Chapter 2, Evaluation
Since Garali was new to the command station, he was shown around. Katana seemed eager to show him everything she knew. First, she explained to him how the androids work. -Katana- "Well, Dr. Slate was really into the idea of using spirit energy. He used them for the dampeners and also used it to make these weapons." She pointed in the direction of the devices that were lined up against the walls in the large room. -Katana- "This here is the docking bay. We warriors leave our suits here. Not everyone is fit to be a warrior though. Some don't have that kind of spirit. Everyone's spirit is different. When we enter this device." She motioned to the other side of the room. He had never noticed that there were similar devices lined up on the other side. These ones were different though. They looked more suited for a person rather then an android. He also noticed that there currently were seven of these devices that each had a man in it. The seemed to be completely out of it, but would jerk around every once in a while. -Katana- "It is pretty interesting. No one is really sure on how they operate. Only Dr. Slate was ever able to build them. In fact, since resent events, this is the last base that still has them." -Garali- "I don't understand? If they don't have these, then do they just rely on the dampeners?" -Katana- "You are getting ahead of yourself, just let me explain everything, then you can ask questions. Okay, so we go into that device and a spiritual equivalent is created on the other side. That is why you may have noticed that some of us wield weapons. The weapon, if any, is also a manifestation of your soul. Right now, we have quite a few soldiers here. We have me, The Black stallions, The Silver knights and Maverick." -Garali- "Maverick? If he isn't in a group like you, then he must be important." -Katana- "Yes, he is very important. He is a very powerful warrior. He doesn't wield a weapon like most; instead he uses his extreme body mass to conduct spirit energy. Oh, I forgot to explain that. Not only are the suits many times stronger and faster then a human body, it also lets us use that energy in other ways too. We are able to levitate, even fly using the power, and we also have personal dampeners so the daemons don't find us." -Garali- "Then why did those flying daemons fallow us?" -Katana- "Oh, well, if we go air born, there is a draw back. Using too much energy lowers our dampeners, and we can be sensed. We also have energy attacks depending on our spirit. Myself, I am able to launch two energy waves or medium strength from my sword. The black stallions are able to form the black stallion wall, and Maverick has immense energy beams." -Garali- "What about the silver knights? What can they do?" -Katana- "Oh, they don't have an energy based attack. They rely on the fact that they are all very fast and are very skilled. Age wise though, I am a very skilled warrior myself. I am respected because I am such a young warrior." -Garali- "How do you become a warrior?" She seemed to laugh a little to herself. -Katana- "Well, we could test you right now to see if you got the stuff." -Garali- "Yes, we should do that right away. I have to avenge my parents deaths some how." -Katana- "Just wait, there are some risks you should know about. This war isn't fun and games you know. Even though we fight in the suits, we are still venerable. Our spirits lie within the suits and, if they are destroyed, our bodies go into a state of dementia." He seemed stunned. He thought that you would just make a new copy. He was about to ask what dementia was, but he knew she was about to tell him. -Katana- "Dementia is a state where your body and spirit are separated. You are brought to the medic ward, and it takes 6 months to recover. It is similar to a coma, except for, those that come out of it tell us of extreme pain and torture. They say it felt like an eternity and some even stop being soldiers afterwards." -Garali- "That sounds horrible, but I still have to do what I can! Please, test me." -Katana- "Okay, lets just get this over with. Step over here, and enter the device." They walked over to where the devices lined the wall. She motioned to an open one and he slid into it. -Katana- "This might hurt the first time." With those words hanging in his mind, she flicked a switch to the right of him. He felt a sucking feeling, like a vacuum or something. His entire body tingled and went numb. He couldn't see anymore. He felt like he was moving through a long tunnel on his back. Then, he fell still for a moment. Just lying there, still, unable to see or hear anything. Soon, the sucking feeling began again. He was being pulled through another tunnel. Suddenly he emerged. He just stood, staring at Katana, who just stood staring back. -Katana- "Well, it seems you might have some warrior spirit after all. We will have to see what you can do. I will suit up and we will meet in the sparring room." He looked downwards and noticed that he was covered from head to toe in metal. He still felt the same, like he was in his normal body. When he brushes his hand across his other arm. It felt like he was touching skin. He wondered what possibilities this could mean for him. When he finally looked in front of him again. Katana stood before him, but this time in her android form as well. -Katana- "Fallow me." She walked over to a glass door, and they proceeded into the other room. This room wasn't as large as the other, but still was substantially large. -Katana- "Stand right there." She said, pointing to a spot on the ground. She then walked over to a similar spot marked off on the other side of the room. -Garali- "When do I get a weapon?" He now noticed that he was unarmed and she had a sword. The odds seemed a little stacked against him. -Katana- "I guess you don't get one. Your spirit didn't make one, so you don't get one. Now, shall we begin?" She lunged toward him. He was amazed at how fast she moved, but even so, he was able to get out of the way. She lunged at him again, but he still managed to move before she got to him. After maybe 5 more attempts she decided to speak up. -Katana- "You can't just keep running away. I daemon will chase you for days, so you need to be offensive." This time when she lunged at him, he stood his ground. He sword cam down on him hard across his chest. It stung like acid but he was all right. He was finally getting the hang of this though and he put both hands around he sword. With one smooth motion, he put he to the ground. By this time, he noticed that there were many people watching them from the great glass window between this room and the docking bay. Katana didn't stay down long but when she regained her feet, she felt in necessary to intimidate her opponent. -Katana- "Fine, I'm not holding back anymore!" Garali was afraid now. He wasn't sure how far this duel was supposed to go. She stood back this time, and seemed to be focusing on something. He sword began to glow a purple colour right before it exploded. Two streams of purple light flew from either side of her blade, blazing towards him. He had no idea what to do. He just put his arms in front of his face and waited for the impact. It felt like being hit with a truck. In fact, it felt more like two trucks, hitting him from either side. The force made him collapse to his knees. -Katana- "There, I am the victor, maybe we can spare again sometime." -Garali- "Wait!" He stood, wobbly, but he stood. -Garali- "I haven't lost yet." -Katana- "Fine, apparently you are stubborn. Don't blame me if this hurts a little." She lunged at him again. This time he was ready though. He stepped the side at the last possible second and her sword passed right beside him, under his arm, which was now slightly risen. He then placed his other hand onto her stomach. He didn't know why, but the motion seemed right. His entire right arm started to tingle. It became very warm. Suddenly a blast of light flashed from his palm and escaped through Katana's back. She groaned with pain as she flew backwards several meters. When she hit the ground, she quickly jumped to her feet. -Katana- "What have you done! This will take months to recover from." By this point he noticed that a lot more people had come to watch. Even the silver nights had returned just in time to see that last move. -Katana- "I'm going to finish this now!" She lunged at him one last time. He wasn't ready for what she pulled next. She seemed to streamline to his right flank. He had left his guard down too long and she took advantage of it. He felt as the blade came into contact with the back of his neck. Suddenly, he just blacked out.
Since Garali was new to the command station, he was shown around. Katana seemed eager to show him everything she knew. First, she explained to him how the androids work. -Katana- "Well, Dr. Slate was really into the idea of using spirit energy. He used them for the dampeners and also used it to make these weapons." She pointed in the direction of the devices that were lined up against the walls in the large room. -Katana- "This here is the docking bay. We warriors leave our suits here. Not everyone is fit to be a warrior though. Some don't have that kind of spirit. Everyone's spirit is different. When we enter this device." She motioned to the other side of the room. He had never noticed that there were similar devices lined up on the other side. These ones were different though. They looked more suited for a person rather then an android. He also noticed that there currently were seven of these devices that each had a man in it. The seemed to be completely out of it, but would jerk around every once in a while. -Katana- "It is pretty interesting. No one is really sure on how they operate. Only Dr. Slate was ever able to build them. In fact, since resent events, this is the last base that still has them." -Garali- "I don't understand? If they don't have these, then do they just rely on the dampeners?" -Katana- "You are getting ahead of yourself, just let me explain everything, then you can ask questions. Okay, so we go into that device and a spiritual equivalent is created on the other side. That is why you may have noticed that some of us wield weapons. The weapon, if any, is also a manifestation of your soul. Right now, we have quite a few soldiers here. We have me, The Black stallions, The Silver knights and Maverick." -Garali- "Maverick? If he isn't in a group like you, then he must be important." -Katana- "Yes, he is very important. He is a very powerful warrior. He doesn't wield a weapon like most; instead he uses his extreme body mass to conduct spirit energy. Oh, I forgot to explain that. Not only are the suits many times stronger and faster then a human body, it also lets us use that energy in other ways too. We are able to levitate, even fly using the power, and we also have personal dampeners so the daemons don't find us." -Garali- "Then why did those flying daemons fallow us?" -Katana- "Oh, well, if we go air born, there is a draw back. Using too much energy lowers our dampeners, and we can be sensed. We also have energy attacks depending on our spirit. Myself, I am able to launch two energy waves or medium strength from my sword. The black stallions are able to form the black stallion wall, and Maverick has immense energy beams." -Garali- "What about the silver knights? What can they do?" -Katana- "Oh, they don't have an energy based attack. They rely on the fact that they are all very fast and are very skilled. Age wise though, I am a very skilled warrior myself. I am respected because I am such a young warrior." -Garali- "How do you become a warrior?" She seemed to laugh a little to herself. -Katana- "Well, we could test you right now to see if you got the stuff." -Garali- "Yes, we should do that right away. I have to avenge my parents deaths some how." -Katana- "Just wait, there are some risks you should know about. This war isn't fun and games you know. Even though we fight in the suits, we are still venerable. Our spirits lie within the suits and, if they are destroyed, our bodies go into a state of dementia." He seemed stunned. He thought that you would just make a new copy. He was about to ask what dementia was, but he knew she was about to tell him. -Katana- "Dementia is a state where your body and spirit are separated. You are brought to the medic ward, and it takes 6 months to recover. It is similar to a coma, except for, those that come out of it tell us of extreme pain and torture. They say it felt like an eternity and some even stop being soldiers afterwards." -Garali- "That sounds horrible, but I still have to do what I can! Please, test me." -Katana- "Okay, lets just get this over with. Step over here, and enter the device." They walked over to where the devices lined the wall. She motioned to an open one and he slid into it. -Katana- "This might hurt the first time." With those words hanging in his mind, she flicked a switch to the right of him. He felt a sucking feeling, like a vacuum or something. His entire body tingled and went numb. He couldn't see anymore. He felt like he was moving through a long tunnel on his back. Then, he fell still for a moment. Just lying there, still, unable to see or hear anything. Soon, the sucking feeling began again. He was being pulled through another tunnel. Suddenly he emerged. He just stood, staring at Katana, who just stood staring back. -Katana- "Well, it seems you might have some warrior spirit after all. We will have to see what you can do. I will suit up and we will meet in the sparring room." He looked downwards and noticed that he was covered from head to toe in metal. He still felt the same, like he was in his normal body. When he brushes his hand across his other arm. It felt like he was touching skin. He wondered what possibilities this could mean for him. When he finally looked in front of him again. Katana stood before him, but this time in her android form as well. -Katana- "Fallow me." She walked over to a glass door, and they proceeded into the other room. This room wasn't as large as the other, but still was substantially large. -Katana- "Stand right there." She said, pointing to a spot on the ground. She then walked over to a similar spot marked off on the other side of the room. -Garali- "When do I get a weapon?" He now noticed that he was unarmed and she had a sword. The odds seemed a little stacked against him. -Katana- "I guess you don't get one. Your spirit didn't make one, so you don't get one. Now, shall we begin?" She lunged toward him. He was amazed at how fast she moved, but even so, he was able to get out of the way. She lunged at him again, but he still managed to move before she got to him. After maybe 5 more attempts she decided to speak up. -Katana- "You can't just keep running away. I daemon will chase you for days, so you need to be offensive." This time when she lunged at him, he stood his ground. He sword cam down on him hard across his chest. It stung like acid but he was all right. He was finally getting the hang of this though and he put both hands around he sword. With one smooth motion, he put he to the ground. By this time, he noticed that there were many people watching them from the great glass window between this room and the docking bay. Katana didn't stay down long but when she regained her feet, she felt in necessary to intimidate her opponent. -Katana- "Fine, I'm not holding back anymore!" Garali was afraid now. He wasn't sure how far this duel was supposed to go. She stood back this time, and seemed to be focusing on something. He sword began to glow a purple colour right before it exploded. Two streams of purple light flew from either side of her blade, blazing towards him. He had no idea what to do. He just put his arms in front of his face and waited for the impact. It felt like being hit with a truck. In fact, it felt more like two trucks, hitting him from either side. The force made him collapse to his knees. -Katana- "There, I am the victor, maybe we can spare again sometime." -Garali- "Wait!" He stood, wobbly, but he stood. -Garali- "I haven't lost yet." -Katana- "Fine, apparently you are stubborn. Don't blame me if this hurts a little." She lunged at him again. This time he was ready though. He stepped the side at the last possible second and her sword passed right beside him, under his arm, which was now slightly risen. He then placed his other hand onto her stomach. He didn't know why, but the motion seemed right. His entire right arm started to tingle. It became very warm. Suddenly a blast of light flashed from his palm and escaped through Katana's back. She groaned with pain as she flew backwards several meters. When she hit the ground, she quickly jumped to her feet. -Katana- "What have you done! This will take months to recover from." By this point he noticed that a lot more people had come to watch. Even the silver nights had returned just in time to see that last move. -Katana- "I'm going to finish this now!" She lunged at him one last time. He wasn't ready for what she pulled next. She seemed to streamline to his right flank. He had left his guard down too long and she took advantage of it. He felt as the blade came into contact with the back of his neck. Suddenly, he just blacked out.