Link looked around as the seemingly star filled abyss resolved it's self into the spectator seats of a huge arena.

The crowd occupying its seats went wild, screaming and cheering at the top of their lungs.

The noise, like an invisible ocean, crashed down around the him, blotting out all other sounds.

High above the arena's spectator seats, a figure cloaked in grey looked down upon the green one with a look of grim disapproval. His hood was thrown back and reviling a vaguely human face with precise features. His ears were pointed and he wore a shroud around his mouth. Next to him was a figure with a black cloak, practically invisible in the shadows of the room they occupied.

The black figure cocked its head at the being in grey "you are strangely quiet Sseam; you usually cheer the loudest when a new Smash Champion is chosen.

**Below, a figure clad in gleaming red armor appeared from a door at the other end of the arena with what could only be described as a globe of shimmering blue light.**

Sseam sighed quietly, "Come now Uubat, you of all people should know why I am unhappy with this Smasher"

Uubat shook his head and placed his hand on Sseam's shoulder "Yes old friend and that is why I must try my hardest to comfort you on the loss of the Assassin Core this year." He said in a strangely irritating tone.

Sseam's eyes narrowed, "you know that sarcastic voice of yours seems to be overlooking the fact that your War Mongers was eliminated in the first round."

Uubat's eyes narrowed and he muttered something illegible under his breath.

**The Red figure leaped onto the platform with a single bound and handed the sphere to the Link and whispered something in his ear. Then with a flourish the Red figure unsheathed a sword and made a quick downward stroke, causing a portal to appear. Link took one long look at the crowd and leapt into the portal with the sphere in his hands. The crowd reached its climax, the sound shaking the arena to its foundations. **

Seeing the green figure vanish into the portal, Sseam turned away "with the success of Link, a new champion of Smash had been crowned. Come, I must check the Mansion."

They exited the arena and emerged in the Peacebringer capital. Several towers rose above the planet's surface while small hover vehicles darted between the buildings and silver Bridges linked tall walk ways. A visual reminder to otherworldly visitors that this place was the pinnacle of all a Race could be.

.

Outside the Arena, armed guards snapped to attention as Sseam and Uubat passed. Uubat nudged Sseam "Even if the Assassin Core failed to claim the Smash Crown this year, you still will enjoy the respect of our entire species Military. That's not something to ignore." Sseam chuckled bitterly "what good is influence when you have no power to back it up".

They approached a spherical gate and Sseam pressed several commands on a small console causing the gate to activate, generating a wormhole entrance. Stepping through, the two warped out side the city limits and came out at the entrance to a stately mansion which was strangely normal as opposed to the Futuristic building in the city.

Stepping inside they found them selves on a small platform stretching over a seemingly bottomless abyss. Uubat stumbled at its sight. Sseam chuckled, "We usually get that response from first timers to the Mansion".

Uubat looked around at the walls that stretched away in all directions.

"Where are we?"

"This, this is the Smash Mansion, A building constructed completely out of nanites at a molecular level. We can build any thing for the Smashers comfort and it makes an unparalleled security system."

"How does it work?"

"Here let me show you""

Sseam tapped several commands on a small keypad that was attached to his wrist. "Activate Entrance Program".

Immediately the abyss became filled with grey smoke that resolved itself into a huge cathedral, complete with vaulted roofs and chandeliers. Uubat whistled in surprise.

"So, the entire mansion is built like this?"

"Yes, it was the easiest way to provide a comfortable environment that could be adapted to challenging arenas."

Uubat tested the floor with his foot; assured it was solid he stepped on to it.

"Why has this technology not been used elsewhere?" He asked quizzically.

"The construction costs for such a place are so huge that it would be unpractical to use on regular buildings, not to mention that the nanites could be used as a lethal weapon against its occupants,

Uubat suddenly became very alert of his surroundings.

At the opposite end of the cathedral was a computer, set in the wall.

In the computer floated a white glove.

Sseam smiled and gestured towards it

"Uubat, I want to show you something."

They walked up to the computer.

"This is the core of the Peacebringers, our secrets, our discoveries, and our weaknesses, all contained in an A.I called the Master Hand"

Uubat's eyes widened at this, he had often hoped to be an asset to the Peacebringers secrets but had given up hope as only high-level members of the organization were allowed access to such information.

"Why are you telling me this?"

"So that if I am ever killed off world, I'll know that this data is safe."

Uubat was abut to laugh it off, telling his friend that he was just being paranoid…then he saw Sseam's eyes, they were smoldering with a fury that he had never seen, a fury that dared someone to cross him.

Uubat suddenly shrank away from him, until he realized that Sseam was looking past him.

Turning around, he saw that three figures cloaked in black body armor had silently entered the mansion. In their hands they carried large laser rifles that he recognized as

An 88-07 Model, a laser designed to take out vehicles with rapid fire bursts.

Acting quickly, Sseam thrust the computer chip into the computer, he then pulled a green bow from in the folds of his cloak. Drawing the string, a golden arrow appeared, nocked and ready. The black figures began to raise there weapons when Sseam released his arrow.

The Bow was a special construction that had been allowed exclusively to those in the Peacebringers that would be in areas that were openly hostile. It contained a device that utilized light as an energy source, allowing an undepletable supply of arrows.

However the abilities of the Bow were increased tenfold when utilized by a Master Guardian, which Sseam and Uubat both were, allowing the arrows to be shattered as they were fired and (guided by the controllers thoughts) strike multiple targets.

The right and center figures realized this and dodged into the shadows.

The left was not so fortunate, the arrow connected with the area that his fore head was located, spinning him end over end and finally 'depositing' him against the wall.

He fell to the floor and did not move.

Several bolts of laser fire drew Sseam's and Uubat's, who had drawn his bow as well, attention and forced them to take cover against the wall

"We can't stay here" Uubat hissed "can't you have the Mansion…impale them, or something?"

Sseam looked as thought the idea had genuinely not occurred to him. "That's not fair"

"THIS IS NO TIME TO BE STUBBORN ABOUT YOUR SENCE OF FAIRNESS" Uubat practically screamed as more laser fire came at them.

Sseam shook his head and said quietly "Master Hand, lights"

"What about the …."

The mansion went dark.

Sseam took a moment to calm himself as his night vision enhanced eyes roved the floor in front of him. Much as he hated to admit it, Uubat was right; this current form was not the place for a battle.

Dropping to his knees he said "Master Hand, the floors please"

Immediately the floor randomly arranged itself in to a new shape, however without the lights on Sseam could not tell what it had changed to, he was only aware of the fact that he had lost sight of both the armor clad individuals and Uubat.

Slipping his bow back in to his cloak, it would only alert the black troopers to his presence, he drew a long, red knife with a serrated edge.

He then wrapped his cloak around him, activating a camouflage program in the fibers. He then sat and waited.

Sitting there with his life in danger, Sseam had a rare moment to think back to the Beginning of his species…and their oldest desire……

The sound of foot steps interrupted Sseam's train of thought. One of the armored attackers was stealthily making his way down the hallway.

From a red glow that was coming for his helmet, Sseam could see that he had night vision activated.

Moving slowly, so as to not disturb his camouflage, Sseam pulled a red knife out of his cloak.

The black Figure was scanning the area around Sseam and this range he could see that it was carrying a large pack. Being a member of the Assassins group, he could have easily killed the figure, but due to the fact that the being was wearing armor usually reserved for the Peacebringer elite, he needed to find who was behind the attack.

Waiting until the Figure had passed him, Sseam flicked his knife at lower part of the hand curled around the gun handle. The knife blade was stopped only by the handle guard and the momentum swung the Figure around, allowing him to both retrieve his knife and press it tightly against the being's throat.

"Drop the gun" Sseam whispered in a tone that spoke of pain beyond death.

The figure complied; gripping his would in a desperate effort to stop the bleeding. Sseam cut the shoulder straps off the Figures pack, causing it to fall to the floor with a loud 'thunk'.

As Sseam reached down to uncover the contents, the figure snapped his elbow around into Sseam's cheek and followed with a punch to his eye.

Sseam stumbled back, dazed, and the figure dived for his gun. Sseam fumbled for his bow, got one hand on it, and was confronted with a low whine as the black figures weapon was brought to bare.

Flicking his eyes around his surroundings, Sseam looked for an edge he could get over the trooper.

The figure rose, sighted down the barrel…

…and fell to the floor, a blade sticking out the back of his neck.

Uubat had snuck up behind the Trooper and ordered his Mind Whip (a device that responded to its wielder's thoughts) through the weak plating on the back of the neck, effectively severing the spinal cord.

Uubat flicked the whip out of the Trooper's neck. Sseam rolled his eyes and said.

"You didn't need to do that; I could have dealt with him"

"Before or after he put a plasma burst through your head?" Uubat asked with a grin.

Their banter was cut short as several bright blue bolts of plasma zinged past them.

Sseam flattened himself against the wall, as did Uubat. He scanned the hallway in front of him. The trooper's black armor allowed him to blend in perfectly in the darkness of the hallway, preventing Sseam from seeing where to fire at. Uubat reached into his belt and produced a device that Sseam recognized at once.

A Beam Sword.

Uubat looked at Sseam and said. "I'll draw his attention while you take shots when he fires. Sseam nodded.

Uubat moved down the hall with the beam sword in front of him, ready to deflect any laser fire.

Sseam raised his bow without drawing the string to prevent from alerting the trooper of his actions.

As laser fire began to pepper the area around Uubat, Sseam drew and released. Their was a sound of sheering metal and a curse.

"Lights" shouted Sseam and immidetly the mansion lights came on.

Sseam's aim had been off by a hair's breth. Instead of hitting the trooper as intended, he had neatly cut his gun in half.

The Trooper swore again and dropped to his knees, reaching in to the pack on his back.

Uubat threw caution to the wind and dashing towards the trooper with his Beam sword ready for a killing blow.

Suddenly he skidded to a stop,

From the angle that he was at, Sseam could not see what the trooper had taken out of his pack, but apparently it was enough to merit a sudden strategic relocation.

And then Uubat began running in the opposite direction and Sseam saw something that made his heart jump between his teeth.

A Medusa Cannon.

The cannons were named as such due to it's affect on a target. Instead of trying cause harm directly, the cannon affected the molecular structure. Turning it to stone.

The Trooper placed both hands on the dual handles and the tell-tail charging whine filled the air.

Time seemed to slow as the Cannon fired. Uubat pressed himself against the wall just in time and Sseam did the same, at such a close view, Sseam could see that the shot was in the vague shape of an arrow and had small sparks of electricity in it.

Then time sped up and the beam hit the end of the hall way, turning it into stone.

At first, their was nothing, then Sseam began to detect an eerie whine.

Quickly it raised to such a high level that Sseam, the trooper, and Uubat clapped their hands over their ears in a desperate effort to stop the sound.

"What's happening?" cried Uubat

"The Mansion has an automated defense system. Such a heavy weapon going off in the mansion has triggered Master Hand's defense response. He's going to target the source of the blast."

A green light passed Sseam and he realized that it was the house scanning for the appropriate target, as it ran over the black Trooper, it turned red and vanished.

The house began to rumble and a voice said "hostile target detected, system purge activated".

Sseam looked down and saw that small black specs were moving past him down the hall towards the trooper, together, they looked like black sand.

The Black figure began to sink into the floor.

Finally realizing what was happening; the figure thrashed and tried to reach for his weapon, seconds too late to prevent Uubat from swiping it up.

Realizing that it was trapped, the figure began to speak in an odd conglomeration of letters, sounds and tones; thrashing its arms about, trying to free itself.

"Who do you work for?" Sseam said

The figure continued to thrash about, sinking.

"I said who do you work for" Sseam thundered, producing his bow and drawing the string.

The figure looked at him and spoke in its strange language.

"What was that"? Sseam replied, drawing the string tighter.

The figure vanished under the black specks.

Sseam swore.

________________________________________________________________________

After collecting the bodies of the two dead troopers and revealing them to be Wireframes, a group of fanatic terrorists that worshiped the Black Future and had converted themselves into robots. They got out of the mansion

Apparently, they had staged a massive coup upon the entire Peacebringer organization and Sepretal government. Simultaneously tracking and eliminating (or at least trying to) all leading members of the organization and its supporters

For the most part, they failed.

Most…

The Pro-temp of the Senate, dozens of senators, several commanding officers in the Peacebringers, the President, and the heads of several businesses, and random members of the organization had been killed

Sseam lost friends that day…

And some that had been more then friends, mainly, his wife, his younger brother, and his son.

In the ashes of that day, Sseam changed.

No longer did he smile.

He was all business, immersing himself in his work, furthering the cause of the White future.

Until quietly the time for the next Smash Tournament came……

FINALY, you folks have no idea how long I have been working on this chapter. I hope it's not too far out there.