Tag Archives: Jaquan Zu

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: The Very Best – Opportunity #039

“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

 

Champions of Battle: The Very Best – Opportunity #038

There was no known land route to Bear Gate; or air route actually.  Pilots would waste an entire evenings searching for the city with no sign.  There were however, widespread rumors of it being somewhere south of West Drop.  No one knew exactly where.  Pictures from inside the city depicted a rustic rural place with hints of modern technology scattered about.  Regardless of the rumors, Jaquan and his companions were headed there.  At least they had every reason to believe they were.  

The tunnel they entered a half hour ago was marked to lead them there; as was the subway car they boarded.  Jaquan occasionally checked his communicator’s compass, and for the third time it stated that they were headed northwest.  Despite the discrepancy with known facts, there was nothing he could do about the travel plans now.  They were in the car and no amount of unwarranted panicking would make any difference.  Besides, he wanted to keep up appearances in front of Justice.

The subway car was much like any other only exceptionally clean, and empty.  Shiny compressed steel surfaces were highlighted with burgundy cushions.  There were windows but there was no point in looking through them.  Bright lights from the tunnel whipped passed and didn’t add anything to the trip.

The crew’s luggage was packed away in a pushable cart just on the other side of the car.  As much as Jaquan wanted to train by carrying the load, he didn’t want risk pushing himself too far so near the tournament.  The maker of their healing water was off on an adventure leaving them no hints when she’d be back.

Again, he looked at the compass hologram.   He blinked as it shifted slightly, pointing their direction more northward.  Instead of revealing a worried face, Jaquan looked up and heard Justice talk about the tournament’s specifics.  Justice made certain to stress that Jaquan should be especially careful not to lose any of the opening rounds.

“Why not?”

Liana slapped her face in frustration, “Listen for a bit will you,” she pleaded, “This is a coin based tournament.”

Jaquan’s confused face told Liana and Justice that Jaquan’s mind had been elsewhere for the last fifteen minutes.  So after a deep inhale and purposeful exhale, Justice started again.  “A coin based tournament is like this.”  He thought for a bit to put things in terms that Jaquan could understand.  “At the beginning of the tournament, all the fighters have two coins credited to an account,” he paused again to make sure he was saying everything correctly and that Jaquan was following, “At the end of a fight, the winner gets a coin from the loser.  If at any point you run out of coins you’re out of the tournament.”

“So why do I have to be careful in the beginning?” Jaquan asked.  The thought of losing was never a good one.  To go through so much to acheive nothing was such a waste of time, money, and effort.  He wanted to avoid it at all cost.  

“Oh.  I forgot,” Justice corrected himself, “on the third round, the bank takes a coin from everyone still in the tournament.  They keep doing that every other round until only one player remains.”

“Oh!” Jaquan realized the severity now, “That changes everything.”

“So,” Liana chimed in to conclude the original point, “He was saying that if you don’t maintain a winning record during the first four matches, you’re done.  Even a tied record causes elimination.”

“The chumps and wanna-bes are eliminated early.”  This was truly going to be a challenge.  In a tournament such as this, everyone will be on top of their game.  Everyone will be looking for an edge on whoever they fight.  “So who am I fighting first?”

Justice leaned back in his chair, covered his face with his hands and purposefully exhaled again, “I have no idea.”

#1 – Opportunity #37 – Opportunity #39