"Why don't you be my Hero then?" The healer asked softly.
After momentarily wearing what could be mistaken as a slightly flustered expression Nero answered.
"Ummm well you clearly have mistaken my tolerance of you for affection."
"Yeah, sure sure Mr Tough Guy. Come on you've gotta admit that you kind of like me. You know deep down lil old me has left an impression." Shuri teased.
She moved around his body, from his left side to focus her healing light on the final injury she had to treat, located on his right shoulder.
She chirped up once again and inquired:
"So have you got any big special plans for your graciously given day off? I'm sure it'll be a right good party in your dingy little cell all alone. Who knows you might even find yourself missing me."
"As if." He retorted.
The light, that had now healed his shoulder, began to dissipate marking the end of their time together. Nero swiftly said his goodbyes and exited before Shuri could annoy or tease him further.
Now alone the healer offered up a silent prayer to protect her patient from harm, before departing herself and heading home.
- - - - -
The door shut behind him and Nero was alone in his cell. He took off his cloak and balled it up throwing it towards the head of his bed, if you could call it that, a raised board of wood with a thin garment over the top which could barely cover the tall male's feet, which was why he'd grown accustomed to sleeping with his boots on.
If the nights were warm enough to merit not wearing it, he would ball up his cloak and use I as a makeshift pillow.
He withdrew his knives and set one down on his desk while examining the other.
'Damn there's still some blood on these.'
He took his sleeve and polished each knife in turn to the point where both were sharply reflecting the light coming through the barred window on his door, originating from the dim light in the corridor.
He smiled, satisfied with his efforts and returned the blades to their allocated place on his desk. From there he sighed and lay down on his bed.
"I should save my energy, and get some rest, who knows when I'll next have an actual day off." Nero said to himself before drifting off into a deep deep slumber.
- - - - -
". em rof regnorts tib elttil a tsuj ,regnorts teG"
...
"? oreN ,oreh ym eb uoy lliW"
- - - - -
"Aghhhhh!" He woke up screaming, a searing hot pain erupting from the surface of the skin on his back.
"What the hell? What the fucking hell is happening?"
He awkwardly brought his arms backwards over his head and clawed at the gap between shoulder blades in an attempt to rip away the skin at fault for the burning agony he was in.
Then without warning, it suddenly subsided.
"Umm?" Nero was completely dumbfounded. "What was that?"
'This is weird. I feel no more pain, like at all. I think I was having a strange dream, sort of like the one I had a few days ago, the only way I can describe it, is backwards. I don't even remember what it was about. Was the pain caused by that dream? Did I imagine some kind of pain? Ahhhh this is all too much thought at one time.'
'I wonder how long I was asleep for.'
The footsteps of the approaching guards answered that question.
He grabbed his cloak and daggers, once again preparing for a battle. They approached the door and he stood looking through the barred window.
"I'm ready." He said. And they departed at once.
- - - - -
[Svenn]
[Rank D fighter]
[Species: Human]
[Cybernetic augmentations: Forearms altercations, retractable blades]
[Weapons: Aforementioned forearm blades]
[Kills: 0]
"The match between the 97th and the 27th begins now!!" Franz announced.
The arena had taken the form of a long grassy plain, simple, no cover, but it was fine by both combatants, being relatively the same strength.
Svenn wasted no time and rushed to meet his enemy. Withdrawing his arm blades and leaping into range he slashed the air in a taunting fashion, then swiped at Nero with his left.
Nero was somewhat caught off guard at the human's strength and had to devote both knives to stopping the blow, he used the force of the impact to propel himself backwards, so as to avoid the incoming right blade.
Another swipe and another taunt, the battle continued like that for some five minutes. Svenn, being entirely committed to landing a successful attack, was ignorant to the information being gathered on him by his opponent.
'Well this turned out to be more of a letdown than I thought.' Mused the tall Ilfvan. 'His attacks have a fair bit of weight and force behind them but there's no strategy. He just keeps coming at me in the same predictable way. I guess I'll end this now I've figured out how to counter.'
The human went to slash his enemy to shreds, but this time Nero was ready.
He caught the end of the incoming blade with one of his daggers riding down the forearm itself. Sparks fiercely flew as metal scraped against metal. Now he was inside, and beyond the cyborg's defensive range.
Then before Svenn could do a thing a certain 'hero', linked arms around his neck swung around and thrust a knife into his eye from behind, killing him.
'Tunnel vision.'
- - - - -
[Sam]
[Rank D fighter]
[Species: Human]
[Cybernetic augmentations: Artificial heart and lungs]
[Weapons: Double barrel shotgun]
[Kills: 0]
Arena set to a savanna biome.
"97th and 28th. Will Nerd's killstreak end here? Stay tuned to find out. Battle begin!!!"
"Now you alien asshole, just because I'm a bit on the old side doesn't mean I can't still stick it to you, especially when I've got my gun here." Sam called out as he took up aim.
Nero knew he couldn't be hit with any projectile from this weapon, the last gun a human fired at him ended up paralyzing him for a time. He took his time approaching, drawing wide circles that zig-zagged around the older man.
BANG!
A deafening crack pierced the air, and a large bullet hurtled past, nearly taking a chunk of Nero's calf with it.
'I definitely don't wanna get hit by that thing.' He reconfirmed.
BANG!
'Okay that's two, now I reload.' Sam told himself.
'Such a magnificent weapon, it's rather a wonder that we humans have access to advanced cybernetics and space travel, but when it comes to arms, they cost a pretty penny and more. This explosive firearm was said to be commonplace in millennia past, strange I wonder whether life was simpler then. Regardless I'm glad I could afford its aid for the next week.'
Another bullet narrowly missed its target, who then keenly observed the firer snap his weapon in half, fiddle around with it, and fix it as if nothing had happened.
'Strange human weapons, their technology is frightening.' Thought the younger male.
'That elf is closing in.' Mused the old man.
'His circle is tightening. No matter I'll nail him soon. After all only a fool brings a knife to a gunfight. Or at least a severely technologically disadvantaged alien race, but I digress.'
BANG! BANG!
More shots, tighter loops.
Nero needed a formula to ensure his victory so began to take note of the shots taken before the double barrel shotgun had to be reloaded and counted the intervals between them, before long he had a strategy guaranteed to win, given his assumptions and calculations were correct.
'Closer. Just a little closer and then I'll make my move.'
The younger male had closed the distance to 10 metres and though there were a few close calls no shots met their mark. Sam, who at this point, was getting frustrated and desperate, fired twice in rapid succession.
'Now!'
The tall Ilfvan dashed head on towards his defenceless opponent and closed the gap to about 5 metres. Seeing this the old man hurriedly jammed two shells into the barrel and brought the muzzle up to blast his enemy into the beyond.
BANG!
Nero launched his blade at the man's skull, ducking and rolling to the left, just in time to avoid the next projectile. The spinning blade met its mark and buried itself deep between his eyes.
'Reliance on a flawed weapon'
- - - - -
[Aria]
[Rank C fighter]
[Species: Human]
[Cybernetic augmentations: Boosted overall IQ and knowledge implants]
[Weapons: Rapier]
[Kills: 0]
"97th versus 29th, begin!"
'Looks like yet another rich kid trying to prove themselves, oooooh look at me with my fancy pointy rapier, yes I am so sure that will scare Nerd. He'll be shaking in his boots no doubt there. These fools, years of fencing tournaments and training don't equate to the experience and natural aptitude for fighting that this guy has. However much I doubt it, it'd be so satisfying to see this upstart shred that bastard, the conquest would get back on track and I would finally get my holiday.'
Franz let out a long tired sigh. "Paradise and luxury here I come."
Meanwhile at the base of the arena, which had taken the form of a dusty field of a few shrubs clinging to life in the expanse of dirt. Aria had drawn her rapier from her belt, the sun's red glow catching off its swept hilt.
She flourished the blade taking it up and then into a series of fast, grand, wide arcs, before she levelled the blade at her opponent, pointing the tip of the sword at his face.
Wanting to test a theory Nero flashed her his biggest smile and called out.
"Hey there missy. Do you know what you're doing with that thing? You should be careful with it you could hurt someone, it's sharp."
She lowered her sword and stomped over to face him.
"Hold your tongue, filthy disgusting elf, how dare you address me in such a manner, I'll have you know that I am quite skilled with this here blade, you'll know once it impales you."
The "elf" in question widened his smile and thought:
'Oh please tell me it's this easy, I want to see the look of utter shock on her face before she dies, please please continue, come closer ya twat.'
Aria had now walked into striking range, she even had a chance to skewer her enemy but she instead went to go slap him.
'Big mistake, bu-bye missy.'
Before her hand reached anywhere near his cheek all the fingers were severed.
In one swift and clean moment, the Ilfvan cut off 4 fingers with one knife and delved the other right into her chest, piercing her heart, and killing her.
As he thought the face Aria made was one of utter surprise as if this wasn't a battlefield of war, Nero savoured the feeling he got from this kill, those in the stands might have thought he was trying to suppress a laugh. Nonetheless, it was over and the 97th turned to meet the ever-irritated guards standing in the tunnel leading back to his cell.
'Naïvety and arrogance'
Franz stood jaw hanging.
'Did she seriously just fall for that? Jesus this is like watching lambs wandering off happily to a sort of slaughterhouse. Something has to be done about this damned elf.