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Chapter 1: The Rookie
I remember looking at the flyer in my hand. "Action! Excitement! Join the Unreal Tournament!" It sounded incredible, and such an opportunity to make some easy money. Put me in a manmade arena with a bunch of miners and convicts and blast each other with stun bullets, piece of cake for a marine like myself. I thought I needed the change, I was already revered for displays of bravery in the final world war, and I knew nobody would ever dare go to war with my country again. I was so full of pride back then. I was a decorated marine in the NEG armed forces… but I wanted something new, something that would be a challenge, I knew I would get that in the tournament, what I didn't know was I was going to bite off more than I could chew.
I remember how cocky I was as I walked into the Liandri headquarters and signed up for the tournament. I thought I was invincible, that nobody could touch me… the arrogance of youth, it gets us into more trouble than we would ever know. I remember how impressed the recruiters were with my credentials and they immediately assigned me to one of the most elite teams, the Dark Phalanx. I was so excited, I was going to be on the same team as the legendary Eagle. He was a fan favorite in every aspect of the phrase. Women flocked to him, men sat in awe of his abilities… he was invincible, or so I thought at the time.
I remember the
following week when I finally got the call to join them in a
tournament match, "Team Deathmatch". This was my chance to either
make a huge splash and prove to the world I was the real thing, or I
would flop and they would never give me so much as a hello
afterwards. I remember how my hands shook as I slid on my grey and
black combat gear. I slowly zipped up the front and secured my chest
plate. I tightened my belt for the first time and stared down at the
stun blasters that sat peacefully in the holsters. Then in he came.
Eagle himself walked into the locker room and began to prepare
himself for our match.
"You the rookie?"
Eagle asked as he took his shirt off and unzipped his pants. I nodded
in stunned awe that he was speaking to me. He stepped into his combat
gear and began to fasten and snap it into place. I extended my hand
to him and smiled like an idiot.
"Jordan
Thomas." I said, I think my voice cracked from excitement. "It's
an honour to meet you, Eagle." Eagle smirked and shook his head.
"I'm only Eagle in
the arena, please, call me Bjorn." I stared in amazement as he took
my hand and shook it. "So what's your name for the arena kid?"
I didn't know what to reply, I just stuttered like a fool. "Didn't
think that far ahead did you?" He spoke kindly to me, like he
actually cared… who am I kidding, I was just another rookie that he
had to baby sit. He looked me over then nodded. "How about Hawk? Ya
like that?" Hawk… what a stupid name, but I didn't think so at
the time. I nodded and adopted the name Hawk. A muffled voice rang
out from the arena. "Looks like our match is coming up, let's go
kick some ass kid."
I stood beside Bjorn, I
wouldn't admit then that I was shaking, but I was trembling. The
excitement was incredible. It was Bjorn, myself, and two other
rookies. The rookie that did the best would become a permanent member
of the Dark Phalanx… and I would die before I let someone else get
that spot. I remember they led in a scraggily group of cons from a
local prison and lined them up. Armed soldiers removed their
handcuffs and handed them weak stun weapons, no match for our
blasters, but then again this wasn't supposed to be a fair fight.
The cons immediately scattered about the arena.
"Stay together
team." Bjorn ordered as the timer counted down. "If we stick
together they won't get a single point, and I want a shut-out, do I
make myself clear?" We all nodded and followed him into the arena
as the buzzer screamed throughout the building.
Looks like the action is gonna start. Things seem to be going well for Jordan right now, read on.
