Chapter 8: Tournament Woes

Chapter 8: The Match of Love Gone

Lisa was walking down to the transport area where they would soon pick up the students for Combat class. Right there as always stood Clyde in his usual spot near the side. It seemed like he was already waiting for her, since the bus was running and most of the students were already inside, but she waved off the feeling just a thought that she usually ignored. "Well what took you Lisa?" he asked as she arrived at the destination. "Are you nervous about today?" Lisa was silent as she went on the bus, finding a seat to sit. Just as she did Clyde joined her. "Well Lisa you know exactly well who'll you be facing think you can handle it?" Still no answer its as she was very distant not even on this world. "Why the silent treatment did I say something wrong?" "…No Clyde I'm just nervous I'm just trying to clear my head." As Clyde tried to get more answers from her there were some whispers coming from the back of the bus. Then came the whispers about the upcoming match and the relationship between the two competitors.

One guy whispered to another "…hey did you hear?" "No what?" "The two people fighting used to date one another…" "No way who are the pilots?" "It's the new chick Lisa, and Raymond Geralds." "Wow amazing this is going to be a great match." As the group arrived at their destination Ray was already in his suit ready to fight. "Attention everyone!" One of the instructors called out. "Will Lisa Matthews please step forward!" Lisa reveals herself and the instructor points her to a glistening red mobile suit. Instructor Fitz appeared and then gave Lisa new info about this custom model suit. "Listen Lisa this suit is different than the other suits, whoever wins this match will go on to the tournament its still a month away but there will be training to do." "Anyway…the scoop the three top of our list will be going so no matter how it turns out you Lisa, Ray, and Clyde our third ranked student will compete for us." "Now about these suits they're different than the average suits, these were built long ago by the school's founders and they've stayed here since then, now please be careful and have a good match." Lisa barely heard him since he was talking too much and prepared to power up the suit. Raymond in the other suit, which shined a clear blue, gave the signal that he was ready. Lisa then proceeded to give her signal and the instructor began the match.

At first no one moved the suits stayed looking at each other as in a trance. The crowd hearing the rumors thought whom would the first move. Would it be Lisa or would it be Ray? In a flash of movement the red suit drew a beam sabre from its arsenal, and charged forward. The blue suit stayed put, and made no movement to block the incoming I-Field energy. The red suit continued charging and brought the sabre on the suit. As she did so, Lisa's face brought many tears. The blue suit stayed motionless, and the red suit continued slashing with what seemed no mercy. The red suit then moved back and allowed the other suit to make a movement. The instructor then tries to make contact with the blue suit. "Ray! What are you doing! Make a movement!" Ray shut off the link and did as he was told he moved the suit forward. Lisa thinking at an attack brought out a shield and placed it in front of her. The blue suit just kept moving without a sudden thought and without a single weapon. Since the blue suit kept coming closer Lisa tried to move back, sensing that maybe he was up to something. The red suit then tripped and fell. "Ack! Oh no…I'm vulnerable down here…" But without a thought and sense she was back straight the blue suit then picked her back up. To everyone's surprise instead of attacking the blue suit hugged the other. "I can't get through to him Fitz call Lisa and have her find out anything!" "Lisa can you hear me?" "Yes…" "Find out with what's wrong with Ray!" "I know what's wrong it's a broken heart and he can't let it go." "What!" "Sorry Instructor but I must deal with this." Lisa shuts off the link and then proceeds to come up with a strategy.

The red suit then broke free from the other's embrace. Then it brought out a beam rifle and began firing. "I'm sorry Ray but it's over!!" Hearing the words through the link shattered whatever hope was left in him. He let the blue suit fall, and signaled his surrender to the instructor. "The Match is over! The victor!" He points to the red suit. The two competitors then get off the suit and greet the crowd; Lisa runs into the bus and finds a seat quickly, not wanting to face anymore. "The class is over we will announce the rankings tomorrow and see how everyone stands." Clyde immediately gets on the bus and sits by Lisa. He notices she's crying and pulls out a tissue. "Lisa lift your head." As she does he wipes the tears from her face. "There now, come on smile for me you look a lot lovelier when you do." As the bus pulls out Ray gets reprimanded for his reckless actions, but the only thing he notices is the bus pulling out with Lisa's face and Clyde's face looking at one another, a small smile on her face, is too blurry through his eyes.