Tag Archives: Champions of Battle

Champions of Battle: The Very Best – Opportunity #041

Duard’s luxurious black Qian Fission slipped through the air with the speed of the best military stunt crafts.  This multilevel aircraft was his home away from home. It was as soft on the inside as it was intimidating on the surface.  Soft tan cushions and carpeted floors made this craft a flying apartment. The envy of all but the elite.

He sat comfortably in a rear compartment of the craft viewing West Drop’s city cameras and reading stories of semi-current happenings in the city.  He didn’t drive. He didn’t need to drive. The Fission, like most elite level air cars, could fly itself. He only gave the destination and speed. After that, eventless flights were all but done.  

There was an interesting news feed about some criminals ambushing fighters bound for a tournament.  Duard’s only wish was that Jaquan was one of the unfortunates. It would serve the ignorant ruffian right.  An arrogant prize fighter fooled and slain by thugs? He’d be revived of course, but with the loss of his pride and hopefully, some of his precious gear.  Brisa, of course, would be safe from that threat entirely. However, she had probably found herself a whole other set of problems.

What ditch could his sandwich-girl possibly have found herself in?  Lost?  Of course; and broke no doubt.  So, hungry too? Possibly.  She obviously didn’t have enough money to manage a call to headquarters.  And since she needed money for a call, her handheld must be out of power, broken, or stolen.  It was slim odds that she’d find and cling to him as he searched the city for Jaquan. But, if Brisa was lucky and begged correctly, she’d be allowed to follow along again.  Of course, he’d ditch her unless she had gathered some useful information in her misadventures.

Duard’s focused went back on the news story and he couldn’t help but chuckle.  It was shamelessly biased toward the “brave” and “intuitive” actions of West Drop’s Security force.  The animated photos clearly showed a different story. The intuitive security forces waded cluelessly through the huge pile of stolen equipment.  A pile too large for an intuitive police force to allow.

As the police waded through the gear, they separated some of the more impressive items into a second pile.  The reputation of the West Drop Police Force suggested that this pile would be the “lost” equipment that would later be “found” on the black market.

Two familiar looking people stood in the background looking incredibly bored.  Not at all surprised at the scene, they obviously had been there the longest. Possibly, giving their testimony to a tired detective.  If any intuitive work was done, it would have been through them; the ‘helpful citizens.’

Duard took a quick glance through a window.  The sun was setting quickly as his airship flew over the ocean.  In a few short minutes, the ship would prepare for the final leg of the journey.  

Duard headed for the showers and then to the supply closet.  There was work to do. He’d need to be rested and clean to withstand West Drop.

#1 – Opportunity #40

Champions of Battle: AD7 – Awakening #042

Tirzah looked down on Sanity from the window in her office.  The guild tower provided a grand view of the people and warriors outside.  The vantage point was helpful, but the window itself displayed additional information about the people below.  Different color bars showed health, rage, and fatigue, as well as nameplates and average gear level, for each person.  The information moved with the people as they carried on their daily lives.  People behind buildings were displayed as outlines.

There were many people training – of course, they were always training in Sanity.  Rage and fatigue bars fluctuated; outlines danced; fiber training targets shook, broke, and were replaced.  Unsalvageable targets were used as mulch.  Constant training was how Sanity stayed ahead of its rivals.

Tirzah swiped her finger along the glass, and the entire image shown through the window moved.  The city panned around in the window until AD7’s name came into view. It took a while to find her, despite her short name.  Luckily, her bars were much smaller than most.

With another swipe, the window centered and focused on AD7 and Keyanna near the Training Square.  AD7 sat on a bench looking sad with a pair of nunchaku cupped in her hands.  These weren’t AD7’s signature weapons.  The guild crafters and enchanters painstakingly searched through recordings and made sure to replicate her weapons perfectly.  There must something wrong.

“So, what should we do?” said Carver Lang, leader of Pure Wealth.  His sub guild shared responsibility over Sanity.  AD7’s welcome was a big event, but the thought of breaking into Rubin’s Trail was much less welcome.

“We are going to help her,” Tirzah commanded, “We need her.  She needs us.  And, she’s as good as any other citizen of Sanity.”

“I’m all for helping allies.  I mean, allies are allies.  But can we trust her to stay an ally, after we’re done?”

“Well yeah.” Cyd didn’t know exactly why he was there.  It was only the three of them.  Not even the Sanity’s mayor had been invited.  He did know one thing though, “I’ve met her.  She’s cool.”

“She has amnesia and doesn’t have the suit,” Carver rebutted, “That suit beat back an advanced military force and built a fortress complete with death machine factories.  Can we trust her with it?”

“The rejuvenation left her a bit confused, but she was perfectly rebuilt and preserved,” Cyd replied.  “Her personality is the same as it would have been if she still all of her memories.”

Tirzah stayed at the window and nodded in agreement.  The cozy room was well furnished.  Cyd and Carver sat in large soft chairs apart from each other but facing Tirzah.

“The suit didn’t go crazy until she died,” Tirzah added, “She controlled it before then.  She’ll controll it again.”

Carver knew when he was outmatched.  Usually, he would try to argue with Tirzah.  This time, there was an expert present.  His personal reasonings were invalid.  There was a bright side to all of this though: AD7 could help improve their technology a great deal and therefore bring more money to the city.

“Ok then.  How will we get into the facility? It’s better defended than the palace.”

“Can’t know for sure.  We need scouts,” Tirzah scowled slightly, “Our droids keep getting spotted.  Luckily, they were only the basic ones.”

“Rubin’s machines are better than yours … ours anyway.  Their scientists would just throw them away.”  It was taking some time for Cyd to get used to his new situation.  He had been at the Rejuvenation Center for so horribly long, but now his life was new, different, exciting.  So let’s be exciting, “So… road trip?”

There was silence in the room.  After a few seconds Cyd thought he had said something very wrong.  Then he realized that everyone was taking his idea seriously.

Tirzah was the first to speak, “I see your point,” her voice serious.  “We need to see everything for ourselves.  But, we’re not going anywhere, until we’re all ready.”

Tirzah hadn’t taken her eyes off of AD7 and Keyanna since she had first spotted them. AD7 had gotten up from the bench and started her basic nunchaku training.  Basic training with nunchaku.

Recordings of her past battles showed her leaping through battlefields fighting armored vehicles with long chained meteor hammers.  A recording displayed her effortlessly throwing her enchanted weights around; leaping to avoid heavy weapon fire; pulling her chain to retrieve the weight from one destroyed tank; and attacking another tank all in a single effortless motion.

Now, AD7 handled nunchaku.  Light but powerful weapons in skilled hands but her hands had become unskilled.  She was more of a danger to herself than to the target.  Tirzah only hoped that training would eventually bring back battle knowledge.  Hunger recalled the memory of a restaurant, so not all of her memories were gone.  Perhaps, it would be awhile before her other memories return.

They’d have to wait.

She’s not ready yet.

#1 – Awakening #41

Champions of Battle: The Very Best – Opportunity #040

The night was uneventful as far as Brisa could tell.  She slept like a rock.  With a warm comforter, the fresh air, and fanned wind, she only could sleep this well in her apartment back in South Coast.  As she woke to the soft music of an alarm clock, she was certain she was in her apartment.  Her comforter, her fan, everything she owned was in its place.  The events of the last few weeks were dismissed as a weird, vivid, escalating dream until she spotted the missing window… and her armor piled in the corner.

What is going on here.

Looking around with this new revelation, she noted the walls and furniture changing.  The wild bright assorted colors and weird decorations she associated with the Casting and Kin-Po school returned.  At the same time, the alarm clock’s music became more and more annoying until it sounded like a random series of beeps.

Enchants.  They are everywhere.

She made her way to the showers and prepared for another lesson.  In mirrors, she saw a stronger face and body than she was used to.  The fact that it was also much easier to move testified that she was getting stronger.  Perhaps the enchants on her armor were having a permanent effect.

She made her way out of the lower floors and met again with Vangie who was already prepared and waiting with her bubbly smile.

“Ready to continue your training?” she asked.  Her hair was bright pink as she clapped and smiled.  

“Sure,” Brisa said, unable to share in her excitement.  She was being ripped off.  She knew it, but she needed rest and didn’t have enough money or defensive skills.  She had to sleep in a safe place and the terms of her night rest “discount” demanded that she continue her training the next day.  It didn’t matter what she learned as long as she completed a lesson.

Whatever she learned, it had to be fast.  For all she knew, Jaquan was already in Bear Gate.  That city was known to be large and confusing.  She’d have to start the search from scratch.

Why did I leave.  I shouldn’t have let my emotions get to me.  Should have followed along with Jaquan.  Hmm… lesson learned I guess.

The past was in the past.  She could only work with what was in front of her at the moment.  Right now, a lesson as good as any other was waiting to be finished.  She conceded a sigh and said, “What do you have planned?”

“Well,” Vangie started, “What are your other Talent Sets?”

“I went to the Sword Master school not that long ago.”

“So, you only have two.   Would you like to learn Casting as well?”

“Sure.  Is it useful?”

Vangie’s eye’s widened and her hair turned to a bright color in the blue and green family.  They were near the entrance so the main desk was nearby.  She picked up a pencil making and held it out in a stiff motion.  Her expression told Brisa that she had a lot to learn, but was going to learn something soon.

Vangie pointed to a chair behind the desk and motioned Brisa out of the way.  In a quick throwing action she sent a ghostly blue pencil speeding into the chair.  The ghostly item stuck there a few seconds.  When it would have fallen out of place, it disappeared instead.  Brisa watched this short demonstration.  Her mouth opened slowly as she noticed that the pencil was still in Vangie’s hand.

It wasn’t a trick.  There was a definite hole in the chair where the ghost pencil had been.

Giving Brisa ample time to see what had happened, Vangie repeated the action never having let go of the pencil.  She then sent a flurry of ghost pencils with what looked like a dance of death.  By the time she was done, the chair was riddled with holes and the bright glow of dozens of ghost pencils.

As they slowly vanished Vangie added, “It works with bullets too, but I don’t use guns.”  

That could be useful.

#1 – Opportunity #39 – Opportunity #41