Collision of the Blades
You people are sad and pathetic if you think I own Invader Zim. I probably could have created him, but let's face it; I didn't. Sue me not, I implore you...unless, of course, you want Chaz and her Darontu after your sorry human rear. If you think I own any of these characters, you need a therapist more than I do. Cuz I don't. Own them, I mean; I'm not sure on the whole therapy thing. And it would bode well for you to remember that.
Chaz paced her room, muttering to herself and following a well-worn path in the floor. Just her luck; first she had broken Diante's Darontu, and then she was to fight the tallest Red! If I don't kill him, he's probably going to make me look like an ass, she thought numbly. Never mind that she was likely a descendant of the great fighter Diante; she just wasn't good enough for this kind of competition right now!
With a start Chaz realized that she was going to be late to the arena unless she hurried. Quickly she tied on her duel garb, a wraparound leather tunic dyed with ancient Irkan characters, and pulled on the supple boots necessary for light-footed combat. She grabbed her worn Ketungre and dashed out the door, frantically calling for Kex, her SIR. The bot landed beside her and relived her master of the heavy Ketungre.
"C'mon, Kex, we have to be across the Massive in four minutes!"
Four and a half frantic minutes later, Chaz arrived out of breath at the arena. There was a huge crowd swarming around the exits, and for a moment Chaz wondered why so many people had turned up.
"Oh, duh."
Kex roughly shoved trough the crowd, using the Ketungre as some sort of cattle-catcher. She pulled Chaz along at a fast pace, giving Chaz very little time to see the people she was going to humiliate herself in front of. Most regarded her skeptically, a few with open admiration. Some just stared at her in awe.
Finally Kex broke through to the center of the dueling grounds. With a sigh of relief Chaz noticed that Tallest Red was not yet there. She straightened her tunic and pulled out her Ketungre to clean it.
Suddenly a roar of applause and cheers went up, and Chaz spun around to find Tallest Red and Purple entering the room. Red was clad in his Marauder armor; i.e., too much for wielding the Ketungre. Tallest Purple held a BrainFreezy and looked angry and worried.
Red stepped into the center of the duel grounds. He held up his arms for silence.
A hush fell over the spectators.
"I organized this duel today because I met someone trained in the Forgotten Arts, and thought it would be fun. This is Weapons Specialist Chaz; I am, of course, your Almighty Tallest Red."
Another cheer.
"Now, let the duel begin!" Red pulled out his Ketungre, old and worn like Chaz's, but also well cared for, also like Chaz's. He stepped forward in the traditional touch of blades, which Chaz mirrored gracefully.
Suddenly he lunged, twirling the blades like a baton. Chaz effortlessly blocked it as she felt herself slipping into the darkness of her fight- mind. She countered with a downward sweep of her own blade, catching Red unawares and forcing him to stumble back.
Instantaneously she sensed his temporary weakness and advanced on him, blade swinging furiously in a glittering barrage of mithril. He blocked and defended, backed up until he was against the wall.
Suddenly his training kicked in and her darted to her right, effectively stepping out of her range.
She growled and saw him behind her, ready for the final strike.
No.
Chaz jumped up and kicked out, her booted foot connecting firmly with the wall, and sending her flipping over Red's head. He turned around, hampered by his heavy armor, tangling his feet in the boot Chaz had placed conveniently in his way. He fell, and he fell hard.
Red looked up and saw the blade of Chaz's Ketungre aimed at his throat. Her dark ruby eyes were practically black, and held no mercy. He gulped.
Inside her head, Chaz struggled to hold back her fight-mind, forced it away before it gained control. Slowly her black eyes became lighter, until hints of red began to show, and finally she stood up, drawing her blade away from her Tallest's face. She handed it carefully to Kex, and turned back to Red, lying on the floor. Smiling gently, she offered a hand to him, to help him up. Red grinned and accepted it. Purple ran out to his companion, fussing about how stupid a fight like this was. He glanced at Chaz, and did a double take at her height.
He frowned. "Why weren't you selected as something more suitable to your height?"
She bowed her head. "Sir, I chose to be in this profession. It sets me apart, and holds a certain...appeal...to me. I have been trained at the Invader Academy, as well as further training as an assassin. I have also been trained in the Arts of the Darontu, the Ketungre--"
"As we've seen," remarked Red.
Chaz blushed. "I also have proficiencies in the Aractis, and the Forlun."
Purple whistled appreciatively. "Wow. Those are quite impressive accomplishments."
Red nodded. "Perhaps you would be willing to show off your skills in a private concert, of sorts? I always get a kick out of watching a skilled Specialist do her stuff."
Purple gave him a weird look.
Chaz nodded shyly. "Certainly, my Tallest." She disappeared into the throng of people waiting to congratulate her.
Red stared after her with a spacey look on his face. Purple leaned in front of him and waved.
Nothing.
Pur sighed, and smacked his co-Tallest upside the head.
"Ahh! What, pray tell, was that gross assault for?" Red yelled indignantly. He smoothed his crinkled antenna with a sour expression on his face.
Pur sighed and led him out of the arena. "Do you listen to yourself when you speak? 'I always get a kick out of watching a skilled Specialist do her stuff?' That was pathetic!"
Red gazed at the ceiling. "That was kinda funny, I guess.... But you know what? I TOLD you I didn't need all that armor! You just don't fight in any old armor!"
Purple waggled a long finger at him. "Don't go changing the subject, Red! Besides, you got beat fair and square! You should practice more! But--Oh wait!" he clasped his claws together sarcastically.
"We have a meeting to attend! I guess you don't get to practice today!"
Red glowered at Purple. "You don't have to rub it in," he mumbled.
"Yes I do."
They left the Training Center still bickering. From the crowds, Chaz watched them depart, and felt a slow stirring in her heart. Not since she had received Diante's Blessing, marking her as a graduated Specialist, had she felt something like this. It was a tingly feeling, like she has bubbles in her.
She pushed the feeling away. Softening of the heart merely led to destruction of the soul. This she was taught.
Still.... She arrived at her quarters.
Chaz sighed and flopped down in her cot, little more than a large pile of pillows in a convex bubble window. These were the quarters reserved for people like her, and the added rank of her height didn't hurt, either.
She snuggled into the burrow of softness. Mmm...this is the softness I need, she thought contentedly. None of this love nonsense.
Still....
Outside, the panorama of stars winked at her.
You people are sad and pathetic if you think I own Invader Zim. I probably could have created him, but let's face it; I didn't. Sue me not, I implore you...unless, of course, you want Chaz and her Darontu after your sorry human rear. If you think I own any of these characters, you need a therapist more than I do. Cuz I don't. Own them, I mean; I'm not sure on the whole therapy thing. And it would bode well for you to remember that.
Chaz paced her room, muttering to herself and following a well-worn path in the floor. Just her luck; first she had broken Diante's Darontu, and then she was to fight the tallest Red! If I don't kill him, he's probably going to make me look like an ass, she thought numbly. Never mind that she was likely a descendant of the great fighter Diante; she just wasn't good enough for this kind of competition right now!
With a start Chaz realized that she was going to be late to the arena unless she hurried. Quickly she tied on her duel garb, a wraparound leather tunic dyed with ancient Irkan characters, and pulled on the supple boots necessary for light-footed combat. She grabbed her worn Ketungre and dashed out the door, frantically calling for Kex, her SIR. The bot landed beside her and relived her master of the heavy Ketungre.
"C'mon, Kex, we have to be across the Massive in four minutes!"
Four and a half frantic minutes later, Chaz arrived out of breath at the arena. There was a huge crowd swarming around the exits, and for a moment Chaz wondered why so many people had turned up.
"Oh, duh."
Kex roughly shoved trough the crowd, using the Ketungre as some sort of cattle-catcher. She pulled Chaz along at a fast pace, giving Chaz very little time to see the people she was going to humiliate herself in front of. Most regarded her skeptically, a few with open admiration. Some just stared at her in awe.
Finally Kex broke through to the center of the dueling grounds. With a sigh of relief Chaz noticed that Tallest Red was not yet there. She straightened her tunic and pulled out her Ketungre to clean it.
Suddenly a roar of applause and cheers went up, and Chaz spun around to find Tallest Red and Purple entering the room. Red was clad in his Marauder armor; i.e., too much for wielding the Ketungre. Tallest Purple held a BrainFreezy and looked angry and worried.
Red stepped into the center of the duel grounds. He held up his arms for silence.
A hush fell over the spectators.
"I organized this duel today because I met someone trained in the Forgotten Arts, and thought it would be fun. This is Weapons Specialist Chaz; I am, of course, your Almighty Tallest Red."
Another cheer.
"Now, let the duel begin!" Red pulled out his Ketungre, old and worn like Chaz's, but also well cared for, also like Chaz's. He stepped forward in the traditional touch of blades, which Chaz mirrored gracefully.
Suddenly he lunged, twirling the blades like a baton. Chaz effortlessly blocked it as she felt herself slipping into the darkness of her fight- mind. She countered with a downward sweep of her own blade, catching Red unawares and forcing him to stumble back.
Instantaneously she sensed his temporary weakness and advanced on him, blade swinging furiously in a glittering barrage of mithril. He blocked and defended, backed up until he was against the wall.
Suddenly his training kicked in and her darted to her right, effectively stepping out of her range.
She growled and saw him behind her, ready for the final strike.
No.
Chaz jumped up and kicked out, her booted foot connecting firmly with the wall, and sending her flipping over Red's head. He turned around, hampered by his heavy armor, tangling his feet in the boot Chaz had placed conveniently in his way. He fell, and he fell hard.
Red looked up and saw the blade of Chaz's Ketungre aimed at his throat. Her dark ruby eyes were practically black, and held no mercy. He gulped.
Inside her head, Chaz struggled to hold back her fight-mind, forced it away before it gained control. Slowly her black eyes became lighter, until hints of red began to show, and finally she stood up, drawing her blade away from her Tallest's face. She handed it carefully to Kex, and turned back to Red, lying on the floor. Smiling gently, she offered a hand to him, to help him up. Red grinned and accepted it. Purple ran out to his companion, fussing about how stupid a fight like this was. He glanced at Chaz, and did a double take at her height.
He frowned. "Why weren't you selected as something more suitable to your height?"
She bowed her head. "Sir, I chose to be in this profession. It sets me apart, and holds a certain...appeal...to me. I have been trained at the Invader Academy, as well as further training as an assassin. I have also been trained in the Arts of the Darontu, the Ketungre--"
"As we've seen," remarked Red.
Chaz blushed. "I also have proficiencies in the Aractis, and the Forlun."
Purple whistled appreciatively. "Wow. Those are quite impressive accomplishments."
Red nodded. "Perhaps you would be willing to show off your skills in a private concert, of sorts? I always get a kick out of watching a skilled Specialist do her stuff."
Purple gave him a weird look.
Chaz nodded shyly. "Certainly, my Tallest." She disappeared into the throng of people waiting to congratulate her.
Red stared after her with a spacey look on his face. Purple leaned in front of him and waved.
Nothing.
Pur sighed, and smacked his co-Tallest upside the head.
"Ahh! What, pray tell, was that gross assault for?" Red yelled indignantly. He smoothed his crinkled antenna with a sour expression on his face.
Pur sighed and led him out of the arena. "Do you listen to yourself when you speak? 'I always get a kick out of watching a skilled Specialist do her stuff?' That was pathetic!"
Red gazed at the ceiling. "That was kinda funny, I guess.... But you know what? I TOLD you I didn't need all that armor! You just don't fight in any old armor!"
Purple waggled a long finger at him. "Don't go changing the subject, Red! Besides, you got beat fair and square! You should practice more! But--Oh wait!" he clasped his claws together sarcastically.
"We have a meeting to attend! I guess you don't get to practice today!"
Red glowered at Purple. "You don't have to rub it in," he mumbled.
"Yes I do."
They left the Training Center still bickering. From the crowds, Chaz watched them depart, and felt a slow stirring in her heart. Not since she had received Diante's Blessing, marking her as a graduated Specialist, had she felt something like this. It was a tingly feeling, like she has bubbles in her.
She pushed the feeling away. Softening of the heart merely led to destruction of the soul. This she was taught.
Still.... She arrived at her quarters.
Chaz sighed and flopped down in her cot, little more than a large pile of pillows in a convex bubble window. These were the quarters reserved for people like her, and the added rank of her height didn't hurt, either.
She snuggled into the burrow of softness. Mmm...this is the softness I need, she thought contentedly. None of this love nonsense.
Still....
Outside, the panorama of stars winked at her.