Morning came too soon. 28 was shaken awake by a sullen eyed 78 and quietly ate his tasteless breakfast. His eyes ached and his head throbbed, but as he rubbed the tiredness from his face a steady determination came over him. 'Today, today I will win.' The subjects readied themselves and soon they were escorted to Rinzlo who awaited them on the mat. The man locked eyes with 28 and seemingly satisfied with what he saw nodded to himself.
"Alright, you know the drill. Try not to maim each other too badly. Also, we'll be cutting today's session a little short. The Vice President has a special announcement to make. Subjects 99 and 82 are up first, make it good."
The two subjects took the mat as the others drew back. 99 moved first, rushing towards 82 with his arms poised to strike. But 82 was ready, his irises and pupils fading to white before his eyes filled with light. Twin beams of searing blue energy rushed from his eyes, their wild flames scorching the air around them. The energy crashed into 99 with extraordinary strength, throwing him backwards through the air with flames cascading over his body. 82 maintained the onslaught for a moment more before shutting his eyes with a grimace. Slowly the dull light faded behind his eyelids and he opened them once more. 99 had risen to his feat, a gleaming carapace covering most of his body. The amused smirk on his face taunting 82 as he dusted himself off. Then he took off like an arrow fired from a bow, 82 barely had time to raise his arms to intercept the blow that came. 28 could see 82's arms bend at an unnatural angle under the weight of the blow, but the large boy pushed through his pain and fired another beam of energy at 99. 99 threw himself out of the way of the attack and as 82 recovered from the strain of his gift dove forward, slamming his foot into 82's knee. 82 crashed bodily to the floor with 99 above him, poised to strike.
"That's enough! Don't go too far."
Rinzlo quickly broke up the fight and medical officials moved in to see to 82.
"Girl, you're up next. And I'll be your opponent."
78 stepped cautiously onto the mat as the others cleared off. Rinzlo stood waiting, calm and calculated. 78 went on the offensive immediately, throwing a series of quick blows at Rinzlo. He defended against the onslaught with ease before countering with a powerful jab. 78's arms didn't move fast enough to intercept the blow, but it stopped short all the same. A smirk spread across her face as his silver arm strained against the invisible barrier. Rinzlo backed off. 78, emboldened by his failure, went on the offensive again. Rinzlo was purely reactionary, deflecting each blow without once pressing an attack. Then as 78 went to strike, Rinzlo caught her wrist in his silver hand and with one swift twist he snapped the bone clean in half. 78 gasped in sudden pain before Rinzlo's knee drove the rest of the air from her lungs and his elbow collided with the back of her head as she doubled over. She crashed to the ground, unconscious, and was hurriedly moved off the mat by the medical officials. 28 watched as they took her away, and as worried as he was, he knew she would be okay. Right now he had something bigger to worry about. The stoic 36 awaited him on the mat. The small boy's hard face betrayed no thought or emotion and 28 knew the only purpose he would have would be achieving victory in this battle. Such a purpose can often give one an edge, to allow them to be willing to go beyond their limits to succeed. But 28's purpose was even greater, and he steeled himself as the two squared off. He needed to help a friend. Rinzlo gave them the signal to start and 28 charged forward; his head lowered and his palm outstretched. Just as he was drawing near and intense and oppressive weight slammed into his body, forcing him to the ground with a thud. The wind fled his body as his lungs deflated under the force of 36's gravity well. Slowly, 28 struggled to his knees. A fearsome growl rising from his chest as he rose to his feet, doubling over from the weight. 28 shuffled towards his target with a snarl, once more raising his hand towards them. With each step the weight grew heavier and heavier. Just as he came within a few paces of 36 there was a loud popping noise as 28's knees folded in on themselves. He hit the ground like a fallen tree, his head banging against the mat with unbelievable force. Stars danced before his eyes as he gazed up at 36's expressionless face. He could feel Rinzlo's eyes boring into him, wondering what he'd do next. 28 inched his fingers forward until he could just barely feel 36's ankle. But a touch was all he needed.
36's mind was strange, barren. 28 found himself floating in a seemingly endless abyss. Darkness permeated all around him and he drifted for what seemed like hours. And then he saw it. At the center of the darkness was an orb. As he grew nearer to its steel surface he began to hear mutterings. A voice repeating the word neutralize. It was a command 28 realized. As if his mind was on autopilot, 36 was empty. He was driven by only these simple prerogatives. 28 pressed his fingers against the cool steel. On the other side he could feel 36; his thoughts, emotions, fears, everything that made him him. It was locked away behind this orb. 'Some sort of defence mechanism?' 28 wondered at this for only a moment more. He didn't know how long he had already been here and he needed to act fast before the two were separated. Gradually he applied pressure to the orb, forcing his finger against the surface. The steel creaked and groaned beneath his hands before finally giving way. A rift was torn in the steel and 28's hands plunged inside. For a moment he felt 36, all of him. His every fear, his jealousy, his compassion. 36 had never been afraid to fight because he might get hurt, he was afraid because he might hurt others. And every combat he had watched form within this subconscious barrier, every time he struck a friend he hurt a little more.
28 opened his eyes. The weight of 36's gravity well was gone. 36 had fallen backwards away from 28's grasp after heaving his mind released from its own bindings. The two stared at each other for a brief moment before 36 slowly raised his hand.
"I yield," he muttered, his voice low.
His first words since his correction. 28 turned towards Rinzlo, the man's face was set in a stern frown. He barked an order at the medical officials who then moved in to see to 28. But as he was being hauled away he managed on last glance at 36, and the two exchanged a smile.