"Oh! And another one bites the dust! Team Edgeraid is down to its last man as Team Velshtein closes in on the team's captain."
A loud voice boomed from the speakers surrounding the track as cheers from the crowd echoed in the distance. The IGPX's leading commentator, Benjamin Bright, kept the spectators up to date on the second-to-second details of the race, his energetic words keeping the fans on the edge of their seats.
Bjorn, Team Edgeraid's captain, kept his guard up as Team Velshtein circled around him, waiting for the signal to strike. His crimson mech was battered and beaten but still on its legs, barely.
The mechs of Team Velshtein glided seamlessly along the track, moving at more than three hundred and fifty miles per hour along the sixty-mile track. They kept their predatory gaze on the lone Edgeraid mech, ready to pounce at a moment's notice. Even without the use of their then-illegal signature move, the "Indrago Mano" or "Ace up the Sleeve", they were still able to easily dispatch Team Edgeraid's defender and midfielder before the end of the second lap. Alex Cunningham, Team Velshtein's leader, had his team stand down, wanting to take Bjorn on captain-to-captain.
"Jan, Dew, hang back. He's mine," said Cunningham with a smirk, moving into attack position. His teammates acknowledged and fell back, giving him and his opponent enough room to fight. They kept close by though, ready to provide assistance if needed in the event of Bjorn somehow besting their captain.
Bjorn prepared himself, unsure if he could take on the legendary pilot one-on-one. He cursed under his breath as Cunningham suddenly lunged at him, beginning his onslaught of attacks. Bjorn pushed his mech to the limit, engaging in battle against the rival captain who was much more experienced and skilled when compared to himself.
Cunningham was ruthless in his assault, delivering blow after blow without letting up. Since his defeat at the hands of Team Satomi's captain, Takeshi Jin, he vowed to better develop his skills and utterly destroy any team that he and his teammates happened to race against. Every blow dented and chipped Bjorn's mech, pieces of its frame littering the racetrack. Debris bounced along the pavement, leaving a trail of destruction and carnage behind the mechs as they zoomed by.
Bjorn was running on fumes just trying to keep up, and his defenses were at its limit. "This is bad! I'm done for!" he said with gritted teeth. Inside the cockpit, the displays cracked and systems began to fail as he broke into a nervous sweat. His mech suddenly lost function in its left arm, rendering it useless as he used his other to block Cunningham's persistent attacks.
Team Velshtein's captain withdrew and prepared for the final blow. "This is it!" said Cunningham out loud, cocking his mech's arm back.
Having only a semi-working display up and running, Bjorn held his breath as he saw Cunningham's fist break through his remaining arm. With one final blow, Cunningham delivered a devastating punch to Bjorn's head, nearly taking it completely off his mech's body.
"Oooo, and down he goes! Team Edgeraid is out of the race, leaving Team Velshtein to finish unopposed!" said Benjamin over the loudspeakers.
#
Suddenly, a bag of chips went flying by the television screen followed by an angry outburst. "What a bunch of hacks! That was the worst match I've seen yet!" A young woman in her late-twenties booed as she sat on the couch, disappointed at the recent IGPX match she'd just witnessed. Her black slim jeans rustled as she rested one leg over the other on the table, also folding her arms over her chest, wrinkling her simple, black tank-top on her torso. Still watching the screen, she huffed as a few strands of her shoulder-length, deep crimson hair drooped over her vibrant, blue eyes.
"It wasn't that bad, Blair. I thought Edgeraid put up a good fight… at least, for going up against a team like Velshtein," said another woman, also in her late-twenties. She was sitting on the couch as well, smiling and turning to the crimson-headed person situated next to her.
Blair scoffed, her arms still crossed in defiance. She adjusted her thin, red glasses, moving them further up on the bridge of her nose with a finger. "Those hacks don't even deserve to be in the IG-1, Roxy. WE should be in the IG-1," she said, gesturing to herself with her thumb.
Blair Casing was the team captain of Team Balisong, a premiere IG-2 team that was ranked number two in the league, and she acted as the team's forward. She and her teammates quickly rose to fame when they began racing, garnering more media attention with every race they participated in, regardless of whether it was a win or a loss.
The person sitting next to Blair on the couch was Roxanne Schultz, her girlfriend and the team's skilled back-up pilot. She and Blair had known each other for a long time, stemming from back before the team was formed.
"You know, you're cleaning those chips up later, right?" said Roxanne as she looked to Blair.
Blair pouted, looking over to the kitchen across the room. There, she saw the other two pilots of her team having lunch, taking bites of their food and drinking from their cups in perfect synchronization.
"What do you two think? Do we have what it takes to take on Team Velshtein in the IG-1?" asked Blair.
Miharu and Shizune were identical twins in their mid-twenties, acting as the team's midfielder and defender respectively. They both set their forks down at the same time, looking to Blair in the living room.
"Of course we do!" said Miharu and Shizune in unison, their energetic response putting a smile on Blair's face.
"That's what I like to hear!" said Blair, giving them a thumbs-up with one hand.
Suddenly, there was a tug on Blair's sleeve as Roxanne looked to the television. "Hey, Blair! Look! It's a recap of the interview we did after winning our first event," said Roxanne.
"Really? Nice! Hey, Anko, come check this out," said Blair, getting more comfy on the couch while making room for the twins. When she wanted to address both Miharu and Shizune, she just called them Anko, which was their last name. Miharu and Shizune acknowledged and came over, sitting on the couch next to Blair and Roxanne.
#
"And here you have it, folks! The winners of the IG-2 Clementine Circuit- Team Balisong!" said Benjamin Bright as he held the microphone to his mouth, motioning to Blair and the other three pilots off camera.
Benjamin was sitting on a stage located in the main amphitheater near the race track where he was hosting an interview on behalf of the IGPX Commission. The event was being attended by a large audience, and it was being televised live worldwide.
"Let's give these lovely ladies a round of applause!" said Benjamin as he began clapping himself.
Blair and the other members of Team Balisong casually walked onto the stage, waving their hands at the audience while smiling for the cameras. Once they were across, they sat down in the chairs placed opposite from Benjamin's, looking as cocky as ever, or at least Blair was.
Blair was wearing a tailored, light-gray fitted suit which showed off her fit and slim body, though, her bust remained concealed and compressed within the blazer. Her shirt was pearl white and accented with a plain, black tie with accompanying silver tie clasp.
Benjamin calmed the crowd down and began the interview, starting with the team's captain, Blair. He started off by giving the audience a brief background of the pilot, going over her accomplishments and basic information as a brief summary for those new to the sport or unfamiliar with the team.
"First up on the roster is the captain of Team Balisong, Blair Casing, otherwise known by her teammates as 'Brass'," said Benjamin. He adjusted in his seat, switching the microphone to his other hand while the large screen behind him turned on, displaying a feed of what the people at home were viewing. "You act as the team's forward. Am I correct?" he asked with a smile.
Blair smiled as well, unable to contain her excitement as she raised a microphone to respond. "That's correct, Mr. Bright," she said.
"Indeed, but you weren't always in that position," said Benjamin with a knowing look. "Before racing as Team Balisong's forward, you were Team Raptor's midfielder, right?"
"That's right," said Blair. "Along with myself, Roxanne, the Colonel, and Coach were also part of that team as well."
"But of course! The fans and I have not forgotten Team Raptor and the races you all had," said Benjamin, recalling Blair's old team. "Speaking of 'the Colonel', whom I assume is in reference to your team's manager, Ms. Sarah Davis, you all used to be in the military before becoming IGPX pilots?" he asked, raising an eyebrow inquisitively.
With a snooty grin, Blair dramatically crossed one leg over the other and responded promptly. "That we were, Benji. I was in the Air Force, a fighter-pilot to be exact," she said with a certain level of satisfaction. "I served along with Roxy and then Lieutenant-Colonel Davis, but they can talk all about their experiences when it's their turn." As she continued talking, she got more into the groove, cheerful about having the opportunity to brag about her short, yet illustrious career in the military.
"Absolutely fascinating. A bunch of ladies with bite both on and off the track. So because of your unique military experience, you're used to the jostling and rocking of piloting a high-speed machine?" asked Benjamin.
Blair chuckled, running a hand through her hair. "Yeah. Making the transition from a high-tech fighter jet to an IGPX mech wasn't so difficult. I mean, we basically wear the same outfit almost. I just needed to familiarize myself with the new controls and stuff, then before you know it, I'm racing like a pro," she said.
"I bet. But, to those not familiar with the sport, Team Balisong wasn't your first team," said Benjamin as he shuffled around in his seat. "Like I'd mentioned before, you were part of Team Raptor, a team sponsored by the United States Air Force."
"Why yes I was. After the war, I was fortunate enough to be hand-picked for the team, and I enjoyed every moment I was a part of it," said Blair as she kept her attention on Benjamin.
Benjamin nodded then suddenly had a saddened expression on his face. "Unfortunately, it met its end when the Commission instituted new rules regarding teams sponsored by government organizations," he said before his demeanor changed back to his usual cheery self. "But then you came back with a vengeance in the form of Team Balisong! Speaking of which, how did your team come up with that name?" he asked while leaning forward to hear Blair better.
Blair looked to Sarah, the team's manager, and got a nod in return, allowing Blair to answer the question for the team. "The name came from a weapon we became quite fond of while stationed in the Philippines. The balisong, or more commonly known as the butterfly knife, is an elegant yet deadly weapon. It's highly versatile, unpredictable, and severely capable in the hands of a professional. That's very much like ourselves, right? We're elegant, deadly, and extremely capable," she said. To emphasize the fact, she gave the audience a playful wink which caused an uproar of approving cheers.
Benjamin couldn't help but clap as well, the crowd's fervor fueling his own. "You don't say! Well, I happen to agree there, especially after seeing your last performance against Team Wyvern. Those guys didn't stand a chance against your cunning tactics," he said.
Blair gave a nod, going into some detail about their tactics without giving away any trade secrets. The audience listened intently, occasionally giving a shout out or cheer. She and Benjamin continued on, talking about things ranging from her early days as a racer to more personal items.
After Benjamin was done asking Blair questions, he moved on with the interview. "Thank you, Captain Casing, for your insightful words. Next, we have Team Balisong's midfielder and defender, the Anko Twins!" he said.
As they were announced, Miharu and Shizune gave a wave to the audience, smiling with their cheeky grins. They were wearing contemporary Navy-blue yukatas which complimented their short, dark-brown hair.
"Thank you for having us," said Miharu and Shizune in unison as they stood up, giving a slight bow.
"The pleasure's mine, um… Shizune, Miharu," said Benjamin, nodding to them as a pair since he couldn't tell them apart. "So like the good captain, you both were in the military before joining the ranks of the IGPX?" he asked.
"Hai! [Yes!] Miharu and I were both fighter-pilots in the Japanese Air Self Defense Force. That's how we met Brass and the others," said Shizune, giving a smile as she tilted her head slightly in a cute fashion. "We were all stationed in the Philippines for an exercise at the same time. After we served our required time distinctively, we left to join Brass' merry IGPX team."
The audience clapped and cheered at the gesture, calming down once more as Benjamin began talking again. He continued the interview, asking them about their special battle strategy, being twins and all. Once Benjamin had exhausted all the questions he had lined up for them, he moved on to the last official pilot of Team Balisong. The twins gave their fans a wink and a final wave before Benjamin focused his attention on Roxanne.
"Let's hear it for the Anko Twins!" said Benjamin as he tried to keep the crowd's enthusiasm up. "Last but not least, we have Team Balisong's backup pilot, Roxanne Schultz!"
Roxanne perked up as her name was called. She was wearing a black, knee-length skirt accompanied by a white blouse and matching blazer. She gave Benjamin a nod and cleared her throat.
"It's good to be here," said Roxanne in a reserved, yet cheerful tone.
"So before we begin, the word around the track is that you and Blair are close, and I mean real close. Exactly how long have you known her? Did you meet in the military? The world wants to know!" asked Benjamin, almost just as excited to know himself.
Roxanne blushed slightly, interlocking her fingers under her chin. "W- Well, yeah. We're close. We served in the same units while in the military, but we met way before then," she said with a nervous smile. "We actually met in college and went through ROTC together. We've been good friends ever since and…" She paused as she squirmed nervously in her seat. She momentarily looked to Blair who smiled, giving her a nod. "And… she's also my- my girlfriend." As soon as she said that, the crowd started shouting with surprise and delight.
Blair chuckled and interjected. "Yeah, it's true. Roxy is my little love bug," she said.
Before then, Blair and Roxanne kept their relationship a secret from the prying eyes of the public. While they were with Team Raptor, they were also still part of the military, so they kept things under wraps to not give off any perceptions of unprofessionalism. Now that they were civilians and on a new team, they didn't have to hide anything.
"Well, you heard here first, folks!" said Benjamin with the same amount of enthusiasm as the crowd. "Love blossoms even on the battlefield!"
#
"Oh yeah, that's when everyone found out about our relationship. That was so cute," said Blair, smiling at the fond memory. She and the others continued to watch the interview together, commenting about each other's awkward responses and slight mishaps on live, worldwide television.
Once the playback of the interview ended, a live feed appeared afterwards as Benjamin Bright came on the screen. "That, ladies and gentlemen, was Team Balisong, the latest addition to the IG-1 roster!" he said with the same level of enthusiasm as in the interview.
"Wait, huh?" said Blair as she and the others sat up in their seats on the couch. They turned up the volume and began listening intently to what Benjamin had to say next.
After watching the live footage for a few minutes, Roxanne turned to Blair with a confused look. "Wh- What are they talking about? What do they mean by 'latest addition to the IG-1 roster'?" she asked.
On the screen, Benjamin was sitting with the Chairman of the IGPX Committee, talking about Edgeraid's recent defeat in the IG-1 circuit. "And what an addition they are. The fine pilots over at Team Balisong are seasoned warriors. They're going to give the veterans of the IG-1 circuit a run for their money," said the Chairman. "With the recent upset with Team Edgeraid, they've ended up in last place. And by having the least amount of points, they've been demoted back to the IG-2 league."
"Right you are, Mr. Chairman. And with their departure leaves an open slot in the prestigious IG-1 league for one, and only one lucky team from the IG-2. At first, Team Windstreak had the honor by being the point leader at the end of the season, but after being disqualified for illegal part use, the position goes to the runner-up, the sassy and vicious Team Balisong!" said Benjamin, turning to the audience through the cameras.
At that point, Blair jumped to her feet, astonished at the recent development coming from the broadcast. "This is nuts! I- We- Is this really happening?" she asked, looking back to her team on the couch.
Miharu and Shizune looked to each other and shrugged before returning their attention to Blair. "We haven't heard anything about this," they said together.
"Me neither," said Roxanne. "But this is live, so it must be true! Why hasn't the Colonel told us? Or anybody else for that matter?"
"Well I'm going to find out," said Blair, reaching for her phone on the table in front of her.
Blair quickly dialed Sarah's number using speed dial and waited, tapping her foot anxiously on the ground as she bit her lip in anticipation. After getting redirected to the voicemail, she hung up, sneering at the lack of a response.
"C'mon, let's go see what the deal is with all this. If this is all a joke, I swear…," said Blair as she stood up.
Blair motioned for the team to follow her as she headed to the apartment's front door. After taking her favorite green flight jacket in hand which had its sleeves rolled up to the elbows, her unit's flight patch sewn on the right shoulder, and her name stitched on the front, she slipped on her black combat boots.
As soon as Blair opened the front door, an older woman stood before her. Her name was Sarah, and she was the team's manager. Even though she was in her early forties, she was still slim and fit for someone her age. She was carrying two bags filled with groceries in her arms, dressed in dress slacks and a blouse with the sleeves rolled up.
"Oh, uh… Surprise?" said Sarah with an awkward smile. She had light-blue eyes and bright-blonde hair styled into a neat bun, an old habit from her military days.
Blair stood in the doorway with her team standing right behind her, looking over her shoulder to see who it was. "Colonel, what are you doing here?" asked Blair before opening the door fully.
"Wanted to congratulate you and the team with some snacks and drinks," said Sarah, gesturing with the bags.
"Oh, so the news must be true…," said Roxanne, moving up next to Blair.
"Was there ever any doubt?" asked another voice.
Sarah turned her head to see who spoke, as did Blair and Roxanne. Coming down the hall was a woman in a wheelchair being pushed by a younger girl. The woman in the wheelchair was in her mid-thirties, wearing business slacks, a blouse, and a blazer. She was a brunette with shoulder-length hair fashioned into almost a bob-cut. The brim of her thin-framed glasses rested on the edge of her nose, her hazel eyes beaming over the top of the lenses. The younger girl behind her was in her mid-twenties with her long, raven-black hair hanging past her shoulders and down her back.
"Coach, you're here too?" asked Blair, poking her head out the door and into the hallway.
"Of course. I wouldn't want to be absent when we break the news to you all, but it seems you've already found out and ruined the surprise," said woman in the wheelchair.
The woman's name was Lucia Cloverson, the team's coach and primary trainer. She used to be a former IG-1 pilot, racing with Team Foxhound as their midfielder along with her teammates Haytham Conway and Rori McCallan, the team's captain. During a tragic accident one day on the track, she ended up paralyzed from the waist down.
"Oh, that's no fun. How did you find out?" asked the younger girl standing behind Lucia. Her name was Maggie Mendoza, and she acted as Lucia's assistant and the team's secretary. Seeing everyone in the doorway to the apartment, she wheeled Lucia closer to Sarah and the others.
"We were watching Edgeraid's race against Velshtein, then afterwards, Benji goes on to talk about how Team Windstreak got disqualified, and now we got the open slot in the IG-1," said Blair after calming down a bit.
"Yeah, well, let's continue this conversation inside. My arms are kinda getting tired here," said Sarah, still holding the loaded grocery bags.
Blair and Roxanne stepped out of the away, allowing Sarah, Lucia, and Maggie entrance into their modest apartment. It was a moderately sized dwelling located in the heart of the city, complete with two roomy bedrooms, a kitchen area/dining area, a storage closet, a laundry room, and a main living area. The Anko Twins shared one room while Blair and Roxanne had the other. The décor was modern and contemporary in design, but not too extravagant to be overbearing.
Closing the door behind her, Blair took off her shoes and hung her jacket back on the rack before joining the others in the main room. "So give us the debrief, Colonel. What can you tell us about our spot in the IG-1?" she asked.
Sarah placed the bags down in the kitchen, taking out the contents and placing them on the counter. "Hold your horses, Brass. First, help me get the snacks and the champagne out. Where are the glasses?" she asked, looking around.
Blair obliged and retrieved enough glasses for everyone while Roxanne and the twins helped Sarah with the classy party food. Sarah decided to splurge for the occasion and bought cocktail shrimp, various types of sushi, miniature pastries, and other assorted hors d'oeuvres for the party. While the others plated the food, Blair opened up the champagne bottle and poured everyone a glass. When everything was ready and looking appetizing, they all took their glass in hand and waited for Sarah to make a toast.
Sarah thanked Blair for preparing the drinks before getting everyone's attention. "We've come a long way, team, starting from humble beginnings in the military before transitioning back into the civilian world. It wasn't an easy task, but we didn't let that stop us. We rocked, and we fought, and we won our way to become the number two team in the entire IG-2 circuit!" she said, raising her glass in celebration.
"Here here!" said everyone else in the room, raising their glasses as well with high spirits.
"With our determination, our superior skill, and our wise guidance thanks to the great Lucia Cloverson, we've brushed aside the competition with ease. But now, we have an opportunity to rise to even greater heights! Now, we take our fight to the big leagues, to the IG-1!" said Sarah, her voice and vigor increasing as she spoke.
"HOO-AH!" said the pilots in their usual military fashion.
Sarah raised her glass again and held it out to the team. "A toast! To Team Balisong and its invitation to the IG-1," she said.
"Amen," said Blair and the others, exchanging glass taps before downing their drink.
Roxanne only took a sip of her drink, not really a fan of champagne; she just drank as a respectful gesture to the team. "Urgh, that's enough for me. Hey, Blair, want the rest?" she asked, swirling the remnants of her drink around in her glass. When she turned to Blair, she'd already downed her own drink.
"Hmm? Oh, sure. Gimme that," said Blair. She took Roxanne's glass and downed the contents in one gulp before exhaling with delight.
The twins took a hearty swig each but saved some of their drinks for later. "So what are the details?" asked Shizune as she began to pile on food onto her plate. "When do we get to race against the real vets?"
Sarah refilled her glass as well as Blair's. "That's a good question. Now that we're officially an IG-1 team, we're free to race and attend events in the IG-1 league. I know that you all are taking it easy during the main offseason, but that's the IG-2 league. We're in the IG-1 now, ladies! The next main event for the IG-1 league happens in just a few months, the Opening IG-1 Invitational Series."
Lucia smiled as she looked to Sarah. "That's right. And if you plan on racing with the best the IGPX has to offer, you're going to need a lot of work. I know what the teams are capable of; I've raced against quite a few of them myself when I was still behind the controls of a racing mech," she said, handing her glass to Maggie to place on the counter. "I know you've watched their races and are familiar with their signature moves, but these teams aren't like the amateurs you've been racing against in the IG-2. They're battle-hardened professionals who've knocked out plenty of teams in their racing tenure."
"Don't worry about that, ma'am. They haven't come across a team like us before," said Blair, clenching her hand into a determined fist.
"That's right, ma'am. Since Skylark's recent decline back into the IG-2, it's about time another all-female team took their place. Someone needs to show these boys who's in charge," said Roxanne.
"I agree," said each of the twins.
Lucia scoffed at their overconfidence, glaring at the four of them through her tinted glasses. "Don't get cocky, Balisong. You're good, but not the best yet. At this point in time, you wouldn't even last a lap with the best the IG-1 has to offer," she said.
Blair reeled from the sudden lack of confidence from their coach. "But we-," she said before being cut off.
"Stow it! Despite what you may think, you're not ready to take on an IG-1 team. You've been going up against amateurs for too long! You've become too complacent with your current skill level, and that is not enough!" said Lucia in a firm, yet motivational tone.
Blair and the other pilots silenced themselves, lowering their heads slightly as they gave Lucia their undivided attention. "I see…," said Blair with clenched teeth.
Lucia continued to glare then cracked a smile. "But don't worry. With my help, and a can-do attitude, you'll be top-tier in no time," she said with a chuckle, motioning for her glass. "This is a time for celebration! Cheer up and have fun. For tonight, you're winners." She raised her glass again for a toast, attempting to change the mood of the room from grim to festive.
"You're absolutely right," said Sarah with a smile, raising her half-full glass.
"We won't let you down!" said Blair.
"We'll try our hardest!" said Roxane.
Maggie, Shizune, and Miharu nodded in agreement, raising their glasses as well.
"Team Balisong all the way!" they all said together.