Disclaimer: Don't own UT.

Claimer: Trish and Jack are mine.

(a/n): Sorry for not updating any sooner but my teachers have gone on rampage with all the homework. Thank you so much for your reviews. I hope you all had a good New Year because I certainly had. Oh and don't worry about Dessloch. He can't show up in all the matches, right? Thank you all. Anyway, now I'm free and so just one word: Enjoy. ^_^

Chapter12: New Recruitment 

            Dessloch was in one of the practice sessions, having fun in the Last Man Standing Arena against three others. The two of them were dead and the last one had 2 lives left. Dessloch had only one left. If he dies now, game over and Matrix, Xan's pet, is the winner. He can't let that happen now can he?

            He was hiding behind a column on the second floor of the great Fractal. He was equipped with a sniper rifle and now he was waiting out for Matrix to pop his head into view. And there he was, Matrix running across the first floor, over the huge round trap door that is covering most of the first floor. Dessloch looked into the scope and licked hit lips, carefully, taking a perfect shot at Matrix's head.

            The bullet screamed through the air as it cut through it, fast as lighting, hitting Matrix straight in the back of his head. "Head Shot" The announcer exclaimed. Dessloch smiled and taunted, "Suck on that, loser!"

            "You humans get so fired up when you begin to win." Dessloch darted at Matrix's voice in the back of him. Matrix lunged at Dessloch's weapon and they both rolled off onto the first floor. Dessloch screamed out in pain because he was the one on the floor and Matrix was on top of him. Dessloch coughed up his own blood as he realized, Matrix was trying to choke him with his own rifle.

            "Oh yeah? Well you robots get so pissed when you begin to lose!" Dessloch responded as he pulled the rifle up, away from his neck with effort since Matrix was still holding on to it. "I hate human flesh." Matrix said as he pushed the rifle back and lowered his face straight into Dessloch's. "Well I hate robo-scrap." Dessloch proclaimed as he rolled to his left and on top of Matrix and pressed the rifle against him. "You talk to much." Matrix pulled the rifle back into Dess. "Well your breath stinks!" Dessloch spat, let go of the rifle and hit the large button next to the trap door. Matrix, just in time pressed the trigger but his aim was disrupted when the trap door opened and Matrix fell down. Dessloch gripped onto the floor and quickly pulled himself up and watched how Matrix was shred to bits and pieces by the lasers that awaited him.

            The trap door closed and the announcer said, "Congratulation, you are the winner." Dessloch danced around in victory, screaming, "Oh yeah! Whose da man? Whose you're daddy? Whoa! Yeah! Let's Rock as Trish would say! Haha!"

Dessloch appeared back at the stadium with the three contestants, sprawled on the floor. The crowd cheered for him and Dessloch, for the first time, bowed at the crowd. "Thank you, thank you very much. No autographs please. Haha!" Dessloch was so happy that he finally beat Matrix. "Now what, Matrix!? You gonna run to Xan and cry to him? Hahahaha!" Dessloch fondly walked away as he went down the lift.

He looked at Trish, standing in her suit, clapping as she walked up to him. "Congratulations on surviving your match, Dess." Dessloch smiled and decided to kid around with her. "First of all, you're too cocky." He came up to her and took her by her chin. "Second of all, I change my mind about Dess." He saw how her mask moved, meaning a smile was forming on her face. "You are such a bully." She pushed him away from her and placed her hands on her hips. "Come on, let's go to that party."

"What for? It isn't my style." He paced around the room. "Plus, I just kicked Matrix's ass. I don't want to listen to his boss babbling about the tournament." He stopped and looked at her. "So Boris was right." Trish said in a very thoughtful way. "About what?" He watched her pace the room herself now and lean against the wall. "You're…" She turned to him very slowly and then threw up her hands in front of her. "Afraid to show your face!" "What!?" Dessloch backed away. "No, that's a lie. My face looks so good that I'm tired of showing it! I mean look at the crowd! They love me!!" He pointed towards the lift where cheers could be heard.

Trish came nearer to the exit and then turned to Dessloch. "Okay, fine. I'll go with Boris then. Maybe he'll be a real gentleman." She examined him in full height. "Unlike you." She added and began walking away. Dessloch blew up inside and ran after her, screaming. "Alright, alright, alright! I'm coming!"

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            Kira came into Xan's office and placed a few papers neatly on his desk. "We have him." She said and Xan nodded. "Good. I will go see him then." Xan stood up and signaled his men to come with him. "Sir?" Xan turned to look at Kira and she was smiling. "Don't forget about the speech." Xan nodded. "Yes of course. Thank you, Kira." Xan walked away into the basement of the Liandri building, where the criminals are kept that don't have a team. He came to a specific holding room and saw a young man with blonde hair sitting behind bars looking at his hands. "Zack Vicklair?" Xan asked and the man perked his head up and looked straight into him. He wasn't surprised. He didn't LOOK surprised at how Xan looked. He showed no fear, just anger of an animal that was ready to rip someone apart.

            The man had a scar, vertically running down through his left eye. His eye was yellow and seems to be operated on, just like Dessloch's. His other eye was dark blue, clouded by a darken mind. His hair was cut short as it stood up; he was definitely in the army. His whole body was well built and he was ready for action anytime.

            Xan smiled to himself and opened the cell. "My name is Xan Kriegor and I have good news for you." He dropped some papers on the floor, next to him for the human to see. "I see that you are sentenced a ten year imprisonment. Well, I have put you in the tournament and if you win, you gain your freedom. Sounds easy, doesn't it?" He saw the man's eyes narrow and Xan knew what would be his answer. He saw people do that all the time.

            "I'll pass. I am a soldier and always will be. I will not go out there and kill the others without a reason. There is nothing worse for a soldier then to lose his mind. Now if we're done, I'd like to be escorted to my prison." Xan was very disappointed at this 'soldier's' response. "Mr. Vicklair, you are missing one point. You can't go back. We bought you off. Now you fight for your freedom or just stand there and die. Your sentence here is simple. If you lose, you die. If you win, you're free." Xan waved to his people. "Put him on Red with the Dark Phalanx."

            Xan saw Zack's eyes burn with fury and he felt his soul fire up into an inferno. Xan smiled. It's good to know that this soldier has it in him to fight. Now that he hates Xan for doing this to him, he will try his best to win the tournament. "Good luck." Xan said and went away as he heard curses fly his way from Vicklair.

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            Zack was angry as he was shoved into the Red Bunker into his room. Anger built up inside him. He couldn't believe what just happened. He just got 'bought' from the League's Army. Same like the slaves who get bought off for the tournament. Zack hit one of the walls and watched how his blood dripped to the floor. He looked back at the wall and saw it was pure titanium, beneath the bricks. Zack got even angrier.

            He came up to the door and tried to open it but the doorknob wouldn't budge. Zack began to kick it with his foot. He got frustrated and understood that he was not meant to get out of here until the match comes up. He collapsed on the couch and covered his face with his hands as he tried to be calm.

            All his life, he sold his time and life for the League. He fought besides his comrades and friends and eliminated those who threatened his race. He fought each war; you name it, the Skraaj's war, war against the Necris and the war against the Nali's who got now imprisoned. He fought against humans as well, against the terrorists groups who threatened them. He became so good that he was named as a Captain, then as a Major and he even went up to Colonel. Where did he go wrong? He accidentally fired at two innocent people. To make the situation worse those two were a mother and a son. He felt terrible; he never meant to do it. But now the past is done with, over. He can't change it, so he accepted to be killed but the League wanted more than that. They wanted to imprison him for him to see the real life behind a criminal. They wanted to see him suffer. He doesn't know why though.

            And he's here, doesn't know why or how. He never knew that people that used to serve in an army could get bought off like this. Now he has no choice but to fight. He doesn't really care if he will die. He deserved it 2 years ago.

(a/n): So what did you think? A little short, right? Well if I put something else, then it will be too long and all of you will stare down the whole page, wondering did I go mad? Anyway, please keep reviewing and I hope you are enjoying this.