Tag Archives: The Very Best

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 #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

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