Chapter 31
"Last chance, Ekko," Ren said, "you know we would rather talk this out."
"You know I've never been good with words," Ekko replied.
They each began to pace, waiting for the other to make the first move. Ren was nervous. He knew that many of Ekko's fights appeared to end in a single strike, but Ren knew the truth. Ekko would have to try and retry the opening strikes of battles many times before it looked so effortless. For his fate to not be the same, he would need Ekko to make the first move. Out of the corner of his eye, Ren saw his solution.
Part of the railing was severely damaged from a chemical spill. Several of the poles supporting a section of the railing had been eaten away while others were barely hanging on. Ren kicked one of these poles out from under the railing and held it before him. The machinery in his augmentation whirled to life as Ren threw the pole with all his strength at Ekko. No sooner had his improvised projectile left his hand then he leapt diagonally away from Ekko.
"Then I'll just go talk the others," Ren said, "maybe they will still have sense in their heads."
Ekko knocked the pole to the side with ease. He swore under his breath and took off after Ren.
"You stay away from them," Ekko shouted.
It was with conflicting emotions that Ren smiled when he felt Ekko's fist grip his shoulder. On one hand, he took the bait and closed the distance himself, on the other hand Ren knew that what was about to follow would be painful and ugly.
Ren stopped mid step and spun around to meet Ekko head on. He grabbed Ekko's hand on his shirt and twisted his arm so that his elbow was facing downwards. Ren pulled back his other arm, winding up to smash his forearm into Ekko's elbow to break it. Ekko was faster though. He released Ren and delivered a side kick with his lead leg to push him back. Ren coughed, gripping his side, but refused to let this daze him. He reassumed a fighting stance and ducked back inwards towards Ekko, leading with a swift uppercut.
Ren kept his attacks coming at a rapid pace. Jab, hook, cross, uppercut. Anything so long as he stayed too close for Ekko to be able to comfortably swing his club. Despite this, Ren was having trouble with any of his blows making a solid connection, only managing to land a glancing blow on Ekko's shoulder in his opening salvo. Ekko, despite the lack of use of his club, still had a free hand with which he blocked and deflected Ren's attacks. At last though, Ren landed a strike.
A punch snuck through Ekko's guard and struck him in the stomach. Ekko gasped, hunching forward. Ren saw this as an opening and swung to bring his knee to Ekko's vulnerable face. Ekko saw this coming though and leaned on his club as a cane to force himself upright in time to meet this attack. He tried to counter with his own knee, gambling with the knowledge that he had always been able to out speed Ren. He lost this gamble.
Their knees collided with an audible crack. Ekko was sent tumbling back as pain exploded in his leg. He forced himself to sit upwards despite the wicked pain in his knee. Several paces from him, he saw Ren, still standing unmoved. He looked frozen, with his augmented leg still raised from his attack and his face bearing an expression of shock. Ekko took advantage of Ren's momentary stupor and pulled with cord on his Z-Drive. The world went blurry.
Ren kept his attacks coming at a rapid pace. Jab, hook, cross, uppercut. Anything so long as he stayed in too close for Ekko to be able to comfortably swing his club. Despite this, Ren was having trouble with any of his blows making a solid connection, only managing to land a glancing blow on Ekko's should in his opening salvo. Ekko, despite the lack of use of his club, still had a free hand with which he blocked and deflected Ren's attacks. At last though, Ren though he saw an opening.
Ren aimed a punch for Ekko's stomach, but before his strike could connect, Ekko turned suddenly. The only thing Ren's punch connected with was the flat of Ekko's club. He gasped as his fingers throbbed from striking metal. No sooner than he registered this, he felt Ekko's elbow strike him firmly in the chest. Ekko then took a step back to give himself the space he needed to appropriately utilize his weapon, but his knee still ached despite the rewind and it buckled beneath him. Ren noticed this. A feeling of anger welled inside him, pushing any thought of pain from his mind.
"You rewinded," he hissed.
"And you knew that was something I could do before we started this," Ekko shot back as he righted himself.
"I knew but hoped but hoped you wouldn't. I was hoping that this would be a fair fight."
"There are no fair fights in Zaun, we both know this."
"Then I guess I don't need to pull my punches anymore."
"Same goes for me. Don't worry too much though. I'll rewind if I do anything too serious to you."
"Hmm."
Ren rubbed his knuckles. They ached, but they weren't broken. He wanted to keep it that way and he knew that to do that, he would need that pole back. Unfortunately, it was lying on the ground behind Ekko. Ren took in a deep breath of air to clear his mind. Then, he was in motion.
Ren used what little space he had to gain a running start, closing the distance between them in seconds. Ekko readied his club. Ren charged his leg. At the last moment, he jumped upwards to the side. Ren could feel the rush of air the club made as it missed his arm by inches. He stretched out his augmented leg waiting to hear the 'tink' of metal on metal. He heard it as his leg touched the railing and so he released energy building in his augmentation.
The railing gave out a groan as it was bent under the force. Ren went sailing over Ekko's head and landed heavily, inches from the pole. Ren dove for the improvised weapon, snatching it up and turning to block Ekko just in time. The pole sent vibrations down Ren's arms as it was struck with the flat of Ekko's club. Ekko pulled his arm back and with a twist of his wrist, turned his weapon to strike with the sharpened edge of the old clock hand. Ren also adjusted his grip, bringing his two hands closer together and swung the pole like a sword.
Again their weapons collided with a clang, but this time it was not a draw. Ren looked on in horror as Ekko's weapon cut through the pole, shortening his weapon by several inches. Ekko pushed his advantage, swinging inward as he chambered his right knee. Again, Ren's weapon was reduced in size. Ren was determined to strike first this time. He pulled back to swing, but Ekko struck with his kick first, nailing him in the thigh.
Pain tore through Ren's body, as the force of Ekko's kick put unwanted stress on the muscles that connected directly to the augmentation and threw him off balance. This was the opening Ekko had been hoping for. With a two-handed swing, he brought the bladed edge of his club into the side of Ren's augmentation below the knee. Sparks flew as the metal was cut open, but unlike the pole, Viktor's handiwork was made of a stronger metal, and Ekko's weapon became stuck in the machinery. A mixture of blood and chemicals poured from the opening as Ekko struggled to free his club. Ren swore at the top of his lungs. He held the pole in a white knuckled grip and slammed it down on Ekko's collarbone. There was an audible snap. Ekko dropped to the ground, his head reeling. Desperately, he reached back and pulled the cord.
Again, Ren's weapon was reduced in size. Ren was determined to strike first this time. He pulled back to swing, but Ekko struck with his kick first, nailing him in the thigh. Pain tore through Ren's body, as the force of Ekko's kick put unwanted stress on the muscles that connected directly to the augmentation and threw him off balance. Ekko knew this opening was coming. He adjusted his attack, this time striking at a thinner spot. His weapon cut into the side of the augmentation, closer to the ankle. The limb wasn't severed as he had hoped, but at least his club wasn't stuck.
Ren looked mortified. Lubricants leaked over the exposed wires. Images of mangled flesh and torn muscles flashed through his mind. Something inside him snapped. All thoughts of pain were pushed from his mind as he began to swing the pipe with wild abandon. Ekko jumped back as the pole moved through where his face was moments before. Ren howled as he swung again. Ekko blocked it with the sharpened edge of his weapon, cutting Ren's in half. This did nothing to stop Ren though. He whipped half of the pole at Ekko, forcing him to hastily jump aside. He was ready for Ekko before he had a chance to regain his footing. After a quick charge, Ren brought a rocket powered roundhouse kick slamming into Ekko's arm. There was a snapping sound, and then, with the pull of a cord, it was all undone.
Ren began to swing the pipe with wild abandon. Ekko jumped back as the pole moved through where his face was moments before. Ren howled as he swung again. Ekko blocked it with the sharpened edge of his weapon, cutting Ren's in half. This did nothing to stop Ren though. He whipped half of the pole at Ekko, who this time jumped backwards. Instead of his arm, Ren's kick slammed into the guard rail, bending it below the force and widening the gash in the augmentation. Ren swore. Ekko steeled his focus as he dodged the other half of the pole. But rather than follow through with another kick, Ren just ran at Ekko with arms outstretched.
Ekko stared dumbfounded for a moment, but the bloodlust in Ren's eyes quickly snapped him out of it. He swung at the augmentation, striking it in the side, much to his amazement. Ren acted as though he didn't feel the second hole being ripped into his limb, grabbing onto Ekko on his shoulders and shoving him backwards. Ren continued to drive on, overpowering Ekko with the help of combustion backed steps. His augmentation groaned in duress as sparks began to fly from his wounds as well. Ekko tried to strike back by throwing a punch into Ren's arm, but to no effect.
"It doesn't matter," Ren growled through grit teeth, "as long as I hurt you badly enough, you'll rewind and undo this to me as well."
With a final shove, Ren forced Ekko up against the railing. He followed up with an augmented knee to the kidney. Ekko gasped. He lost his grip on his weapon and it clattered to the ground. Ren didn't waste this opportunity and kicked it over the edge, sending it tumbling down towards the base of the Splinter. He then charged up another knee, but before this one could connect, Ekko pulled the cord.
Ren began to swing the pipe with wild abandon. Ekko dodged the incoming attacks and cut Ren's pole in half. As before, he dodged the thrown pole, letting the kick slam into the railing and further damaging the augmentation. Ren swore. Ekko once again dodged the other half of the pole, but this time knew Ren's charge was coming. He ran to meet him head on. Knowing that his club wouldn't deter Ren, he instead pulled his arm back and delivered a backhand towards the face. Ren had no choice but to raise his hands to block it, and in this moment, Ekko stepped to the side and followed up with a jab to the exposed kidneys. This threw Ren off balance, and Ekko took the chance to deliver another blow to the augmentation.
However, Ren expected this. As the blade dug into the metal, Ren shot his elbow backwards into Ekko's stomach. Not giving his opponent time to recover, Ren turned around and seized Ekko by his hair. He yanked it backwards, exposing Ekko's neck.
"No fair fights in Zaun," Ren repeated before punching at his vulnerable target.
Ekko reached for his cord, pulling it just as Ren's punch connected. Time swirled backwards as Ekko coughed and gasped. When he returned to seconds prior, he leapt back further than the previous times in an attempt to buy himself more moments to recover his breath. He rubbed his throat and groaned, forcing himself to focus. But unlike the previous times, Ren didn't charge forward. Instead he stood there, seemingly frozen, with the pipe gripped and at the ready. His eyes darted between Ekko and his forearm. He had noticed that it was covered in goosebumps. Ren knew what this meant. He had always gotten goosebumps when he was near Ekko after a rewind. He took a deep breath.
"How many times?" Ren asked, "how many times have we had this fight? Judging by your bruises it's been a few."
"You don't need to know," Ekko spat back, "cause in the only one that matters, I will be victorious."
"I think one of those times mattered a lot more than you want to admit," Ren continued to taunt as he looked over his opponent, "I see swelling around your shoulder. Did I manage to break that? I know broken bones mend after you rewind, but I also know that the pain doesn't always fade. So how many more times am I going to need to snap that thing before you give up?"
"As many as it takes."
Ren took another glance down at his augmentation. He spat.
"How fortunate you are to have that luxury," Ren said in a voice dripping with as much anger as envy.
He began to tap his foot steadily.
"Some of us aren't so lucky. Some of us have to live with the consequences of our actions."
"I'm sorry I wasn't there. I searched for you for days. I thought you were dead. I was devastated. I'm sorry I couldn't find you."
"Sorry doesn't cut it, Ekko. Sorry doesn't bring back my leg. Sorry doesn't make me forget how my rotting flesh smelled. Sorry doesn't undo the feelings of hopelessness that consume you when you think you're going to die. Only Viktor has done anything to lift me up from that! And you want to put me through all of that again."
"I'm trying to help you, you idiot!"
"Enough! You've had I don't know how many chances to help, but in the ones that mattered you weren't there. I'm starting to think that the reason you hate my augmentation is because it's a reminder that you failed."
Ren tapped his foot again. Enough time had passed that if Ekko rewound again, it would return them to this conversation. He had counted it. Now, with his head level once more, he reengaged. He charged with a half of the pole in each hand. With one, Ren swung high towards Ekko's head while the other aimed for his stomach. Ekko maneuvered his club vertically, blocking both swings simultaneously but leaving his side exposed. Ren took advantage of this, pulling his arms back tightly and pivoting around the club. He snapped both arms out in a singular motion, nailing Ekko in the ribs.
Ekko pulled the cord and the Z-Drive flashed brilliantly.
Ren charged with a half a pole in each hand. With one, he swung high towards Ekko's head while the other aimed for his stomach. Ekko maneuvered his club vertically, blocking both swings simultaneously but leaving his side exposed. However, he knew where Ren was about to move, so he swung his club in that direction, slapping Ren away with the flat of it. Ren pulled his arms up into a protective position and noticed that they were once again covered in fresh goosebumps. He shook his head and vowed to be more aware next time.
Ekko swung at him, aiming the dull half of the club towards his upper arm. Ren turned into the swing, blocking it with both poles. He then swung the pole closer to Ekko downwards, following the shape of his opponents arm towards the neck. Before it could connect, Ekko stepped back before returning with a lunging strike. Ren pivoted, letting his augmentation take the blow rather than his stomach. The metal dented beneath the force but did not puncture. He then brought the pole downwards on Ekko's elbow.
Snap. Pull. Rewind.
Ren charged with a half a pole in each hand. He swung towards Ekko's head and stomach. His eyes caught a glimpse of goosebumps on his forearms. Ekko blocked, as he had before, but Ren didn't capitalize on his seemingly exposed side. Instead, he quickly chambered his leg and delivered a roundhouse kick. His struck Ekko, but only barely, with only the tip of his augmented foot getting around the club. Even still, the metal connecting with his side shocked Ekko enough that he leapt back to gain some distance. Ren smiled.
"Weren't expecting that, were you?" Ren taunted.
Ekko only scowled in response, so Ren continued to talk on.
"I may not be as bright as you, but I can think on my feet quickly enough. I noticed that you rewound, so I made a quick change to my plan of attack. Now I just need to keep whittling you away. Not so fun to fight someone who knows how you work, is it?"
"Nah, it ain't fun at all. But it will all be worth it once I knock some sense into you. As many times as it takes."
"Even you don't have that many tries," Ren huffed, "just accept that Viktor was there for me when you weren't. I know you distrust him,"
"It goes beyond distrust, Renatus, he tried to kidnap me or did you forget that?"
"I haven't."
"Then why do you still defend him?"
"Because I don't think he's a monster anymore. He just has really, really bad people skills."
"That's a poor excuse."
"And your dislike of him, while a slightly less poor excuse, still isn't enough of a reason for me to give up the one silver lining I have been clinging to since I lost my leg. And that silver lining is that I can do things now I never could before."
As he had been talking, Ren was allowing his leg to charge. Now, he released it. Ren launched himself into the air and swung down powerfully with both poles. Ekko had no choice to dodge out of the way. The cement at the point of impact was scorched. The augmentation shuttered from the stress but Viktor's handiwork held together.
"I'm living with the consequences of my actions," Ren shouted as he continued his attack, "it's time for you to do the same."
Leaping from where he landed, Ren followed through with a charged roundhouse kick. Bracing with both hands, Ekko blocked it with the flat of his blade. The impact caused both the club and augmentation to reverberate unhappily. A fresh wave of lubricants and oil spilled from Ren's limb, but he ignored it. Using the momentum from the kick, Ren swung both poles around together, aiming for Ekko's fingers. With a twist of his wrist, Ekko turned his club so that Ren's weapons now met with the sharpened edge, shearing them shorter. Ren threw them at Ekko's feet. Then, with a charged shove, he threw himself into Ekko. They both tumbled backwards.
Ekko's fist plated itself firmly in Ren's gut. Ren bit back bile as his stomach churned form the blow, but he remained focused on his goal. He reached desperately for the Z-Drive. If he could take it from Ekko, this fight was over. Another of Ekko's punches found their mark, this time in the kidney. Ren reflexively recoiled in pain. Ekko tried to use this chance to scramble back to his feet. Ren went to prop his augmentation up under himself but, to his surprise, the limb didn't respond to his command. Too depleted of its vital liquids to function, his ankle seized up. Desperation gripped Ren. He had to force a rewind now.
With all the force of his remaining leg, he lunged at Ekko, grabbing him around the waist and pulling him back down. Ekko was better prepared this time, and brought his club down on the augmentation, tearing open a fresh gash.
"It doesn't matter," Ren thought, "as long as I hurt him badly enough, he'll rewind and undo this as well."
He slammed Ekko to the ground and delivered a punch to his face. Warmth spilled over his hand as blood poured from Ekko's broken nose. Ren felt the bile rising in his stomach again. Still, he pulled back his arm for another punch that would never connect.
Pull. Rewind.
"I'm living with the consequences of my actions," Ren shouted as he continued his attack, "it's time for you to do the same."
Leaping from where he landed, Ren followed through with a charged roundhouse kick. Ekko blocked it with the flat of his blade. The impact caused both the club and augmentation to reverberate unhappily. A fresh wave of lubricants and oil spilled from Ren's limb, but he ignored it. He pulled back his arms to swing, but caught sight of the goosebumps. Immediately he changed his attack. Ren dropped the poles and grabbed onto Ekko's club. He yanked it down towards himself, pulling the two of them closer together. Up closer, he saw that Ekko's nose was swollen and he knew what he had to do. Suddenly, Ren whipped his head backwards before slamming it into Ekko's face. His head swooned from the impact, but he knew Ekko was probably faring much worse. He was correct.
Pull. Rewind.
"I'm living with the consequences of my actions," Ren shouted as he continued his attack, "it's time for you to do the same."
Leaping from where he landed, Ren followed through with a charged roundhouse kick. Ekko didn't block this time, choosing instead to leap out of the way. He jumped back towards the railing, hoping the space would give him the time he needed to quickly brush away the single drop of blood that dripped from his twice healed nose. He had only a moment before Ren was upon him again. Ren came swinging with the poles and Ekko met him with an attack of his own. With the longer reach, Ekko's attack landed first, knocking one of the poles from Ren's hand. He then quickly brushed the improvised weapon over the edge, determined not to trip on it again. If he could just get rid of the second one, the fight would be over. Ren would be forced onto the defensive.
Neither wanted to give the other much time to strategize, so again they charged. Ekko swung upwards towards his opponent's arm and final shred of a weapon. Ren crouched low, dodging below the attack. Aided by his augmentation, he jumped towards the railing. He had hoped to use the railing like a springboard as before and land a decisive blow on Ekko's back. Back that hope vanished in an instant. As his leg touched down on the railing, his ankle, too depleted of its vital liquids to function, sized up. And backwards he fell.
Ren's face morphed from confusion to alarm to fear in one long second. The pole slipped from his hand. His legs stumbled as they tried to balance. But nothing helped. In the last moment, his eyes met with Ekko's. He looked equally conflicted.
"Ekko!" Ren cried out as he fell to the Splinter's base.
Ekko's shot reverberated throughout the canyon.
Pull. Rewind.
"I'm living with the consequences of my actions," Ren shouted as he continued his attack, "it's time for you to do the same."
"Just shut up, will you," Ekko growled under his breath as he steadied a trembling hand, "I've heard it before."
Leaping from where he landed, Ren followed through with a charged roundhouse kick. Ekko decided to once more try blocking the kick. The impact caused both the club and augmentation to reverberate unhappily. A fresh wave of lubricants and oil spilled from Ren's limb, but he ignored it. As Ren was pulling his arms back for another attack, Ekko shoved himself forward. Ekko knew Ren's ankle would be weakened and capitalized on this knowledge. He slammed the flat of his club into Ren's shoulder, shoving the other boy a few paces. With this opening, Ekko further increased the distance between them. Eat up seconds to ensure that any future rewind would bring them back to a moment before the augmentation was close to failure. Victory was close. Only who knows how many more times to go.
Ekko wiped the sweat from his forehead. He couldn't remember the last time he had been pushed like this. He held his weapon with a steady grip and steeled his mind. Across from him, Ren was charging his augmentation. Ekko knew this would be the last time before the malfunction. He gave a shaking sigh. This was it. All he had to do was meet Ren one more time. He ran forward with his weapon raised. Focus. Focus. One more time. One perfect time. Focus. Focus.
He didn't notice.
There was an angry hum and a bright flash of light. The laser struck Ekko in the leg. The stench of burning filled the air. Ekko collapsed onto the charred ground, blood oozing from his stump. As he howled in pain, Ren looked on mortified.
Pull. Rewind.
Ekko ran forward with his weapon raised. His mind was still reeling from the pain but he forced himself to dig in his heels and bring himself to an abrupt stop. The angry hum filled the air and there was a bright flash of light. The path of the laser scorched the ground right where Ekko would have been a moment later. He let out a stifled groan and gripped his leg. It was back, though from the knee down all he felt was pins and needles. He leaned on his club for support and looked upwards for the laser's origins.
There, on the higher path, Viktor was standing. His third arm was still glowing and was poised for another attack. Ren looked dumbstruck. His eyes darted from Viktor to the scorch marks to Ekko's violently trembling leg to the fresh goosebumps on his arms. Anger welled within him as he realized what happened.
"You, you," Ren stammered as he still tried to find a target for his confused ire, "you would have," he looked at Viktor, "but you," he turned to Ekko, "you lost your leg right there, didn't you?"
Ekko didn't say anything. He only forced himself to steady.
"You lost your leg!" Ren repeated, "the same one, but you got to undo that!"
Now it was Ren who was trembling.
"Stand back, N-12," Viktor commanded.
He pulled his gravity magnet device from where it hung at his waist. Energy crackled in the palm of his third arm. He was prepared for Ekko's next move.
Ekko swore to himself. He had lost. In his heart he knew that he would collapse before he found a victorious path against two opponents. He took a defensive stance and moved closer to the railing.
"Looks like your master has come to save you," he spat at Ren.
"Don't change the subject!" Ren demanded, taking a step closer.
"I told you to stand back," Viktor's voice boomed, "I will finish this."
A new ray for pure energy sprang forth from Viktor's mechanical limb. Ekko was ready for it though, and he jumped over the railing to avoid it. With a light thud, he landed on unsteady feet on the pathway below. He cast a final, hateful look at the scientist.
"Crawl back to your lab," he shouted.
And with that, Ekko retreated into the labyrinth on Zaun.
Ren ran to the railing and called out after him.
"Ekko! Get back here, we aren't finished yet!"
"You are," Viktor cut in.
Ren looked up at his rescuer with disdain.
"It is time for us to go, N-12," Viktor continued.
Ren let out a long anguished cry that filled the Splinter's Gorge.
Greetings Summoners,
Wow, this chapter was a project. Thank you all for your patience as I wrote this thing. It's been a while since I've written something so hand-to-hand close combat-ey. I hope you all enjoy this. It feels like the story is ready to enter its 3rd act. As always, I appreciate feedback. Also, I'm going to be at PAX East this weekend. If any of you are going, send me a message and let me know. I would love to meet my readers.
Best of luck on the Rift,
-Gwoo
