The black-cloaked FOnewm twirled his Cadeceus with a mocking casualness as he lazily walked in a circle around his prey.
"I think it is fitting that after all the times we've fought, that your death would be witnessed by a suitable audience. Eh Nasca?" The mask covering his mouth distorting his words and adding to the venom that they carried.
The white-suited HUmar he paced around said nothing but shifted slightly so that his opponent would remain in constant full view, his long red hair swept back with a wave of his hand so as not to obstruct his vision. In his left hand he held tightly onto his sheathed Katana. Nasca was very aware of the capabilities of his opponent but still hoped that a peaceful end could be sought.
"I hope it's strategy that keeps your blade sheathed and not fear. I'd hate for you to make this easy for me."
Though Nasca could not see the newman's mouth, he could imagine the sneer that was formed in the attempt to goad him into making a mistake. He would not afford the assassin such a luxury.
"We've danced this dance many times already Zi'Zuku. You know I won't destroy you unless I absolutely have to. But don't ever dare think for a second that I can't destroy you."
Zi'Zuku stopped mid-stride, threw his head back and laughed to the heavens. It was an ugly sound, the laughter equivalent of fingernails down the chalkboard of the soul, any milk within earshot soured immediately. Zi'Zuku was the kind of assassin that mommy Hunters said would get little Hunters if they did not eat their vegetables. It was a reputation to be proud of and the FOnewm did everything to enhance that reputation.
"And you should remember that the only reason that you're still live is because I allow it. However, since the opportunity presents itself, I might as well finish you off. People might think I've gone soft otherwise."
"We'll see." Replied Nasca through gritted teeth.
-----
The crowd was quite a sight to behold, clustered around some spectacle, they stood five or six bodies deep. Every now and then concerted cheers went up from those watching. Marla did not hesitate to rush over to find out what the commotion was.
"W00T!" Went one shout followed by a prolonged bout of coughing.
Homing in on the sound, Marla recognised the owner.
"Hikara! What's happening?"
Hikara was a FOmar that opted for the full blue dress deal and was not ashamed to go dressed out like that in public. He was also very dedicated to the Grants Technique, pretty much to the point where he stead-fast refused to use or even learn any of the other Techniques. As a result, this meant that he would spend half of his time in hospital and the other half seemingly looking for situations that would send him back there. Maybe he had a thing for the nurses?
"Oh it's great isn't it? Nasca and Zi'Zuku are fighting!"
-----
Nasca's eyes narrowed as they tracked his opponent's movements. His right hand clasped the hilt of his Katana, the tingle in his hands building as the familiar feeling of power surging into him awakened his senses once more. With the deftest of touches it seemed to glide out of its sheath, the bright blade flashing in the sunlight, Nasca knew that it hungered for combat.
Zi'Zuku for his part did not stand idly by. With barely any indication of concentration he was enveloped with a faint alternating blue and red aura. Holding his arms out by his sides he dared Nasca to charge him, to attack as if he were unprepared.
-----
A gasp swept through the crowd, Hikara turned sharply to see what was happening. Realising that he was to short to see over the wall of Hunters he began leaping up and down.
"Oh damnit! You made me miss that!" He said slightly annoyed.
"How long have they been fighting for, exactly?" Marla asked him.
"Well.... They haven't been exactly fighting but I'm sure they're going to start any moment now!"
-----
Seeing that Nasca would not be baited into extending himself, Zi'Zuku held up his left hand, palm forward, as clouds of purple energy coalesced around it.
-----
Marla raised an eyebrow. "And when did they start 'not exactly fighting' exactly?"
"Well, they met about thirty Beats ago. Apart from the Megid casualties it's been very entertaining to watch."
"I see... Except I don't. Why would those two even be here on the promenade of the Hunters Guild at the same time?"
"Oh that's simple. When they saw each other initially they accused each other of trickery. Nasca mentioned something about a cheesecake festival and Zi'Zuku mentioned something about free Rappy magazines, whatever those might be."
"When you're a little older, I'll explain it to you..."
Marla tailed off as she looked around and was surprised to find that everyone in the area was here watching the fight. Even the guards for the Main Transporter were there, cheering as loudly as everyone else instead of being by their posts. Maybe it did not matter since the Main Transporter was deactivated and the shutter locked down in light of the security breach from the award ceremony over a hundred Beats ago, but still Marla had a nagging feeling that something was missing.
"You didn't happen to notice anything unusual while you've been watching have you?"
"It's funny that you mention it now. Earlier on I was shouting 'w00t' a little too loudly and hurt my throat. As I turned away to cough, I noticed a bunch of soldiers over there..." He indicated the area between the Main Transporter and the Guild Reception room. "... They were shifting a large wooden box that shook a couple of times... Oh and there were a couple of Hunters with them too. I KNEW it was strange since they didn't come over to watch the fight. But I stopped looking at them since I was missing the action. It can't have been more than ten Beats ago."
"Hunters? With the soldiers? What did they look like?"
"One was a HUnewearl in a typical red & black revealing outfit... Page twenty-seven from last year's 'HUnewearl's Secret' catalogue, casual battlewear. She had red hair... Um... can't remember much else. The other one was a RAcaseal class, red and purple. 'Fine robot sister' body number four if memory serves me correctly... Hey, why are you glaring at me like that?"
"Never mind Hikara. You did good."
"So I can continue watching right?"
"Sure, send me a BEE message when you learn the outcome okay?" Said Marla as she walked off.
"Okay... Hey, you're not going to stay to watch? You're going to miss some great action!"
-----
Marla stepped up to the shutter, not expecting it to open, but it did. It seems that the soldiers had used the Transporter to arrive and had over-ridden the security locks without reactivated them afterwards. She slipped inside and pressed a button on the inside of the frame to close the shutter before she could be seen. She need not have worried, everyone else was engrossed in the spectacle of the Nasca / Zi'Zuku fight.
Prising off the cover to an access panel, she plugged her communicator into the Transporter's computer and entered the diagnostic mode. A couple of centiBeats later she tutted through clenched teeth. If the soldiers had been careless with the shutter, they had been absolutely ruthless with the Transporter's activity log. There was no indication of use since the lockdown and nothing to say it had been tampered with.
Marla unplugged her communicator and exited quickly through the shutters. She would need to hurry if she was going to catch up with her quarry.
-----
The orange and green RAcast looked at his choices. He could either go left or right but both directions seemed familiar, like he had made this choice before. His radio beeped.
"Garanz Mk II report. Where the hell are you?" Shouted the angry male voice.
"Major Crysalis sir. I was heading back to the Base." Garanz replied.
"You were SUPPOSED to report back FOUR HUNDRED Beats ago!"
Garanz wiped the spit off his visor that his brand new 'interactive radio link' had just transmitted.
"Sir, you have to understand, humans build these back-alleys like mazes. They all start to look the same after a while."
"Garanz, you are a robot LightDamnit! You should have navigational software to handle this sort of thing. Never mind that anyway. I want you to report to the Mines sector B-12 on the double. IT has escaped... Again."
"Yes sir." Said the DOWNcast RAcast.
He looked down at his shiny chest-plate that he had repaired earlier. It was a good thing these sorts of damages were covered by his employee's contract or he might be very annoyed.
"Well, since I'm going to get damaged anyway... Let's see... West is... That way."
With that he strode through the brick wall in front of him heading in a straight line towards the Hunters Guild. A HUnewearl in the bath was startled by the 'Droid walking through her wall and began to shriek.
"Afternoon Ma'am." Said Garanz as he passed through. He stopped and backtracked a few steps. "Nice rack." He added before continuing on his way.