“What do you mean, ‘You don’t know?’” Jaquan leaned forward in his chair.

“It’s random,” Justice mentioned casually, “All of it.”

“No one knows who will fight who, until the name tiles are drawn,” Liana added.  After hearing the tournament’s layout a few times now, it was nice to know that their fighter listening.  This was going to be a new challenge for everyone.  They had to adjust quickly.

“But… what?” Jaquan’s eyes went wide, “how…?”  How can I fight without knowing anything?  

Information about challengers had always been a given.  The World Circuit always freely gave this information to all its Champions.  Champions could pick three of the twenty four Talent Sets and use them very differently.  This, combined with different weapon and enchant usage, made each fighter grossly unique.  There had to be some information about the fighters.

“So, files?” Jaquan asked eventually.

“Files of what?” Justice asked.

“Fighter information,” Liana translated for Jaquan.

“Yeah, I have those,” Justice said reaching into his pocket pulling out his palm-sized communicator.

Jaquan exhaled.  If these tournaments had similar Champion files like the World Circuit fights, he had some chance.  He’d do some studying, but how much, “How many Champions have signed up for the tourney?”

“About two hundred so far,” Justice replied; searching through the apps on his communicator without missing a beat.

The Wha!?  Jaquan’s eyes dilated for a brief moment, “Shouldn’t be a problem,” he said with practiced confidence.

“Riiight,” Liana’s mask distorted her voice but still spoke a volume.  She’d known Jaquan long enough to recognize faux reactions.  

“Found ‘em,” Justice sang.

It took less than a second for Liana to transfer the data from Justice’s communicator, “I’ll look at the major players first.  Might help a bit,” Liana’s digitized voice sounded over her mask’s speakers as she leaned back.  Her fingers danced in the air hitting buttons and switches that only she could see.

“Good… good” Jaquan continued his confident act as his mind raced.  There was no way to ‘wing it’ at this level of competition.  There had always been a well-formed detailed plan in his fights.  This will be such a new experience.  He had fought many in the past but each fight was specific.  Some of his old ideas may come back but

In the silence, the train hit a slight bump.  Small enough to be unnoticed normally however, the train was fast and empty enough that it skipped ever so slightly and rocked for a few seconds in the silence.  

“Wait a second,” Liana’s voice echoed in the silence.

“What?” Jaquan said coming out of his

It took a long second for Liana to get her words correct, “These files don’t have notes.”

“No notes?”

“They’re only the fights.”

“We’ll have to do without.”  Two hundred of these thing.  No notes.  This is going to be a busy trip.

Without notation, they would have to figure out the specifics of each Champion’s moves, talents, enchants by repeated observation.  It would be ridiculous to try specific strategies for each individual.  Perhaps a general strategy for the lot can be worked.

Nevertheless, the rest of their travel entertainment was set, they sat in silence as Liana’s suit interfaced with the train car to play the fights out one after another.  Two tiny life-like holograms appeared, one held two butterfly swords while the other held a sickle and chain weapon.  They stood frozen in place until Liana gave the command to start the recording.

#1 – Opportunity #38 – Opportunity #40