CHAPTER 8: LAST MAN STANDING

Edmund was waiting impatiently in the strategy room Kurt Alexander of the Axon had prepared for him. It was time to introduce the new Truth Sayers to their new captain. The door to the room slid open, and Lee, Steven, Aaron, Rita and Sud walked in and took their places at the table, ushered by Kurt.

Edmund silently took in what he saw. Lee looked like he used to before they got separated. He was in his full uniform, which looked as if it was just ironed and cleaned. Edmund caught Lee's eye, and Lee smiled and nodded at him.

Edmund's gaze then shifted to Steven and Aaron. Steven was dressed very shabbily, with his shirt tucked out and his pants rumpled. It looked as if he last washed his clothes last month. His face was unshaven and there was a cigarette in his mouth. Steven stared insolently at Edmund.

Aaron sat himself directly opposite Edmund. He gave Edmund a slow nod, a warrior acknowledging another's superior skill. Edmund made a mental note to see him after the meeting. He had too many questions to ask the man. For instance, why did he not speak up if he knew that Edmund had not actually scored a perfect score. Why was he keeping quiet? Edmund also wanted to make sure that there was no bad blood between them.

Rita was dressed in a tight white jumpsuit. The suit hugged her body tightly, and it highlighted her attributes. Her long hair was tied back in a pony tail. If you met her on the streets, you would probably think she was like any other girl. Rita was the merging of cute and beautiful. But her eyes were a different story. It was cold, and hard. She noticed Edmund looking at her body, sizing her up, and she smiled as if daring Edmund to take a try. Edmund had no doubt he would die at her hands if he did.

Sud was an entirely different story. He acted as if he never knew Edmund. He kept himself aloof from the others, and was proud. His leather jacket was unzipped and revealed a white t-shirt underneath. His fists were clenched, and his face seemed to form a permanent scowl. He had changed. He gave Edmund a stare. Edmund started. It was a look of pure hatred. It was something that Edmund was not prepared to receive from his old friend.

When all of them had been seated, Kurt Alexander spoke.

"First of all, let me introduce myself. I am Kurt Alexander, representative of the Axon Corporation here in New Earth. The Axon has agreed to sponsor a team, led by the esteemed Edmund Ross. Surely you have heard of his first ever perfect score in the-"

Steven cleared his throat, then spat unto the carpeted floor. Kurt frowned.

"In the very first match he fought in. Because of this, Liandri has advanced him up the ladder straight into the tournaments. All of you, have been chosen by himself to be part of his team, the Truth Sayers."

"Bah!"

Everyone turned to look at the speaker. It was Sud.

"Why should he be the leader? He's just like me and Lee. Both of us could have easily done what he did. We are all marines. Why the hell should he be the leader?"

Steven leaned backwards and placed his legs on the table.

"Yeah. Why him? I mean, everyone knows the marines are warriors not worth a bloody dime..."

Lee turned to stare at Steven.

"Watch it, pal."

Steven laughed raucously. "What are you gonna do marine boy? Cry for mommy? I've had more tournament matches under my cap than you have women under your blanket."

Lee got up. Sud ignored him and continued.

"Why should we serve under you, Edmund Ross?" He said in his most scornful tone.

Kurt pushed Lee back down unto his seat while replying to Sud. "He's had a perfect match Sud. Can you beat that?"

Sud shot up from the chair and stabbed his fingers at Kurt's chest. "I can do anything, that moron can do and better!"

Edmund decided it was time to speak up. "But the fact still stands that I am leader, and all of you are not! I served under the marines more than Sud and Lee combine, and I created most of the strategies now being thought at battle school. I've studied all the videos if the tournaments that have been held, and I believe that I have a strategy that will make us the winners! All you have to do is to accept me as your leader. Is that so hard to do?"

There was a moment of silence. Edmund almost thought that he had managed to convince the others. Almost.

Then Sud spoke up again. "I would rather die, than serve a man, whom is willing to put the lives of his men on the line for personal glory!"

Lee's turn. "Come on man! Are you still sour about that? Edmund did what he thought was right. He tried to save the people from the Skaarj. Just because he was braver and more willing to do it than you-"

"Screw all that! At what cost?" Sud pointed down at Edmund. "This man let Jakob die when he could be saved! He brought me down to this hell hole!"

Steven guffawed and twiddled with his cigarette. "If all of you marines don't seem to want the other to lead, why not let me?"

Rita shot the man a glance of hatred. "I would hang myself, before letting men such as you lead. Men! You are all the same! All of you want to lead but don't actually know how to do it."

Steven reached out for Rita. "Come on honey, you know I didn't mean any-"

Rita's fist shot forward like lighting, and bowled Steven over. Aaron tried to get up to help, but a chop to the neck left him gasping for air.

Edmund's palm slapped down unto the table. All activity stopped.

"Is that what you want Sud? A match to find out who is most suited to lead? You don't believe I can? Fine! You will have your bloody match! What type?"

Sud smiled victoriously. Everything he did, was carefully planned so it would lead to this. He would defeat Edmund, and prove himself worthy as leader. "Last man standing."

Last man standing, the most ferocious of all Unreal tournaments. Each player was given a limited amount of 'lives'. Every time he died, his life was reduced by one. When his life counter reaches zero, he would be kicked out of the game. The last person remaining won.

"Fine. All of you against me! How many lives each?"

Sud showed five fingers, then closed four. "One."

Kurt spluttered. "What?! Five of you against him, and you give him only one life each? That's not fair! He should at least have three, while the rest of you have one, or-"

Edmund nodded to Sud. "One it is..."

Oh my god. I did 3 chapters today. So dead tired. But wanted to make it up for the readers who had to wait while i was studying for my tests. Hope you enjoy it! Come back for more, and review please!