Author's Note:
Hola, my beloved readers! Here comes chapter three of TFC! An old friend from Ilana's past gets introduced in this chappie! I think you'll like this new addition ;-) I hope I was able to write the action well. I've never been good at writing fight scenes...heh. Constructive criticism is always welcome, so if you felt that the fight scene didn't read very well, please let me know!
A BIG thanks to everyone that's been reading and reviewing this story! I really appreciate the encouragement :D As for an update on RBR: Chapter 7 should be ready soon! I'm hoping in the next week or two, now that the holiday madness is past. I've been having some writer's block lately, so it's taken me longer than I hoped to finish it, but hold tight, it's on its way!
Thanks everyone! Enjoy Chapter 3!
I do not own Sym-Bionic Titan. All credit goes to Genndy Tartakovsky.
As they proceeded walking through the cave, a thought hit Lance. "Hey, Baron," Lance said, as he turned his head to face his childhood rival. "How did you manage to get the communicators working again? I thought Modula shut down all communications when he invaded."
Baron nodded his head in response. "He did, but it's been three years since then. When we freed the king, he began developing new technology with an alternative power source. That power source now maintains our communicators' functionality. I personally don't know much about it. If you want details, you'll have to ask the king himself."
Lance gave a nod of his own in acknowledgement.
After that, the crew continued in silence for quite some time; Jackson leading them through a maze of tunnels.
Ilana and Kimmy had become completely lost the further into the mountain the group traveled. Lance and Octus, however, were attempting to memorize the route they were taking. Of course, this was an easy task for Octus. Lance, however, had to pay closer attention.
The quartet wasn't sure how much time had passed by the time Jackson came to a stop at a dead-end. "We've arrived." He said, ushering Baron over to the front, alongside him.
Baron nodded, and joined Jackson. Jackson stepped back to let Baron activate his Manus armor.
Once Baron was ready, he proceeded to push against the wall with his robotic hands. After a moment, the wall began to shift, slowly giving way to sunlight; the sight of green grass, and what appeared to be log cabins, in the distance.
With that, he stepped aside, and let everyone else out of the tunnel.
After the last person had filed out, he moved the excessively large stone back into place, sealing the entrance once more.
As the group carrying the cargo began to disperse, the quartet began analyzing their surroundings. They were currently standing in a large, grassy field. There were groves of trees running along the outer edges of the flat-land. Across the large expanse stood a small camp of about a dozen log cabins, along with rows of tents set up more towards the tree groves. There was a large communal fire pit in the center of the camp, and many Galalunian soldiers were sitting on logs surrounding it. They appeared to be cooking food. Most of the log cabins had stick-fashioned medical crosses above the doors. One cabin's door adorned a stick-fashioned crown, and another a saber. Along the inner edges of the field, there was various training equipment. In the center stood a large obstacle course of some kind, clearly built for Manus armor-sized users. All around their 'safe haven' stood enormous, mountain-like walls.
"Where...where are we? I don't recognize this place." Ilana said. She glanced up at Lance, and noticed the far-off look in his eyes. She knew that look; he was lost in old memories. 'He must have come to this place before.' She thought.
"It was an old training area for the new Elite members." Baron said from behind them. "It used to only be accessible by Manus armor. This is where we would learn how to properly pilot our suits."
He paused for a moment before continuing, "...Both Lance and I, along with many others at previous times, came here to learn how to master our control over our Manus armor. We spent six months to a year here, depending on how quickly we advanced in our training."
Ilana's eyes grew wide as he spoke. How had she never known about this place? "Why isn't it used anymore?", She asked.
Baron was about to respond, when Lance suddenly spoke up to answer her. "Because, as our technology advanced, the military built another facility near the capitol to access and utilize the new advances during training. Older camps like this one were de-commissioned as newer ones were built closer to the palace. Our generation was the last to use this place."
Ilana nodded slowly before asking another question. "Why was this place built so far away from the capitol?"
Lance looked down at her, seeing curiosity in her big brown eyes. He gave a small smile and responded. "Safety issues. The military didn't want any mistakes or mishandling of the armor to put the royal family in danger, so they decided that an isolated location would be the best option for training new users. Once we developed and built nearly indestructible training domes, safety wasn't an issue anymore. That's why the newer training facilities are located adjacent to the academy, and close to the capitol."
"Huh, interesting. I never knew." Ilana said as she gave one final nod in understanding before turning back to face the cabins in the distance.
From the end of the field, she could make out two figures advancing toward them. She turned to Baron, and asked him who the men were; to which, he responded that it was a surprise especially for her.
She glanced around at the other remaining soldiers in their party; warn smiles adorning their faces, and directed towards her. She was very confused.
By the time she looked back at the approaching figures, they were only a mere twenty feet or so away. She recognized them instantly; her face lighting up, and tears of joy beginning to fall down her cheeks. "Father, Hobbs!"
Both men smiled at her, love radiating from their faces.
The king watched his daughter leave her bodyguard's side, and come running to meet him.
As she ran, he caught a quick glance at Lance, and was pleased with what he saw. He finally saw on the boy's face what he had always hoped for: happiness. 'I had a feeling that my plan would work. Ilana is the perfect instructor in the subjects of contentment, happiness, and joy. I hope he's learned something during his time away.'
After that quick thought, he turned his attention back to his overjoyed daughter.
"Daddy! You're here; you're okay!" Ilana said as she embraced her father in a large hug.
The king, himself, was crying tears of joy to see his beloved child once again. "I can't believe you're here, my darling. I've missed you so much..." He said, wrapping his arms around her.
"I've missed you too, Daddy..." She responded in a faint, choked voice. He could tell she was crying as well.
They held each other, and cried, for quite some time before letting go.
"Now, let me look at you...all of you." The king said as he gestured for Lance and Octus to come over.
He also noticed a young, pretty, red-headed woman following behind the robot. She was clearly not Galalunian, so he was quite intrigued as to her origins, and connection to their group.
"Father, I have an introduction to make. This is Kimmy Mysner, Octus's girlfriend from Earth." Ilana said as she motioned for Kimmy to step forward.
Kimmy gave a bow to the king before standing to face him. "Your majesty, it's a pleasure to meet you. Ilana has told me so much about you." She said, smiling warmly at the king.
The king gave a beaming smile in return, before taking Kimmy's hand in his. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Mysner. I wish I could say the same, but I very much look forward to getting to know you better. So, you're Octus's girlfriend, huh..." the king said, shooting a smirk towards the robot.
Octus merely nodded in agreement, unphased by his ruler's teasing.
The king continued, a warm smile on his face. "I never thought that he would develop human emotions to that scale while on Earth. True, he is no typical robot, but I never would have guessed that the initial programming I installed would create a 'semi-human' being. I must say, Octus, I'm impressed."
Octus nodded again. "Thank you, your majesty. I do not understand it all myself, but I have been attempting to. I am very fortunate to have Kimmy. I love her dearly, and she has made a great sacrifice by agreeing to join me on Galaluna. I am very appreciative, and very lucky." Octus replied, smiling as he took kimmy's hand in his.
The king raised an eyebrow at that statement, "So, you intend to stay on Galaluna? What about your family and life on Earth?" he asked.
Kimmy looked at the king, keeping eye contact as she spoke, "Yes, If you will allow me, Sir. It is true, my family was very sad when I told them that I was leaving, and was unlikely to return...but, I think they also understood. You see, my parents came together by similar circumstances. On Earth, there are several countries. These countries encompass the entire planet. My parents came from two of these separate countries. My mother left hers to be with my father in his. The way I explained it to them, they are under the impression that I have done something along similar lines. They gave their blessing, so I know that they accept my decision."
The king could not deny that he was impressed by this girl's courage. Not many her age would willingly leave everything they know and love to start a completely different life; one that currently could not guarantee neither safety nor eventual happiness.
"I assume you know the dangers of staying here at this time, as well as the conditions you will need to live in at present?" The king asked.
Kimmy nodded, before holding eye contact with him. "Yes. Octus, Lance, and Ilana have been very clear and honest about the entire situation here, and what we would all be going through very soon. I'm fully aware of what could happen, but I still chose to come. That was my decision, and I know it was the right one." Kimmy replied, a strong determination radiating from her features, and fire flashing in her eyes.
The king simply nodded, and smiled. "Then you are most welcome, Ms. Mysner. If you need or wish to know anything, do not hesitate to ask. I am always available, as are any of the other soldiers."
She gave a grateful smile back to the king. "Thank you, your majesty."
"Anytime." He replied. "Now...let's see you two." The king said, as he turned to face Lance and Ilana. Three years had done much to age his once seventeen-year-old daughter into the young woman of twenty who currently stood before him. She had grown more beautiful, if that was possible.
She was taller now, with more pronounced curves, longer legs, and more mature facial features; however, she still retained her Galalunian hairstyle. She possessed fewer freckles than before, and her skin now had a slight tan to it; her eyes held a new depth of maturity and understanding. Her demeanor was strong, determined, wise beyond her years, un-afraid, and un-shakable; yet she still retained her kindness, tenderness, and love for her people. The power of her presence commanded respect, but emulated compassion. She had grown into the gorgeous, elegant, and confident princess he always knew she would become.
As for Lance, the king could not believe how much the boy had changed. He was much taller now, rivaling the king's own height. He had always been in top shape, but he wasn't as long and lanky as the king had remembered him anymore. His lean frame was a little thicker, and his muscle tone that he had possessed before his departure was much more evident now. He no longer had a teenager's body. His face had matured, and he seemed more confident and self-assured than the king had ever seen him before. He still retained his long raven-colored bangs, though they were slightly shorter now; coming only to his nose. He also no longer sported his signature shoulder-length hair; it having been cut short. He still retained his cowlick, however. His eyes now held a wizened depth to them, bringing out a certain spark that the king couldn't quite place. He could tell that Lance had also mellowed a little with the passing of time; his demeanor now thoughtful and analytical, as opposed to his brash behavior as a teen. He was calm, collected, and alert. All in all, he looked cleaned up, and no longer a rebellious youth of seventeen. He had grown into a very handsome, confident young man, who was now more than capable of becoming an astounding leader. The king was extremely pleased.
"You both look so different, yet so similar. I had forgotten how much I missed you." He said, genuine happiness oozing from every part of him.
Ilana beamed at her father, while Lance merely gave a wry smirk and low chuckle. "I'm sure you didn't miss me that much. I always seemed to cause you more trouble than it was worth." he said, his eyes and voice reflecting a cheeky sarcasm and humor.
The king smirked back, liking this new-found freedom and calm in Lance's demeanor. "Perhaps that's how it felt in the moment...but believe me, Lance, you have always been worth it to me. I promised your father that I would keep you in line, after all."
Lance's smirk turned into a warm smile. "And for that, I will be eternally grateful, your majesty. Also, speaking of my father, I'm supposed to give you this."
With that, he held out a video recorder to the king.
The king stared at the video recorder, clearly perplexed. 'Edward died long ago; what is Lance talking about? Did he find an old video of his father's?' He thought. The king gave Lance a confused look, clearly seeking an explanation.
Lance looked back at him, his smile growing. "There is a lot that you don't know, your majesty. My father is alive. He's been living on earth for these past twelve years. He made this recording so he could explain everything that has happened 'in person', so to speak."
The king took in a sharp breath; shock adorning his face, as his mind trying to process this new information. He reached out a shaking hand to accept the video recorder; his eyes as large as saucers. "You mean...Edward has been alive this whole time?" he asked, taking the proffered recorder from Lance's hand.
His voice was barely above a whisper, and his brain unable to fully process what he was hearing from his Corporal; His dearest friend was alive. "Why didn't he return?" the king asked, barely above a whisper. His gaze was locked on the video he held in his hand; the video which contained his presumed-dead best friend's long-awaited explanations.
Lance saw the mix of emotions playing through the king's eyes: betrayal, hurt, relief, confusion, happiness, and shock. He understood what his ruler was going through in this moment; he had gone through the exact same thing when he discovered the truth several months ago.
After a moment of silence, he decided to speak. "There were various reasons, Sir. He addresses all of them in the video. It's quite a long story, and he told me that he wished to tell you everything himself; not through me, or anyone else." Lance said, studying the king's reaction.
The king took a moment to compose himself, drawing in one more deep, calming breath before facing Lance once again. "Thank you, Lance. I promise, I will watch this tonight when I have some free time."
Lance gave a nod in response. At this point, both men looked over to find their princess happily chatting away, and walking with the man she had addressed as Hobbs.
Both the king and Lance began making their way over to the two chatting adults, smiles adorning their faces.
Lance had learned about Hobbs around two years ago; It was during a hideous snow storm back in Sherman. The storm was so bad, the entire town lost power for several days. While sitting in the dark one day, they had begun reminiscing about the past once again. Ilana had told him of her previous bodyguard; how he taught her to use the Corus armor, how he had cared for her from when she was a little girl, and how she wondered if he was still alive.
She had told Lance that Hobbs had been injured during her attempt to gain access to the palace when the Mutraddi had invaded. She never knew what became of him after that incident.
It was during this conversation that she made Lance promise that he would never leave her the same way she had to leave Hobbs: uncertain of his safety and future. She made him swear that he would never leave her side; not ever.
Of course, being the practical one of the pair, he had told her that there could never be any promises like that made in life; it was too uncertain.
When she began to tear up, however, he caved, and promised her that he would do everything in his power never to let that happen. That seemed to satisfy her, as the subject was later dropped, and a new topic had begun being discussed.
"I believe this is your first time meeting Ilana's former bodyguard, right Lance?" The king asked, breaking the youth from his reminiscence.
He whipped his head up towards the king, "Huh...? Oh. Yes, your highness." He replied.
The king noticed, of course, that Lance had been somewhere else in his mind during their attempt to catch up to his daughter and her former guard, as he had been talking to Lance from the moment they had started walking.
Needless to say, he determined very quickly that he might as well be talking to air.
The king realized that this would be a difficult transition for them; they had become like family during their time on earth. Of course, no one had directly told him that, but the king was a smart and intuitive man. Age had wizened him, as it did everyone blessed with a long life. Also, because of his position, he had learned how to read people well. He could tell they were extremely close. It saddened him, in a way, knowing that his daughter would need to distance herself from the two people whom she had grown closest to over these past three years.
Alas, however, he knew that it was necessary. Ilana was a princess; she had expectations that she was required to meet.
He had no intention of forcing her to lose contact with either of them, though. He had already decided that once this war was over, Octus would be put in charge of their Research and Development Division, and Lance would be promoted to either Colonel or Brigadier General, depending on how well he performed in this battle. That would keep them both in Ilana's lives, and able to freely interact with her.
He also had a surprise of his own for his beloved daughter; one he was sure she would be pleased with.
It was only after hearing Lance ask him if he was alright did he realize that he was now the one lost in thought. "Oh, yes, I'm fine. My apologies, Lance. What did you say?" he asked, a kind smile on his face, and his large chocolate brown eyes shining.
Lance noticed that Ilana inherited her father's eyes. "I asked how long Hobbs was Ilana's bodyguard for before the invasion." he replied.
"My goodness, let me think..." the king replied, pausing in their advance to ponder how many years Hobbs had been serving him. "I believe that he was hired on directly after your and Baron's incident at the Medal of Excellence ceremony."
At the mention of that past incident, Lance visibly flinched.
The king, noticing this, stopped, turned to him, and put a hand on Lance's shoulder as he began to speak. "It's okay, Lance." The king said. "I've learned all about the circumstances behind that fight. I know you weren't the one who instigated it; It was self-defense. I realize that now. Although it was extremely reckless to climb into one of the Manus armor with no training, and only at the age of eight, Baron was armed with a lethal weapon; one he was actively using against you. Despite the reckless endangerment, you did well. I don't hold that incident against you."
Lance's posture relaxed somewhat, and he looked at the king with a relieved expression. "Thank you, your highness." He said, gratitude in his features.
The king gave him a kind nod in response.
"Hey, Lance! Come over here! There's someone I want you to meet!" Ilana hollered from further down the field, where she and Hobbs had meandered to during their conversation.
Ilana looked so excited; a bright smile on her face as she waved him over. This was the first time that Lance had seen her so whole-heartedly happy since before leaving Galaluna all those years ago.
Her smile was contagious, as his face soon adorned one of its own. "Coming!" He called back. "Excuse me, Your Majesty." He said with a bow to the king.
Turning back around, he picked up a run toward where Ilana and Hobbs were waiting.
The king watched him go, smiling the whole time.
EF-F - EF-F - EF-F - EF-F - EF-F - EF-F - EF-F - EF-F - EF-F
"Sorry I kept you waiting." Lance said as he reached the pair.
Ilana looked at him with an excited smile, and bright eyes. "Not at all. Lance, this is Hobbs, my former bodyguard. You may remember my mentioning him on a few occasions during our time on Earth."
Lance nodded, and extended his hand for Hobbs to take. As they shook, Lance smirked at Hobbs, one eyebrow raised in amusement. "If I recall correctly, the princess mentioned that your signature phrase is 'There's always a well'."
At that, Hobbs burst into uproarious laughter, while Ilana attempted to elbow Lance in his rock-hard stomach. "Ouch! Geez, Lance, what are you made of?" she asked, while rubbing her now sore elbow.
Lance chuckled, and looked at her. "It's called muscle mass, princess."
"Well, it felt like elbowing a brick wall." Ilana replied, now finished with her ministrations to her elbow. She looked back at Lance, and this time they both chuckled.
As Hobbs's laughter died out, he took a moment to fully study the laughing pair in front of him. Even from first glance, he could tell that their time on Earth had resulted in a close friendship between the two. They clearly held an unshakable trust in each other, and enjoyed each other's company immensely.
Lance was not at all as the king had described him. Hobbs was expecting something resembling a brooding, moody teenager with long hair, average height, lean physique, and a short temper. The friendly, composed young man with short hair, and height almost matching the king was a welcome difference from his expectations. He noticed that Lance still retained his long bangs – though shorter than the king's description – and lean figure.
He was anxious to learn more about this boy that had been protecting his dear princess for three years, and was looking forward to working with him. After all, the rumors of Lance's combat skills were widely circulated, and valued, by everyone in the Galalunian Army who served with him; regardless of his past behavioral problems.
It appeared as though he had mellowed with age; his attitude seemingly much improved – going off of what the king had told him. Clearly, the boy had matured in the years he was gone.
A gentle smile adorning his features, Hobbs opened his mouth to speak. "It's good to see that the princess was so well taken care of during her time away. Thank you for looking after her, Lance. The king and I are eternally grateful."
At the sound of his voice, both young adults ceased their laughter to face Hobbs. "I trust I didn't let the king down. I vowed not to let anything happen to the princess, and I have done my best to keep that promise." Lance answered, meeting Hobbs's steady gaze with one of his own.
Nodding, Hobbs searched the young man's eyes for a moment. He was looking for something...something he had seen in them earlier, but was unable to place.
After not finding what he was seeking from Lance's expression, he decided to speak. "From what I can tell, you have more than fulfilled your duty." Hobbs said, observing Lance carefully.
"Good..." was Lance's only reply.
They felt the breeze blowing in gently from the top of the mountain. As the two men stared at each other in a sort of understanding silence, Ilana watched the breeze tousle and play with Lance's long bangs; the silky, raven locks moving in a sort of dance across his dark eyes, and the pale skin on his handsome face.
Ilana had the sudden urge to reach out to it; to run her fingers through that hair, and feel for herself how soft it was to the touch. In all their years on earth, she had never once gotten to play with her bodyguard's beautiful hair. She had opportunities, but none that she was ever willing to take, at the time. Now, she wished she had.
When she felt her hand move upward in reaction to the thought, she was brought back to reality. She rapidly brought her hand back down, glued it to her side, and dropped her gaze to the ground; hoping that no one had noticed her sudden movement.
Immediately after she looked back up, however, she was wishing that she was back in her own little dream world. She now had two men who cared deeply about her well-being examining her as if something extremely perplexing had happened.
Lance's face showed concerned amusement, while Hobbs's looked troubled.
"What's the matter?" She asked.
Lance's amused smile morphed into a smirk as he began to speak. "You were staring off into space with this longing expression on your face, your hand jerked up suddenly, you brought it back down fast enough to convince someone that the air had burned you, and your face is an interesting shade of pinkish-red. That," Lance said as he pointed to her face, "doesn't seem normal; even for you. You okay?"
Ilana's face took on an even darker hue as she swatted her bodyguard's finger away. "I'm fine! It's nothing, honestly."
"Then why is your face getting redder?" Lance asked with a bemused expression. This was a side of Ilana that he didn't see very often: so flustered, and suddenly reserved; of course he was taking every opportunity to tease her. Who wouldn't?
"Princess, are you coming down with a cold? Do you need me to fetch anything?" Hobbs asked, his voice riddled with concern.
He reached out to feel her forehead, when Ilana took a step back. "I'm fine, honestly!" she said exasperatedly.
Both men backed off at her insistent tone; Lance shrugging to Hobbs, while Hobbs directed a concerned look Lance's way.
"If the princess says she's fine, then she's fine. I've found that she doesn't usually take chances when it comes to health." Lance said, shooting Ilana a reassuring look.
She gave a small smile in return, hoping for a distraction, change in topic...anything to divert her bodyguards from their current focus.
Well, as the saying goes, ask and ye shall receive: Ilana heard her father calling in the distance.
"Ilana, come here! I would like to present you to the soldiers and citizens!" He hollered from across the grassy field, his current location being in the center of the camp. He had traveled there after Lance had taken off to see the princess, and her former guard.
Turning back to them, Ilana gave an apologetic smile. "Please excuse me." She said.
With that, she began making her way over to her dad.
Lance watched her go, his eyes following the gentle sway of her hips as the breeze played with the skirt of her dress. The gold trim of the gown shining brilliantly in the sunlight gave her an almost ethereal glow as she faded from their view the further down the field she went.
"She's grown into a very mature, attractive young woman. She'll make a wonderful queen. I couldn't be more proud of her..." Hobbs said, a tear forming in his eye; his gaze filled with fatherly love.
Lance looked at the older man, knowing full well that he must have been nearly as close to Ilana as her father was when she was younger.
He took this time to really study Hobbs. He was a tall man, around his father's height. He shaved his hair close to his head; the color no longer the natural blonde it used to be in his youth, but now fully white. He was a very muscular man as well, despite being middle-aged. While Lance always tended to be on the leaner side, Hobbs had large, broad shoulders, and very muscular arms and legs. He clearly spent quite a bit of time training, specifically lifting, in order to maintain that physique. From that deduction, Lance had to assume that Hobbs was a highly skilled fighter – an opponent not to be taken lightly when in battle, and a valuable asset to his team.
After finishing his initial assessment of Hobbs, Lance turned back to the direction Ilana had gone. He saw her chatting amiably with the other soldiers; her father by her side.
A small, warm smile crept onto his face at the sight of her laughing and talking with his former comrades. Most weren't fond of him, he knew, but they were still his kind of people; they all shared a common bond.
He was glad she was taking the time to get to know the men and women who strove only to protect both her family and people. Perhaps, if she started learning more about his nearly lifelong environment, she might be able to understand him a little better as well. She knew him inside and out, yes, but that didn't mean she completely understood him. They grew up very differently, and they didn't always understand each other's points of view because of that.
During Lance's time with his thoughts, Hobbs had moved his focus from Ilana, and back to Lance.
Observing this young man before him, he decided he wanted to see why he was so well-known for his combat skills; he wanted to find out just why the king chose him of all people to keep their nation's crown jewel safe – despite the Corporal's insubordinate past. "Hey, Lance."
Lance snapped out of his reverie to face Hobbs, "Yes, Sir?"
Hobbs gave him a warm smile, "You don't have to address me as Sir, Lance. At the moment, we're equal; both bodyguards to the princess."
Lance gave a nod, his eyes silently telling Hobbs to continue.
"Would you care to spar with me? I'd like to find out just how good you are, kid." Hobbs gave Lance a cheeky grin, to which Lance responded with a smirk of his own. "I'd enjoy that. I warn you, though, I won't be going easy on you. It's been a long time since I've had a sparring partner that actually presented a challenge, excluding Octus. This should be fun..."
Hobbs liked the fire he saw in Lance's eyes. He could tell the kid had spunk; something he was excited to see translate into his fighting. "You're on, then...and you're right, this should be fun."
With a nod from both men, they proceeded to their starting points – a forty-foot distance separating them.
As they turned to face each other, Hobbs spoke. "Standard rules: no weapons, no lethal blows. First to immobilize wins."
With a nod from Lance, both men removed their communicators, and readied themselves.
After only a moment of quiet, Hobbs made the first move.
He ran at Lance, full speed, and feinted left.
Lance went to move, but picked up on Hobbs's shift in weight from his left foot to his right at the last minute. He spun around, his left hand catching Hobbs's right fist.
Hobbs wasted no time, and went to punch Lance using his left fist next...only to be caught by Lance's right hand this time.
Not losing a second, Lance threw Hobbs's arms apart.
Grabbing Hobbs by the top of his military jacked, Lance used the veteran's body for support, and handsprung over Hobbs. As his feet reconnected with the ground, he used his forward momentum to lift and throw the larger man over his shoulders, and to the ground; Hobbs landing a good several feet away.
Recovering quickly, Hobbs got to his feet, and studied his opponent. "I guess the rumors are true...you are pretty good, kid. Nice reflexes."
Lance merely smirked; it was time for him to take the offensive. Within mere moments, they ran towards each other in sync...
