Battle Two
Leaving Flint
Flint, Michigan
The city of Flint had been hit hard by the reccesion. People lived in ramshackle houses and dreamed. After the factories started closing, the biggest employer left in town was the U.S. military.
Jessica Green had told her children, "Always strive for the best. Never settle for second place." Elizabeth had perhaps followed this doctrine a bit too seriously. She had been an honor graduate from boot camp at Parris Island and was widely recognised as a stern taskmaster. She had always worn a scowl or an evil smile on her face. No one ever asked her if she enjoyed her work. It took the defeat against Ritsuko Kobayashi four years ago to bring her to her senses. Now, she seemed to move with a newfound happiness. She took pride in her work as a drill instructor and in her abilities as a Marine.
Andrew Green had started to play Angelic Layer when he was ten and Elizabeth was twenty three. Now, after 8 years of playing, he had joined his sister in the Marine Corps and was a member of the American national team. Elizabeth was first ranked in the country. He was ranked twentieth. He sighed. This year, two new rules had gone into effect. First, each country was limited to twenty deuses, and second, each angel could equip up to two approved attachments or weapons. Projectile, wave, and stun weapons were barred, as were weapons or attachments that could actually physically damage the angels. Andrew nodded as he equipped his angel with a blunt naginata (Japanese halberd, a long wooden stick with a short blade at the end) and a jet booster. It was a bulky power type dressed in the Marine Corps dress uniform. The feet were covered by black boots.
Andrew looked up when Elizabeth entered the room. He saluted. She shook her head.
"At ease," she said, smiling. She took Wasp out of her shoulder bag and set it down on the layer. She equipped Wasp with a scimitar (a curved sword used by the Bedouins of North Africa and the Middle East and carried by modern Marine officers) and an M16 rifle. The rifle was really just a stick carved and painted to look like a rifle. It was not a projectile weapon. The scimitar also had a blunt blade in order to comply with regulations. Wasp's combat fatigues featured a strap on the back to hold weapons that were not being used. Elizabeth turned to Andrew.
"Want to battle?" she asked. Andrew nodded.
"Wasp!" Elizabeth shouted, "prove your worth to the world with your sting! Wasp, fall in"
"Go, Semper!" Andrew called. "Knock your opponents away! Semper, fall in!"
The battle began. Wasp moved quickly. Within a second it was on top of Semper. Wasp drew the scimitar and began slicing. Semper used the naginata to parry the attacks. After a few seconds Wasp lunged too far and Semper knocked it off balance with a well aimed strike to the stomach. Wasp took 10 damage and skidded until it was two inches from the edge of the layer. Semper's jet booster allowed it to move quickly towards Wasp. Semper lunged. Wasp dodged and the momentum almost threw Semper from the layer. Semepr used the naginata as a brace to stop its skid, then used the jet booster to move back towards Wasp. Semper lunged again, this time connecting for 20 damage and sending Wasp into the air. Semper used the jet booster to follow, and with a well executed slash, sent Wasp into the surface of the layer. Wasp had just 34 HP left when it stood up. Semper landed and lunged. Wasp drew the scimitar and parried the strike. Wasp then used its sword hand to hit Semper with the bottom of the fist. Semper stopped and Wasp then hit hard with the blade of the scimitar. Semper took 15 damage from these two attacks and was briefly stunned as Andrew bit his lip. Wasp put away the scimitar and pulled the M16 from the strap on the back of its fatigues. Using the rifle as a staff, Wasp executed a brilliant series of slashes and lunges to push Semper to the edge of the layer. Wasp then punted Semper from the layer with a side kick to the stomach.
Elizabeth stood up and returned Semper to Andrew. At that moment a taxi pulled up in front of the house. The two went to the living room, took their suitcases and angels, and took the taxi to the airport for the flight to Honolulu.
Andrew: Waa! I lost!
Elizabeth: Buck up already! We have to ask for reviews!
Both: Please R&R!