I own nothing, Atari and Epic own all of this stuff.


Chapter 2: Into the fray
In we walked, a deafening explosion of cheers came from the audience that sat safely behind the plexiglass walls. Bjorn led us in, I followed him, behind me were the two other rookies, which he titled Condor and Falcon. I never did catch their real names, not that I cared, I was in it for me, not them. All I knew from them was that Falcon was a riot officer who was looking for something more glorious, and Condor was a former Navy seal, kicked out for unnecessary roughness… I didn't even think that was possible. We stuck in a pack for several minutes, Bjorn kept getting all the points, but that was fine, he was the leader after all.
Eventually Condor got separated from the rest of us. I guess he wanted to prove himself. The scoreboard just ran up soon afterwards. Condor's score rocketed and soon he even passed Bjorn. My hopes died slowly as I watched his score go so high that they had to call the match early because he had eliminated every one of our opponents. Bjorn's score sat humbly at almost half of Condor's. I was next and Falcon was close behind, not that it mattered, Condor's score had blown both of ours away. Bjorn looked furious as Condor came back to us after the match was ended. He screamed at Condor for disobeying an order from a superior. The tongue-lashing was epic, I never thought it would end. Condor began to mouth off back to Bjorn, and eventually he stormed away. Bjorn announced to us that Falcon would be sent down to the minor leagues for development, and I would be given the spot in the ranks of the Dark Phalanx because I followed orders, worked like a team mate and had the next highest points. I trembled as I shook hands with Bjorn and was welcomed into the Phalanx. I never did see or hear from Falcon again, but Condor was drafted by another team who decided his lack of discipline could be compensated by his thirst for violence. I would be a few years until I saw him again, but that is for later.

That night I was taken to the dormitory at the Dark Phalanx training grounds. This place was more incredible than any military base I had ever been at. The facilities were fit for royalty and the food was exquisite. There was a gym and weight room that put the most expensive health clubs to shame. There were many firing ranges and combat training centers, everything from close range combat to sniping could be honed and perfected. The training rooms were only the beginning though. The studies and lounges were magnificent, marble floors and ceilings with beautiful plaster walls. Bookcases stretched from floor to ceiling, educational computers lined the studies and holographic lectures could be viewed by those who wished to learn. I eventually got my college degree from those studies, but that is not important. The lounges were also amazing. Pool tables, air hockey, pinball machines, classic arcade games, soft leather sofas with large screened televisions, it was beyond the comforts of home. Eventually I was led to my room… geez, room nothing, this was a suite. I had my own king sized bed, bathroom, kitchen, living room… it was a small house, it was incredible. It took a long time to set in, but I was there, I was in the grounds of the Dark Phalanx, and my life was going to become more glorious very soon… too bad I didn't know it wouldn't last. I went to the pool that night, I figured I could use some relaxation after my first match. I went out to the pool closest to my dorm, and there she was, laying on an inflated mattress that floated on the surface of the water. She was the most breath-taking woman I had ever seen in my life. She was the kind of woman that you see and you know that there is a God, because evolution could never produce something like this. Her strawberry blonde hair laid loosely about her head and her shoulders and down behind her back. Her delicate eyes were closed in a state of wondrous ease. Her fair skin looked very soft like she was made of a pale silk. Her body was divine, an angel could not look any more perfect. She laid in a small grey and black bikini which showed off most of her flawless physique… I stood there gawking at her like a fool for what seemed like all night. She gently woke and opened her eyes, I tried to regain my composure, but she must have known that I was staring at her.
"I'm sorry." I said to her, trying to sound shy, but probably just sounding more stupid. She looked at me and smiled, oh that smile, she had a smile that could melt the coldest heart. She slid off the air mattress and swam gracefully towards the edge where I still stood like an idiot.
"It's alright." Her voice was so soothing, like a fluid harmony drifted through my ears while she spoke. She pulled her wet hair back while she walked up the stone steps of the pool. Her hair hung at about her elbows while her body teased me with just enough shifts to drive my mind wild. She wrapped a towel around herself from the chest and let it hang down a little past her backside. "You're new, aren't you?" she said with a friendly tone, I nodded like a buffoon. "Thought so, I've never seen you around." She put out her thin hand gently. "Arielle Bennet, but the tournament will know me as Galaxy." Arielle… that name… a name even the highest choir of angels would be envious of. I eventually took her hand and gently shook it.
"Jordan Thomas, but I'm known as Hawk." Arielle laughed, almost like it she was not impressed at first, but then she caught herself.
"I apologize, obviously Bjorn gave you that name. He has a thing with birds of prey." We sat and talked for a while until she had to go back to her dorm. I knew from the moment I saw her, that if I were ever to marry, it could only be to her. I was captivated by her, if only I knew that the battles in the arena would be nothing compared to the battles I would go through later on because of her.


Okay, young man with dreams of a big future, check. Mentor for said character, check. Standard issue sexy woman to round it all up, check. Don't go anywhere people, we're just getting started.