by Ryan Tang
Her fingers trudged across the keyboard. Then she spoke the words, and the pod activated.
"A woman pursues her greatest desire."
In the simulator pods, the words were little more than a passcode, a relic of the days when the ability to summon Paragons from raw Eternium was widespread. On Plenty, only Alex commanded a Paragon like those of Old Earth - a legendary machine forged through Eternium and human will, fifty feet tall with the strength of a thousand people.
Alex licked her lips and wrapped her fingers around the throttles.
Her greatest desire was to never lose again.
The screen flared to life, and it was like a heavy blanket had been thrown off her brain. The librarian blinked and saw clearly. A cold fire burned in her stomach, spreading first to her heart and then to her veins.
Her cloak of weariness vanished. Her battle-mind returned.
Her Paragon winked back at her from the screen. The familiar coat of mosaic blue paint was the most welcoming sight in the world. Blue of every single shade danced from the tip of the head to the very edge of the crescent moon shaped flight pack that cradled her Paragon's torso. Her Paragon didn't need legs. Alex never understood why she'd stand on solid ground when she could soar through the skies or coast through the seas.
There were blue speckles like stars in the night. There were clashing waves of opposing tones, teal battling against periwinkle, indigo slamming into electric blue. There were slowly shifting gradients. The near-black of a sea at storm gradually morphed into the brightness of a morning sky as it twisted from the neck to the tip of the right index finger.
Alex had flown these colors ever since she was a little girl fighting in her first simulator competition, but now they'd become something even more meaningful. During her battle against Stock, she'd discovered that whenever Eternium reacted to her thoughts, the void black of the raw metal transformed into a cornucopia of blue. The legends claimed these shades were the colors of her soul.
A black weapons catalog appeared at the side of her screen as mechanical arms descended from the virtual hangar roof. Alex frowned as she tried picking the perfect armaments. This was new and unfamiliar.
Ever since childhood, Alex had battled exclusively in the three-on-three format. Trios gameplay centered on team coordination. A strict points system limited the weapons any individual pilot could carry. But Eternium had no such restrictions. Now, Alex was practicing in the single combat format. Single combat machines were allegedly the purest expression of a pilot's fighting style.
She had to create a machine worthy of the Spire's blessing.
She had to create a machine worthy of Plenty.
"Maybe I should finally get a shield."
The librarian mused aloud, biting her lip and crinkling her forehead. Although she considered herself a very defensive pilot, the points system had always restricted her to her trusty rifle and cutlass.
It always confused people when she tried to explain it.
How could she be defensive without a shield?
But the Paragon's weapons were less important than the pilot's mindset. The Familiars, the first story her parents had ever read to her, had stated that Paragon pilots must always be careful. Because the legendary machines had the strength of a thousand people, their pilots' mistakes were also amplified a thousandfold. From the very first time she'd touched the plastic handles of a simulator pod, Alex had taken that lesson to heart.
She despised the randomness of all-out brawls. Simulator pods shook to reflect the pressures pilots had to take if they were battling in real machines, and it was too easy to make a mistake when all your controls were trembling. She greatly preferred poking away at her opponents with her gun as she patiently waited for them to make a mistake - to take a step out of position, to put their back against a crumbling wall, to poke out from behind a rock when she had them in her sights.
It was the points restriction that forced her to carry a sword instead of a shield. She hated being unable to attack at close range, and some of her more inexperienced teams had required her to take a more prominent role on offense. But Eternium had no restrictions, and it was finally time for her to carry a shield. She just had to find the perfect one for her fighting style.
After a few more minutes of deliberation, she selected a big round one that reminded her of the strange pale boy she'd met in the book-corridors. His shield had been purple and gold, with a kraken emblazoned on the front. The Eternium weapon had clattered to the floor after he died. Alex still remembered that sound. It was another reason why she had to become an ace.
The librarian accompanied her shield with an improved rifle, one that could switch at the push of a button between her usual barrel and a longer one dedicated to sniping.
Beyond that, all the choices gave her a headache. There was so much to choose from. She jammed a full arsenal of utility weapons and sidearms inside the crescent arc of thrusters - daggers, pistols, and grenades. Hidden weapons were one of the trickiest aspects of single combat. Alex remembered watching countless matches that'd been decided by a hidden knife or pistol.
Eventually, Luke let out a cry of frustration.
"Come on! Come on! Pick your weapons already! I want to see dad fight!"
Matthew was quick to agree.
"Look. You won't know whether or not it works unless you use it. Let's get on with it already."
Matthew was the most skilled opponent she'd ever faced, but he was only fighting her to impress his son.
For over two decades, he'd worked as Governor Waters's retriever, returning the wreckage of countless Paragon crashes back to the Governor's mansion. The false Paragons built by Stock's company, Southern Robotics, weren't made from Eternium. Weighted down by lesser materials, they could barely hover ten feet in the air. Waters's hamfisted piloting only further lowered their performance. After piloting broken machines for over two decades, Matthew could fly anything. He'd even flown a battered cockpit with all its limbs snapped off across the entire colony and back.
Unfortunately, his years serving the Governor had drained away all the joy of piloting.
Alex frowned when she thought of Waters. Like the colony's other politicians, he was almost certainly dead. Stock had sacrificed everyone who'd trusted his lies to conduct his eldritch ritual, and Waters - who'd never stopped talking about the famous businessman's brilliance - was nothing if not a true believer.
Then she shook her head and hurriedly finished her selection. She couldn't worry about Waters now. She had to become an ace.
"Alright. I'm done. You ready?"
Matthew chuckled dryly.
"Yeah. I've been ready for the last twenty minutes."
The countdown began, and the gate opened.
Alex recognized the stage at once.
The Void was unmistakable.
It was pitch black with no obstacles at all.
Technically, the stage went on forever. It simulated the far reaches of endless space. If a fighter wanted to, they could just start running away.
But of course, neither of them was here to run.
Alex took an excited breath and drew her rifle.
Fighting against an opponent as skilled as Matthew always made her heart beat a little faster.
____
Matthew went on the attack as soon as he'd finished launching. His machine was the unpainted black of raw Eternium. The color was so opaque that it stood out like a sore thumb even in the darkness of space.
His machine was completely undecorated, save for a single commander's fin above the nondescript head. Even his user name, Dr. X, showed how little he cared for the simulator. It was one of the randomly assigned names given if you skipped username entry.
Matthew's machine carried very few weapons. His right hand held a lightweight shield, little more than a flat little square. His left gripped a long and thin rapier. He'd placed a heavy focus on mobility over firepower. The massive flight pack contained four built-in fuel tanks, each poweri
ng its own set of explosive thrusters. His machine spat out a long trail of black fire as it drew closer and closer.
Unlike Alex, Matthew was comfortable changing his arsenal with every battle. His selection couldn't have been more different from the long-ranged sniping equipment he'd used during their first encounter all those months ago.
Alex's hands tensed against the controls as she carefully scanned her opponent. Although it seemed lightly armed, she had to be careful. She reminded herself that one-on-one machines always carried hidden weapons.
When he was about forty feet away from her, Matthew abruptly accelerated. He was on her before she could blink.
The thin blade flashed forward with lethal speed.
Usually, Alex would have dodged.
She always preferred long and drawn-out shooting duels. But this time, it seemed like she had a substantial advantage.
Her machine was better armored. Her sword was thicker. And she finally had a shield.
She lifted the circular slab of Eternium to block and fired her missiles, spreading them out to maximize her chance of hitting the swift Paragon.
Matthew twisted and spun, falling back in a tiny arc to avoid her sudden barrage.
As always, the veteran pilot commanded his machine with unearthly precision. It was the same the last time they fought. It went far beyond controlling his Paragon like it was part of his body. Alex had never met any human who was half as graceful as Matthew was inside a Paragon's cockpit.
Every step was perfect.
Alex fired and fired, but to no avail.
Left. Left. Right. Then left again.
Soar up.
Fall back.
Dive forward.
He never moved a single inch more than he needed.
He never used his shield when he could simply dodge.
The thin black blade darted out like the tongue of a snake, skewering one missile after the other.
And then he was in front of her once again.
A narrow arm thrust forward. The thin point of the blade was angled directly at her cockpit. Matthew wanted to end their fight in a single blow.
Alex brought up her shield and deflected his attack with a slight sweep of her arm.
Eternium sang as the weapons collided. The tinny sound from the simulator was nothing like the clash of the holy metal in real life, which was the most beautiful noise in the world.
Matthew's thin Paragon was so light that even a glancing blow knocked it off course. The thrusters roared as her skilled opponent fought to retain the offensive, but the advantage had passed to Alex now, and she had no intention of giving it up.
She brought her shield back again and lunged forward, catching him before he could retreat.
The thin Paragon screamed as she slammed the slab of Eternium ferociously into his side. As Matthew spun backward, Alex drew her cutlass.
"No! Dad! No!"
Luke screamed, fearing the worst.
She had him!
Alex slashed.
Matthew just chuckled again.
He retreated in a spiraling diagonal, using the force of her shield strike to help his escape. The left side of his cockpit was badly dented, but his machine was otherwise unharmed.
Alex cursed. He'd be even more careful now. She'd botched a valuable opportunity.
In hindsight, she should have just grabbed him when he was in range. She'd been too enamored with the thought of using her shield offensively. Her machine was bigger and stronger. There was no need to bash him when she could simply crush him beneath her weight.
The familiar blue cutlass flickered across her screen as she soared after him to press the attack. She diligently stabbed again and again, giving him no room to recover.
Matthew dodged once, then twice, then a third time.
He brought his sword back, but Alex had already anticipated his counterattack.
She'd swing to the side, and then lop off his arm.
Alex smiled fiercely. She was back in her element now. All her weapons had changed, but her cutlass was the same. She'd fought for years with this sword by her side.
Matthew dashed forward, just as she'd anticipated. The thin sword moved with surgical precision, aiming not for her cockpit, but just underneath her head. The well-placed blow would skewer through her neck to destroy her eye-cameras.
Alex cursed loudly. She'd thought his counterattack would be directed at her cockpit. She'd left a gap there to try and bait him into an ill-considered strike. If she turned to the side now, the swift machine would get completely inside her guard.
She hastily blocked the thin rapier, only barely stopping the blade in the nick of time.
Matthew ruthlessly continued his onslaught, trapping her arm against her side and giving her no chance to fight back. The jet black Paragon glided effortlessly around her, swinging elegantly from side to side as she desperately tried to bring her sword around to strike.
Clang!
Clang!
Clang!
He pressed her shield back further and further. Now it was pinned mere inches from her face, and she could hardly see.
The shield was bulky and uncomfortable. She wasn't accustomed to how it moved, and Matthew's relentless assault only emphasized her unfamiliarity.
Alex fired off a barrage of missiles, but Matthew refused to retreat. The thin shield blocked one missile, then another. He casually deflected the third right back at her, rocking her pod from side to side with an enormous explosion.
Fires briefly lit up The Void before winking away into darkness.
The thin sword continued darting forward, in and out, in and out. Alex clenched her teeth, moving her arm up and down to block every stab.
A low swipe at her thigh.
Thunk.
A high cut back at her shoulder.
Thunk.
A flick toward her side.
Thunk.
A quick charge toward the moon-like arc.
Thunk.
Whenever she tried to bring her cutlass around, he would simply spin over to the opposite side. His machine had an obvious advantage in speed and mobility, and he was using it to its fullest.
Alex cursed.
She wished she could just fucking shoot him, but they were far too close for her to draw her rifle.
Matthew relentlessly pressed at her shield, a non-stop barrage of seemingly haphazard strikes that Alex desperately scrambled to deflect. Under usual circumstances, his determination to stay toward her shield arm would seem like madness. The whole point of using a thin blade was to dash past a thicker sword.
But he could sense her discomfort. Alex knew the cutlass's every strength and weakness. She knew how to battle back with a heavier and slower blade. But she didn't know how long she could keep up her guard.
He was betting she'd make a mistake.
Matthew's fighting style wasn't just precise. It was brutally unforgiving. He discovered weaknesses and exploited them until he won. During their first battle, her teammate Duncan had been mere seconds late to launch. Matthew had immediately sniped him with his massive ship's cannon before the game even truly began.
The strikes poured down like raindrops.
A high strike at her head.
Thunk.
A low cut at her arm.
Thunk.
A sideways slash to try and chip off a thruster.
Thunk.
A straight lunge for the cockpit.
Thunk.
Alex cursed her restricted movements. She couldn't even sweep her arm outward to knock him back without risking instant defeat.
Whenever she tried bringing her sword around, Matthew simply continued his beautiful turns.
She'd held him off thus far, but if this continued, she didn't stand a chance.
Matthew would just continue chipping away at her until she was totally destroyed. First one strike would slip through, then another.
She had to risk it all before he managed to damage her.
The cascade of explosions forced Matthew to dance back for just a moment.
The librarian threw her sword, whipping it around her body to generate as much force as possible. She had no time to draw her rifle.
This was her only chance.
When Matthew lifted his shield to block the spinning sword, Alex lunged forward and grabbed him by the arm.
There was a shrieking crackle as the thin black Eternium shattered.
Alex pulled him closer.
The two machines grappled, but Alex was bigger and heavier. This was what she should have done the last time he came into range.
She squeezed tightly and wrenched his sword arm clean out of its socket.
The four massive boosters spat black fire as Matthew abruptly accelerated. The two Paragons slammed into each other at full speed.
There was a tremendous explosion. The thin black machine jerked back and forth, but Alex didn't lose her grip. She brought her other arm around and wrapped him in a bear hug.
Alex could see the thin black Paragon crumpling.
She was going to win.
Scarlet fire burned through her screen.
Both his legs exploded. Alex's pod rocked violently back and forth as her sword arm disintegrated. Her machine's limbs were caught in the flames too, but she didn't have a choice if she wanted to crush him.
There was another abrupt tremble.
Alex cursed, but she knew Matthew had it worse. His Paragon was thinner and weaker. She just had to keep pressing. Her hands pushed and pushed on the controls.
Luke cried out again, terrified his father would lose.
Alex brought the shield back up and prepared to crush her opponent's trembling cockpit.
There was a blinding flash of white light, and Alex found herself staring at the defeat screen.
What?
How had she lost?
Luke let out a cry of joy.
"Dad! Dad! You did it! My dad's the strongest!"
Alex was totally bewildered. She shook her head.