Episode Twenty - Honour (Part 1)
Chapter Song Suggestion " Gold (Stupid Love) by Excision & Illenium ft Shallows"
*note : all dialogues like so {example} are spoken from the predator's perspective
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THE PAST | Eira
"Hiyahh!" She flipped the dark-haired girl onto her back, dusting her hands to indicate the battle was over – she had won.
"Oof!" Kalina rolled over in obvious pain, cursing silently under her breath. Shame and anger washed over her. How many times must she be defeated by this Qeathan bitch!
"It's twenty-six wins against eighteen, Kalina," Eira declared good-naturedly and extended a hand. "Here, let me give you a hand."
Growling softly with hate-filled eyes, Kalina slapped her hand away. "I don't need your help!"
Shoulders deflating, Eira watched as the Xaosose girl stormed off angrily. She could never understand Kalina's antipathy. Had she done something to offend her?
"I don't know why you try to befriend that prickly ratillo," Izel, her good friend uttered. "Everyone knows that she dislikes you."
"But why? What have I done to her?" She was genuinely puzzled. "I treat all my opponents as friends. Why can't we help each other to become stronger?"
"Because Kalina is jealous of you."
She stared at him as if he had grown two heads. "Why is she jealous of me? There's nothing I have that she doesn't. She's beautiful, talented and she has more friends than I do."
Izel shook his head, an indecipherable smile on his face. "This is exactly why. You treat everyone as equals, and you don't belittle your enemy. You don't care what people think of you. As a warrior, you perceive lost as an encouragement to train harder. Kalina doesn't have your mindset. The more you reach out to her, the more hostile she becomes. That is one bridge you will never be able to cross, my friend." With a hefty sigh, he said. "When you face an opponent like her, you will need to ruthlessly defeat her. I know our elders say violence doesn't solve anything but sometimes, to certain people, it's the only language they understand."
She stared at Kalina's disappearing backside. Was Izel right? Was Kalina perhaps insulted that she wasn't treated with the respect and honour she deserved? Next time, Eira wouldn't make the same mistake again.
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PRESENT DAY
"Captain! The second round is about to begin." Koga walked up to Lars, his eyes drifting to the arena. It was rare for the Captain to be interested in another unit's fight. "What are you watching so intently?"
Lars nodded at the fighter in the arena. "That blonde man in the cage. Do you know who he is?"
Koga studied the subject of Lars's attention – a muscular man with short, slicked back hair and an aura of unparalleled restraint. He looked more like a scholar than a warrior. "That's Kaiser Ruff." Koga's brows furrowed. "What the fuck is a research and development member doing in the arena? I only know some of my drinking buddies help him out from time to time with his weapons research in exchange for a free reaper upgrade. If I remember right, Ruff doesn't even enjoy fighting."
"He has technique. And his reaper is exceptional."
Koga gawked. A compliment from Lars was hard pressed to come by and it meant whoever was receiving it — was good. He scratched his jaw absently. "Are you contemplating to recruit him?"
"Maybe," Lars replied cryptically. "While he doesn't seem to wield any stately presence, he makes up for it with his knowledge of reapers. It's clear in the way he moves and the expressions on his face. He's thinking. A battle isn't just about brute strength, it includes tactic. Understanding your reaper's capability and your opponent's is vital to crush them."
Koga was glad he wasn't the Captain's enemy because Lars Verhelst never hesitated to pull the trigger on those he considered detrimental.
Lars continued studying the young scientist. Kaiser Ruff appeared singular and harmless – a mistake his defeated opponent would soon learn — never judge a book by its cover. Ruff's reaper was the ultimate defense, a flexible molecular weapon to protect, shield and deflect. How it worked mystified Lars but, he conceded that it was invaluable against large and aggressive ambushes.
Ruff's skills would bring added value to the unit. Before he approached the man, Lars had some background digging to do, and then he would make his move.
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"Welcome back to the second round of the Ataxian Intra-Unit Battle!" the announcer roared, firing up the audience. "Earlier on we've concluded the battle between unit one and unit five, the total score being 3-0 makes it obvious who the reigning champion is. Now, let us begin the next battle between unit six and unit two! The rules are simple. The unit with the highest score points wins!"
A digital scoreboard emerged on the screen with the units' numbers and their team members listed in capital letters. The names started shuffling around to determine the fighters for the first round and it stopped on Florian Denari VS Risha Caine.
"Oh ho!" Koga elbowed Florian. "It's a battle between our Vice-Captains. This should be interesting to watch."
Eira handed Florian his reaper. "Good luck, Florian."
"Keep sharpshooter for me until I return," he simply stated, tying his hair back at the nape.
Her confusion was unmistakable. "How are you going to fight without her?"
Grabbing his trusty short blade, he tucked it into his pants. "Caine's a short-range combatant. I'll face him head on." Florian confidently stepped into the caged arena, wringing enthusiastic cries from his female fans as he raised his arms in greeting. He was shamelessly turning on the charm, and obviously loving the attention. On the screen, he boldly winked at the audience.
"Has he fought Risha Caine before?" Eira tossed Koga the question.
He snorted, as if her question was an understatement of the year. "They're sparring buddies. No one likes to fight with those two because once they bite, they never let go." He crossed his arms, adopting a rare, serious look. "This battle will either end quickly or it'll be drawn out depending on who can last the longest."
The starting horn buzzed and Eira gasped as the Vice-Captains clashed with the agile ferocity of familiarity, as if they've done this a thousand times — which they had. Eira didn't know if it was an unspoken honour between two friends, but they never once withdrew their weapons, relying on the strength of their bodies to defeat each other.
Like Koga predicted, it was a battle of wills.
She couldn't sit still, engaged on their fluid exchange of skills, attacks and experienced defenses. Their movements were like a harmonious dance she didn't want to end. From afar, she caught their heaving chests and imagined the sweat dripping off their skin – watching and reading each other.
The fight continued into the half hour mark until finally, Florian caught Caine's swinging foot and twisted hard enough for a sharp crack to be amplified by the micro speakers. Caine bellowed in agonizing pain, his torso slamming with a vicious thud into the ground.
"Fuck! That's got to hurt like a motherfucker." Koga visibly winced. "Florian must be desperate to win."
"Is the other Vice-Captain going to be alright?" Eira chewed on her lower lip. She had no idea the battles could turn so vicious. What if someone was killed? Was that against the rules?
"Oh, Captain, you're back," Anaelle announced Lars's arrival. He had been pulled away to sign some paperwork earlier on. "It looks like Florian has won."
"As he should. Otherwise, he doesn't deserve his title." Lars had never doubted Florian's ability in combat, even though the Craolean chose to prioritize target practice over sparring.
Koga hounded Florian the moment he returned to their pen, wrapping an arm around his neck, and messing up his sweaty hair. His uncontrollable laughter filled up the place. "Good job, you crazy son of a bitch! I can't believe you broke Caine's leg. The poor fucker."
"Shut up, Koga," Florian laughed, accepting the bottle of water from Eira.
"This will be Caine's what? Tenth time to the medical unit?" Anaelle shook her head wryly. It was unfathomable how men degenerated into boys around each other.
"Wait. This isn't his first time with a broken leg?" Eira was dumbstruck on the amount of times Vice-Captain Caine had been admitted to the medical unit. Either he was a troublemaker, or he wasn't a very good fighter. Having witnessed his combat skills, she doubted it was the latter. Perhaps he was just a hothead who was quick to use his fists.
"As you know, Cell II in our system helps to accelerate our body's recovery process. A broken bone is easily fixed with another dose of the serum," Anaelle simply explained. "Of course, it doesn't mean that you're exempted from the excruciating pain of your bones and muscles knitting back together. He probably won't be able to walk for a week."
"That's amazing. I had no idea," Eira murmured in awe. All this time…was that why her severe injuries never bothered her?
"What a tenacious fight! It seems Vice-Captain Denali has won this round. The score is now 1-0!" the announcer's voice boomed. "Who will our next contestants be for the second round? Let us take a look."
The names on the scoreboard started shuffling again, stopping on the names Eira Ulva VS Kalina.
Lars and Eira stiffened at the same time.
For a split second, Eira underwent an out of body experience. Was this truly happening? This wasn't her first battle with Kalina and yet, it was one that would define their future. She just knew it.
Breaking the tension, Anaelle slapped the huntress into Eira's arms. "Here you go. Remember what I told you. Stake your claim."
Eira wondered if this was fate. Kalina had been openly taunting her about her relationship with Lars since she arrived at Ataxia. This was her moment to set the record straight – the Qeathan way. Brimming with determination, she was about to step into the arena when Lars caught her arm. "Eira, wait."
"What?" She almost sneered. "Afraid I'll crush your little girlfriend?"
His tight grip reflected in his voice. "No. I want you to be careful."
She shrugged him off, for once annoyed by his concern. "Don't worry. I won't harm her. Though I won't promise not to rough her up a little."
"I'm sorry," he blurted out of the blue, loud enough for her ears but not for the others to eavesdrop. "It was my fault. I was being stupid. Please, don't be reckless."
Eira dug her nails into her palms, swallowing the lump in her throat. "I was wrong about you. I always believed nothing scares you. You acted the coward when you assumed fucking another woman would make me give you up."
Lars's chest tightened. Her trembling shoulders urged him to embrace her, but she wouldn't welcome it.
"You hurt me. And honestly, if I hadn't known you before, I would have dropped you without a second thought. But I do know you. Our past is set in stone." She turned; her eyes filled with mossy shards of hurt. "Do you know what helped me through the pain you inflicted?" She swallowed reflexively. "The fact that you felt a hundred times worse when you chose to hurt me."