Ultimate Alliance: China - Part IV

As tear gas canisters rained down into the rear of the pro-democracy protestor's lines, an all-too-familiar wave of panic began to ripple through the ranks. Even now hardened by months of protests and living off scraps in unpowered and unplumbed University Dorms, the unforgettable burning sensation of CS gas hitting mucus linings could give pause to the men and women fighting for their freedom. Inflexible doctrine meant that the gas would also be followed by a police surge, already the lookouts were reporting that a line of riot shields had formed and was preparing to advance; those protestors who could arm themselves with makeshift shields did so as the designated medics prepared for more casualties. The surge came, the police crossing the open ground of the forecourt with practiced quickness, closing in on the makeshift barricades that protected the dorms. 

With a booming crash of twisting metal, a car landed only meters from the advancing police, halting them in their tracks. Before the shock could register and convert to action, a second object impacted the ground with incredible force, only to stand a moment later, a spotlight revealing the chrome and magenta form of Inframan. For a moment, the entire scene paused, with even the roar of the fires and crack of random shots seeming to fade for a moment to allow Inframan's arrival the gravitas it deserved. Training and experience soon kicked in, and a smattering of small-arms fire was shortly directed at Inframan, to little effect. Leaping more than a dozen meters, Inframan landed a series of kicks, clearing a space in the middle of police lines for himself.  

"These people are under my protection," the booming, semi-robotic voice of Inframan cut through the roar of battle, "retreat now and you shall not be harmed!

Inframan's answer was a roar from a nearby officer as several came at him with batons raised, he deflected the first into the second with his elbow just in time to be dog piled by a dozen more. Activating the rocket boosters in his feet, Inframan slowly rose, lifting a score of police officers as he left the ground, before tossing them into their comrades, scattering the crowd. Even in his battered state, the image of Inframan, hovering in the air in exactly the way humans could not set off a primitive response in many of the police, and even the hardened riot officers began to back away from the superman in front of them. Just as it appeared to the beleaguered pro-democracy protestors that the tide had turned, however, something impacted Inframan, and a moment later, he was thrown to the ground by a small explosion.

Through the clearing crowd of police strode a black-clad figure, sporting the unmistakable leather suit of the Masked Warrior, a ripple of disbelief and anticipation moved through those around the two costumed heroes. The Masked Warrior stopped only a few feet from Inframan, who had picked himself up, and the two began to circle, gauging each other's movements in the manner of practiced martial artists. Growing up in Hong Kong, Hayama had head stories of the Masked Warrior, even seen some of the films they made, but was never sure that he was really real. Assuming that what Hayama knew was accurate, then he was confident he could win this fight easily. Engaging his rocket boots, Inframan leapt into the air, aiming a powerful kick straight at the Masked Warrior.