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Sons of Sword: Tales of Glory – Lost and Found #2

Bacon, bacon, more bacon; strips of fresh mango, pineapple, and strawberry; add in blueberry syrup with waffles and breakfast cannot get much better.  Of course, there is the company.

Metcalf sat with about nine other students.  She had known most of these girls since they were children; they met at the dorms.  A few were newer friends that once challenged her in the training center.  By now, they were all good friends and did almost everything together.  They were all fierce warriors.  They were also teenagers.

The friends sat at a long table on the lowest level of the dorm’s cafeteria, a grand elaborate cafeteria with three semi open levels.  Each level was larger than the one above it.  All around there were lifelike paintings, carvings, and sculptures of things and animals found around rivers or streams.

The levels were connected by a double stairway through the center.  At the bottom of the stairway were the larger tables and the window.  Visible from the top of the stairs was a great window.  It took the entire area of the unused three story wall.  It curved into the side walls as well but didn’t take them over.  It provided a wonderful view of the mighty Thousand Flower River which was currently frozen over.

While admiring the view, the ladies talked and joked about everything and nothing.  Dreamy young men in dramas; homework and reports due; clothing; possible trips into town; rumors of heavy snowfall; impersonating teachers; no topic was off limits.

In the middle of all this, Metcalf’s handheld rings.  She answers in a way that does not display the image of the caller.  Answering the call, she gets up and turns away from them.  Her friends already knew who it was though.  It had to be Naoh or Koh.

“Metcalf, what’s taking so long?”  It was Koh.  Apparently Naoh, his older sister, did not find the situation urgent enough to call Metcalf herself.

“What do you want,” Metcalf said with a hint of annoyance.  They knew not to bother her in the morning.  “I’m eating.”

“The Center is filling.  You’re going to miss out.”

“You can do a few drills without me can’t you?  I‘ll be there when I’m done.”

“Naoh says hurry up.”

“Yeah sure,” at that, she hung up.  She really appreciated what they did for her after her first test but Noah and Koh were slowly getting more and more demanding.  She felt a little less sorry about planning to leave them.  They can get their own points next year.

Her demeanor was completely different when she turned back to the table.  Watching her this whole time, her friends knew exactly what was happening.  They didn’t like her going to the training center to gamble with the Lai Siblings, but it was how she stayed in the academy.

“You don’t need them,” Haruna Huai said.  Though not the oldest or the strongest, she was the shortest and most outspoken of the youths.  “They’re using you.  I bet you could go much further without them.”

“I was thinking about that myself,” Metcalf was relieved that she was not the only one that understood her situation.  “I’m going to Master Fu next week to see what training I can do.”  The conversation continued for a short while.  After that she excused herself and left.

Lost and Found #1 – Lost and Found #3

 

Champions of Battle: AD7 – Awakening #5

AD7’s body was stiff, cold.  Royal could see why Cyd described her as a mannequin.  She felt AD7’s skin; it did not feel at all like a living person.  Her eyes locked in horror, were still looking in the same direction.  At least she wasn’t looking in their direction anymore.

After marking her location in the computer system, Cyd signaled the retrieval network and walked GarDNAnge1 back to the lobby.  There was another employee there now.  He saw them all and gave a questioning look.  It seemed as though patrons were not usually allowed in the back room.  However, the worker was busy with other patrons.  He did not have time to ask about them.  Cyd lead them around the counter and into the employee area.

By the time they reached the reanimation area, AD7’s body was being prepared.  They could see her through the window that separated them from the recovery room.  Large machines surrounded her.  They scanned her body for the most likely places to monitor her vitals.  Once found, small devices attached themselves to her.

The group was surrounded by machines too.  These machines read her vitals to make sure everything about her reanimation went well.  Cyd directed them to stand in a corner where they would not be in the way.  With all the machines and information around them, it seemed like he would need help, until they saw him at work.

He hovered around all the controls with expert precision, mumbling slightly to himself.  “Machine retrieval complete.  Alright, vital scanners in position?”

It made since what he was talking about.  There was obviously an order to this process.  They looked at AD7 through the window.  Her body was still in the same position.  However, she was hanging by her legs with her back towards the ground.  The machines had a hold of her joints and supported her back.  Monitors were stuck to her head, fingers, and feet.

“Tissue relaxer,” he said while pushing a few buttons on another control panel.  AD7’s muscles relaxed at his final tap on the machine.  Slowly at first, then they suddenly went completely limp.  She laid hanging by the machines grip for a short while.  Cyd rushed to another machine where he used the controls to lay her down softly.

“Fluid replacement.”  The machines that held her arms for so long retracted back to the walls.  They were replaced by other machines with needles.

“Oh Kay,” Cyd said with ease.  Clearly in his element he looked at Royal, “Princess was it?  There is a red lever on the machine right next to you.  When I give you the signal, I need you to raise it slowly.”

Royal looked at Tirzah for permission.  Tirzah instead had the other two back away from Royal slightly giving her the distance she needed.

Royal found the lever and held it, “I’m ready.”

The needles pierced her skin a little at a time.  Cyd was very careful.   Obviously this was a delicate step.  He gave Royal the signal and she obeyed his order to the letter.  AD7’s body showed notable difference as blood and water filled their places.  It became thicker and looked much more like a living person’s.

“Blood pressure is optimal,” he said working levers of his own, “Water is also optimal.  Thanks Princess, please lower the lever.”  Royal nodded as she obeyed.

“Lower level brain functions reboot,” at this she received light electric shocks from the table.  It seemed odd until the machines monitoring her circulation and brain functions started beeping.

“Heart rate, circulation, brain activity, alright,” Cyd said turning to them quite pleased, “we’re done.  She will be quite disoriented for a while.  Please try not to push her too hard.  Make sure she drinks plenty of water.  She will have a great deal of lost memories.  Her brain was almost completely destroyed when they picked her up, but items from her past could remind her of who she was.”  The machines beeped again.  This time Cyd seemed surprised.  “She’s regaining consciousness faster than normal.  It should be only a little time before she…”

“Aaiiiiaaaah!!”  Cyd was cut off by a blood curling scream.  AD7 was awake and seemed to have had a terrible dream.  Her hands and legs instinctively went back to the sitting position as she screamed.  She looked to the left expecting to see something.  Then her limbs lay back onto the table.  Her eyes focused and confused, were now conscious of the world around her.  “How did?  What?  Where am I?”

Cyd handed Tirzah a microphone.  She used it to speak with AD7, “Madam Aa Dee Seven.  We are team Guardian Angel.  We humbly request your aid.”

#1 – Awakening #4 – Awakening #6

Champions of Battle: The Very Best – Opportunity #3

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Jaquan walked to the mirrored locker-room door admiring the suit Liana chosen for him.  He liked clothes, but the clothing that Catlin made and enchanted was much better than he could ever buy.  She had made a black silk tie, a red dress shirt, and black dress pants with red cloth on the outer half of the left leg.

The suit coat was mostly black as well.  It was designed to match the red patch covering his left eye that trailed around to the back of his neck.  Just as his red skin would touch the suit, red cloth replaced the black.  It covered his left sleeve and a portion of the back, curving towards his left side at the bottom.

Interesting enough but when he put the suit on, the red portions of all his dress clothes turned reddish grey and sprouted glowing red cracks.  It kept changing until it looked exactly like coals on a burning log.  These “coals” were harmless, of course, but Catlin seemed to outdo herself more and more these days.  He was wearing coals.  It was amazing.  This would light up the dance floor perfectly and let everyone know who the guest of honor was.

By the time he was ready to leave, even more reporters seemed to have gathered around the door.  He could hear them.  He also heard the cameras clicking and wondered why they needed pictures of a locker-room door.  He would have to remember ask photographers later.

As soon as he opened the door reporters bombarded him.  They made sure to say a minimal introduction as though it meant something.  Then the question started.  He pushed through using only his legs and chest, walking calmly and briskly as they swarmed him.  He could have used a simple move to push them all away but he chose to contain himself for now.

The nearest reporter to his right muttered the first question he could understand.  “It seemed like you were in trouble for the first portion of the fight.  How did you turn it around?”  He was barely keeping up having to push against the other reporters to finish his questions.

“With machines, you gotta be patient,” Jaquan answered without slowing his pace or turning completely, “They got really good burst damage so you outlast them.  As fights get longer, sustained damage gets weak.”

The previous reporter’s microphone was long since out of range.  By this time, another reporter managed to say a question.  “What were you thinking when the blaster bolt hit your leg?”

“It hurts when you’re hit.  Always does,” Jaquan said honestly, “Noobs panic and fall apart under pressure.  Champions,” Jaquan said pointing to himself with his left hand, “Find ways to make things work out.  I got tactics from my Talent Sets.  They worked out pretty good.”

“How did you prepare for this fight,” spouted another reporter from behind him.

“One of my crew uses machines like Generosa Eh’s.  We started practicing really hard once I chose her as the challenger.  I was ready.”

One of the reporters started to mutter a question but was too close to Jaquan.  The reporter had to press against Jaquan to talk but Jaquan didn’t stop walking.  To late the reporter realized his mistake and was knocked over and walked on, without a thought from Jaquan.  As he reached the reporters chest he looked above the reporters and saw the night club portion of the hotel.  That is where his party will be.

“Orien Chuan says that he should have been next in line for the championship but you chose Generosa Eh because you were afraid to fight him.  What is your response?”

At that, Jaquan stopped to give a response.  “I’m not scared of nobody,” Jaquan said, stung by the question, “I’m the best!  I‘ve proved it time and time again!  I will be the best until someone can take the championship,” Jaquan spoke clear and purposefully, “I’ve opened challengers to anyone that wants the shot!  They all lined up and I’ve beaten ‘em.”

The reporter looked smug, happy that she found something that could stop The World Champion.  She continued, “Then, why is it that you chose Generosa Eh over Orien Chuan, a man that has the greatest chances to take your championship?”

Jaquan read her expression and saw that he had been trapped.  He decided to finish the answer anyway.  “I’m in it for the gold.  Cars, clothes, and class, you think that’s free?  Generosa Eh paid the bill and got her shot.  All Orien got is talk and cheap tricks.  Next time we fight, I’ll be ready for his cheese.  I’ll beat him worse than last time.”

At that, Jaquan started walking towards the club again, put on a stone face, and stopped answering questions.  The reporters eventually figured out that the interview was over as they could not enter the club without an invitation while it was reserved.  They dispersed by the time he reached the club.

#1 – Opportunity #2 – Opportunity #4