Disclaimer: You know the drill. I don't own the characters, the settings
and the main idea of this story.
The morning was grey and bleak, and the sun was half hidden in wisps of dark clouds. The temperature dropped somewhat; the cold current from the arctic has brought chills to the golden July weather.
"It looks like it's going to rain." Shea said impassively as she handed out slices of bread as breakfast.
Everyone was tired, and a weary silence hung in the room. Even Tyson did not chatter or complain, but he still ate a lot. That will never change, one could say. Soon it was nearing the time of the match. Kai and Ray were put to rest by their teammates with strict orders not to go anywhere. Ray rolled his eyes skyward, and Kai glared. They did comply, however, and stayed in the hospital instead of going to match. Max was still weak, and he had no energy to do anything, not even to argue with Tyson. So the threesome, Tyson, Kenny and Shea went to the stadium alone. They were down hearted, and even the loud cheering from their fans did not better their mood much.
AJ was speaking, "Today is the final of the world championships! It seems only three of the Blade Breakers are here today. Where are Kai, Max and Ray?"
The cheering died down a little, replaced by a buzzing murmur. "Haven't you heard, AJ?" Brad said, his tone a little too dramatic to the likings of the Blade Breakers, "There was a horrible accident last night, and half of the Blade Breakers are injured. That's why they are not here today."
Tyson glared and gritted his teeth, but he didn't shout for once.
"Wow, their luck really doesn't hold, does it?" Said AJ, "But let's not keep the fans waiting. Let the game begin! First from the Blade Breakers is Tyson! He looks ready to kick some butt. Man is he pumped! He will be facing Tala from the Demolition Boys, who looks just a little too impassive."
"Tyson is one heck of a blader. With the help of his dragon bit-beast Dragoon, he is almost invincible!" Brad continued, "His opponent Tala is no easy cookie either. His bit-beast Wolborg can bring up a snowstorm in August! It was those two who decided the world champion last year. In their last match Tyson snatched victory. How will this one turn out?"
Both bladers walked up to the dish. Tala observed his navy- haired opponent carefully.
Tala said quietly but forcefully, "Tyson, if you want to beat me, you have to concentrate now. In your current state I can take you down in three seconds."
"What?" Tyson exclaimed, much puzzled, not understanding why his opponent would help him.
Tala's voice was still very quiet, "I know what happened, Tyson. But you can't let that get you, or you play straight into Boris's hand. Concentrate, and channel your anger to your blade."
His words were very useful indeed. Tyson was suddenly focused, and his eyes now bore steely glint. He smiled at the red-haired Russian teen.
"Thanks, Tala." He said.
Both of them launched, the two blades sailed and met at the centre of the dish.
"Dragoon! Attack now!" Tyson commanded.
The blue-grey dragon rose from the blade, glowing with an unseen flame.
Tala did not hesitate to call on his own bit-beast, "Wolborg!"
The dragon and the wolf smashed into each other. The dragon easily sent the wolf howling and retreating. Tala was amazed. There was a great power about the dragon that was never there before, not even when Tyson defeated the multi-beast attack from Wolborg last year.
"It's nothing personal, Tala. I just have a score to settle with Biovolt!" Tyson shouted, "Dragoon! Phantom hurricane attack now!"
Air stirred to create a giant tornado, twisting and turning. The dragon was wrapped inside the wind, powering up the fiasco. It launched itself at the wolf beast.
"Don't give up!" Tala shouted, "Wolborg, fight back!"
It was to no avail, the power of the dragon was overwhelming. With a pained howl, the wolf beast retreated back into the slightly wobbling blade now. Soon Tala's blade had stopped spinning altogether. The first round was over.
Tala picked up his blade and sighed, while Tyson's grey white blade flew back to the blue haired boy's hand.
"You are good, Tyson." Tala murmured, "You are very good."
"Are you okay, Tala?" Tyson asked, worried, though he couldn't understand why.
"I am fine, it's nothing." Tala murmured.
He looked back at Boris sitting on the team bench, and a fearful look flitted across his face. He said no more and returned to his team quickly. Boris had a cold sneer on his face and was staring at the red- haired teen vehemently.
"Are you going to betray me, Tala?" Boris asked in a casual tone, but it made Tala shiver nonetheless.
Tala looked down on the floor and shook his head.
"Good, I don't think you dare, either." Boris laughed, "Then, why, Tala, did you lose that round?"
Tala said quietly, still looking down, "I could not defeat him. He is too strong."
"Or maybe you are too weak?" Boris asked intolerantly, "Or you don't want to win after all?"
Tala said nothing in reply. There was nothing he could possibly say.
Boris commanded in an icy tone, "I will tolerate no more mistakes, Tala. I will have to run the program."
Tala's head jerked up instantly. "Please don't, Boris!" He said urgently, almost begging, "I swear I will win this one."
"Too late." Boris said without feeling. He snapped his fingers, and a few men in black robes began typing away on a laptop computer.
The Blade Breakers watched from across the stadium, worried and distraught.
"I don't like this." Tyson muttered, "I don't like this one bit."
Tala was changed. His blue eyes wore a lifeless glaze now, and his motions were stiff, almost machine like.
"What is your purpose here, Tala?" Boris asked slowly, enjoying everything before him.
Tala answered in a mechanical voice, "To bring death and destruction upon the enemy, and bring victory to Biovolt."
"Good boy!" Boris laughed.
Inside his own head, Tala was pounding on the cage. He could see his arms move without his consent, he could hear his mouth speak words he did not intend, but there was nothing he could do. He became a mere observer of his body that was now a machine. He screamed, cried and begged, but nothing came of it. The second round began, and both players stepped up to the dish again. Tyson was growing worried by second. The figure before him was definitely not Tala.
"Prepare for defeat." The figure before him said in a cold, lifeless voice.
"Come on, Tala! What happened to you?" Tyson shouted, knowing it's no use but still trying.
"Prepare. Calculate. Launch." Those cold words answered him as his opponent launched his blade.
Tyson launched his own with extra fury. The power was increased beyond belief, but the accuracy was all gone. The two blades smashed into each other again, circling, chasing across the dish. Then a column of wind and a column of ice and snow rose from the two blades, accompanied by flashing light. The powers met again and fought. Suddenly the column of snow branched off into many swinging ropes. One of the ropes lowered and swept across Tyson. The impact sent the boy tumbling and falling backwards.
"Tala!" Tyson shouted with anger and confusion. That was not the Tala he knew, "What was that for?"
Inside his own head Tala had seen it all, and he was worried and raged. He pounded on the invisible barriers that trapped his mind, only to be rewarded by pain.
"Tala! Are you all right?" Tyson shouted again, he knew something was amiss with his opponent.
His concentration wavered then, and there was another onset of snowstorm. Tyson was pushed back even further. With alarm, the navy-haired boy noticed he was half buried in snow, and his arms and legs were numb.
Tyson's grey-white blade finally stopped spinning, but he hardly noticed. He was staring at his opponent. The Russian teen looked stony and mechanical as he picked up his blade and walked back silently. Tyson watched, angry, confused and frustrated. Unobservant as he was, he could still see the fierce struggle in Tala's eyes, and he hated what he saw.
"Are you okay, Tyson?" A worried Kenny asked.
Tyson picked himself off the ground and mumbled, "Yeah, I am fine. But there is definitely something wrong with Tala."
"I saw it too, Tyson." Shea said quietly, "But it's no use worrying yourself over it. You mustn't lose your concentration."
Tyson nodded grimly, and prepared himself for the third battle. He concentrated all of his will power and called on Dragoon. The magnificent dragon rose from the blade, roaring and stirring up the air around it.
"Typhoon twisters attack!" Tyson shouted.
There was a column of spinning air that linked up the ceiling and the floor. It turned and raced towards the column of snow blizzard that Tala's wolf beast has summoned. There was another fierce struggle between the elements, but Tyson was slowly gaining the upper hand.
Tyson saw a look of fear cross Tala's pale face. He was confused only for a moment, but then he realized the fear was not directed at him. Tyson looked and saw standing behind Tala a figure sharp and carved of stone: Boris. It was then that he understood.
Tyson opened his mouth and spoke quietly, "You know I can't lose, Tala. And now I know you can't lose either. So why don't we tie this? No one has to lose then."
For a while the wind and the snow held in perfect balance, neither advancing or over powering the other.
Tala had stopped struggling to free his own mind long ago, but when he heard Tyson's words he panicked. Tyson was trying to help him, and now the generosity was going to be taken advantages of. His consciousness suddenly gained a burst of energy, like a body full of adrenalin. He struggled again, and this time he broke free. He could feel the control slowly coming back to him. He could exercise his wills again. He lifted up his head and saw Tyson looking back at him expectedly.
"Come on, Tala. Let's tie this." Tyson said again in an eager tone.
Tala lowered his head. He couldn't believe his enemy cared more about him than his supposed allies. He closed his eyes and made his decision.
"No Tyson." He said quietly, "A tie would not be good enough."
With that sentence the snowstorm suddenly diminished and the wolf beast retreated back into the blade. Not expecting Tala to withdraw, Tyson was not quick enough to react. His blade easily sent the other one flying. Tala's blade landed with a "clang" and registered the defeat. There was another flash of light. The wolf bit-beast rose from Tala's blade. It leaped into the dish again and plunged into Tyson's still spinning blade in one swift movement, as if diving into the water.
"What? Tala, what is happening?" Tyson asked bewildered. He couldn't believe what he was seeing.
"Take care of Wolborg for me." Tala said in a whisper.
"But Tala! Why?" Tyson shouted, still in shock.
Tala looked at the navy-haired boy long and hard, finally he said, "He will be safer with you, Tyson."
He turned swiftly and without another word went back to his team.
A/N: Another chapter full of intrigue and actions! Ha! (Shameless advertising indeed.) Tala is like the major good guy now, but oh well.
R+R! Tell me you like it! Thanks for everyone who reviewed so far. You encouragement really helped going through all this.
The morning was grey and bleak, and the sun was half hidden in wisps of dark clouds. The temperature dropped somewhat; the cold current from the arctic has brought chills to the golden July weather.
"It looks like it's going to rain." Shea said impassively as she handed out slices of bread as breakfast.
Everyone was tired, and a weary silence hung in the room. Even Tyson did not chatter or complain, but he still ate a lot. That will never change, one could say. Soon it was nearing the time of the match. Kai and Ray were put to rest by their teammates with strict orders not to go anywhere. Ray rolled his eyes skyward, and Kai glared. They did comply, however, and stayed in the hospital instead of going to match. Max was still weak, and he had no energy to do anything, not even to argue with Tyson. So the threesome, Tyson, Kenny and Shea went to the stadium alone. They were down hearted, and even the loud cheering from their fans did not better their mood much.
AJ was speaking, "Today is the final of the world championships! It seems only three of the Blade Breakers are here today. Where are Kai, Max and Ray?"
The cheering died down a little, replaced by a buzzing murmur. "Haven't you heard, AJ?" Brad said, his tone a little too dramatic to the likings of the Blade Breakers, "There was a horrible accident last night, and half of the Blade Breakers are injured. That's why they are not here today."
Tyson glared and gritted his teeth, but he didn't shout for once.
"Wow, their luck really doesn't hold, does it?" Said AJ, "But let's not keep the fans waiting. Let the game begin! First from the Blade Breakers is Tyson! He looks ready to kick some butt. Man is he pumped! He will be facing Tala from the Demolition Boys, who looks just a little too impassive."
"Tyson is one heck of a blader. With the help of his dragon bit-beast Dragoon, he is almost invincible!" Brad continued, "His opponent Tala is no easy cookie either. His bit-beast Wolborg can bring up a snowstorm in August! It was those two who decided the world champion last year. In their last match Tyson snatched victory. How will this one turn out?"
Both bladers walked up to the dish. Tala observed his navy- haired opponent carefully.
Tala said quietly but forcefully, "Tyson, if you want to beat me, you have to concentrate now. In your current state I can take you down in three seconds."
"What?" Tyson exclaimed, much puzzled, not understanding why his opponent would help him.
Tala's voice was still very quiet, "I know what happened, Tyson. But you can't let that get you, or you play straight into Boris's hand. Concentrate, and channel your anger to your blade."
His words were very useful indeed. Tyson was suddenly focused, and his eyes now bore steely glint. He smiled at the red-haired Russian teen.
"Thanks, Tala." He said.
Both of them launched, the two blades sailed and met at the centre of the dish.
"Dragoon! Attack now!" Tyson commanded.
The blue-grey dragon rose from the blade, glowing with an unseen flame.
Tala did not hesitate to call on his own bit-beast, "Wolborg!"
The dragon and the wolf smashed into each other. The dragon easily sent the wolf howling and retreating. Tala was amazed. There was a great power about the dragon that was never there before, not even when Tyson defeated the multi-beast attack from Wolborg last year.
"It's nothing personal, Tala. I just have a score to settle with Biovolt!" Tyson shouted, "Dragoon! Phantom hurricane attack now!"
Air stirred to create a giant tornado, twisting and turning. The dragon was wrapped inside the wind, powering up the fiasco. It launched itself at the wolf beast.
"Don't give up!" Tala shouted, "Wolborg, fight back!"
It was to no avail, the power of the dragon was overwhelming. With a pained howl, the wolf beast retreated back into the slightly wobbling blade now. Soon Tala's blade had stopped spinning altogether. The first round was over.
Tala picked up his blade and sighed, while Tyson's grey white blade flew back to the blue haired boy's hand.
"You are good, Tyson." Tala murmured, "You are very good."
"Are you okay, Tala?" Tyson asked, worried, though he couldn't understand why.
"I am fine, it's nothing." Tala murmured.
He looked back at Boris sitting on the team bench, and a fearful look flitted across his face. He said no more and returned to his team quickly. Boris had a cold sneer on his face and was staring at the red- haired teen vehemently.
"Are you going to betray me, Tala?" Boris asked in a casual tone, but it made Tala shiver nonetheless.
Tala looked down on the floor and shook his head.
"Good, I don't think you dare, either." Boris laughed, "Then, why, Tala, did you lose that round?"
Tala said quietly, still looking down, "I could not defeat him. He is too strong."
"Or maybe you are too weak?" Boris asked intolerantly, "Or you don't want to win after all?"
Tala said nothing in reply. There was nothing he could possibly say.
Boris commanded in an icy tone, "I will tolerate no more mistakes, Tala. I will have to run the program."
Tala's head jerked up instantly. "Please don't, Boris!" He said urgently, almost begging, "I swear I will win this one."
"Too late." Boris said without feeling. He snapped his fingers, and a few men in black robes began typing away on a laptop computer.
The Blade Breakers watched from across the stadium, worried and distraught.
"I don't like this." Tyson muttered, "I don't like this one bit."
Tala was changed. His blue eyes wore a lifeless glaze now, and his motions were stiff, almost machine like.
"What is your purpose here, Tala?" Boris asked slowly, enjoying everything before him.
Tala answered in a mechanical voice, "To bring death and destruction upon the enemy, and bring victory to Biovolt."
"Good boy!" Boris laughed.
Inside his own head, Tala was pounding on the cage. He could see his arms move without his consent, he could hear his mouth speak words he did not intend, but there was nothing he could do. He became a mere observer of his body that was now a machine. He screamed, cried and begged, but nothing came of it. The second round began, and both players stepped up to the dish again. Tyson was growing worried by second. The figure before him was definitely not Tala.
"Prepare for defeat." The figure before him said in a cold, lifeless voice.
"Come on, Tala! What happened to you?" Tyson shouted, knowing it's no use but still trying.
"Prepare. Calculate. Launch." Those cold words answered him as his opponent launched his blade.
Tyson launched his own with extra fury. The power was increased beyond belief, but the accuracy was all gone. The two blades smashed into each other again, circling, chasing across the dish. Then a column of wind and a column of ice and snow rose from the two blades, accompanied by flashing light. The powers met again and fought. Suddenly the column of snow branched off into many swinging ropes. One of the ropes lowered and swept across Tyson. The impact sent the boy tumbling and falling backwards.
"Tala!" Tyson shouted with anger and confusion. That was not the Tala he knew, "What was that for?"
Inside his own head Tala had seen it all, and he was worried and raged. He pounded on the invisible barriers that trapped his mind, only to be rewarded by pain.
"Tala! Are you all right?" Tyson shouted again, he knew something was amiss with his opponent.
His concentration wavered then, and there was another onset of snowstorm. Tyson was pushed back even further. With alarm, the navy-haired boy noticed he was half buried in snow, and his arms and legs were numb.
Tyson's grey-white blade finally stopped spinning, but he hardly noticed. He was staring at his opponent. The Russian teen looked stony and mechanical as he picked up his blade and walked back silently. Tyson watched, angry, confused and frustrated. Unobservant as he was, he could still see the fierce struggle in Tala's eyes, and he hated what he saw.
"Are you okay, Tyson?" A worried Kenny asked.
Tyson picked himself off the ground and mumbled, "Yeah, I am fine. But there is definitely something wrong with Tala."
"I saw it too, Tyson." Shea said quietly, "But it's no use worrying yourself over it. You mustn't lose your concentration."
Tyson nodded grimly, and prepared himself for the third battle. He concentrated all of his will power and called on Dragoon. The magnificent dragon rose from the blade, roaring and stirring up the air around it.
"Typhoon twisters attack!" Tyson shouted.
There was a column of spinning air that linked up the ceiling and the floor. It turned and raced towards the column of snow blizzard that Tala's wolf beast has summoned. There was another fierce struggle between the elements, but Tyson was slowly gaining the upper hand.
Tyson saw a look of fear cross Tala's pale face. He was confused only for a moment, but then he realized the fear was not directed at him. Tyson looked and saw standing behind Tala a figure sharp and carved of stone: Boris. It was then that he understood.
Tyson opened his mouth and spoke quietly, "You know I can't lose, Tala. And now I know you can't lose either. So why don't we tie this? No one has to lose then."
For a while the wind and the snow held in perfect balance, neither advancing or over powering the other.
Tala had stopped struggling to free his own mind long ago, but when he heard Tyson's words he panicked. Tyson was trying to help him, and now the generosity was going to be taken advantages of. His consciousness suddenly gained a burst of energy, like a body full of adrenalin. He struggled again, and this time he broke free. He could feel the control slowly coming back to him. He could exercise his wills again. He lifted up his head and saw Tyson looking back at him expectedly.
"Come on, Tala. Let's tie this." Tyson said again in an eager tone.
Tala lowered his head. He couldn't believe his enemy cared more about him than his supposed allies. He closed his eyes and made his decision.
"No Tyson." He said quietly, "A tie would not be good enough."
With that sentence the snowstorm suddenly diminished and the wolf beast retreated back into the blade. Not expecting Tala to withdraw, Tyson was not quick enough to react. His blade easily sent the other one flying. Tala's blade landed with a "clang" and registered the defeat. There was another flash of light. The wolf bit-beast rose from Tala's blade. It leaped into the dish again and plunged into Tyson's still spinning blade in one swift movement, as if diving into the water.
"What? Tala, what is happening?" Tyson asked bewildered. He couldn't believe what he was seeing.
"Take care of Wolborg for me." Tala said in a whisper.
"But Tala! Why?" Tyson shouted, still in shock.
Tala looked at the navy-haired boy long and hard, finally he said, "He will be safer with you, Tyson."
He turned swiftly and without another word went back to his team.
A/N: Another chapter full of intrigue and actions! Ha! (Shameless advertising indeed.) Tala is like the major good guy now, but oh well.
R+R! Tell me you like it! Thanks for everyone who reviewed so far. You encouragement really helped going through all this.