Tag Archives: Champions of Battle

Champions of Battle: The Very Best – Opportunity #027

Jaquan stared speechless as Catlin and Neely rush off at Catlin’s whim.  He, Liana, and Justice had nothing to say that would help the two or change Catlin’s mind.  Understandably, Catlin felt a great deal of responsibility about Brisa’s situation.  She was going and Neely was going too; just… because he was.

As they watched Catlin and Neely run into the distance, one of Catlin’s abandoned bags fell over.  Neely left his bag as well.  Distracted from the spectacle, Liana grabbed both of Catlin’s larger bags.  It only seemed right since her suit greatly increased her already considerable strength.  This left Justice and Jaquan each of the remaining bags.

“Well, that just happened,” Jaquan said as he watched half of the BigBad Crew run off in frenzy.

Watching them run through the street, Justice couldn’t help but comment, “expected.”  He learned a little about Jaquan’s companions but expected was the best fitting word.

“Ironic,” Liana chimed in.  She added a few mechanical modifications to Neely’s armor during the shuttle trip.  It should help them in their task.  She had also seen Catlin modify Brisa’s armor in a fraction of the time with her enchants.  Catlin’s used immense power and concentration to help Brisa become a “warrior” in a few hours.  She used Neely’s Holy Talent boosted Empowerment Aura through the work and still almost changed into a dreaded Unholy Beast with all her work.  Brisa must have meant a lot to her.

Jaquan paused again watching Catlin and Neely run.  They were almost out of sight still frantically looking for the reporter.  The two that usually got into side adventures were off on another one.  Each adventure made them stronger so it made since to let them be for now.  “They should be fine,” Jaquan added.  Still, he’ll give them a call in a few hours.

The three followed the attendant to their assigned resting area to sit and relax.

—–

Brisa followed the mysterious warrior through the city.  It seemed he knew where he was going.  She learned his name was Kiley Qu and that he’d lived and trained in this city for a few years.  That was good because she was completely lost.  At best, she could find her way back to the Sword Mastery School.

Kiley was from a clan called Sour Grapes.  His clan was powerful though not the strongest.  His clan’s symbol, a black diamond with a bright yellow-orange circle in the center, was displayed proudly on his cape.  He was aware of Brisa’s recent escapade into the city.  Though he knew all the shortcuts, he made sure to stay on the main paths so she felt most comfortable.

As they walked, Brisa noticed that he disappeared from view every now and then.  She’d get distracted by something on the street and he’d be fading back into sight as she looked forward again.  It was a little disturbing.  It happened a few times before she had to stop and ask what was going on.

Kiley looked at her as though she should already know.  “There’s a cloaked tracker droid following you,” he said slightly annoyed.

Brisa looked behind her and all around.  There was nothing.  No evidence of anything, only the wind and traffic.

Kiley’s eyes flashed open with a sudden revelation, “You’re a new Adventurer aren’t you?”

“Well…  Umm…” Brisa was speechless.

She tried to hide it but, it was the only fact that could possibly explain everything.  She had awesome gear including a large powerful weapon that told all would-be attackers to be afraid, very afraid.  If she learned to use the gear, they would have great reason to be very afraid.  However, no part of her gear had been marked or repaired.  Therefore, it was unused.

Sour Grapes usually helped others in need.  Besides, he had nothing better to do today.  “Don’t worry,” Kiley said, “Just don’t charge off around some building at an enemy,” he smiled at Brisa’s confused look, “We should be fine.”

#1 – Opportunity #26 – Opportunity #28

Champions of Battle: AD7 – Awakening #27

Rubin’s Trail Research Facility:

An intern rushed through the lab holding a silver metal sphere.  It was large enough for her cupped hands to barely grip its bottom quarter.  It was rather heavy for its size.  She had no idea what it was or what it could be used for, but she had an idea how to learn.

Deep groves formed strange linear patterns across what everyone considered its top.  The bottom was completely smooth except for a small circular grove.  This sphere had to be important.  It was found clutched and protected by another droid.

Tosca Shi was one of the dozens of select interns researching the Mech Fortress’ defeated droids.  The metal sphere was considered a droid though no one knew what it did.  It was impossible to unlock and never moved on its own.  The mystery baffled everyone.  And by now, everyone had moved on to other more profitable projects; except Tosca.

While the others quit, the puzzle of the “sphere droid” became an obsession for her.  She needed to know what it did.  It was important.  It had to be.  There were many replicas of the other droids, but there was only one sphere droid.

Her supervisors were a little concerned for her obsession but admired her zeal.  Many times breakthroughs came after years of stubborn focus.  It was a lesson only learned after going through such an experience personally.

Tosca desperately wanted that breakthrough and she had a crazy idea on how to get it.  After AD7 entered the facility, the other devices did more.  They moved a bit more, beeped a bit louder.  After working with intelligent robotics for so long, Tosca knew that things don’t just happen.

There had to be a connection.  It only made sense.  AD7 had made them and knew everything there was to know about them.  Something else in the Mech Fortress must have controlled them during the war.  She kept referring to a guide whose orders she followed.  Still, she was polite enough to tell them about their use.  Even with this distance, Doctor Yu felt it best to keep her away from the droids for now, just in case there was a reaction.

Usually, projects were tested by facility teams lead by a licensed researcher.  However, after working so long on the sphere droid project alone, Tosca claimed the whole project as hers.  The possibility of a breakthrough after her yearlong obsession drove her to speak directly with the head of the facility.

After the last of many security check points, she reached Dr. Yu as they were conducting another test with AD7.  They had taken her chain and spherical weight weapon from the museum and asked her to use it on a grouping of brick targets.  Once again, they were astonished.

AD7 was far stronger and faster than they ever thought.  She had perfect control of her swings.  She used the chain to swing the metal weights at the targets and hit them again and again shattering most targets on contact.  At times, the chain seemed to lengthen in her hands.  Even with all that was going on, AD7 looked as cool and calm as she did while explaining something to the researchers.

Doctor Yu saw the intern approaching and had a good idea what she wanted to say.  “Tosca,” she greeted with no surprise in her voice, “I was wondering when I’d see you.”  She looked at the strain in her face and then down at the sphere droid.  Confirmed of her suspicion, she turned back to AD7 as she obliterated another target, “Any breakthroughs?”

“No Ma’am,” she said bending over breathing heavily.  After the long jog she forgot how heavy the droid was becoming.  She sat the sphere on the ground and held it with her feet to make sure it didn’t roll off.  After catching her breath, she continued, “I think…, I think that AD7 is affecting the droids,” she stopped to catch her breath again, “Maybe this droid could be affected too.”

Doctor Yu bent down, grabbing the sphere from the floor.  She forgot how heavy the thing was.  Not as heavy as a solid metal sphere but it definitely was not hollow.  “I know what this means to you,” she said looking at Tosca, “But we have no idea what it does.  It’s even resistant to our scans.”  She saw Tosca’s disappointed face but was quite sure the risk was not worth the reward.  Handing the sphere back to Tosca, she said, “Get a hand cart and take it back to your station.  They have some in storage.  You’re not trying to increase your strength are you?”

Tosca giggled at the humor and walked off towards the storage rooms.  It was a long shot to ask permission from the Boss Lady.  Adrianne was always understanding and sympathetic.  She would not have denied the request unless she was sure there was a danger.  Besides, she did feel a little stronger after the trip.

As she walked neither of them noticed AD7 had turned an ear to them.  She was watching, even listening to them.

#1 – Awakening #26 – Awakening #28

Champions of Battle: The Very Best – Opportunity #26

Catlin rushed out of the rest area with Neely following close behind.  There was a slight chance that Brisa was still at the shuttle port.  Catlin scanned all of the people along the way just in case they passed her on the way.  She was certain that Brisa would rather not talk to her, or even see her now.  If she could see and know that everything was alright with Brisa, she would have peace of mind.

If anything had happened to Brisa, it was all her fault.  Catlin had to know for sure that Brisa was safe.  She convinced Brisa to wander the shuttle.  Though camouflage and deception was used, she like what she learned about Brisa.  She really wanted Brisa to succeed in her mission.  So, she convinced Brisa to look like a warrior.  Now, Brisa was in trouble because of it.

They had to find her.  Brisa could be trapped, stripped, robbed, and left to wander the back alleys to become a target for some ruffian.  In turn, the gear Catlin expertly made could be stolen by some insecure wannabe trying to get an edge.

The gear was enchanted to have many perks that would help Brisa get out of trouble.  But, how was Brisa to know?  Catlin had no time to demonstrate how to use the armor.  Brisa couldn’t know about the features much less how to use them.  There was a chance she learned one of them by now.  Would that be enough?

Not seeing any sign of her on the way they started questioning the idle citizens.  They would have noticed Brisa in her battle gear.  Even in a place like this, someone was bound to recognize that hideous mantis hood.  That and her short stature would leave a lasting impression on someone in town.

After a few minutes, they eventually found an old street vender that remembered seeing someone that fit her description.  The pie maker saw her running into the city chasing another young lady.

Neely knew exactly what that meant, “That was probably the ganker.”

Catlin followed his logic, “Luring her into a trap.”

“She’s a smart girl though,” Neely said attempting to comfort Catlin, “We probably have plenty of time to find her.”

Was she that smart?  Catlin doubted his assessment though Neely was usually right his with guesses.  “We should still look for her.”  She still wished she could still track Brisa.  The bowtie heat signature wore off on the shuttle a long ago.  Also, the armor protected against such things.  They had to use the traditional slow way of finding Brisa.  Still, they had to find her.  If anything, Catlin needed to know that Brisa was alright and give the warning of prowlers.

—–

Brisa learned some basic moves from the trainers at the Sword Mastery School.  It was a little awkward borrowing a training sword to learn the moves.  It also seemed having to answer questions about learning short sword techniques when she was only armed with a huge maul and a pair of “daggers.”

Brisa loved her machete sized blades of enchantment.  She wanted to tell them about her amazing blades but she held back the urge.  They were rare and perhaps valuable enough to be stolen.  She would have no defense from the highly trained warriors in the school.  It would take little effort for them to muscle the weapons away from her if they knew the secret.

After getting her rudimentary training, she watched the skilled warriors practice again.  One particular fighter was flipping around radically, seemingly defying gravity at times.  Once or twice, he managed to change directions in the air.  He even threw his sword at the target and commanded the blade to return to his grip with a hand motion.

“How long before I can learn to do that,” she asked.

“Oh, I didn’t learn all the moves here,” he said “I’m using some moves combined with others from the Kinetic-Potential Talent School.”

“Wow.  Where is that?”

“Let me show you.”

#1 – Opportunity #25 – Opportunity #27