying through a gymnasium roof, starvation for 2 weeks, a massive boat explosion, tooth and nail fights with his nemesis, being thrown into a search light, escaping a locked down Chula Vista Collective, blasting though an apartment roof hitting a blond mute with a barbed wire bat, and a death match in Death Valley. Roth was ANYTHING but weak.

He decided to do something unorthodox. Roth would move forward in his disguise toward the man. Slowly Roth would remove his helmet to show his face. Throwing the helmet to the ground Roth Would take the black metal bat from his coat and then remove his coat.

"My name is Roth O'Roak. The only purpose in my life is to become stronger. If you can't help me then get out of my way.

[Gabriel Seran]

"Weak?"

Gabriel could already see the noteworthy irritation in the boy's facade. Yes another one to add to Gabriel's list of haters as this was a recurring event tabulated after years in the school. Its a shame he didn't have quite the reputation thus far as some others that he'd picked out. Quite honestly Gabriel saw their achievements as little infantile spats whereas his tore the school apart and put it back together with little effort from him in the process. Then again perhaps it was just that much more proof that he was the best when he made shifts and changes and no one pointed the finger his way.

"From what I've already gathered the experiments here were given a drug that made them physically stronger at the cost of their mind. My drug however, forces your body produce blood after losing massive quantities at the cost of your heart.

Because of this I've faced death in the face and came back. I certainly wouldn't call that weak."

Gabriel scoffed, his eyes jutting open to survey the boy to a demeaning degree, oh he just wanted to make the guy's skin writhe as he crossed paths with the infamous Nova Dragon.

"Sounds like you're defective...."

Gabriel would laugh in a mocking gesture. An experiment that produced more blood after they lost it, silly inference there as speaking from a medical direction if a asteroidal artery was severed the person would simply die in agonizing pain. To bleed out till they were drained dry.

"My name is Roth O'Roak. The only purpose in my life is to become stronger. If you can't help me then get out of my way.

Oh now?

Gabriel smiled finally turning fully towards Roth's designated direction, his eyes would lock onto his newfound plaything so to speak and find a measure of regard to give the boy. No matter what, his design was to become the best. Funny almost resembled his own motives in a way.

"What do you have to offer?"

The cynical tone met with the mocking gesture of his inclining left hand beckoning the boy to throw a punch, kick, even the striking fowl play of words but it was apparent he wasn't moving aside. Elder of the Dragons, Leader of the Black Knights, and Strategist to Militia. Gabriel had his arsenal under his belt and much more. The question was however...Did Roth?

[Roth O'Roak]

"Survivability."

If there was any ability Roth had, it was to be able to survive. He had gone through countless atrocities, things that if any other person had gone through they would be dead. Roth didn't have immense power, he was lightning fast, and of course he was dumb as all hell. What Roth had was the ability to sit there and take damage.

That's how he based his entire life. When he was sent to Philadelphia he was ready to kill himself right then and there. But then he saved a kid who had been beaten savagely. It was that moment that Roth realized he was a shield. It's the duty of the strong to protect the weak, the problem was he wasn't strong enough. Not yet anyway.

"I can offer the ability to survive. To make it through anything anyone can put me through, and that includes you."

The man was now turned fully around. Somehow Roth knew him, or at least knew of him but couldn't put a name to a face. But just by looking at him Roth knew this man was powerful. Extremely powerful. But it was like Roth said, he was a survivor. There was nothing this man could do to Roth that he couldn't come out of alive and in one piece.

There was still a good distance between the two. Slowly Roth would bend down and retrieve a large solid piece of concrete. In a nonchalant manner Roth would toss it up and down for a small while before speaking again.

"I'll admit I'm not the strongest fighter, especially around these parts. But don't you fucking dare underestimate a man who at this point has nothing to lose."

With all said and done Roth would launch the concrete straight up into the air. Using about half his strength Roth would fire his metal bat into the rock sending it flying at his new opponent. Using all his strength would have shattered the rock, but half strength would send it flying at the man.

However it was intended to hit. Only a distraction and Roth would charge forward behind the rock. As soon as Roth got in striking distance he would unleash everything he had in a single attack. Roth would swing his bat from his left to his right in a wide swing aimed for the middle of his opponents chest. As Roth came forward he could fell energy inside him building up. A massive energy he hadn't felt since his encounter with Vetis. His Qi.

He had a qi once, it was called Stoneform. For Roth he used this mystical energy to harden his skin, to be a better shield. Over time however Roth became unable to use this power. He blew it off for a long time until he came to 259. It was here in Long Beach that the power came back. The energy once used to be a shield was now developing into a sword.

(Attacking stats: str 56, dex 26, con 65, int 31, wis 17, cha 33)

[Gabriel Seran]

Just like the others, Gabriel anticipated as such. People were so fun to play with and just like any other one of his games he'd react attunely to such. As Roth charged forward with all his force Gabriel would move that much faster. With his opponents lack of wisdom the boy wouldn't even be able to track Gabriel's movements as he shifted around behind Roth looping his arms up under the man's arms and pin them up behind his head into a full Nelson. Arching his back so that Roth's feet would be off the ground.

As he did so Gabriel's left knee would raise up into the boy's spinal chord and apply pressure in the same action pulling back the man's arms as he did so seeing that his shoulder blades would begin crunching with the increased force. Gabriel would lean his face forward to Roth's ear.

"You're going to need it...."

Gabriel would smile of course continuing the measure of pressure but if Roth did any of three things he'd release and take a step back. Cry, Beg, or simply tap out. He was hoping on the third seeing as he liked the kid thus far, otherwise Gabriel would make sure the boy didn't use his limbs ever again.

[Roth O'Roak]

Holy shit on a shish kabob. Roth's charge didn't even hav e a chance. The power was built up, but he never even got a chance to unleash it. Roth had only ever seen such speed once before. Leon Sudeki, the Supervisor. It was him and his background that lead Roth here to find answers. Now he had found a fight and a fight with a person he now knew he had no chance of beating.

In an instant Roth found himself locked in a full nelson by this mysterious man. It would take a moment for Roth to fully grasp what had just happened. It was mesmerizing how he was just captured like that. A mistake he would not make twice. He would dangle in the air a bit deciding what to do.

As a wrestler Roth had learned all about this hold and how to escape it. Unfortunately none of his opponents were this fast or this strong. The only option Roth was was to tap. Inside he hated himself for doing it, but he had to. There was no other possibility. Once the tap occurred Roth would and on his feet and turn to face him again.

"How the fuck did you get so fast. It's not humanly possible, no training can do that. What short cut did you take?"

Now he was pissed. He had been beaten like well, trashed and thrashed around, but never like that. It was insulting, humiliating to be beaten so simply. Now Roth would make his accusations. He did not believe that training and conditioning could turn a man into that. Not without an outside force. No fucking way.

[[OOC - Gabe: Eff I keep pressing Edit and not Quote 2nd time this has happened sorry.]]

[Gabriel Seran]

The boy would tap out soon enough but none too soon as to be considered entirely weak. Gabriel grinned slightly letting him loose and dropping his grip to take a step away. Thus far he liked this fellow, he wasn't a dimwit like most fighters he'd go against, senselessly expressing themselves in the sake of honor or respect but truth be told no fighter respected someone who pushed their bodies beyond their natural limits only to come up dead. His hands would cross over his chest expecting a witty remark or retaliation, Gabriel was quite excited about this one it almost reminded him of the days in which he drafted armies of fighters at his disposal.

"How the fuck did you get so fast. It's not humanly possible, no training can do that. What short cut did you take?"

It wasn't just speed, and the pride portion of Gabriel wanted to show off a bit more however reason vindicated just the opposite of that. He'd kept his mouth shut if but for a moment letting his words sink in, to form a response that caused both fear and awe was an art that Gabriel wanted mastered.

"No shortcut."

He'd glower proud of himself for the level at which he'd achieved. Earnestly it was all too long of a story to be told in one sitting from his indoctrination to his superior at the time "Unfettered" and his time as Militia's strategist to his overthrowing of "Unfettered's" lapdogs and his reign as the Black Knight's demonic leader. Even as he ascended the ranks of Dragon.

"All that you see now is a life of never relenting. No gifts from those above, no experimentation, no drug or physical altercation, just years of combating the strongest."

Gabriel would smile maliciously. He could recount those around him who stood toe to toe in battle, the ones coming to mind were in the past but stood as pillars themselves, they'd been where this boy had been holding titles, ambitious goals and studied under great leaders to earn their strength. Gabriel stood alone.
Warriors like Matrim Gallagher who earned their strength through stealing from those around them, like David Blaze earning his abilities and might through gifts and praise of those beneath him. These were few he stood above in the fact that he took his power and not built upon falsehoods.

"What you see now is just the tip of the iceberg I can escalate any warriors power by tenfold given they train under me."

Gabriel grinned. This wasn't the first time he'd taken on students, he wasn't the type of trainer that Leon was no. What he did was push his students limits till they burst. Gilgamesh was a third class fighter before Gabriel and then became amongst the second tier warriors. Jayr Byrne stood amongst Tier ones now. Victor D'armond. The list continued but they rose to their potential something which he'd learned from Johnathon Winters.

[Roth O'Roak]

Roth would stand frozen as he listened to the man's response. No shortcuts? His jaw would slack a bit at that first line. He couldn't believe it to be true. It was hard for him to fathom that ability, that raw power came from training the human condition. Ever great fighter Roth had come across was no longer great in his mind. That included himself.

He would listen to the man as he talked of how he got to where he is just by training his body and fighting the strongest opponents he could. Roth liked that idea, but it wasn't available to him. Fighting the strongest for Roth meant going up against people like this man. In an instant he was brought down to tapping out in the shortest fight of his life. Fighting the strongest for Roth would only lead to fights like that. This man had let him go, other men would've broken him forever.

Lastly he spoke of the tip of the iceberg. Making other warriors ten times as strong as they once were. All by training under him. Roth took a moment to think about that and his former mentors. Back home in Boston it was his Dad. Showing him wrestling and Muay Thai. In Philadelphia there was Kisuke, head of the Jeung Institute at Mugen Hall. But since then there was nobody. Roth had been on his own. He would never count Esau as a mentor.

"If that's an offer, I'll take it."

Roth would look to the man with a fire in his green eyes. His eyes were normally a cold green, but now they burned with a fire. A craving to become stronger. A hunger to be able to protect what was dear to him. A need to survive.

[Gabriel Seran]

He could tell well enough that this man had a fire, more than his other students had been, then again he hadn't humiliated any of them in a single move before. He'd consider adding that to his repertoire of enlistment in his future endeavors. Nobody liked being humiliated, and Gabriel wanted to make sure that he never felt that again.

"If that's an offer, I'll take it."

"In fact it is.."

Gabriel would grin quickly focusing to control the feral sense of animosity in him. He wasn't going to hold back, he felt that was the ultimate pity insult to a fighter. A true fighter was one who earned their abilities and wasn't given anything.

"Lets start with a little exercise."

Gabriel would lurch across the space between them with an extended jab to Roth's elbow his hand elongating around his elbow and applying force on the man's arm. If contacted the force alone might invert the man's right elbow.

"Try to hit me...with one arm.."

A cruel grin on Gabriel's face before backpedaling down the rubble hill and raising his hands in a defensive manner.

[Roth O'Roak]

Exercise, great. Roth kept listen to the mysterious man as he reached forward for Roth's elbow. On instinct Roth would back away a step but the force of the grab would make contact with the arm. The the man would move down a small hill of ruble taking a stance. Hit him with one arm. On any other opponent this would be easy, but he would need to plan for this one.

This man was strong, ridiculously strong. He was faster than any other man he had met. Roth didn't even want to think about how smart this man was either. He would have to rely on his acrobatics on this. Lot's of movement, give him a few options to expect, then attack out of nowhere. Would it work? Probably not, but it was the best idea Roth could come up with.

Roth would look down at his right arm which seemed to be useless after that blow. This would be the arm he would use. Roth would take his black metal bat in his left hand and begin to move. First forward, then a jump to the left, then the right, then left again.

Roth would jump in the air with a good few yards between him and his trainer. With his left hand Roth would launch his black metal bat aiming for the mysterious man's head. This would be the deciding factor.

If he jumped to avoid the bat Roth would land and run for the point he would land. As he came down Roth would meet him one the ground with his left arm cocked for a punch. However Roth would raise his cocked left arm as a defense as he would jerk his entire right side whipping his right arm up and around to hit the man.

The there was the option where the mysterious man would just side step the bat, or even catch it. Roth would come back down to the ground and charge forward. But he would stop once he was about a foot out of the man's reach. Roth would leap over him spinning his body 180 degrees in the air to land behind the man facing him. From this position the Arrogant Warrior would leap forward only inches off the ground aiming once again for the shins in a baseball slide. Once he got close enough to him Roth would jerkingly twist his right side to launch his injured right arm to hit the man in and around his legs.

That was Roth for ya. Give him a task as simple as hitting someone with one arm and he'll preform any flashy acrobatic in his arsenal to get the job done. Although this beat his other alternative. Plan B was to walk up slowly and try to get in a quick sucker punch. This was more fun.

[Gabriel Seran]

A bit of a useless waste of energy as the warrior named Roth seeking strength bounded back and forth sputtering to and fro closer and closer which each evasive motion. Gabriel merely tuckered his torso downwards in a spring like position ready to burst once he'd determined the achieved blow. Left, right, left. And at the end of the progression a bound into the air. Heels buckling down into the scraps beneath him waiting watching. With the left arm triggered back primary focus would be on that hand of course patience dictated that he make this close, close and very brutal.

The man coming down would do so bluntly, poising that bat as the single strike. Gabriel had almost expected more but then again the others of whom Roth had fought were much more predictable, they were the sort that simply dodged endlessly showing the bulk of their pride and not the measure of their metal. So playing against them Gabriel simply sprung forward left foot raising an extra heading and his torso up catching Roth as he was coming down.

His right hand clasping around Roth's left forearm, his left grabbing hoarsely around the boy's throat clutching tight enough to knock the wind out of him maybe even damage some vocal chords.

"Good approach, all the same, never anticipate that your opponent will be too flashy."

"I've known my share...."

With a quick jerk Gabriel would twist on the forearm likely to give break the forearm and then throw the bulk of Roth headfirst into the ground.

[Roth O'Roak]

Well, that certainly did not go as planned. Then again there wasn't much of anything that worked in his favor. He was always struck down to the dirt time and time again. He had the scars to prove that. No matter what place he ever came to he ended up a punching bag. There wasn't a time where he wasn't at a major loss with his duck knocked into the dirt. But that is what separated him because he ALWAYS got up.

The first half of his assault was almost effective, but he never got a chance to move on. This guy was something else entirely. Something Roth had never seen before. As he came to the ground Roth's neck would be engulfed by a large left hand. The wind knocked out of him by the impact followed by the shattering of his other arm. Now they were both useless.

Then he would be thrown into the ground headfirst. Roth would spit out a small amount of blood from his mouth. It shocked him at first, the thought of excessive bleeding. Then he found a cut in his mouth from the toss to the ground. Safe. His arms however were pretty fucked up. Useless now. But it wouldn't keep him down. No fucking way.

"I ain't dead yet."

Yet. There was a key word. Roth would rise himself from the ruble. His face covered in dirt and his arms swinging like a rag doll. Using just the power of his legs Roth would get up to face him. It was obvious that he had lost the fight, but he wasn't going to lay down and die. He still had two fully functioning limbs and he was going to use them to make an impact.

Roth would gather all of his strength in his legs. In an instant he would leap into the air, his powerful legs vaulting his body forward at his opponent. With his power and speed nearly doubling Roth would launch forward at the mysterious man switching his knees in front of him. It was all or nothing here. Roth's knees would aim to slam this son of a bitch and break his sternum. But with this guy's ability Roth would most likely be thrown and broken in five additional places. Last resort.

(ooc:
Example of move

Heroic Leap Stats: 68 Str, 66 Dex, 71 Con, 26 Int, 0 Wis

Aftermath Stats: 26 Str, 24 Dex, 39 Con, 31 Int, 10 Wis)