Chapter 2: Fight Club
'Ok. As usual, three long, three short' said Kai.
The team each went to grab a gummy worm, flopping out of Kai's clenched fist.
'Surely, we should keep a box of matches for this kind of thing?' said Cole 'If you keep plundering my goody supply, I'll literally run out of energy and it won't be a fair fight'
'It's for your own good. Just think of it as if we're saving your teeth'
'Hrrmph. My teeth are no concern of yours and anyway they're rock hard, nothing will erode them'
'What we got then?' asked Kai.
'Long'
'Long'
'Short'
'Long'
'Short'
'And I'm Short' said Kai
'Phttt… Well I say, 'Get shorty'' Jay said gathering Zane and Lloyd into a team huddle 'Thanks for the candy Cole, hope you don't flag…'
'Plenty more where that came from… Don't think I didn't hold the best stuff back for ma team!' Cole high fived Nya and Kai, who then stood arms folded like they meant business. The only thing that lessened the ferocity of their stance, were the gummy worms they chewed on.
'Bring it… is that what you say?' said Zane
'Yes Zane' said Lloyd, smiling 'a little more attitude and that's perfect fight club banter'
Zane lowered his chin and shot them all an icy glare… 'BRING IT'
'Perfect' said Lloyd
Nya fell about in hysterics 'Right, 'Team Awesome', us, and 'Team Doofus' definitely you lot, welcome to the first official meeting of Ninja Fight Club' She went to open the strengthened metal doors of the simulator room, punching an access code into a panel on the wall. Jay slipped his arm around Nya's shoulder as they walked into the room, she shoved it off 'I don't fraternise with the enemy' and gave him a sly look.
'You won't be saying that later' he whispered 'conquering armies always get their way!'
'I'll remember that when Team Awesome is victorious, I'm sure I could come up with many things to demand of you…'
'Hmmm, this could be a win-win situation, I think'
'That depends… I do have a lot of chores that I haven't done yet'
'… That wasn't what I had in mind'
'You know we can hear you?' Kai shot in
'Get out of here' Nya shoved Jay away and the two teams ran to the centre of the cavernous room, choosing two hills to stand atop.
Housed in the basement of Borg Industries, the simulator room took up almost the entire footprint of the base of the tower. 'Is this actually safe?' said Cole 'I wouldn't want to bring the building down on our heads'
'Its safer than training anywhere else, said Nya, Borg is beyond a Genius, so don't worry about it'
There was not one straight surface inside, the whole space created as a softly formed ovoid. The structural supports that ran through the space were convex pillars, covering layers of further convex pillars. Tiny flexible panels covered every surface, overlapping each other again and again. To enhance the fighters training, the luminescent panelling was able to generate holographic imagery and adjust to movement, vibrations and impact. Borg Industries Tower had been constructed above and around the bunker like room and would stay structurally sound, no matter what happened beneath.
Just the surface of the floor was technology free, rough earth undulated. It contained all the elements required to manifest the teams elemental powers. Cole flexed his muscles and stretched, the earth below exploded in reaction 'Whoa' and clicked his fingers rapidly, pin points of earth shot up as if bullets had hit.
Nya drew on the available moisture and began to create more, she needed to start some reserves, should a large amount be required at one time 'Ugh, Zane, stop freezing the ground, I need the ground water supply…'
'Sorry Nya, just warming up… so to speak'
'Don't worry sis' Kai said as he skidded across the ice and melted 'Bring It' into the surface.
'Ha ha ha ha ha good one bro'
'Very funny… I think' Zane replied.
A blast of green energy rolled across the floor and bowled Kai over 'Hey no fair, we've not started yet' Kai shouted at Lloyd, slipping and sliding to get to his feet.
'Come on guys. Are we ready?' Lloyd turned to Jay
'Ready' he said, blue lighting snapping out of him at the extremes of his arm and back stretches.
Nya pressed some command keys on a wrist control and the space descended into blackness.
Kai lit a fist torch as Lloyd crackled a ball of pure energy in his hand, Jay buzzed all over with blue electricity. 'What now?' he said.
'Just wait' said Nya
The room awoke like a sunrise.
'Incredible' Zane whispered.
'It must be like your home planet Zane' Jay joked. Zane pushed him over as he wandered out into the space to watch in awe at the creation of a virtual world around them.
'Hey, we're on the same team!'
'You deserved it' said Lloyd pulling him up.
Zane looked up towards Nya. He held his arms aloft, with no words to describe the feeling the world around gave him, save for a huge smile.
'I know right?' she replied.
'Right! Ready player one!' Zane said rubbing his hands together.
'Good one Zane' said Jay.
'OK. Fight until you are overpowered, then you are OUT OF THE GAME' Said Lloyd.
'WHAT! We don't have any lives?' said Jay.
'NO LIVES' Shouted Cole as Team Awesome rushed Team Doofus. A slice of compressed earth shot up behind Jay and Lloyd so they could not retreat. Nya slammed a wave into them. As the water ran back down the slope towards them, Zane froze it as it pooled around their ankles. Lloyd ran towards them and flicked a small green capsule in their direction. Just as Kai unfroze them with radiant heat, Team Awesome managed to jump clear as the small energy capsule exploded with a powerful pulse of energy throwing them forwards as they ran. Team Doofus descended on them, picking off one opponent each to battle.
Jay flew at Cole with a barrage of kicks and punches. Cole only just managed to position himself to block them, but was on the back foot and couldn't manoeuvre to retaliate. Jay's eyes sparked blue. In the split second it took for Jay to focus his power Cole turned the tide. He threw his weight forward and punched through, just as Jay managed to do the same. Cole caught Jay's fist and was immoveable. They looked each other squarely in the face, Jays effort showing while Coles grin grew wider. Jays fist crackled 'Give it your best shot, Bluebell' Cole goaded Jay.
'Your wish is my command' Jay smirked and released a pulse of lightning straight into Coles palm. As the lightning hit, the force was extreme. Cole leant into it and yelled through the shock. Instead of falling back he bristled with energy. It danced over him and smoke rose from his back. He lifted his head; teeth bared yet still smiling 'Holy Jeez…' Jay exclaimed, not sure what had just happened.
'Tastes good' Cole joked 'Wanna try?' Cole still had hold of Jays fist; as much as he tried Jay could not pull away. Cole shook and released a shock wave through his body into Jays. His hand released, Jay was rocketed away. Cole followed up by dumping a load of earth onto his friend so just his head and feet were visible. He strode over to him 'Do you yield?'
'Do I yield? What do you think? You're dead dirt bucket' Jay visibly struggled to get free, but it was never going to happen. Cole brought his fist down onto the pile of earth, threatening to repeat his attack and looked at Jay.
'DO… YOU… YEILD?' He repeated threateningly.
'Ok ok I yield' Jay said grumpily. The earth crumbled away and Cole helped his friend up 'the others don't though' Jay said as Cole was frozen to the spot in a great block of ice 'HA! Ha ha ha' Jay laughed until the ice vibrated and exploded; he ducked as shards went flying. Jay jumped backwards as Cole came towards him 'you can't touch me I'm out, remember?' Cole grimaced and turned to resume the fight as Nya knocked him down as she was thrown through the air.
'Sorry Cole' Nya said, steadying herself as she stood. 'Green Machine has an attitude and a half today!'
'You ok?' Cole asked but Nya had shot off already 'Yep, she's fine' Cole said to himself. He surveyed the scene. 'And then there were two' he mumbled. Kai was in an infinite battle of fire and ice and Nya was engaged in some skilful sparing with Lloyd. It actually looked like they were enjoying it, so Cole opted to tilt the stalemate scales between Kai and Zane.
From his vantage point he commanded the earth under Zane's feet. It rose beneath him crumbling. Zane could not get a foothold and could not focus to control his ice in anyway that would make a difference. He rose higher until the centre of the earth pile opened and Zane fell into its heart. Just as Kai was punching the air in victory, Zane appeared Godlike from the heart of the eruption, a disgruntled look on his face. Cole tried to collapse the mountain, but it was filled with ice. The earth slipped away revealing a beautiful column of ice that Zane started to shoot shards from at Kai and Cole. Cole ducked for cover and Kai flattened himself to the side of the ice column 'Hold on a sec' he said and turned to hug the ice. He quickly melted right through it; Zane tumbled down, only just managing to break his fall with an ice chute. 'NYA, hold him' shouted Kai.
Seeing Zane fall to the ground, Nya flipped out of her fight with Lloyd and dumped a ton of water onto Zane holding the water in a giant drop on top of his body. She covered the distance between them and leant down to whisper into Zane's ear 'What'cha gonna do? Freeze it?'
Cole shot a barrier between them and Lloyd.
'I yield' said Zane glumly.
Nya released him as the earth wall exploded. Lloyd stepped through the dirt-choked air. He shimmered. A green field pulsed around his body, his face taking on a sickly pallor. Nya and Kai waited, ready but unsure as to Lloyds plan of attack. He raised his hands and manipulated an energy field around Kai and Nya, raising them off the ground, their powers glancing off the interior of the field. Lloyd balled his fists and threw them; Nya manifested a water break outside of the field to absorb their impact. The field dissipated and Kai and Nya jumped to their feet, rattled but unharmed. Lloyd was attacking Cole with multiple bursts of energy, pummelling his earth shields, he was being pushed back, the missiles coming faster than he could deflect them 'YEILD! I YEILD!' He shouted through the din and dropped to the ground covering his head. Lloyd didn't wait to accept, he turned and focussed on Nya and Kai. They didn't hold back to see what he would do this time. Shooting streams of fire and water at him, Lloyd found the energy force within the elements and swirled them into two whirlpools of fire and water streaked with green. He swapped the elements over and pushed fire upon Nya and water upon Kai. They were forced down onto the ground, the fire spinning so close to Nya she could feel skin start blister, she attempted to wash herself over with water, but it evaporated immediately. Kai was overcome with the whirlpool, Lloyd pushed the water down on him, the spinning pool only allowing pockets of air to breath. There was nothing they could do.
'LLOYD!' shouted Zane, you must stop.
'They haven't yielded!' he said calmly.
'I don't think they can!' said Zane throwing himself at Lloyd to release the attack.
As his arms dropped and the elemental power dispersed, Lloyd became confused, seeing his two friend's coughing and writhing in pain on the ground. He ran to them panicked 'Oh my… Kai, Nya are you ok? What did I do, what did I do?'
'Lloyd, you are a piece of work! Doing us in with each others power… Man you are SICK!" Kai stumbled to Nya to make sure she was ok. Her arm was burnt where she had shielded her face.
'It smarts that's all' she said to Kai, wincing. As the team gathered round, Zane came to her. He tore his mask and applied ice through it to the burn.
'Thanks Zane' said Nya.
Jay spoke up 'Ok, I think it went pretty well. We all utilised our powers to the full. Lloyd, I think you were… resourceful. But next time you have to keep it in check, you could really have harmed them' he turned from Lloyd looking distraught and gave Nya a worried look. She waved it off.
The doors to the room opened and Cyrus Borg walked in on his mechanical legs 'There's my favourite Ninja. How was the new Simulation Room?'
Amazing
Beautiful
Great
OMG sooo good
Brilliant
Can we keep it?
'Wonderful, wonderful. I am pleased. You know it's yours? I can't move it to the temple, but whenever you want some serious training its here for you'
You're joking?
No Way!
Awesome!
Serious?
Ok then!
We can keep it?
'Yes Yes… It's yours. It won't be used by anyone else. Now. You must be tired would you like anything to eat?'
'Now you're talking!' said Cole rubbing his hands
They all moved to leave. Lloyd went to Nya and helped her up. He stopped Kai before he left 'I am so sorry guy's. I didn't realise how much I was pushing the whirlpools. I would never mean to harm you, never. I'm so sorry'
'Hrmph!' Kai grunted at him and walked off.
Nya was more forgiving 'I know Lloyd, it's not really your style is it. Though you did look pretty frightening. I tell you what though… You are definitely on my team next time!'
