(a/n): Hello everyone. I'm finally back and hopefully to stay. I apologize deeply, everyone, because I had this chapter ready for quite sometime now. Luck hasn't really been on my side, lately, and bad things have been happening. Of course, I won't waste your time with telling you about my misfortunes. I'm just glad to be back. Well then, I know this chapter won't be enough to satisfy your hunger. But it has two very important meanings. But before we go into all of that, I'd like to thank my reviewers.
Daniel Wesley Rydell: Long time no hear! I'm very happy to see that you think I'm not going in a downward direction. Well here is more, although this chapter is not such a good one as the last one.
Dynamis: Oh ho ho! And it's good to be alive my friend! Don't worry about Mr. Mystery, he'll prove himself about a kazillion times before Trinity actually accepts him. Yeah, she's kind of hard to convince.
Believe it or not, I actually found a solution on how Gorge should die trillion of painful deaths. First, set up the Monster Arena with as many waves as you can. Make sure there are a lot of OverLords and those nasty little pests that bother you all the time when you are busy killing them. Second, chose an open and yet a small arena where there is no such thing as personal space. Third, make sure you use the bot roster and only choose Gorge as the participant. Finally press that nice spectator button and enjoy the show. Refreshments are always available in the kitchen.
Poddy: Thanks so much for your review. I'm glad to be back. Although this chapter won't have a good match, the next one will. Oh there will be encore with Prism. If you loved how Trinity kicked her ass, you'd one of my next chapters.
Miranon: Yes, I finally did respawn. Just sad that I was fragged that instant, but hey, I could just respawn again! I'm really glad Xan got my message and I couldn't have done better! I wonder what other great things await that malfunctioning scrap. I personally did love hearing that 'crunch' sound under the wheels of my Hellbender. Sigh. It sounded like a gospel chorus.
Slash, The Ironman: Yes, a lot of corruption and evilness. But Trinity will have to deal with it if she's planning on finding Dessloch. Boris finally arrives, but he won't be able to kick ass just yet. But you will be hearing a good tale about how he already showed someone whose boss. Although he really never admits it…
Majestic 12: Hehehe. Yes, Tanya may think Lostis is a cruel, cold-hearted, bastard, but really she's no different. It's quite hilarious actually. I'm, also, surprised that you think that he reminds you of Wesker from RE. I haven't been thinking about him when making Lostis up. Oh well. But I still think that Wesker is ten times better and cooler than Lostis. I mean…Wesker is Wesker.
Well that's all the thanks. Enjoy this miserable excuse of a chapter. Although I think you'd like the mild humor here. But do keep an eye out for two important things here. Enjoy.
Chapter 10 -Laughs and Smiles-"Happiness is the only sanction of life; where happiness fails, existence remains a mad and lamentable experiment." –George Sand (1804-76)
I slowly opened my eyes when I heard that the gate screeched open like chalk against a blackboard. The blurred colors came together and I saw Romulus come in. A Liandri soldier uncuffed him and patted him as a signal that he is free to do whatever he wants. Romulus' feet dragged him towards me, shuffling slowly like the dead walk. He collapsed next to me and leaned his head against the wall while closing his eyes.
"Don't tell me I hurt you that much." I said as I looked at him. Him and I competed in a death match and it wasn't a pretty one. Whenever there is a Rocket Launcher in a small arena, it is never a good match. In the end of each fight, the walls, floors, and ceilings are in need to be repainted. I defeated Romulus and the other competitor, but I still had some burns that should heal. Romulus on the other hand, needed more treatment; his shoulder had a clean hole from my Lightning Gun, and he nearly lost his leg from the three rockets the other competitor fired. I felt some pity for him, but then again, things could have turned out worse.
"No," Romulus mumbled disgustingly, "While you were resting I had to fight another match against this new guy." He looked at me. "And he beat me, viciously." He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"Maybe that's because he wasn't going easy on you." I smiled. He opened his eyes to look at me again. "You're telling me that you were going easy on me?" He asked and turned himself towards me. His eyes didn't look hurt; they looked pissed. "I don't know…" I said in a playful tone and smiled.
I stood up and brushed off the dust from my suit. "So—" I said, "—who is this 'new guy' that beat you're butt?" Romulus looked towards the gates and slightly raised his head. I followed his gaze and my mouth dropped open with my eyes wide.
I saw a familiar man get uncuffed by the Liandri soldier. He was a man in his early thirties. He had light brown hair, light blue eyes, he was tall, and wore a blue armor, which covered his torso, with navy pants. He rubbed his wrists and then looked at me with a sweet smile.
"He is no rookie, Romulus." I said to him quietly and I ran towards the friendly face. "Boris!!" I exclaimed and quickly hugged him tightly. I couldn't believe it, it was him, it was really him. "Hey there, Tanya." He said as he pulled back and searched my eyes. "Good to see you." He pushed a strand of hair from my face. "Did you miss me?" I smiled and nodded. "Of course I did. Long distance communication is never as good as seeing you," I told him. He laughed, "Yeah, I guess."
The two of us walked over to Romulus who studied us for a moment before asking, "You two know each other?" He pointed at the to of us with his mouth open. He sounded quite surprised, too, but certainly not pleased.
Boris shook Romulus' finger and nodded. "I'm Zenith, and yes we do know each other," Boris introduced himself.
"I know who you are," Romulus pulled back his hand to fold his arms. His voice sounded disgusted, "You nearly left me headless." That certainly isn't a good way to remember someone. Romulus stood up to match his eyes under Boris' gaze.
"Sorry about that," Boris said, "That is why I never like meeting people during a match." He was smiling and sounded sincere, "So I prefer a much more formal greeting, Romulus. Do accept my apology."
I could nearly picture a frown on Romulus' face, as he scuffed while looking away, murmuring, "What apology?"
To be quite honest Boris reminded of Zack. He would always act like half of the things are happening are really nothing. That's what I like about the two of them. They value life for what it really is.
Boris never looked like he was the mercenary type. His eyes were soft, and he always smiles when he talks to someone. Almost like Zack, except that Zack doesn't linger in his past and he never gets angry. I would call Zack untouchable; everything that happened to him doesn't stay with him for long. He had plenty of tragic moments in his life, none of which he talks about or lets it interfere with the present. I did wonder, sometimes, if he would change if I would be gone. I have changed a lot since Dessloch's disappearance, but would Zack change if it was me instead of Dess? Those thoughts hurt me almost as much as Dessloch's disappearance…Dess.
A hand touched my shoulder and I looked up at the soft blue eyes. "Don't let it get to ya, Tanya." Boris said softly and put an arm around my neck. "We'll find him," He finished. I smiled weakly, and nodded. It was though he read my mind. I guess he just saw it written across my face; my old friends do seem to know what I'm usually thinking about. I sat down next to Romulus who's eyes looked confused. "You're right. We'll find him," I said bitterly and buried my face into my knees.
It was raining hard that day, a sign that this wasn't going to be a good day. The streets were dark and dirty; streetlamps broken, puddles of gathered rain were formed by the uneven ground. There was no one here. It was just me and the street that I was running in.
I panted as I ran through the wet streets that were glossed by the hard rain. I took shallow, loud breaths, breathing against my bangs that were glued to my face. The rain cried loudly, and the water hit the ground with hate. My face and my coat were wet as I was forced through the flooding streets.
I stepped into a deep hole in the ground that was flooded with water. I fell hard into the dirty water and cried out loud from exhaustion. My body was begging for rest, but my mind told me to keep running; to keep searching. The rain fell harder and louder, falling against my back.
I just sat there in the pool of the sky's tears, in the endless darkness. Was it the right thing to run away? Should I have stayed?
The rain stopped beating me into dirty water and I heard it beat against something hard that was above my head. I slowly looked up with hesitation and saw the face of Zack. "Hey there, Tanichka." He said warmly and smiled. "Zack!" I jumped to my feet to hug him around the neck. I held him tightly, afraid of letting him go.
"Not a good way to celebrate your birthday." He told me, gently. All I could do was laugh from happiness because at that moment I knew it was really him. "Come on, kiddo." He pulled back and looked at me. "Let's get you out of the rain." I smiled and studied his two blue eyes. "Oh, Zack," I managed to say and hugged him once more.
Someone shook me awake, and the plundering sound of the rain was gone. Romulus was looking at me, carefully searching my eyes. "You're awake?" He asked, and I nodded sleepily. "Good because they are going to announce the next match," he said, which I partly understood.
It was a long time since I had a good dream about a good memory. Zack did find me in the middle of nowhere, but I wasn't as miserable as I was in the dream.
"Function—Communication." I said and stood up. "Command confirmed," a female computer voice whispered in my earphone as I rubbed my eyes and yawned. "Zack?" I asked quietly. After a short delay I heard his sweet voice. "Hey there, Tanichka." I smiled at his words.
"Do you remember when you found me after I ran away?" I asked and leaned against the wall. "Yes." He said calmly. "It was raining that day. The streets were busy with passing cars and the people that hurried home. You were in the public garden that day." He paused. "It was, also, the day of your birthday. Why?" He asked me. I smiled and closed my eyes. "No specific reason," I said softly, "I just had a dream about it."
I heard him chuckle, "I see."
I sighed. "You know, no matter how much I hated that place, back then, I really do miss it," I said in a dreamy way, imagining how I used to walk there and feel the rain on my face. "By the way, Boris came and he's already kicking ass." I told him and heard Boris chuckle.
I pictured Zack smile as he said, "That's why he's there, Tanichka." I laughed as I agreed, "Yeah."
"The next match will begin in half an hour." A female announcer said through the speakers. "Hold on, Zack," I said quickly as the announcer continued, "Contestants will be Gorge, Memphis, Trinity, Wraith, and Zenith. All contestants, be ready to compete. It is going to be a five-way deathmatch." The announcer finished.
I looked at Boris. "Please, be gentle," I told him and he smiled. "Depends how easy you will go," He smiled, "Don't blow me up, riddle me to pieces, melt me, chop me, or put a bullet through my head, then I will be gentle." He finished. I hit him playfully on the shoulder. "Ok then, then that leaves pushing you off a cliff!" I laughed as he looked at me. A smile crawled on his face and soon he started laughing with me, as everyone stared at us. It was good to have an old friend in a hostile environment. Somehow I forgot how dangerous this place was because I was with my friend; my old, good friend.
After half an hour the two Liandri guards asked for the five contestants to come up. The big juggernaut, the one whose head got stuck in the wall after Lostis was done with him, came up to the Liandri guards. A woman dressed in Egyptian style clothing came up, and she was followed by the know-it-all-bastard. My eyes followed him, carefully. So, he can't be Gorge because Romulus told me it was that juggernaut that was Gorge, and he certainly can't be Memphis. So I was guessing he was Wraith—what a name.
"Squash him like a bug." I told Boris as my fingers curled into fists. "You make so many 'good friends,' Tanya." Boris said playfully and stepped forward towards Liandri. I looked at Romulus who nodded, making me smile. I slowly walked to Boris' side.
"It's not going to be hard," Boris whispered to me.
"Right," I said and looked at the competitors once more.
The three of them looked ferocious. Gorge was still looking like he is going to wrench off someone's head; his beady eyes measured up each contestant. The woman, who I'm guessing is Memphis, was a very young woman. Her face looked pretty and yet she looked malicious. And then, that know-it-all-bastard. He was staring straight back at me with his cold eyes. He looked confident, which made me want to beat him, even more.
We were all cuffed and lead out of the stinking hole. Boris nodded at me before they led him to a separate hall. The guard led me to a dark round room that connected to a lit corridor with the lift on the other side. He handed me the respawn device that I inserted into the slot on the right side of my belt and a metallic cover slid over it. "Respawn defense system detected," The computer voice told me in my earphone."Welcome to a five-way deathmatch," The female voice said over the speaker, "You will be competing against Gorge, Memphis, Wraith, and Zenith. The frag limit is 15 frags. Good luck."
As soon as the announcer finished, the lift beamed to life and took me up to the screaming stadium. I walked into a small arena with wall screens against the wall of this place.
Contestants entered the stadium from the identical passageways and stepped onto the center. Screaming audience surrounded us and silenced my senses. It was a good thing we can't see these animals when we compete. I for one could not take this for an entire match and hearing their reaction.
Boris came up right next to me as the other competitors stood in a circle-fashion, with Wraith in front of me. A block in the floor was replaced with a podium that slid from the ground. The stand snapped in place and the screen above us flickered on with multiple shots flashing quickly.
"Good luck out there, Tanichka," Zack said into my earphone, "I'm going off line."
Slowly turning my face towards Boris, I saw him nod with a wicked smile on his face. I smiled back at him and nodded in return. This is it. It's show time.
I quickly noticed Wraith observing me, carefully. His eyes were somewhat different. He didn't seem to be human. His stalking eyes calmly brushed mine, his lips were a thin line and his jaw tightly clenched. The soft iris in his eye turned stone cold mirroring his coal-like inhuman eye.
Dark sensation clouded me, surrounding me, drawing me inward. His eyes—something is so familiar about them. Fierce eyes of a stalking tiger, and yet scars—deep scars reflected in his brown eye. Cold eyes that had much more stories than they can tell. The way he was looking at me, where have I seen this before? I have felt this before. Is it confusion? No, mystery. Those light scratches in his iris; scratches as in surgical scars, maybe someone or something blinded him once and—
A loud thud thundered through my ears, bringing me back to reality. Wraith has pushed down the bottom with force. The screen displayed a dark metallic place with glass windows showing the view beneath the ocean.
"Welcome to the Unreal Tournament deathmatch," A male announcer echoed louder than the screaming crowd, "Today's match will take place in the Oceanic Power Station below the Thracian Sea. A word of advice from the Liandri: 'Those who do battle in the corridor below the ice, only victory staves off the chill touch of defeat.'"
It wasn't hard to notice that Wraith was still staring at me all this time. An uncomfortable feeling was placed in my gut. He wanted something from me, I just didn't know what. Most importantly, I didn't want to know what.
The spawning unit rotated above us and passed electrical charges around each contestant. "Message received. Activating combat mode." The computer voice whispered into my earphone, and my body was covered in the metallic sheet with a mask and blue sunglasses covered my face.
Boris seemed to be impressed. "Well everything seems to be in order," He whispered, "Cool sunglasses, nice mask, impressive suit," He stretched the 'impressive suit' and smiled wider, "So what's missing?" He put a hand on my shoulder. "Oh, yeah," He whispered, "How was it you say? Let's rock?" I chuckled at his words. "Yeah. Let's rock," I answered before we all spawned below the sea.
(a/n): That's all for now folks. I could have written the match in the same chapter, as well, but that would have corrupted the whole idea of what I wanted to put into this chapter. But the match will be posted in a couple of days. By the latest is Monday.