Ch. 9 - No Need For Battle Royale (Part I)
"Geez, this place is crowded." Ryoko said, annoyed at all the shoving and pushing.
Pinch
"HEY! YOU BASTARD!" She swung around and flattened a grungy man standing behind her, who happened to let his hands wander. "I SWEAR, this place is full of creeps."
"I know what you mean..." Ayeka said, keeping close to Tenchi. "But you fit right in, Ryoko. Don't you feel at home?"
"No, but with that get-up, Im sure you feel right at home" Ryoko shot back.
"You want to take this outside, Ryoko?" Ayeka said stopping in the middle of the crowd.
"No! Lets do it right here and now!" Ryoko said, her anger swelling up. "Gah!"
Washu hit both of them over the head to knock some sense in them. "I don't believe it. Even in the most dire situations, you two still manage to fight. Will you two grow up for once. Were here to get a job done."
"Hey who are you to talk? Your just going to be watching us four fight it out" Ryoko said, rubbing her head. Washu grabbed her by the ear and pulled her down. "Ow!"
"Now listen here, young lady, IM going to be on the sidelines so nothing bad happens any of you, not to mention I have to check in with Kiyone and Mihoshi every now and then." Washu said with an evil smile spread across her face. "Now you be good, and listen to your mother for once."
She let go of her, and Ryoko, stood upright, now rubbing her ear. (Didnt have to go and yank on it, you know..)
"Oh, ho ho! Yes, Ryoko, listen to your mother..Ow!" Ayeka started off.
"That goes for you too, Ayeka" Washu said hitting across the head again. She looked at her feet in shame.
"Uh, Hey. I don't mean to be rude and all, but you think we could get a move on?" Zack said, cutting into the little ordeal a bit to late. "Uh, yeah. Were kinda making a line..."
He pointed behind them, and a crude line was forming, full with pirates, bandits, thieves and everything of the sort. They made quick to get a move on, since they didnt really want to cause anymore trouble then needed.
Tenchi had already went ahead of them and checked in with Zack while the girls were arguing, but Zack went back to get them. Tenchi was escorted to a small room with grey stone walls. A few benches with cloth and cabinets were placed about the room. He sat down on a near by bench, and waited. He looked out a widel 'window' into the arena. It was large and circular with high walls separating it from the stands from what it seemed, but a square elevated platform stood in the center about 20 or 30 yards from the ground. It was not connected to any sides of the arena itself. Crowds gathered around the edges of the arena. It seemed that the arena was cut off into sections. Around the base line, where chain link fence was, there were no real seats, or none that Tenchi could see. It was just the mobs. On the second level, there were seats and seemed to be more spacious and there was no chain link fence seperating the viewers from the arena, just a railing. On the third level, is the most luxurious of the 3. It was also the smallest, but well taken care of. Pretty Hand maids catered to this class of the population, which seemed like officials and Rich business men. It also happened to have the best view of the arena. The people were not all from the same planet either, as their attire changed here and there. Tenchi could see Vasquez up in the top row.
"Thats all the corrupt officials from everyone in this end of the universe sit. The fight is also a bit of a gambling event, as people gamble their money on who will be the winner." Washu said sitting down next to Tenchi. He wasnt all that surprised, because he was in a more serious mood about what was about to take place. "Of coarse, for them, it's a sure bet on the man were after today."
"Who are we after?" Tenchi asked.
"Vasquez wants us to take down the competitor under the name Talaquine. I havent even seen the guy yet. I think hes probably got his own waiting room and what not, with his winning streak and connections." Washu informed Tenchi. "If that bartender is keeping to his word, then we may not even have to be in this competition for long. Unfortunately, were required to fight atleast 1 match."
"Huh? What do you mean?" Tenchi said, breaking away from the cold stare he was giving Vasquez.
"I don't know if its just our luck or someone's doing, but Zack has the fourth fight in the competition, and the rest of you aren't scheduled to fight today. And Zack's fight is with Talaquine." Washu said. She stood up and approached the window. The first fight was about to begin, and the crowds were already becoming riled up. Tenchi had a look of worry on his face. "Don't worry, Zack's not going to kill him. I've got it all thought out, so that Vasquez will think Talaquine is dead, that is until we get Sasami back."
Tenchi smiled. (Always one step ahead,) He thought to himself. Ryoko and Ayeka crashed through the door just then, with a new fight in hand. Zack just strolled in casually with his hands behind his head.
"Im surprised you can even live in the same house with those two sometimes..." Zack said, watching the two girls fight. Tenchi sighed, as Washu came over and 'took care of business' between the two girls.
The matches seemed to go by quick. And they were brutal. There were Fatalities, or near fatalities already in the first 3 matches. To fall off the platform was the only way out of the fight, and even that wasnt a guarantee of living, as the pit which the platform hovered over tended to fill up with often deadly things.
"They certainly do fight dirty... Im disgusted by this barbaric behavior" Ayeka said, often avoiding the sight of bloodied arena.
"Blood lust and gambling, two factors that bring in millions to those who host this. Its about the money in the end. Life isn't a factor to them. Its how much they can pull in." Washu said.
"I do hope that bartender dude, Mr. E, is telling the truth about GP's plan to take this place over." Zack said. The door to the waiting room opened and a young pretty girl in a black silk dress with two tough looking guards hovering behind her came in.
"Its time for your match, Mr. Zack. Follow me please." She said in a soft pretty voice.
"Wish me luck" Zack said smiling and giving a thumbs up. He followed her out and they went down the hall way from the room. After a few moments, he could be seen at the bottom edge of the floor of the arena, with the girl and bodyguards. They stepped on a small elevator which brought them to the center platform. Zack stepped out onto it, and the elevator descended once again.
He shifted his weight and observed the platform. It was square with nothing on it but dust and some boulders. It was very large as well, when a person actually got to it, 40 or 50 yards across with the boulders placed randomly about the arena. Zack assumed they were to provide cover, to make it more interesting. He took off the long cloak he was wearing and shifted his weight again.
He wasnt wearing his Earth clothes, but Dracadian battle armor. For his Order, the armor was constructed of a 'trench coat' that hung to his knees that was a crimson red in color. Shoulder protectors were fastened onto it as well. A belt helped bring it close around his waste. Shin high boots, with ornate designs that both gave who ever viewed them a feeling of aw, as well as fear. Long 'pants' that were dark brown, almost black, in color that had streaks of red down the sides met the shoes and tucked into them, A Vest and 'shirt' was underneath the Coat. He wore gloves and guards on his for arms that had daggers strapped to the undersides of each one. The gloves were studded on the knuckles as well. He wore a red head band tied around in the back, on the front, was a small red jewel that emitted a fiery glow. Similar looking stones were also visible on the back of his hands, behind the studs. A small brooch was clipped onto his right chest, with it a strange symbol and a flame with a sword.
He took a few deep breaths to calm himself, because the whole scenario was beginning to getting him hyped up as well as nervous. (I wont lose this match...) He said to himself. He began to feel invigorated again by the crowd. It was different, to say the least. The crowds yelling and screaming, The bright lights from the ceiling, somewhat blinding, and the feel of power and knowledge that in a few moments time, he was going to be fighting for his life. It invigorated him to some extent. He took some more deep breaths to get his head on straight.
Across the ring, his competitor came. Zack squinted a bit to focus in on his opponant. The crowd began to scream and chant Talaquine. (He doesn't seem like much,) Zack thought to himself. And he didnt seem like much. He wasnt to tall, maybe 5 foot 10, and wasnt extremely muscular. He had well built features of the typicial lady killer, slender pale grey eyes, semi long blue hair, angular face, the works. He didnt seem to wear much armor either. He dressed in a Black tank top and some long jeans, and some sturdy shoes. The only things out of the ordinary were his belt and arms. He wore gloves as well, with guards on each arm, but they were more mechanical and sophisticated. The belt was also mechanical in nature. A cube floated into the middle of the arena between the two combatants.
"There are no rules. Winner is the last man standing in the arena. The Fight begins..NOW!" droned the floating cube and then flying off. Zack darted out and made a leap for the nearest boulder to hide behind. He ducked in close, excepting there to be an explosion of some sort, but none came. He peaked from hiding. The roar of the crowd seemed far and distant to him. He was to much into the situation to hear them. Talaquine was just slowly moving around from his spot and approaching Zack. He leaped out from his hiding place, and summoned a bit of his energy to make a 'fire sword'.
"Aren't you a little bit far from home, Dracadian?" Said Talaquine when he was within voice range of Zack. The Dracadian didnt pick up the slightest stutter or bit of hesitation in his voice. Talaquine seemed totally calm. "Now why would a Dracadian come out to some grungy death match? Isn't there a war you have to fight?"
"Is that all you can do? Taunt your opponent? What are you? All bark and no bite?" Zack shot back keeping his ground. His voice seemed to falter slightly, as he was nervous that Talaquine seemed so calm about everything.
"Oh, there is no rush, really. I just like getting to know my victims, that's all." Talaquine said with a smirk.
"Yeah, well you can get to know me after I beat you!" Zack said, taking a quick slide to his right and lunged off angle at Talaquine. He smiled with satisfaction, knowing his blade would not miss, but it did. He caught himself and steadied. Talaquine was gone from sight. A gust of air from his right, and a hard jab from his back. Zack moved with the jab, to reduce the force of it, although it still threw him off. He readied to charge Talaquine again, but he wasnt there. Another small gust of wind, but this time from behind him. He swung quickly to his right, where Talaquine was. He gracefully dodged the swing, and hit Zack hard in the stomach when he was left open. He doubled over, but picked himself up quick and resumed a fighting stance. Talaquine just stood a few yards away from him, calm and composed. Not even showing the slightest bit of fatigue or frustration. He was actually smiling, like he was enjoying every moment.
"What the hell are you, some kind of ghost?" Zack said, wiping the sweat from his face.
"Maybe" He said calmly, still smiling.
"Well lets see what your made of ghost" Zack said throwing a small bolt of fire from one of his hands to Talaquines left. He shielded himself for a moment, taken off guard by the quickness of the surprise attack. Zack took his chance and charged at him. He swung viciously at Talaquine, nailing a few good hits on him. He charged another ball of fire in his free hand and sent it at Talaquine with great speed. But Talaquine simply caught it with this gloves. His guards glowed and made a small vree sound as he threw it back at Zack. He dodged it, not wanting to bother with reabsorbing his own fire ball. Talaquine took this chance and struck Zack. He disengaged his fire sword and began to block Talaquine's lightning fast punches and kicks with his guards. One or two hits broke through every now and then, sending a painful blow to Zack. He fell back a bit, and lunged at Talaquine with might. He hit him hard across the face, a clean right hook. Talaquine stumbled backwards a bit. Zack took this opportunity to finish his stunned adversary off, and summoned his fire sword again. He charged at him and jumped into the air to bring his sword down on Talaquine with all his might. A glow of blinding light filled the center of the platform. The crowd died down a bit, but roared when it was gone. Zack was shaking, using quite a bit of his strength, but to no avail to hit Talaquine with his 'fire sword'. Talaquine held it with just one hand, and showed no signs of struggling. He smiled his usual smile.
"D-damn, what the hell?" Zack said, beginning to buckle as he tried using his own weight to force it down on Talaquine. "Impossible!"
"Ah, so your from the Order of the Blaze." Talaquine said taking note of Zack's brooch. "How pathetic. I expected more from them. Not quite the Aphotic Epoch or Guardian Cross, but still. Oh well, play times over. It was a fun match."
The guard on Talaquine's arm that was holding Zack's sword began to hum, and glow. Zack tried to break away by dispersing his sword, but couldnt. It was as if he was stuck. Talaquine used his free arm and pulled something off his belt. He held up a small blue marble to Zack.
"M-my power! W-what the hell are you doing?" Zack said still trying to free himself from his own blade as he felt his own energy being syphoned away from him.
"Do you know what this is?" Talaquine said, not evening hearing Zack. "This is compressed liquid nitrogen. Very cold stuff. You do know what it does to your particular breed of Dracadian, don't you?"
Zack knew very well what it would do, and struggled harder to free himself, but could not. It was like he was petrified.
"It makes your skin, and then your muscles, contract so tight that they tear away from themselves," Talaquine droned on. "But it doesnt happen in split seconds. It happens relatively slowly, and is from what I hear, the very worst way a fire breed can die. Lets see if thats true, then."
He smile broadened with his sadistic intentions, and he took the gem and stood back at full arms length. "I guess this is good bye."
Talaquine pulled his arm back to throw it at Zack's feet. As he did, however, Zack used all this might to break free, and through Talaquine off balance. He let go of Zack's blade as he through it, but it was not directly under him, but in front of him slightly. The marble cracked and burst. Compressed liquid shot out at Zack.
"GRRRYEAAAAAAAAAAH" Came a cry from the cloud of vaporized liquid nitrogen.
"And that takes care of that." Talaquine said brushing himself off. "Eh?"
The gas cleared, and Zack stood there, wobbly as fire dissipated from around him. The ground underneath him was smoldering and gave a glow. Gashes along were visible on his arms face and body. He fell down onto his knees, breathing heavily, half dazed, bright red beginning to seep from his wounds. He looked up at Talaquine with anger and defiance.
"Oh, very clever. Now that's the kind of show I'd expect from the Blaze. Throwing up a wall of fire around you to counter the liquid nitrogen. Very clever." Talaquine said, half marveling, half taunting Zack and his efforts. "But unfortunately, to sustain a firewall like that must leave you pretty drained."
He walked over casually and picked up Zack by his neck with ease. Zack winced as a tremor of pain surged through his body from the torn wounds. The gemstone on his headband was fading in intensity, now only a faint glow. "Well, I wanted to put on a show for our generous audiance, but I cant do that anymore it seems. I think Ill just crush your neck and let it be that."
He began to squeeze Zack's neck with ease. Zack struggled to release himself from Talaquin's vice grip like choke. His vision began to become fuzzy and dim. (I guess this is the end of the road...Cant believe ... I...Lost) Zack thought to himself as he just about lost conscience. But the arena rocked violently all of a sudden, and Zack was thrown from Talaquines grip. The edge which they happened to be standing on gave way. Talaquine jumped back from the crumbling edge onto a more secure position on the platform. Zack fell with the boulders and dust of the falling debris. Things seemed to move around him in slow motion. He smiled and closed his eyes. A crashing thunder filled his ears and then there was only silence.