(a/n): Oh my goodness!! Guys? I love all of you! SERIOUSLY!!! You three are my favorite reviewers!!!!!!!!!! AHHHH!!!!!!! Thank you so much!! THANK YOU! Okay. This is to all three of you, Fun, COUGH, Slash the Ironman:
I want to say that I really like Zack, a lot. I am so glad you like him as well. Well keep reading and you will all find out what will happen. Will Zack fall in love with Trish? Will he have a hard time with Dess? Will Trish's heart be broken? Will she fall for Zack? Will Dess be his enemy? Will Zack turn on the Red Team? Or will he stay? Or is it all just nothing really important? You will find out all through out this book.
I have mentioned that there are going to be 2-3 characters that you won't know and I have finished adding them. Zack, Trish and Jack. These chapters will be now be the chapters where everything comes together and the real plot starts to take action. But this is not the end yet.
So my good readers, Enjoy. ^_^
Chapter16: Once A Friend, Now An Enemy. PART I
Dessloch was treating Trinity's wounds carefully. Taking out some bullets from her back and dressing her wounds. Dess cannot believe what just had happened. Their whole team was attacked by Liandri Corporation Troops. Either Xan was afraid of Trinity winning and wanted her out of the tournament or they have found out Trish was Tanya Menace. Everyone got out safely and Dess is glad. This team is his family and he won't lose it.
"How many more to go?" Trinity asked in pain as she arced her back. "Just one more, baby. Hang in there." Dess got the last bullet out and dropped it in the container with water. "Why have they attacked us?" She asked as she put her shirt back on and buttoned it. "I don't know but I bet Xan has something to do with it." Dess wiped his hands and helped her up from the desk. "That bastard." Trinity sounded very angry.
Xan wasn't an all time Champion of Unreal Tournament. He was an all time Coward of Unreal Tournament. Eliminating the best and let the weak prevail so they were easy targets during the Championship. "When does the next match start?" She asked as she came up to the mirror and examined her face as she took of her mask and glasses. "Uh, in a few hours. They should let us participate but we should be careful when there are no locals around. The Liandri Troops can do anything they like when no one's watching."
He saw Trinity nod as and she turned around and leaned on the counter. "We have to get ready then." She took a towel and wiped her face from sweat. "You're not going." Dessloch said and looked dead into her eyes. "What do you mean I'm not going? I have to—" "It's to dangerous. They might have found out who you are." Dessloch started to go to the other room and Trinity stopped him.
"This is my team. I have to go." Dessloch cupped her face and looked into her eyes. "I can't let you see be hurt. Not ever." He saw her smile and place her hands on his. "Don't worry." She pecked him on his lips softly. "I won't. You'll be there to frag those cowards behind my back." Dessloch face didn't falter. "But what if I won't be fast enough?" This time Trinity kissed him. "Then I'll fry'em myself." He saw Trinity smile and Dessloch gave in. He nodded and let go of her. "What ever happens out there, Trish. Be careful." Trinity smiled and nodded. "Don't worry. I'll be fine."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Zack was in the red bunker walking around aimlessly. He has nothing to do, absolutely nothing at all. He could go to the Practice Session but he kind of doesn't want to. He had enough with the disqualification stuff. So much is coming back to him. His past, he can see it so clearly just like the present. He doesn't know what it means but it certainly doesn't make him feel better.
The feeling at being at war with his old buddies, huddling in the trenches, exchanging ammo, and wishes and dreams they have talked about, he can still remember. Chris mentioning that he dreams to have a daughter so she could heal instead of destroy. Kale saying that he wishes to see the war end during his lifetime. And then there was the youngest. A new recruit said something about being dragged into war. His dream was to meet his family someday. He was young very young. Maybe sixteen or seventeen and is already being dragged to war. Sad really, but they were all buddies and welcomed him as a brother.
He was ruthless and determined. He did mention that he will make a difference and he taught him something. He taught him to stay strong even during tight situations. "There is always more than one way." He used to say. So young and yet so strong. But what was his name? He couldn't remember, Luther something, maybe Laker or Lock. He couldn't remember for sure.
But no matter, they were still buddies and then one day; they were separated to different units. He was transferred to the Omega team with Chris while Kale and Luther transferred to the Alpha team. It was when everything was destroyed.
Zack shook his head to forget the memories and went out into the main hall. "I need help." Zack said as he rubbed his hurting head. "You look like crap." Zack looked up at the girl that has said it and saw a girl standing there in uniform. "Pardon me?" He asked her and she giggled. "I said you look like crap." He frowned and asked her. "What? That is supposed to make me feel better?" Ivana laughed out loud and slapped him on his shoulder. "You need a break." "Sorry, no summer or winter breaks here." She laughed harder and clutched her stomach. "Too bad, huh?" Zack nodded and smiled for the first time.
He leaned on the wall and looked around the room and saw there was another Last Man Standing Arena is being set on the news bulletin board. "I'll be back in a moment." Zack said as he looked at the requirements of the match. Two people are required and each will have 5 lives. Zack smiled and nodded.
He came up to the front desk and said, "Sign me up for the Last Man Standing in the Heal Pod." Zack said and smiled broadly. The robot acknowledged and went to get his armor ready.
When Zack has arrived into the Lift Hallway it was empty. Somehow Zack thought he isn't going to have an opponent but he should. There are thousand of people in the tournament. One should at least show up. Zack sighed and sat in the far corner and started to paint his face again. It's a tradition of a soldier even a veteran. He is used to it and he loves it.
The lift started to go up and a guy in blue armor, probably from the blue team came into the hall. His face was also tanned. Three wide strikes went down his face, covering his eyes and nose. His tans were green and wore a mercenary's hat. His eyes were yellow and cold, just like Zack's left eye. The man didn't look at him but just stood next to the other lift that leads to the stadium.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to another Practice Session Last Man Standing. This match is one on one in a specific area, the Heal Pod. The opponents could heal themselves at this amazing column that rejuvenates health. Each player will have five lives and they will fight for five minutes to pressure them more in the battlefield. Please let's welcome Dessloch from the Blood Reavers and Zack Vicklair from the Dark Phalanx." Zack saw "Dessloch's" eyes shot at him when he has heard the name.
Dessloch did not say anything. He went up the lift and Zack heard the crowd roar. Now Zack is guessing that all the announcer has to mention is that you are from the Reavers team and everybody will go crazy.
Zack went after him and into the stadium. This stadium was smaller but was still packed with lots of spectators and people. Zack came up to the middle and nodded at Dessloch but he wasn't looking at him. Dessloch slammed down the button and they were transported to the mystifying Heal Pod.
"The match will start in 5…4…3…2…1, begin." Zack appeared on the second floor of the map. The layout of the map was simple. There were three floors. In the middle there was a giant hall and a long large column that went through all the floors. The floors could be accessed by jumping from a higher floor to the next or the elevator to go up. There was also a large liquid substance trapped by a force field on the very first floor that holds up the entire middle column. This must be the Healing Pod.
Zack jumped down and switched to his minigun and searched for his opponent. He somehow felt that he had lots of experience in this place. But no matter, he won't lose it like last time.
Zack went through a tiny hallway pressing a button while running and heard a large thump sound behind him. Zack turned around and saw the column was pushed down, covering the healing pod. If anyone was standing there, they would be crushed.
He made a mental note to himself to be careful at that location. Zack continued down the hallway and up the ramp. He turned to the left and went across a bridge that was divided by a column that went straight through it. Zack ended up at the same location before and then he frowned. He started to run to the left and something sparked in his eye which made him cover it.
Soon afterwards he heard a sniper shot and a bullet landed past his ear. Zack rolled and screamed out in pain as he grabbed it. He looked up and saw Dessloch was standing in a very dark opening on the third floor he hasn't noticed. Zack aimed at Dess' head but was disrupted when Dessloch shot out another shot into his minigun which made him drop it. Zack quickly equipped a sniper rifle and hid behind a column. He drew out a long breath and rolled out into view and shot out quickly using his quick aiming skills.
He heard Dessloch scream in pain as Zack got him in the eye through the scope he was aiming. Zack smiled at his perfect accuracy and watched his opponent's body fall straight to the second floor. "First Blood." The announcer has said and Zack ran up to his minigun and picked it up while rolling.
A fire came from somewhere, a sniper fire, and Zack was hit in the head. Zack screamed out in pain as he was fragged by Dessloch from a far distance. Zack appeared in the first floor hallway that had a column in the middle that went straight through the second floor bridge.
Zack ran up the closest ramp as his head was ringing really hard. Getting fragged did not feel good at all. It felt like you die but then you survive. Zack went through the second floor hallway and onto the second floor. He checked and made sure Dessloch wasn't hiding in the hidden openings.
Zack screamed as a minigun fire reached him from above. Zack rolled away and noticed Dessloch standing on the third floor. He heard him switch to the rocket launcher and Zack crouched and carefully crawled backwards. He scanned the whole third floor but the problem was, he couldn't find Dessloch.
A rocket was extinguished from blackness that totally took Zack by surprise. Zack was thrown back and he hid behind the column as he heard Dessloch drop to the second floor. Zack spun and got into view and fired of his minigun as he ran behind the next column. Dessloch rolled and crouched as a few shots hit him in the legs but it didn't affect him. Dessloch equipped his minigun again a railed him with a few bullets before he reached the new column. Zack pulled out a bullet from his armor near his neck and saw his blood pour down. Dessloch IS a professional.
Zack danced around behind the column as he strafed left and right raining down at Dessloch with bullets from hell. Dessloch seemed to do the same thing but something else as well. He was actually advancing him. Zack backpedaled and ran to the next column as they kept rounding the middle.
Zack turned to fire at his opponent but he didn't see him. Where did he go? Zack carefully took a step back and Dessloch appeared behind the column HE was hiding behind and slugged him with holes of death. Zack did his best to ignore the pain but it was too painful. This guy is no regular opponent at the Unreal Tournament. These tactics…ruthless and yet right on target, could he really be one of his men?? Zack had no clue.
Zack appeared in the same hallway and this time he went forward. He new Dessloch was hurt, there is no doubt he will try to heal himself. He must find that switch somewhere…
Zack went up to the end of the hallway and the switch. He could see the Pod but no one was near it. Zack was totally confused now. Zack calmly waited him out but then…what was that sound.
Zack looked up and saw a very little opening in the ceiling and Dessloch was loading rockets into his rocket launcher. Zack backpedaled and the three rockets missed him. Thankfully the impact didn't get to him as well. Zack crouched and aimed at the ceiling. He didn't know what to do but he heard running on the top bridge.
Zack shot out his minigun when he saw Dessloch again. Dess fired off another rocket and Zack hid behind the wall but the impact got him. Zack bit his lower lip to keep from screaming out as he carefully looked to see if Dessloch was still there and only got another rocket fired at him.
A long breath and a minigun was all he needed. Zack nodded to absolutely no one as he crouched and crawled backwards away from the wall as far as possible. He then crawled sideways and found Dessloch standing there, waiting for him. Zack fired his gun and shot Dessloch in his chest as he fired another rocket. This time it totally missed him and Zack hid behind the wall.
He checked his ammo and saw he had plenty. He waited a little and then froze at the footsteps above him. He followed the sound and saw Dessloch jumping from the second floor bridge where the column is. Zack ran backwards and rammed down on the trigger, decimating Dessloch in the air. He must have hit him in an important blood vessel because his now open armor and chest was spurting out blood and painting the walls and ceilings. "Nailed'im"
Zack went behind the wall next to the switch and brushed the blood off his eyes so he could see. Zack went passed the switch without pressing it and decided to rejuvenate his health. He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Dessloch jump down to the first floor behind the Healing Pod.
Fire was exchanged immediately as the two mercenaries hid behind columns. Zack checked his status and it didn't seem good. His armor was cut open by the rockets and bullets. He was also vulnerable at his right leg because his boot was also ripped open.
He heard Dessloch enter the Healing Pod and Zack couldn't run back to the switch because he will be dead by then. Zack took another long breath and ran out as he fired at Dessloch and found him darting out and in the Pod. Zack choked on his blood when a bullet met his head. He slumped down to his knees and then to the floor.
Terrible, terrible headache is going to welcome him at the end of this match. He'll regret it for sure. Two more lives left. Zack appeared on the third floor and he decided to try and find those secret passages. They were somewhere in that far back wall in the dark. It would be safer to play a waiting game with him than run and shoot, Zack figured.
Zack got up on the ledge and felt a railing in the dark wall. Zack tried to touch the wall but found none. He smiled and jumped over the railing and turned left through a dark, red hallway that soon followed to a poorly lit fan-room where there was obviously a fan in the ceiling. Zack carefully went to the opening and saw the whole area below him. No wonder it makes a good sniping spot.
Bullets ripped through his armor in the back as Dessloch found him. Zack jumped down and fired a rocket in the air at the ceiling at the opening, hoping the impact got Dessloch. Zack screamed in pain as he landed on his back on the first floor. He spit out some blood and painfully stood up and ran for the Healing Pod.
Zack went straight through it and into the hallway with the switch. He pressed it just in case and then heard Dessloch was on the second floor again. Without Zack's surprise, Dessloch fell through the same opening and fired off. Zack got behind the column in the middle of the hallway which was the only thing separating them. Zack strafed and finished Dessloch off as he shot into his head.
Dessloch made a human's terrible cry of agony as his face was turned to smashed and ripped apart skull. His face wasn't there anymore as he was nearly headless. Halve of his temple was gone as dark, think blood oozed out and Dessloch died on the floor. "Oh Yeah." He taunted and went up the second floor.
It was even now. He had two lives left and so did Dessloch. He now needs to be very careful. "3 minutes remaining." Zack almost jumped out of his own skin when the announcer boomed into his earphone. The time. He totally forgot about the time. Zack couldn't hurry, though, because this Dessloch would slaughter him.
Zack ran out onto the second floor and dodged the rocket that Dessloch fired off. Zack was waiting for that. He sprinted and then rolled away from the impact that missed him completely. Zack got onto his feet and shot out his minigun at Dessloch who jumped down to this floor. Zack missed the first hits but after Dessloch equipped the minigun and fired straight at him he became more accurate.
The two great opponents danced around the middle hole again, hiding behind columns as they ran to the new ones, dodging and taking hits. Zack didn't stop this time because he knew that Dessloch wants to gain on him. He kept running backwards and firing off. But Dessloch had reached him sooner and had killed with a hard hit of bullets into the stomach. Zack grabbed his abdomen and opened his mouth to make a distressing sound but nothing came out.
This is it he's last life. Zack appeared in a very strange hallway. The bad news is, it was an open space and you couldn't hide. Somehow Dessloch found him and started to rain bullets on him. Zack backpedaled against the walls without looking back. If he would bump into a wall he would strafe to any direction. Whatever happened, he did not look back. Dessloch was right there, taking his life bit by bit.
Zack felt weak when he finally ran to the familiar second floor. Zack jumped down and healed himself as he ran through the hallway with the switch. But he kept running. He didn't stop he couldn't stop.
Dessloch kept in full pace with Zack as he ran back out onto the first floor. This time Zack tried the elevator that took him straight to the third floor. Another elevator was activated and Zack fired off as Dessloch came into view on the second elevator. He ran out of the small space but couldn't run far.
Zack riddled him with his minigun and killed him at last. "Take THAT!" Zack screamed out and he placed his hand on his abdomen, as he couldn't run anymore. He was too tired. He couldn't even hold his minigun anymore.
Zack dropped his gun the minute he heard the sniper against his head being loaded. "You are pretty cocky for a rookie." He heard Dessloch say. "Take THIS!" Zack's head was blown of his shoulders and he slumbered into a painful death.
"Dessloch has won the match!" The announcer has said and they were transferred back to the stadium with cheers.
-To Be Continued
(a/n): It's not the end yet. I just decided to give you a little break since this is six pages long in Microsoft Word. Please review to tell me what you think. The second part will be updated very soon.
