Disclaimer: Characters gaiaonline
"So we're all clear on the rules, then?"
Edmund had elected himself as head of the committee –mainly because no one had bothered to run for the position, and likewise no one had bothered to vote for someone else.
The group muttered their responses –which were as unified a yes as they had managed all evening.
"Well, the final designs for your contraptions have been approved. Liam, you've submitted the proper paperwork?"
"Yeah, yeah…" He waved a hand dismissively and leaned back further in his chair.
Edmund frowned at the un-professionalism, but moved on. "Alright then. Well, to give you a quick peek at your competition, here are the designs."
The representatives from Aekea sat up momentarily, but quickly settled back into disinterest when they realized the blueprints were purposefully simplified. The teams looked over each other's designs critically. There was a brief moment of silence before quiet murmuring between teammates began.
It was, of course, Durem who decided to break the peace.
"Wait wait…." Natasha said, waving her had a bit for emphasis, "Gambino will be using ice?"
All attention in the room went to the third blueprint where, indeed, there was an enormous ice cube drawn in the tongs of the catapult.
"Well, water is so common," Sasha said with a shrug, "So we thought…"
"Well, yeah water's common," Leon told her, "It's a water fight."
"You could kill someone," Devin added, the tattoos in place of his brow pulling down.
"No, we tested it," Jinx told him, "It's perfectly fine…"
There was a pause, the other teams exchanging glances.
"Where did you test it?" Rina asked softly.
"The Wall."
Josie slammed her fist on the table, "I was trying to populate that area! There are people going there every day!" She pointed one of her manicured nails accusingly, "At the least, Gambino should be disqualified for this. They should probably be prosecuted –it's completely illegal."
"What about what you're doing?" Sasha snapped, "Bots are illegal in Gaia, they shouldn't be allowed in a competition like this."
"They're legal in Aekea."
"Well, everything's legal in Aekea."
The team bristled.
"Well, now, that is a good point. Perhaps we should have a vote on…"
"No."
Liam hadn't bothered to sit up, but one eye was opened angrily.
"I did twelve hours of stupid forms and I'm a few hundred thousand in debt. You're not taking my Bot away from me at this point."
"If it's illegal it's illegal," Moira said with a shrug. She smirked, more than happy to see her former lover in a position where he would actually feel hurt for once.
"You're siding with Gambinos now?" Devin asked.
There was murmuring from the other teams.
Moira shook her head quickly, "No, I would never!"
"Something wrong with us?" Sasha asked flatly.
There was a pause. It was, of course, Durem which decided to break the peace.
"You're spoiled, for one."
A fight erupted between the representatives as Edmund desperately tried to calm them down. Very quickly, though, he found it to be useless.
They should have known better than to try to have a peaceful competition between them.