The pulsing hum of the Bullhead's twin engines rumbles throughout the bulky ship's cargo bay, creating a white noise like backdrop to the rolling thunder of professor Peter Port's voice as he recants his golden years to his captivated audience. Tales of great bravery and tremendous foes, paint a silver tinged picture in the mind of 51-M0N. A simple and unadulterated world, of heroes and monsters, black and white, right and wrong, This world appeals to 51-M0N as something to strive for. A shift in momentum can be felt throughout the bay as the Bullhead bleeds airspeed in preparation to shift its engines into VTOL configuration and land at the air dock. The frame of the craft shakes as it makes its final approach before the dull thud of the landing gear resting upon the ground resonates throughout the cargo bay. Light seeps through the crack along the outer edge of the door frame as it pulls away from the hull of the ship before proceeding to open fully with a wave of blinding light revealing the majesty of Beacon academy to 51-M0N for the first time. A sweeping cobblestone path leads towards a set of stone arches set in a circular pattern around the perimeter of the school. Great spires reach out towards the sky its self as if challenging some unknown god for supremacy. The schools stained glass windows shimmer like jewels upon the pale grey walls, as though enticing new students into the fold with promises of grandeur.
With a small grunt Port extracts himself from the confines of the ship and begins walking down the pathway before him. Looking over his shoulder he address 51-Mon "Well, come on my boy we don't have all day."
51-M0N is shaken from his temporary stupor before stepping of the Bullhead, his movement causing the craft to shift on its landing gear. Strolling after port with a stiff gait and straight back 51-M0N listens as he begins giving a short tour of the school. After finding a properly sized uniform for the large man, port takes him to quickly meet with the headmaster before going to the enrolment office. While at the enrollment office 51-M0N is given a student id card with his designation on it before being sent to wait in a ballroom before the new student initiation in two days. Hours pass as 51-M0N waits unmoving, simply staring at the far wall. The sun is just cresting in the sky as the far door of the ball room slams open with a clang, the sound reverberating off the walls of the empty room. Roland enters the room swiftly while carrying a medium sized suit case with him as his long coat billows out behind him. 51-M0N tracks his movement to a far corner of the room and proceeds to stare unwaveringly at Roland. Roland throws his case to the ground before lying down with his head on top of it, pulling his fedora over his eyes. A few minutes pass while 51-M0N continues to stare at Roland, proceeding to further unnerve him.
Roland tilts his head upwards to glare at 51-M0N from beneath the brim of his hat before addressing him "the hell are you staring at big guy?" 51-M0N responds by simply by continuing to stare causing Roland to begin to lose his temper. "Well are you just going to sit there staring, or will you at least give me your name?" Roland shouts while sitting up.
"My designation is Fifty One tack M Zero N" 51-M0N's monotone voice drifts across the room while he continues to stare steadfastly at Roland.
"Well that's a mouth full; think I'll just call you Simon instead. Sound good?" Roland asks in a slightly lighter tone, glad he got some kind of reaction out of the large student. Stretching out again Roland continues talking "well were here for the next couple of days is there anything to do in the mean time?"
"Unknown" is the returned response.
"Well this is a combat school, so I'm sure we can find a training room. How about a sparring match to pass the time, cause I don't feel like waiting two days while staring at a wall?" Roland says as he pulls himself to his feet.
"Acceptable" replies Simon while standing as well. "The training rooms are in the west wing, follow me" Simon orders while moving towards the door.
Roland follows Simon out into the winding hallways of Beacon's interior while closing the ballroom door behind him. A short walk taking about ten minutes brings the duo to one of the school's many training facility's large steel door. With no visible effort Simon swings the door open before stepping inside, quietly following behind Roland takes stock of the room. The floor of the large room is made of a grey concrete while the walls appear to be plated with steel that has been marred with a number of dents and large tears, showing the violent history of the room as though they were badges. In the far corner of the room is a small concrete bunker quite clearly meant for observation. Roland walks over to the bunker while Simon moves to the center of the room. Inside the bunker Roland finds a console and small book resting on the desk beside it. Quickly skimming through the small book Roland finds that it is directions for the training room command console. Setting up the console for quick fight Roland steps back out of the bunker before moving to the ring to face Simon. As Roland crosses the ring a shallow thump resonates throughout the room before a holographic number 30 appears in-between the two combatants.
"I set the room up for a quick match, no fancy holographic terrain or anything. The room also has a built in dampener meaning we won't have to have to hold back, sound good?" Roland states with an easygoing voice before a flame ignites over his right eye and an overbearing pressure begins to fill the room.
"Understood" replies Simon as fractal lines begin to appear at his hip forming the outline of a sword and sheath.
The number 30 projected in the middle of the room begins to count down, an audible click echoes through the room with each number. Upon reaching zero a loud buzz cuts through the silence, signaling the beginning of the match. Roland shifts into a defensive position while bringing fourth his flame blade, waiting for Simon to make the first attack. Simon charges across the small space separating the two combatants, drawing is blade only when he reaches striking distance. The blade is pulled from the rather dull sheath in the blink of an eye, its dull steel grey hilt flashing in the light. Roland manages to catch a glimpse of the blade as it moves towards his neck, appearing to be crafted out of a volcanic rock with a serrated edge, the falcata shoots forward. Roland does not have time to react and dodge, the blade is moving too fast, it penetrates through his neck with no resistance emerging out the other side of his head as though it were some sick decoration. A grin slowly splits Roland's face as he begins to laugh slightly. In response Simon moves the sword in a rapid random pattern causing Roland to leap over his head as flames make themselves visible through the slash marks across his upper torso and head.
Roland lands some distance away shouting out an aggravated response as the slash marks close back up as if they had never been there "what is wrong with you, you're supposed to freak out when a sword through the head doesn't kill someone not swing it around like a bloody fan?!"
Simon takes a moment to glance at his blade before turning his attention to Roland "why didn't that work?"
"Neat trick huh, allows me to turn portions of my body into into fire to avoid damage. So what are you going to do now huh?" Roland states in a light tone while lowering his defensive stance to a more relaxed one.
"Different weapon" returns Simon as fractal lines explode into existence behind him, tracing the shape of a barbed javelin wire frame before the details fill in, revealing a gleaming metal tip and dark wood haft. The weapon streaks through the air whistling a screaming intent causing Roland to dive to the floor to avoid the impending attack.
Roland rolls to his feet before jumping into the air, his legs light on fire leaving trails in his wake. Fifteen feet up he skids to a halt seemingly standing on empty air. Roland's left hand shoots forward in the shape of a gun before a flurry of fiery blue bolts blasts down towards Simon. Light crackles with energy tracing the form of a gleaming pale blue sword and shield in Simon's hands with a crackling burst; the shield is thrust forward fiery blue blots splashing against the gleaming blue steel, forcing Simon back on his heels, but causing no damage. More lines of light flicker into existence snapping with energy while tracing a number of chakrams made of a brilliant gleaming green stone before shooting them at Rolland in a screaming flurry of stone. Roland seems to dance on the air itself sliding out of the way of the projectiles causing them to shatter across the far wall. Roland drops to the floor in a crouch, searing blue flame held across his body to protect himself from harm as Simon ready his sword and shield. The two combatants stare each other down before Roland straightens himself out. Taking a deep breath a second blade of flame appears in his left hand, is aura flaring around him brightly before collapsing inwards on his right eye and winking out completely. Roland surges forward in a blur, trading blow for blow with Simon, blades of flame colliding with blue steel as it shatters under the impact and reforms instantly in a burst of light. Both fighters aura depletes rapidly with each blow, Simons blade finds Roland's chest forcing him to slide backwards along the ground before crouching on one knee trying to catch his breath.
Roland struggles up to his feet before letting his flame blades dissipate. Still trying to catch his breath he addresses Simon "well its about time we end this don't you think?"
"Agreed" is Simon's dull response, showing little signs of fatigue.
Roland's right hand lines up with Simon, his index and middle finger pointing towards his target, while aiming along his thumb. Simon's sword and shield vanish one last time, lines of light build his nodachi as Roland takes a defensive stance. Blue flame ignites at the tips of Roland's outstretched fingers building up power that radiates throughout the training room. Roland's shout cuts through the building tension in the room like a knife "destroying first bullet, fire!" A bolt of pulsating blue energy rips towards Simon igniting the air behind it aflame. Simon shifts his weight forward bringing his blade down upon the careening fire ball just before it reaches him. For a brief moment all that can be seen is a blue flash.
A/N: be sure to check out my page for the web comic pages. and i thank all who have read up to this point. also if you all could offer constructive criticism that would be much appreciated .