08 - Paradigm Shift

After the parry which softened Valerie’s angry left hook into a merely disgruntled nudge against her chin, Jessica pushed her right arm outward and away from her body sideways, which threw Valerie’s punching arm off her, temporarily preventing a guard. In the same motion, the Nova Striker fired back a stiff jab with her free arm, which caught a piece of Valerie’s cheek as she didn't even bother guarding anyway, largely ignoring it in order to move in with a low right hook to Jessica’s briefly exposed side. Jessica took it, the force bending her a little and causing her to backstep again at an angle away from her aggressor. To cover herself, she sent out a couple more left jabs while receding, only one of which made contact, the main goal simply to keep Valerie out of her preferred range. At least, for the moment, as she prepared to make her next move...

…The opportunity for which presented itself as the Ripper predictably stormed in yet again, swinging wide with another left hook. Jessica was prepared however, and eyed Valerie’s incoming fist closely as she dipped low while swaying left, at the same time striding in at an alarmingly sudden speed with a low profile. Valerie’s eyes widened just a bit and she grit her teeth as her punch sailed harmlessly over Jessica’s head.