Chapter 2: Fight like a man

Rank 10: The Soldier

"You are all weak! You are all bleeders!"

Travis first went over to Dr Naomi's. If he was going to have to get around town again, he'd need his ride. She'd been keeping it safe for him ever since his last run of the rankings, but he hadn't seen her in a while. He banged on the door to her warehouse and eventually she let him in. She looked as appealing as ever, yellow glasses, fluffy black hair in a ponytail and the deepest clea that Travis had ever seen, barely covered by her top. Her black and yellow shorts were present, as well as those black high heel boots.

"Oh…its you." She said and opened the door for him. "Come in but I have a guest so don't interrupt us." Travis grinned. Same old Naomi. He followed her inside, watching her a sway from side to side as the entered her main lab. And there it was. The Schpeltiger, just as he had left it. It was dusty sure, but nothing a quick trip around the town couldn't fix.

"Mighty fine vehicle right there." Came a southern voice from behind the bike. The voice belonged to a man in brown dungarees, covering his red shirt. He wore yellow gloves on both hands and had a wrench in his right hand. His head was covered by a yellow hardhat and he wore goggles covering his eyes.

"This the guy you're talking to?" he asked Naomi. She just nodded blankly and took her seat again.

"So like I was saying, it could be improved if you just increased the output ratio by 20 percent." The man in the hardhat told her. Travis decided to make a break for it before his ears bled from all their technical jargon. He clambered aboard his steel steed and revved the engine. Felt so good to be riding this beast again. The Schpeltiger rocketed out of the doors and into the streets. The man in the hard hat watched him go.

"Heh…that boy's got some flare all right…"

Travis dominated the streets, no other traffic dared challenge him on his mad machine. After some time, he arrived at the UAA's main building. It had been refurbished since Travis had been here last. It looked brand spanking new, with clean windows, clean concrete walls and they even had an automatic door now. Travis liked automatic doors. He strode through them and into the foyer, where he was lead to an elevator, taking him up to Sylvia's office. She was waiting for him in that classic black leather chair.

"So nice to see you again Travis." She cooed as he took a seat.

"Good to be back I suppose. Now, who am I killing?"

"I told you, you need to fill out the forms first." She tapped some documents on her desk. Travis groaned. He went over, grabbed a pen that was lying around nearby and started filling them in. It took him about ten minutes and he made a number of mistakes, but Sylvia seemed to be alright with that.

"Ok, NOW who am I killing?"

"Must you always be so straight to business?" she asked with a petit sigh. But she digressed. "Your first opponent is the new rank 10, a man called 'The Soldier'."

"The Soldier?" Travis asked. "Why would anyone pick a shit name like that?"

"Ask him not me." She replied curtly. "He's waiting for you on the outskirts of town."

"Right right." Travis replied getting up to leave. "Oh, and Syl?"

"Yes?"

"Keep those goods warm. I won't be long." He smirked and then left. Sylvia merely smiled as he left. What a fun few weeks this would be.

The Schpeltiger ate up the road as Travis headed for the outskirts. He hadn't been out here since his fight with Ryuji. He doubted the place had changed when he'd last been there. As he drew closer, he spotted the shillouette of a figure in the morning light.

"That must be him. That soldier guy." Travis skidded to a halt and dismounted his bike, approaching the figure, one hand on his beam katana. The figure was dressed in red, wearing some kind of army helmet over his head. It wasn't strapped up though. Over his chest was a belt with at least three grenades pinned to it. He had a belt around his waist too, with two bags on either side of it. Travis was certain he could spy a shovel and a shotgun strung through the belt on either side. His trousers were black and he wore heavy looking combat boots. In his left hand, he was holding some kind of big metal cylinder. He looked up to Travis, not that Travis could really see, the helmet kept his eyes covered.

"What's your name son?" he called out in a gruff voice.

"Travis. Travis motherfucking Touchdown!" he announced, trying to make himself seem impressive. The man snorted.

"So. You're my opposition?" Travis frowned. Was this guy out of the loop or something?

"Yeah I am! So you'd better be ready to get slaughtered!" The Soldier sneered.

"You are the sorriest excuse for an assassin I have ever seen!" he mocked. "I've seen cupcakes tougher than you!" Now Travis was pissed.

"Shut the fuck up old man! What the hell do you know, we haven't even started fighting yet!" he growled, taking out his beam katana and activating it.

"Can you fight like a man, private twinkle toes?" shouted the soldier, hefting his cylinder on his shoulder, and holding some kind of trigger. Travis knew what it was now. It was a rocket launcher. And a big one at that.

"You know it! I'm more of a man than you'll ever be!" The Soldier snorted again.

"You are not welcome in my world! Now prepare to die!" and with that he aimed his mighty weapon at Travis and fired. The missile flew through the air, fast as hell. Travis only just had enough time to get out of its path before it reached him. He began to charge on The Soldier but another rocket came flying at him. Travis ducked under it, only to see a third flying at him. Travis leapt up and dived behind a rock, much to the enjoyment of The Soldier.

"You are weak! You are a bleeder!" The Soldier mocked, using this chance to reload. Travis could hear him reloading and took his chance to close the gap a little. As he got closer, The Soldier fired another shot at him. Travis swerved to one side and kept charging. If he could get close enough, he'd be able to stop The Soldier attacking. Missiles at close range rarely went well. He was getting closer, but The Soldier fired at him again. Travis rolled under his shot and was within striking distance now. The Soldier realised this and dropped his rocket launcher, drawing the shovel from his belt instead.

"Come at me!" he taunted, meeting Travis head on. Their two weapons clashed. Travis thought he had the advantage now, but he was completely wrong. As he brought his beam katana back for another slash, The Soldier beat him too it and smacked him in the face with the shovels end. Travis groaned and stumbled back, holding his bleeding jaw.

"Take your lumps like a man, private twinkle toes!" The Soldier taunted, hitting the shovel off of his helmet, making it spin.

"You fucker…" Travis looked up at him, his eyes laced with hatred. "I'm gonna make you pay for that!" he charged at The Soldier again, lunging at him. The Soldier leaped back to dodge and tried to score another hit to his head. But Travis was ready this time and used his beam katana to block it, before kicking The Soldier in the stomach.

"Oof!" he exclaimed, stumbling backward. Travis took the opportunity to try another attack but The Soldier managed to block again. Travis had to disarm him if he wanted any chance of winning this fight. He had an idea how to do so too. He backed off a little, giving his opponent a chance to attack, again trying to smash his brains in. But Travis not only blocked him, he flicked his blade up, causing The Soldier to let go of his weapon, sailing over his head and landing a good way behind him. This had to be it now, Travis though as he tried to jab his blade through the man's chest. But The Soldier had other plans. Namely, taking one of the grenades from his belt and dropping it right at Travis' feet. Travis looked down and went wide eyed, running like fuck to get away from the explosion. He only just managed, but it gave his opponent time to draw his shotgun and take aim. Travis only just realised in time and raised his beam katana to block. Only problem was, this blow caused its power to go out and the katana deactivated.

"Shit!" Travis exclaimed and he looked for cover. He made for a rocky outcrop as The Soldier bore down on him, firing over and over, trying to land a shot with no avail. Travis dived behind the rock and shook his beam katana, recharging it as fast as he could.

He froze in place as he felt cool gunmetal press against his head.

"It's over son." Sneered The Soldier. "Just put the weapon down and die like a man." Travis grimaced. He mulled the situation over in his head. There had to be some way out of this. There always was. He glanced at his beam katana. It was charged enough for reactivating now…

He slowly went to put his weapon down, leaning to his left. The Soldier kept his shotgun on him. But then, as quick as a flash, Travis punched the man's hand, shifting the gun's position to just above his head. Before The Soldier could react, Travis activated his beam katana and brought it down on the man's arm, severing it completely. The Soldier screamed in pain and Travis stabbed him through the chest. His words gurgled in his throat and he fell back, clutching the painful wound. Travis was about to deal the finishing blow, when he drew another grenade from his collection and yanked out the pin.

"C'mere cupcake!" he sneered as Travis ran for his life as the grenade exploded, sending bits and pieces of the man flying in all directions. Travis looked back and gave a mock salute to the scorched ground where the man had once lay.

At that moment, Sylvia showed up, flanked by Talbot and Weller.

"Excellent Work Travis. You are now ranked 10th." Travis smiled.

"Thanks Sylvia. So, when do I get my next target?"

"Patience Travis. Take some time to rest. You'll need it for the fights ahead."

"Yeah yeah." He griped, clambering back on to the Schpeltiger and riding away into the distance. Sylvia watched him go, then looked back to the exploded limbs of The Soldier.

"If he keeps this up, we'll be back on our feet in no time…"