Tag Archives: West Drop

Champions of Battle: The Very Best – Opportunity #031

Shinsaku and Ione grabbed their handhelds and rushed to the pile of armor.  They knew better than to fiddle with the droids.  Sure they could check the alley but they’d completely give away their position.  Any competent guard would check for things like that.

Ione looked at the pile franticly.  There was no way the team could sort through all this in the next two minutes and find the best items.  “What do we do,” the sound of hurriedness escaped her voice.  Her strong instinct was to grab random items and run for it.  She looked at Phillip and Taigi.  They were supposed to be done by now!

Time was against them.  Ione knew the team would be in big trouble if they were caught.  They had a plan for escape.  They also planned to catch all the targets and for all targets to be stuck in rejuvenation centers for the next few weeks.  Having one target escape was trouble.  Now, two slayers and possibly a horde of guards were on their trail.  Everything was falling appart!

Taigi looked at Ione’s overly concerned posture, “We relax,” she instructed rolling her eyes.  It seemed Ione’s first reaction was always to worry, often hindering their progress.

Shinsaku nodded in agreement, “Get ready to move.”  He was the rock staying calm even though he was most exposed in all this.  It was what made him the best fighter of the group.  He traded glances between Taigi and Phillip.  They’ve had plenty of time to do their job, “Alright, what are we taking?

After gathering the selected armor, RedBatty followed the plan and split into three teams.  To Taigi’s dismay, she was stuck with Ione who needed to change clothes.  Therefore she had to linger in a soon to be compromised area while listening to Ione whine as she fumbled around with her armor and helmet.  Shinsaku and Phillip had long since left the building by then.  It was good since it reduced suspicion.

Unfortunately, in her rush Ione forgot to deactivate the hover droid tracking their latest target.

—–

     A strange twist in the World Circuit today as Jaquan Zu, World Circuit title holder for several years, has decided to leave the World Circuit instead of facing his longtime rival Orien Quan. 

     Sources say that Zu had become increasingly bitter towards Quan saying that Quan had used underhanded tactics during their most recent bout.  Zu has since not been available for comment. 

     However, Quan had this to say, “I’m surprised that he’d disappear like that.  I could tell he was losing nerve as the fight got closer.  I never thought he’d quit.”  Quan went on to say that he’d, “lost all respect Zu.  I used to look up to him.  Fighting him told me that I was nearing the top.  But if he [is] scared, he [is] scared.”

     The Championship fight will continue only a little later than originally scheduled.  Instead of fighting Zu, Quan will battle against Madrid Li, the third in line for the World Circuit Title.  We can only wait to see how she will respond to this opportunity.

Jaquan sat in his chair getting angrier and angrier as he watched the news feed.  This was the reason he hated reporters.  No matter what really happened, the reporters would run with a story and shout their message until enough people agreed with them.  By the time the whole truth came out.  The public already had an opinion washed into their brains.

He resists throwing his handheld down in anger.  Deciding instead to slap the holographic image it was presenting.  His handheld got the message to shut off as Jaquan stood from his seat.

Looking around the resting area, he spotted his comrades and the clock.  It was almost hour seventeen.  “Liana,” he said, “Call Neely.  Ask him where he’s at.  It’s time to go.”

#1 – Opportunity #30 – Opportunity #32

Champions of Battle: The Very Best – Opportunity #028

As they kept walking through West Drop, Kiley kept phasing out of vision.  About every thirty seconds he would vanish completely only to slowly phase back.  He’d reappear; keeping pace as though nothing had happened.  Others on the street had to notice this spectacle.  Brisa’s eyes darted around each time he disappeared.  No one on the street seemed to care but since he was leading her to the Kinetic-Potential Talent School.  It was getting annoying.

After about six minutes of this, she had to ask, “Why do you keep doing that?”

He turned around, walking backwards to address her, “That droid is still up there,” he said pointing up and behind her.  He disappeared again and continued, “Whyever it’s following you, I don’t want it to start tracking me too.”  The ghost of his image started phasing back into her vision.  He was walking forward again right next to her now as he said, “I’m throwing it off of my track.”

Brisa looked back again.  Up down all around, she couldn’t see it.  “How do we get rid of it?”

Kiley thought a bit before answering.  “Well, usually those things aren’t sturdy.  They use energy to float and for defense.  All we have to do is hit it hard enough to get through its energy fields.”

Brisa looked at Kiley expectantly.  After a few paces she thought he would hit it with something.  Seeing that he didn’t, she thought she’d speed up the process, “Well?”

It took a while Kiley to get the hint.  “Oh,” he said surprised, “I can’t hit it.  It’s way too high for me to jump,” he looked at Brisa noting that she was not convinced, “and my ranged weapons are too weak to do any damage.  They’d just bounce off its deflector and… yeah.  But I can see it because of my talents and perception.”

Brisa remembered the perception Hanja on her mask.  She should be able to see a great deal more than usual.  If she couldn’t see it, his natural perception had to be incredible.  “Ok, so we have to wait,” she said looking at where Kiley’s voice had just came from.  He was gone; yet again.  Really?  Again?  Her eyes expressed her frustration at talking to nothing once more.  She was equally shocked when a casually loud voice came from the empty air she was looking through.

“Maybe you can find a skill that will help you in here,” Kiley said as he was phasing back into her view, “The Caster Talent School is in there too,” he said pointing at the strange building in front of them, “Maybe you can hit it with your large axe-hammer thing.”

Brisa thought about the maul Catlin got and enchanted for her.  She’d have to thank Catlin; if she ever decided to talk to her again.  Brisa looked up at the school.  This is a school?

The large building looked more like a mystic’s night club; or a giant playground.  The rounded walls made the building look like someone squished a bunch of giant clay balls together. The painter had to be completely color blind and the spinning orbs floating above closely resembled disco balls.  The fact that they floated was the only indication that there could be anything to learn here.

Brisa had to be certain, “This is a school.”  It was meant as a question.  However, her voice reflected severe doubt.  From this building, she’d have trouble believing it was a school even if she was met by a welcoming committee.

“This is the school,” Kiley told her.  To prove it, he walked with her up to the circled window to watch the students practicing the Kinetic-Potential techniques.

Brisa still didn’t believe him completely but she had no choice but to see for herself.  After thanking him, she headed for what looked like the entrance.

“You’re welcome,” Kiley said eagerly, “Good luck in the tournament!”

#1 – Opportunity #27 – Opportunity #29

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