Chapter LIV (51)
Elo, Jennifer, and Zayus were finally leading Sedena back to the common room after she had been checked out of the medical wing. It was in the afternoon now, an hour until twilight, and the suns were still a ways above the ridges, casting their warm radiance onto those who walked in the rays. They came to the building, and as soon as Zayus opened the door for Sedena, and she stepped inside, all occupants immediately applauded. She turned so violet that it almost wasn't even funny. Even Ki'nata applauded with his students, making her entire body feel hot, rather than just her face.
"I hardly did anything," she said modestly; it was true, actually. "I only hit him, it was what he did to me that made him lose his place here."
"Yeah, but suddenly recovering from a strong dose of poison to K-O him is still pretty badass," Jennifer said to her.
"You're not helping," Sedena muttered back.
"What's there to help, Sedena? We are just glad you're alright," Entu said, patting her shoulder. She resisted the urge to shrug him off.
"Yes, we are," Ki'nata said, everyone looking to him. "But we start the usual tomorrow morning...the other usual, back to the jungle trails. I am overdue, obviously. Get some rest," he said as he walked by everyone to leave the common room, then he murmured to Sedena,
"And now you and your friends may stop doing foolish things."
"Very well," Sedena replied, although she was going to do one more foolish thing; on purpose. As he left, the foursome went to their bunks and simply sat in them, chatting idly. Everyone was in good spirits again, glad that Ki'nata's mother had been subject to a miracle, and glad that the man himself was back.
It was finally midnight, and as everyone was asleep, Sedena silently got out of bed and crept out of the common room. Using her best stealth, she slipped by the Honor Guards and stayed out of the light throughout the academy grounds. She went to the armory, grabbed an energy sword, then slunk back to the common room without incident. She couldn't wait to do what she planned to tomorrow; despite how severe a situation most would view it as, she had a strange sense of confidence. She didn't think it arrogance, although some would call it that. But...she had confidence. Or maybe it was just a delusion. She verified that as a possible factor.
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Sedena awoke to the buzzer, and Ki'nata's familiar bark of "on your feet!" She grinned as she jumped out of bed and began pulling her undersuit on. It was good to hear his voice again, almost nostalgic. As if he had been gone for years. She pulled her armor on, then she and her friends exited the common room. Sedena thought she would have to wait all day, but her opportunity looked sourly at them as he stood by; Omuka Doyema, along with the Kaidon and another Councilor (he wore badges on his armor that signified he was of another academy in another state). That was absolutely grand! She took a glance at Ki'nata. He had halted a moment to take off his helmet and scratch the top of his head. She then broke from the group, several of her peers glancing at her in surprise.
"Hakrenini?" asked Ki'nata, still holding his helmet in his hand without realizing it. "Where are you going? Return!" he said in aggravation. She ignored him, and he just stared, wondering what on Sangheilios the girl was about to do...oh gods, something foolish. She was about to break her vow from yesterday.
She stepped up to Omuka and he looked down at her with a raised eyebrow, as did the Kaidon and the other Councilor. Before any of them could ask what she wanted, she revealed the energy sword handle. She held it in her right arm, stretching her arm out to the side. She activated it with the familiar clash of the concentrated plasma. Arm still outstretched, she looked Omuka right in the eyes; and his look said,
Oh...my...God...is she...?
She was. She then held the sword over her chest, as if she were saluting them, then she bowed to Omuka. When she rose from her bow, she completed the customary Deathmatch Challenge by pointing the sword at him. All he had to do to accept it was activate his own sword and simply touch her blade; then both would disarm themselves and await a set date for their official match to begin.
Ki'nata just stared, wide-eyed, mouth agape; his helmet fell out of his hand with a clatter on the ground; his arm was still positioned as if he were still holding it, it would have been comical looking if it were not for the severity of the new situation.
"...you cannot challenge me to a Deathmatch!" Omuka exclaimed, Sedena was stubborn as she still offered the sword to him. "You are a child practically!"
"Then I hope we break tradition a bit to make an exception. It is just a win or lose challenge, no one has to die." She glanced at the Kaidon, who only shrugged. Omuka gave a flabbergasted look to him. He shrugged as if this were some small issue, making Omuka look back at Sedena.
"But...you are not a warrior!"
"I am a warrior, and you know it. Just not graduated yet. Speaking of which: if I lose, then I do not graduate from this academy, or any other academy anywhere. But if you are defeated, then you are no longer a Councilor of this academy."
"Come now, Omuka," said the other Councilor, whom smirked. "She is only an adolescent girl, rejecting her would make some think you are weak." He winked at Sedena to tell her he was endorsing her instead of Omuka, and she gave a smile and a nod back. All the while, her arm was still outstretched, the sword glowing and the plasma shimmering in the electrical blade. She looked back at Omuka, who simply looked at anyone, anyone for help. The Kaidon and Councilor were obviously endorsing Sedena as they each gave him a smug look, and her trainer and peers were too stunned to try and talk her out of it. He then gave her a glare, extracted his sword, activated it, and touched hers. It had been written in stone now.
"The match begins in an hour, in the Council Chambers of the academy. Many will be there, including the all Councilors...all of them," the Kaidon said to Omuka.
"Of course I will be there, what makes you think I will flee from her," he said, still staring at Sedena, and their swords were still crossed.
"So be it. I hope you realize the gravity of your own stakes, Hakrenini," the Kaidon said to her. She merely nodded, staring back at Omuka. There was a brief silence as the two remained motionless, then suddenly, Omuka pulled her sword back and swung it over Sedena's head. She gave a startled yelp, ducking, the Councilor and Kaidon stepping back in surprise, several of her peers giving gasps and cries.
"Omuka!" the Kaidon bellowed, but the Councilor ignored him, smirking down at the shocked Sedena. He then deactivated his energy sword and walked away.
"...what a dick..." she breathed, standing upright again, unable to find any words to comment on that act (she honestly didn't need to waste her breath with something better). The Kaidon stared at Omuka's receding back for a moment, then fixed a stern look upon Sedena.
"Even if you win, you are still in a load of trouble. I take a guess you broke into the armory at night to steel that," he pointed at the sword, which she deactivated and put on her hip. "I suggest you go prepare yourself...mentally..." the Kaidon looked around at the students, all of the common rooms had stopped to watch the scene unfold before them. "The Chambers are going to be packed..." he mumbled.
"I am glad I came in time to see a sporting event," the Councilor said, the Kaidon scoffing at him.
"Yes, it appears you are finally lucky..." Sedena ignored the rest of what was said, walking back to the common room. Ki'nata had picked up his helmet again, went to say something to her, but he only sighed in irritation, storming off. Sedena was glad of that actually. As she entered the building and went to her bunk, Zayus called,
"Sedena!" She turned to him, the boy stomping up to her. "What were you thinking!? You are going to be kicked out of the academy when he beats you!"
"Oh, I am sorry you do not have faith in my swordsmanship, Zayus," she replied dryly, Elo and Jennifer watching as they came up behind him.
"He is a Councilor, far more experienced than you or I. You really would die if this were an official deathmatch! What you did was idiotic, Sedena! Jiku is gone, Ki'nata is back! And you just went ahead and fucked it up for yourself!" He breathed as if he had just come back from a jog, staring at her with a heated expression, while she returned a still dry one. Inside, however, she felt hurt of his lack of confidence in her. The point of Special Operations was that they were all equal in skill and honor.
"If you think I am idiot, Zayus, then I suppose I am idiot. Excuse me," she said, skirting past him and her other friends, they staring at her receding back as she left the building, her other peers watching her go as well. Elo and Jennifer looked back at Zayus. He looked back at them then turned to his bunk, and in a fit of rage he kicked it. He then sat down, not angry at Sedena, but angry at himself for insulting her like that. Only an idiot would call her an idiot.
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Sedena had chosen a nice secluded part of the grounds, behind a building, out of view from everyone, but a place where the sun still shined down on her, giving a pleasant warmth. She was not extremely insulted by what Zayus had said, but still miffed. She knew well that she was indeed being foolish, but if she didn't do this, she would not feel fulfilled; and anyone can agree, you only live half a life if you are unfulfilled.
"Hello, Sedena," said someone next to her, making her start and look up. He had been very quiet sneaking up like that.
"Kaidon Quzaf?" she said in surprise, and indeed the Kaidon of the Zaf State stood there; wearing a simple tunic and trousers again, but with a forest green cloak added. She made to stand but he held out his hand to still her.
"You are not among royalty for the moment," he said with a smile, then hunkered down next to her.
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
"A brief visit. My brother is tagging along...he has gotten better, you know; I think you should."
"Yes, my grandparents told me about when he apologized to them."
"Mm..." he said fondly, nodding. "I am quite perplexed as of now though. Why did you do that? Why did you challenge him? Now," he said, holding his hand to silence her as she opened her mouth to reply, "I know the main reasons. Him approving that lashing, making sure that Jiku person was your trainer; I heard what he did to you as well," Sesa snorted in disgust. "But with stakes like that...it was not worth it."
"Because I have delusional confidence in myself. Or everyone else has absolutely no confidence in me."
"Oh I do. I am pleased, actually. The sword you carry...was it left on a table in the armory? Near the door to the target practice booths?" Yes, it was; that was exactly where she found it; and that made her smile.
"It's yours..."
"Yes, but you can keep it."
"No, I can't, it must-"
"Believe me, it has nothing to do with my family. It has no sentimental value whatsoever. It is just a standard energy sword. Nothing of value like the weapons on your hip," he nodded to the Blade of the Ini Family and her energy cutlass, she glancing down at them. "Be careful against Omuka, Sedena. It may not be a deathmatch, but he could still wound you quite badly."
"If he cuts anything off I can just have it sewed back on by the docs," she replied, making him chuckle. Mostly at the ever so delicate term "sew it back on," (or rough term, depended on your point of view).
"Still, be careful. Accidents happen. This non-deathmatch could turn into that any time...and you know I am not only referring to him killing you," he said seriously.
"I have control of my body. If I find his head in my blades path I will stay it. You know of the human Samurai, yes?" Sesa nodded. "They were trained to lock up in mid swordplay as we are. I will stay my blade."
"I know you will, Hakrenini," he said kindly, patting her on the shoulder, then he stood up. "Steal yourself and be ready. I hope you know the gravity of this situation, and you did not just challenge him on impulse."
"A little of both."
"Humph," he huffed, giving her a stony stare which she smiled at. "Well, I implore you to think before you act in the future."
"I do, I just didn't this time. It happens to all of us."
"That may be so...but I have a feeling your father will give you some grief for it."
"Yeah, but he'll also be commenting on how cool and badass I am a moment later." Sesa couldn't fight off his grin, making Sedena chuckle.
"Well, if you ever find yourself in a two versus two match, I recommend Stephen Colbert and his plastic lightsaber." Both of them laughed together. That had became mister Colbert's most famous moment, ever.
"Perhaps he can bribe some Honor Guards for us to cheat with."
"Oooh, where did your sense of honor go; that would be an ironic title for them if they took part in your shenanigans."
"Just curious as to how you found me here," Sedena asked of him.
"I simply saw you leave the common room and go behind here. I am not spying on you," he grinned again, making Sedena chuckle more.
"I know you're not. I actually wonder if Omuka would though."
"Maybe, maybe not. You will not have to worry about him after today though. Take care, Sedena, please. I witnessed Zuli graduate, I wish to witness you graduate as well."
"I will graduate, Kaidon Quzaf, I promise you." He smiled and nodded, then left without another word, holding his cloak from the inside so it did not billow behind him. Sedena looked forward again, up at the morning sky, then down at her wristwatch. Forty-five minutes until the match. Sedena sighed, then removed her MP3 player from one of the pocket cases of her armor. Slipping the headphones over her head, she selected "Teardrop" by Massive Attack. She lifted her head up and closed her eyes, letting the warmth of Joori, Urs and Fied sooth her skin, and the smooth, sweet music lift her away for a while. When the song ended, she smiled as she proceeded to play "Lift Me Up" by Moby. It fit her current predicament. Whenever she was feeling down, she always related with her music; Stone always made fun of her for listening to music on her electronics so much, like a typical teenage girl, but she just ignored him over it. It was almost like a religion to her; she needed to listen to music when she could, and it roiled the emotions within her, but these roilings of emotions was more like she was exercising them, rather than feeling them in a real-time moment of sadness. But at the moment she needed to be lifted up, and this song just made her smile.
As she sat there (playing both the original and the "Sesto Sento" Techno Remix of the song), she looked in the screen of her MP3, and saw Zayus was off behind her, near the corner of the building. He was studying her, and she smiled, knowing that he knew she did not like it when interrupted in her music; which was why he hesitated. She actually decided to let him hang, pretending not to notice him. He eventually did turn away, looking bummed, she decided to talk with him briefly before the match, to tell him not to beat himself up over their spat. Just five minutes before it, she stood to return to the common room. All her peers were waiting outside, as well as her trainer. She slowed to a stop before them as they all watched her, some smiling suppotively, her friends, even Zayus.
"Well..." Ki'nata said, only he did not finish his sentence. Sedena noticed many others around the area were stopping and staring, but she did not feel self conscious like she usually did when at the center of attention.
"Zayus, it's alright with before," was what she said to him, making his smile widen, and he nodded. He liked the way she apologized to him: quick and...well, not to the point, but just quick. Usually over small arguments they had, larger ones they talked their way into apologies.
"Go on, Sedena," Ki'nata ushered, but not rushing, gesturing to the main building. She walked forward, now getting self conscious with the knowledge that everyone was following her. Those who were halted ahead of her, quickly joined the others in following when she walked by them. It would be a site that actually intimidated Omuka slightly, and impressed the Councilors and Kaidon.
She stepped through the doors into the main buildings, and even the people inside were watching. Not everyone could fit within the chambers, unfortunately, only her common room and whoever else that was lucky enough to fit would watch. When she pushed open the great double doors into the council chambers, Councilor Omuka Doyema was already standing in the center of the room, and some people had already came to get spots before they were taken. She walked to the center of the room, before the councilor, taking her energy sword off her hip but not activating it just yet. She and he stared at each other, glancing around every now and then to see if everyone was finally all set. When the ruckus of people squeezing off to the sides of them had abated, everyone staying still and those unlucky to get a site waited anxiously outside, did the Kaidon finally stand.
"Sedena Gossard Hakrenini, although you technically challenged Councilor Omuka Doyema to a deathmatch, he and you will fight in a win or lose battle not involving death. Failure to uphold this condition and result in killing the other will be punished severely for murder; manslaughter if it was an accident. You have made the stakes, Hakrenini; if you lose, you will not graduate this academy, nor any other academy, and will not be recognized as a Special Operations soldier. However, if you win Councilor Omuka with no longer be a Councilor of this Academy...perhaps, even the state..." the Councilor glanced a small, slightly fearful glance at the Kaidon, but he turned back to Sedena again.
"Draw your weapons," the Kaidon ordered. Sedena and Omuka activated their energy swords.
"Step back ten paces." She and he backpedaled slowly ten paces, then stood ready in combat positions, swords held in the traditional manner.
"Attack!" And so it began, the most defining moment in Sedena's not-even-begun career. He lunged at her, bellowing a battle cry, and she lifted up her sword to block the lunge. The upward slash by the taller, stronger man knocked her slightly into the air, and she fell on her rump, but did a back roll away from him as he slashed at her. When she was on her feet, she sidestepped and he vertically swung, and she gave a horizontal slash back, but he managed to deflect her attack, and he stabbed at her. She sidestepped yet again from his attack, then kicked his leg. He grunted, his leg buckling, but she had only used that to fall back for a quick reprieve to get her bearings back. She remembered everything N'tho taught her. She had to keep her own physiology in mind as well as the opponent's. She was fast, good with light decisive strikes, of course. Everyone had seen her fight, they knew her abilities. She was also acrobatic. Omuka was an anti-change old fart that up-the-ass stiff about tradition; the stereotype of his age group. She knew the shock factor of her moves would only make one brief affect on him, however. He as well as she were trained to quickly absorb any new form of combat they came across, as to not be taken off guard by it again.
He came after her, and she ran to him as well. She took three quick swings at him, then jumped backwards, studying him, trying to root out any weaknesses she could capitalize on. But he saw through that and knew he had to take her down quickly; the little whore was skilled, he had to confess. She would make a good soldier, but that did not make him hate her any less (as if he had a good reason to hate her in the beginning; after all, it was the disdain that had now been erased that began his hatred of her...oh irony, loved until affecting the one that loved, and then hated by the same). He landed blows on her, and his strong swings made her arm ache with each blow. He clutched the sword in both hands, seeing that she was quickly growing weary from his attacks, and that made her fall down. Somewhere in her flailing limbs as she fell, and somewhere in his viscous, bloodthirsty swings, his sword made contact with the fingers of her free hand, and they were cut not-so-clean off, the two middle fingers pattering to the ground. She cried out in shock, looking at her mutilated hand, and that made him pause, stepping back. Everyone murmured and shouted in shock, some with joy, the cruel bastards. Omuka was sure he had just won as the girl gasped and whimpered like a beaten pup, and he gave her a smug smile which he made sure she saw. It would not have made a difference whether she saw it or not anyway, she was already pissed off as she could possibly get.
In his arrogant, silent gloating, turning away from her to walk away; he had not noticed that the Kaidon had not called off the fight and claimed him a victor. He only sat there at the councilor table, hands clasped on the surface, watching the continuing battle closely. Finally the moron noticed the Kaidon had not given any indication of him winning, and he glanced at the Kaidon. He gave back his own smug look, and twinkling eyes still fixed on the councilor, he jerked his head sideways in the direction of the "defeated" girl. Omuka snapped his head in her direction, and she stood, eyes filled with hate and blood lust...but, they also held the Gothic macabre grin that he remembered from Jennifer, and that made him cold, and he struggled to keep from shivering.
"Do you know what 'nemesis' means?" Sedena asked him. Everyone was silent, staring; awed, frightened, excited, happy, angry. She continued, advancing on Omuka, "A righteous infliction of retribution manifested by an appropriate agent." She took the sword combat stance again, sword raised in one hand, mutilated other hand raised up as if nothing had happened to it, though it dripped her purple blood thickly, looking painful. "Personified in this case by a furious cunt...me," she finished. Still using the shock factor she had given the dumbstruck Omuka with her speech (a quote only altered by one word, 'furious' was supposed to be 'horrible'; courtesy of her favorite villain: Brick Top), she swung at him. He just barely blocked her attack, eyes bulging. She slashed and slashed and slashed, not letting up, not giving him time to think, making him stay stuck in split second decisions. When she was satisfied that her repetition battle tactic had taken full affect on the bewildered man, she made her signature attack; the one she had made up, and had used so many years ago with her spar with her grandfather; holding her sword arm slightly loose at her side, she span like a ballerina almost, three hundred-sixty degrees, and her swinging sword, unanticipated by the councilor, cut off his sword-bearing hand. He bellowed in pain, and she hopped back, ready to block a retaliation; but it was done. His severed hand still held the still activated energy sword, and he sat there, growling and clutching the bleeding stump of his hand. Everyone could tell he would not get back up; it was over.
The Kaidon stood, looking proud, and proclaimed,
"Hakrenini is the winner!" The entire room roared with joy. Even Ki'nata had his fist in the air and was roaring approval. Elo and Zayus were roaring as Sangheili commonly did, fists in the air, and Jennifer was doing the same; only her fist was the rock n' roll/heavy metal devil horns, which made Sedena grin. All her peers from the common room rushed to her, but some medics quickly stood by her, forcing them to keep at bay.
"Please, please," one said when they all protested them getting in the way, "we need to be quick to reattach her fingers, and his hand," one nodded at Omuka, who was being helped up by another medic. And a fourth one was across the room, picking up Sedena's fingers and putting them in a bag. She remembered her hand, and just as quickly as she remembered she tried to push the thought away.
"We'll throw a quick party for you before you get back," Jennifer said to Sedena, all her friends chuckling, and she grinned as well.
"After all this horseshit I'd like a break...maybe I'll stay in the medical wing for a bit for some peace."
"Our reattachment of your fingers will not take long, so you will have plenty of time to spend with them," one of the medics said, then led her away from her friends, who groaned as if she were going to be away for a long time.
"That was spectacular, Hakrenini," one medic murmured. "I wish we did not have to reattach the Councilor's hand." She gave him a puzzled look, and he returned the same one as well.
"He's still a Councilor?" she asked. He didn't get it at first, but a short second later he laughed merrily, and she chuckled with him. This had been a good day so far; after she got her fingers reattached, she felt like doing the obstacle course.
