Deviation Actions
Description
The Ripper refused to relinquish her newfound human heavy bag, tightening her grip even further on Jessica’s shoulders as she continued to bombard her midsection. By this point, Jessica was panting, gasping for air, all simply more audible additions to her concerto of pain to which Valerie was more than delighted to serve as maestro. Under ordinary conditions, it would’ve been no trouble at all for Jessica to break free and strong-arm her way out of a lockup like this. Though with her stamina drained, and her core being thoroughly thrashed, she made easy pickings for her opponent. To help her survive each new crashing wave of pain, Jessica reactively flexed her abdominal muscles just before impact, then relaxed them immediately after. This cycle served to solidify her center when she needed it most, keeping the pain just within her tolerance level. Although, this hardening of her abs seemed to do little to discourage the Ripper, whose left arm seemed no worse for wear as it bashed away at what effectively felt like a brick wall.
Before too long, Valerie’s rhythm seemed to taper somewhat, though if it was due to fatigue or sheer arrogance Jessica couldn’t say for sure. All she cared about in that moment was the fact that it meant her best chance of escape. Taking what stamina and measure of strength she’d managed to recharge during the clinch, Jessica drew her own left arm which had been left unattended by Valerie, and sent it barreling into Valerie’s right oblique. Her glove landed with a solid thud, extracting a surprised gasp from the blonde. Wasting no time, Jessica retracted her fist, prepping for a second blow, but not before Valerie crashed another of her own into the American. With no choice but to take it, Jessica pressed on, ramming her left into Valerie’s side yet again, hoping that it would be enough to loosen the vice-grip.
By Jessica’s fourth trading shot, she could feel the hold on her shoulders loosen just a bit, but it was enough. Slick with sweat, she barely slipped her neck and head down through the noose, but was unprepared for what happened next. The moment she escaped, Valerie had ducked down right along with her. Both fighters in full crouch, Jessica caught eyes with her tormentor before a flash of red collided with her temple by way of a left hook. The hit snapped Jessica’s head to the side and sent her stumbling backward on a path that unfortunately for her, led straight to a neutral corner. Valerie followed with stalking footfalls, catching up just as Jessica’s back bounced violently off the corner. The dazed Nova Striker saw a swirling cloudy mass that she assumed to be Valerie approaching fast, but only got her arms halfway up to a guarding position before a piercing left jab stung her nose and forced her right back into the corner.
“Is this…it?" Jessica thought as her mind raced. "Am I…gonna lose…?”
“Come now, Nova Striker…” Valerie jeered, placing deliberate sarcastic emphasis on Jessica’s nickname to further dig at her. “I truly expected better. You leave me no choice but to have you carted off to your own Emergency Room! HAHAHA!”
Jessica attempted to cut the paralegal’s silver tongue short with a hazy left, but another curt jab kept her pinned. When she reopened her eyes, she saw Valerie rear back in slow motion, but her body wouldn’t respond to her commands.
“N...no…”
With a battle cry, the Ripper unleashed a monstrous left hook that utterly flattened Jessica’s right cheek and wrenched her upper body to her left.
“Uuuunghkk…”
An instant later, a rain of sweat, spit and blood flew through the air as the Nova Striker slid partway down the corner post, flopped limply off the ropes and finally came to rest on the canvas with a heavy thump. Valerie’s face lit up as she peered down at her fallen prey, grinning wide as she hopped triumphantly on her heels. She turned and strolled for the opposite neutral corner as Jessica laid prone, the subtle rise and fall of her chest the only sign that she still belonged to this world. Overhead, the announcer began the count.
“1…2...”
