21

The next day Ved was preparing himself for the fight by jump roping. He wasn't too worried about the fight. He may be a computer genius but he also knew how to fight - something he had picked up in the streets long before the virus.

Ved didn't really know what was to come out of this fight - he just knew that it was something necessary and that it was vital that he won.

He suddenly saw Cloe approach him out of the corner of his eye. He knew she wasn't happy about this and would try and talk him out of it. Well she wasn't going to succeed, he told himself as she got nearer. This had to happen, it had been a long time coming. Ved sped up his rope jumping when she reached him.

"Ved please don't do this," she pleaded, standing in front of him, "You could seriously hurt each other."

"Butt out, Cloe," Ved said curtly, "This has nothing to do with you."

Of course it had everything to do with her. Although Ved would never admit it to anyone, his brain turned into a jealous growling beast every time he saw Cloe and that bastard together - and he just couldn't tame it.

"Oh this is just so stupid!" Cloe cried out, "Why are you acting like cavemen?"

"He asked for it," came the short reply.

Cloe groaned frustrated and threw her hands up in the air, "Unbelieveble!" She spun around and stalked away, muttering under her breath.

Ved couldn't care too much about it at the moment. His focus was on K.C and the battle ahead. He couldn't affort to worry about Cloe's feelings right now. He had to keep his head in the game or else he'd lose - and that would be diseasterous!

—

Patsy stood biting her fingernails absensely as she watched K.C prepare for the fight. Last night when she had heard about the confrontation and the accepted challenge she couldn't believe what she was hearing. She and Cloe had used the majority of the night trying to convince K.C to drop out of it, but no matter what arguments they used he just wouldn't budge. He said this was something that had to be done and that they wouldn't understand. He also told them not to worry and eventually they both gave up.

This morning, after Cloe had talked to Ved, she came back and simply refused to participate in any of it and had walked into her room, glooming. But Patsy just couldn't sit and wait around for news. She would simply go mad. So she went with K.C to watch the fight with trembling hands.

It was a bright sunny day and the birds were twittering joyfully in the trees nearby. There was a few Technos standing in the courtyard, minding their own business. They didn't seem to take much notice of the three of them.

Ved was standing in the other end of the courtyard. He walked back and forth, swinging his arms to warm up. He had brought his buddy Tyler with him – he would also work as a sort of referee.

"What time is it?" K.C asked, walking over to Patsy. She looked at a digital watch that they had brought from K.C's room.

"It's almost noon."

K.C glanced at Ved at the other end, "I guess it's time then." He turned back to Patsy and let out a deep breath.

"Wish me luck." He didn't wait for her "good luck", but turned around and started walking towards the center of the courtyard, leaving Patsy at the brink of hysteria.

—

K.C walked with determenation towards his opponent. If he stopped now and looked back at Patsy, he might abandon this whole mission. Not because he was scared, but because of Patsy. He hated seing her this worried. Last night, when she and Cloe had tried their best to talk him out of it, and Patsy had looked at him with those big pleading hazel eyes, he almost had. He'd had to look away.

At the other end Ved started walking towards the middle as well. They reached each other right in the middle where they stopped and stared at each other with solemn expressions.

"Ready?" Ved asked coldy.

"Absolutely," K.C replied with a small nod. Tyler walked over to them and stood beside them.

"Okay," he said, "The rules are; you fight with only your fists - no blows below the belt. The first one who stays down on the ground for ten seconds or more loses, understood?" He looked from one to the other and they both nodded. Tyler walked a few steps backwards, "Ready? Go!"

Both Ved and K.C started circling each other slowly, sizing each other. They held up their fits, ready to either strike out or block a blow.

Ved was the first one to attack. He suddenly flew forward, aiming a blow at K.C's face. K.C ducked at the last minute and swerved past him, quickly straigtening up and turned back towards Ved.

Ved almost immediate came at him again, this time surprising K.C with his swiftness. Ved managed to place a fist right on K.C's chin. The blow almost knocked K.C off his feet, but he managed to keep his balance. A sharp pain throbbed in his jaw and he clenched his teeth with fury. Adrenaline started to pump in his veins as he looked up at Ved. Now that he had figured out Ved's fighting style he could start to use the right techniques that he knew would work against Ved. The biggest challenge was Ved's quickness. He would have to watch out for that.

K.C prepared himself as he watched Ved leap forward again, knowing he would try and throw in a punch at his head. K.C ducked a few seconds earlier than before, avoiding Ved's fist by inches, then quickly jammed his own fist into Ved's abdomen. Ved doubled over with a groan and stumbled forward. He straightened up again with a gasp, then turned back around. His face was wrenched in a furious grimasse.

This time it was K.C who attacked first. He stepped towards Ved and threw a punch at his face. Ved blocked it with his arm, as K.C knew he would and instead slammed his other fist into Ved's rips. There was a roar of pain and then of shear animal-like rage as Ved instantly took revenge and placed a forceful uppercut to K.C's unexpecting chin. K.C stumbled backwards from the powerful blow and fell to the ground. Something had broken inside his mouth cause he could taste the metallic flavour of blood. He got up with some difficulty and spat out a mouthful of it.

Dammit! he thought. He really was going to have to watch these quick unexpected attacks. Maybe he hadn't figured Ved out intirely after all. He would have to outsmart him.

K.C knew that it bothered Ved when he talked to Cloe. Although both he himself and Cloe knew they were just friends, K.C knew that Ved didn't and that this was really the reason for this fight. On one hand, he admired the intense feelings that Ved must have for Cloe, if this was what they had elicited. On the other hand, he did admit that he had kind of caused this and that it wasn't fair to provoke Ved this way. He was just such a jerk and K.C had to put himself in respect somehow. Maybe that would change his attitude. That and a long deep talk about his non-romantic relationship with Cloe. But that would have to wait until afterwards. Right now they were fighting in the old fashion, dating back to Ancient Greece, testosterone-filled way.

They continued for a while, each taking turns in throwing out punches, sometimes knocking the other to the ground. Neither had stayed down for 10 seconds yet, but had scrambled back on to their feet, each time with more difficulty.

After 20 minutes they were both pretty beaten up. Ved's lip was cut, colouring his teeth red and a nasty purple colour was beginning to appear around his left eye.

K.C's eyebrow had split open, sending down a stream of blood on the side of his head. Blood was oozing from his nose too.

K.C had to admit that he had underestimated Ved. He was quicker and more unpredictable than he had thought at first. It was difficult for him to read Ved and wasn't able to predict his next moves. Now they were both panting from strain and pain, taking a few seconds to breathe while eying each other.

"Had enough?" K.C asked with heavy breathing, bending over slightly and putting his hands on his knees.

"Not even close," Ved breathed, although he looked like someone who was more than close to have had enough. K.C made up a new plan in his head, now that he had a little time to breathe and think.

"You know," he said, looking up at Ved, "We never did agree on a prize for the winner."

"True," Ved muttered.

"What do ya think? Whoever wins gets to take Cloe home." He was provoking Ved, wanting him to attack in rage. Those attacks were often reckless and brashed and that would give K.C a benefit.

He was pleased to see Ved's head snap up - but it was only a fraction of a second before Ved composed himself and put on a cold and indifferent expression. It was only because K.C knew that Ved had feelings for Cloe that he noticed.

"No thanks. You can have her as an consolation prize," Ved said, trying to sound scornful, but K.C could hear the slight tremble in his voice.

"I might do that," K.C said, "Maybe I'll take her home to tent to my wounded body." He watched with satisfaction as Ved clenched his fists down his sides.

" - have her patch me up real nice..." he continued. Now Ved's hands were trembling too.

" - make her kiss all the sore places..."

This triggered the beast in Ved. No longer able to control his searing jealousy, Ved leaped at K.C, hitting with so much force that they both flew to the ground. K.C's head hit the ground with a nasty sound. It felt like his skull had cracked open, but as he put his hand to the back of his head there was no blood. It hurt like the deep core of hell though.

K.C hadn't expected this kind of shear hatred that was radiating from Ved now. He had swiftly climbed on top of K.C, unleashing a cascade of punches at K.C's head. They seemed to come from a thousand angles, hitting K.C with new and mindblowing force. KC was helpless on the ground, trying to shield his head with his arms.

"What the HELL is going on here!" Someone suddenly roared from behind, causing Ved to stop his furious attacks as he looked up, panting.

K.C turned his head too, with some difficulty, to see Jay come stalking across the courtyard. He looked absolutely murderous.

"Stop this instantly!" Jay bellowed, his voice thick with authority. When he reached them he grabbed Ved's arm and hauled him off of K.C.

"Have you completely lost your mind!" Jay yelled right into Ved's face. Ved yanked his arm free from his brother's grasp. Something was off about Jay today. He was particulary enraged. He didn't usually lose his cool like this.

Ved didn't answer Jay but just gazed down at K.C with cold eyes, "Guess I won," he said, before he turned around and walked away. K.C got up on his elbows. His head was throbbing insanely.

"What's going on here?" Jay asked K.C, a little more composed this time.

"It's okay, I deserved it," K.C said hoarsly. He had gone too far in his desire to win the fight. It was playing dirty.

"I can't have my men fighting amongst themselves," Jay said, looking down at K.C, "That could really destroy the cause."

"I know, sir, it won't happen again," K.C said, barely listening. He had difficulty thinking straight through the pain.

"It had better not," Jay said and then kneeled down beside K.C, "Don't make me regret recruting you." He gave him one last strict gaze, before he got up again. Patsy was rushing towards them, horror clear in her face.

"Oh my god, K.C are you okay?" she asked when she reached them and flew down beside KC.

"I'm fine," K.C said, getting to his feet with some difficulty. He reached out for Patsy for support and she wrapped an arm around him, holding him up.

"I see you are in good hands," Jay said, looking at K.C, who nodded. Jay shot a baleful glare in Ved's direction, then sighed frustrated and walked away, murmuring under his breath, "Idiotic fools!"

"Are you badly hurt?" Patsy asked as they made their way across the courtyard. KC was lumping badly while holding on to Patsy for support.

"Mostly my pride," he said, and Patsy gave a small, shaky laugh. K.C was glad that Patsy wasn't a mindreader. Truth was, he was in a lot of pain and he felt dizzy. But he felt no desire worrying Patsy with it. Surely, it would be better in a little while - he just needed rest. Patsy helped him inside and all the way into his room and on to his bed.

"You just rest now," she said and pulled his boots off carefully, then tucked him in under the covers.

"I'll go get something to clean up these wounds," she said, her voice quivering slightly. As she turned to leave, K.C reached out and grapped her hand. She turned back, surprised.

"Thank you," he said simply, looking up at her, greatful. He had no idea how he would ever have managed to get inside to his room, if she hadn't been there to help him.

"Of course," she said, rather flustered over his intense stare. Then she squeezed his hand softly, turned around and left to find a first aid kit.