So San Francisco has just been announced.
And she's been so much cooler than I write her to be.
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Fuuuuuc-
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Reviews:
Severak: Welcome to the club! Or I guess you could say, you ship it? (Buh Dum Chsss)
WC93: Essex is good ship, don't get me wrong. She's just a little... "Odd"
War Corgi: YEEEEEEAAAA BOI! Tournament Arc Starts Next chapter!
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Again, I'm bad at plot lmao
The One: Just how I like the- I mean what?
John: Sorry about your dog. I had a cat that died once, and it still kinda hurts. But Glad your back!
Portland's POV:
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"Where were you?" Intrepid ran up to me. "Aren't you going to help us train?"
"You guys are strong enough." I continued to slam the punching bag. "You did defeat me, I think."
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"But you still know more than us." Intrepid commented. "We still can learn from you."
"I still need to prepare for the tournament." I shook my head, landing another kick onto the dummy.
"What tournament?" Intrepid leaned against the wall.
"They are having one in a week or so." I reared up and tried a new kick combination.
Note to self: Roundkick sidekick jab puts too much stress on the left foot. Do not try.
"Why are you going to the tournament?" Intrepid steadied the bag for me. "Do you need the money that badly? I can always try to convince my sister."
"Well the fake Indy promised me that the real Indy would come back if I beat her." I ran up to the bag and feinted aside, accidentally running into the chained wall.
"You're trusting Independence's promises?" Montpelier bursted out as Intrepid pulled me backup to my feat. "I would hold my breath."
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"Independence seems somewhat venerable." I shrugged.
"Independence is a sleazy fighter." Intrepid clicked her tongue. "She once brought an armed torpedo into a mock duel with Bunker Hill. That nearly got her suspended by Essex, but Enterprise stepped in."
"So I take it you have bad blood with them." I once again prepared a running start.
"Fine." Montpelier interrupted. "We know Independence is the personal escort to that new Siren ship. Are you going to trust her?"
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Darn it, Monty.
Independence wasn't going to try and kill me during the tournament, right?
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"If I train hard enough, I will never lose to her." I flung a flying kick into the bag.
"Portland, " Montpelier grabbed my shoulder. "This is dangerous. She uses weapons."
"Indy is worth any danger." I pushed her hand off.
"You should just walk away." Intrepid advised me. "Indy will come back eventually." (1)
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"She'll come back faster this way." I muttered.
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"We did warn you..." Intrepid sighed, leaving with Montpelier following close behind.
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I leaned against the wall, sipping my bottle of water.
I've got my kicks down. I already finished my punch regimen. All that's left is my hand to hand grapples and then I have to get started on the weapons. I should be able to finish all of my combat training and then I'll be fully prepared. Two days ahead of schedule as well!
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Allright, Portland. Let's work on our tackles first.
"Excuse me?" The shadow of a heavy cruiser enlarged beneath my feet while I was getting up.
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"Yes?" I turned to her. She had a dark chocolate beret and green pin on her vest…
The cruiser started. "I'm Louisville from-"
"The officer corp." I turned around as she confirmed my suspicions. "Go away."
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"I would like for you to teach me." Louisville offered.
"Get the instructors to do it." I reached back and readied up a body slam against the training dummy.
"The instructors don't really know much." Louisville sighed.
"No kidding." I scoffed.
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"So I thought you could teach me." Louisville handed me a resume.
"I have to train." I ripped it apart. "Maybe later."
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Turning back around, I refocused on the wooden model. There were two juts on the front, so it probably would not be ideal to push there. Even if it was a real ship instead of a dummy, running in directly to them would sandwich you in between their port and starboard turrets.
So that's a no go, then.
Perhaps the sides? It does seem like they could be a wea-
"How about splashing water in their face and then charging in?" Louisville offered. "That way, you wouldn't have to think about their foot work."
"Go away."
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So if I try and charge them, it would most likely end up with them jumping back and firing point blank into my face. If I perhaps had a way to screen their vision, I could possibly close the distance while they are stunned. But how would we be able to do it? We could use the water, but that doesn't seem very reliab-"
"Do you want me to demonstrate it?" Louisville stepped in front of me.
"No." I pushed her back.
Louisville shoved me off the platform. "Perhaps I can-"
"Listen!" I shouted, jumping back on. "I don't know if you officers were taught manners in your little school, but I need to practice. If you do not have ANY good reason, then let me work in PEACE!"
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"I would like to learn more about Indy." Louisville tapped my shoulder.
"Welcome to the team." I immediately shook her hand.
"So what do you do when I punch you followed by a kick?" Louisville ran at me.
"I first step in underneath the punch," I described my actions as I foiled her assault. ", and then deflect the leg while grabbing your stomach and throwing you to the floor."
"Is that the only defense you have against a flying kick?" Louisville rubbed her waist, getting up off the floor.
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"It's the only defense that you need." I responded.
"Then what if I switch my kick to a roundhouse?" Louisville started to run.
"I would just step back." I avoided her demonstration before striking back. "And finally jump into an attack or grapple, since all your appendages are away from protecting your body."
"I see." Louisville nodded her head. "Can I try using it?"
"Sure." I backed up.
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If I go too hard against this Indy enthusiast, then I might actually scare her away.
I have to hold back my punches on this one.
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I began a slowed approach towards the cruiser before jumping into mid air, throwing an almost perfected roundhouse kick with my left leg. However, in the corner of my vision, Louisville was not moving. I shouldn't hit her! Twisting my body, I changed my leg's inertia.
My leg dug into the ground just as Louisville punched its aftermirage.
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"Sorry." Louisville laughed cautiously. "I was taught that this was how you countered kicks, and wanted to see if it works."
She actually was right. If the punch had landed, which it would have in any regular situation, then I would have been screwed.
"That could have been quite dangerous." I rubbed my leg.
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"I … see." Louisville observed my thighs. (2)
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"Okay?" I pulled my jeans back down.
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"I have to go back soon." Louisville changed the subject. "Would you mind having a mock duel?"
"I don't think you're really rea-"
"I just want to see if one thing works." Louisville explained.
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"But what if you get hurt?" I asked.
"Will you do it for Indy's sake?" Louisville pressed her hands together.
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This girl...
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"Fine…" I readied up.
Louisville bounced back and forth between two stances as I silently observed her movements.
Left Right Left Right…
If I just give a direct punch, she'll step in to my side and then any attack she places, I'll immediately lose. So not frontal assault. I have to go and attack from the side, I suppose. But if I throw a hook, she could quite easily block and punch through the middle. So I'll wait until my hook is centered around the body. Since I'm right handed, I'll have to attack her when she is in my right position to line up the shot. Counting the time between each bounce and the estimated distance, I need to run when she bounces the second time on the left…
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Now!
I rushed into Louisville's vicinity, lifting my arm past the back of my head before thrusting it forwards int-
Louisville slipped from my mental grasp and slid past me. I suddenly found myself crumbling to the ground.
Crap! I jumped back up.
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I couldn't jump?
I tried to get back up, my right leg did not respond.
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Did she just disable my mechanical leg?
"I'm truly sorry, but I have to go." Louisville bowed before grabbing her bag and running off. The second she exited the double doors, my right leg began to churn up again.
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What just...
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"You look slightly stunned." Montpelier commented.
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I.. I didn't even know what happened. All of the sudden, I was on the floor. I couldn't even see her going behind me.
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This was the first time I've just been purely beaten by somebody definitively stronger than me.
"She's just like you whenever you routinely break." Intrepid nudged her.
"Har HAr." Montpelier mocked.
"Reality is indeed humorous." Intrepid nodded. "Anyways, what happened now?"
"I don't think I should sign up for the tournament."
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Montpelier walked up and slapped me.
"You've got to be kidding me." Intrepid groaned.
"What?" I dabbed my hand against my cheek.
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"You little..." Montpelier pulled her hair. "ARRGHGHGHGH!"
"The only reason we signed up for this Indy-forsaken thing was so that perhaps you'll have a better chance at progressing!" Intrepid glared.
"But it's quite dangerous." I explained.
"Anything's dangerous." Intrepid rolled her eyes.
"But they have actually skilled people." I backed up my train of thought. "Just a few minutes ago, there was this new inexperienced officer corp newbie that was able to just cream me in a few seconds."
Intrepid gave me a questionable glare. (3)
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"In a mock duel." I appended.
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"I highly doubt that." Intrepid shook her head. "You are definitely above the 90th percentile in fighting power. You should be able to beat literally anybody short of the aircraft carriers."
"It wasn't a Carrier." I shook my head. "It was a heavy cruiser."
The tufts on Montpelier's head perked up.
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"Who was it?" Montpelier asked.
"Somebody named Louisville." I recalled.
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Intrepid looked horrified. She immediately began to inspect me silently.
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"Is she famous?" I squinted my eyes.
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"You know how I got second in the bare fighting tournament?" Montpelier shivered.
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"I should have gotten third."
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"Louisville got disqualified from the tournament for permanently paralyzing Bremington's arm in the semifinals."
Footnotes:
(1): Wellllll...
(2): Woman of Culture, of course. Who doesn't want to be absorbed in a pair of siscon thighs?
(3): In her defense, Intrepid has been well acquainted with "creaming"
Hoo Boy. I wonder who Portland is going to face in the tournament once the brackets shows up next chapter?
What? It's Louisville?
Who could have guessed?!
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In all seriousness, Next chapter might be delayed for a week.
I know, I'm already late with this chapter by a day or so. Sorry bout that. I've been prepping for finals and trust me, they are a pain in my ass.
(But less of a pain that Essex goes through when she get free time, if you know what I mean.)
So, uh, I'm going to be a bit selfish and ask that you let me post two weeks from now so that I can focus on my finals.
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I'm kidding, you don't get a choice.
Enterprise returns though.
Anyways, See you two weeks from now!