by Liandra Jake
Corenden's Endurance clicked down six points. #121 frowned as Corenden stood up. "What the hell?" Corenden slapped his shoulder. "Defense isn't calculated with standard armor." #121 did a full stop, his feet no longer releasing Orenth. "What." Corenden raised his sword in two hands, slowly floating into the air. "Shut up and fight." #121 approached cautiously, back to pouring Orenth into the ground.
Corenden rushed at him, leading with the point of his sword close to his shoulder. #121 prepared a lazy hand to stop him. He stopped the blade with ice, but his arm was covered to the shoulder in a spontaneous shell of thick wood. Corenden broke away, diving straight down with an overhead swing. #121 blocked with the wood shell, aiming a punch under his arm at high speed. Corenden kicked off #121's fist and twisted, pivoting around his stuck sword. Corenden's tail cracked across #121's face in a burst of neon.
Corenden dropped, releasing his sword from the wood and striking #121 again with the spine of his sword, the reverse point on the quarter edge glancing off neon. Corenden dropped to #121's feet, activating the Moon mine. Making a short hop, Corenden brought his hands down to block with the flat of his blade, bracing the blade near the middle.
A pillar of pale light shot up and exploded out. A series of explosions followed in a chain reaction. The stadium was silent at the change in Endurance long before the fog of Orenth began to fade. Corenden was hovering above twenty, #121 reduced down to under a hundred.
Corenden skidded out of the cloud of Moon Orenth, riding on top of a large shield made of wood, built around his sword. Pushing his foot down, Corenden came to a stop. #121 stumbled away from the wall of the arena, blasted across the field by his own traps. Corenden pulled his sword out of the wood with a crackle. Arend casually turned on the Dragon Drive, immediately gathering the floating Moon Orenth. He gave the officials a guilty smile.
#121 huffed as he began to make his way towards Corenden, setting more of his traps. He stopped when Corenden sheathed his sword and held up a hand. "Sorry, but we have to stop. I can't continue after that." Corenden pulled off his helmet, revealing a splotch of red on the side of his head. #121 tilted his head. "Is that all? Really?" Corenden waved a hand dismissively. "I'm almost out of Orenth." '…And I can barely stand.' Corenden thought as he used his sheathed sword to prop himself up. #121 rolled his eyes as he and Corenden left the field.
"#256 has forfeited, #121 wins!" Corenden hung his head as he stumbled back to his side. He nearly fell onto his face as Fritz slapped him on the back. "Good fight little man!" "Good!?" Corenden tossed his helmet to the side. "What was good about that!? I got my ass handed to me!" Fritz shook his head and crossed his arms. "Corenden. Stop and think for a moment. #121 is Ranked Mid G." Corenden did stop. "What Rank are you?" Fritz asked. "…High D." Corenden replied hesitantly.
Fritz smiled. "Don't you think that speaks for itself? A High D Monster without any Orenth weaponry save for his natural talents, facing a Mid G with extensive experience in fighting? How you gave him a run for his money by using his own powers to take him down more than half his starting Endurance? It doesn't matter if you won this or not; this will get you a lot of respect!"
Corenden sighed. "I just don't know." The door was thrown open by Arend. Berry shoved him aside to tackle Arend. "That was amazing!" She held him out, beaming. "When did you learn to fight like that!?" She gasped. "What happened to your head!? Hold still…" Berry gently put a hand on Corenden's head. "C'mon Berry-!" She hushed him with her other hand.
Arend snagged a chair. "Dude that was awesome. You've really gotten a handle on that armor." Corenden shrugged as Berry turned his head and began to dab at the blood in his fur. "I did as Michael and Night taught me. To 'use an opponent's powers against them' if I had the opportunity." Berry turned Corenden's head to check for other injuries.
An official walked through the open door, flashing a glance at Arend as he approached Corenden. He was a portly man in a suit far too small. "I came to inform you that your payment has been transferred to Shifted Tilt and your remaining winnings are on their way to your bank via courier." "A courier? Is that really nessicary?" Corenden asked. "For anything over 20,000, yes." Corenden's jaw dropped. "W-what?" He said quietly.
The official laughed. "This is no small event! You're paid a standard amount for each advance, plus a little extra if you make the fight interesting. After the fight with #253, ratings spiked whenever you were up to fight. While many won big betting on you," He glanced at Arend accusingly. Arend shrugged. "Wasn't just me; blame Dragon's Den for believing in him." The official continued. "We want to make sure you'll be 100% invested in your next bracket, and to show you we have an interest in your continued participation."
"Trust me, I know now." Corenden replied. "Just how much is there?" Berry asked quietly. "25,500 Ere." The official replied. "Plus a voucher for a box seat all to your own." Corenden took the thick slip of paper. "It's good for a max of ten, for ten events." The official continued. Corenden nodded. "I'll keep that in mind." Once the official closed the door, Corenden grabbed Berry by the waist and spun her around, laughing. "This is fantastic!"
Berry dropped down into a hug, crying. "Yes, yes it is." Arend looked over to Fritz and nodded at the door. Fritz nodded back, following Arend towards it. "Until next time!" Fritz called. Corenden didn't reply, crying tears of joy into his wife's shoulders. Long stood up and walked around the edge of the room, taking a single glance back before leaving.
[X]
Gliese poked her head around the corner of the tunnel into the den of Vac and Tal, the guardians of the Vacuum and Crystal Termas respectively. Ros peeked around Gliese's good leg, unable to see in the low light or sit on Gliese's back because of the tunnel. He was excited when he saw the twinkle of light in the distance, and more so when he saw what it shined on.
Five small Pendragons were playing in a cavern lit by rounded crystals. Their quiet yips and growls and general awkwardness when running around made Gliese yearn for children of her own. Their parents noticed Gliese's banana color almost instantly. Vac, the female Vacuum Pencore was stone grey and almost blended in with the surrounding rock. Her mate, the Crystal Pencore blended in as well, but instead with the crystalline structures of the cavern wall. He was a brilliant sparkling rainbow even in the relatively dark cavern. A small Korvan lantern was the source of the light the crystals scattered about.
"Gliese! What a surprise!" Vac exclaimed. Ros cautiously poked his head out. "Not another one!" Tal said with a sigh. "You've really got to get over him already. Find a mate!" Gliese snorted, walking further into the cavern. "For your information Tal, King's finally come around. There's just something we'll have to deal with first." The Pencore pups swarmed Gliese, sitting around her in a semi-circle. Ros ducked back under Gliese's fur.
Gliese pushed him out with a paw. "Come on now! They just want to play!" "That wouldn't be a problem if they were normal sized canines." Ros replied as one of them poked him with its nose. "Please don't corrupt our children Gliese." Tal said disapprovingly. "Shut up dear." Vac said with a swipe at his chest. Ros was tackled by the five pups all at once. "Noooo~!" He cried dramatically as he let himself drift to the floor. The largest tilted its head. "…Broken?" She said curiously, poking the limp Ros. Vac and Tal beamed. "No," Ros said under his breath. "Playing dead!"
"Oh. Play!" She rolled onto her back, trying to get her legs into the same position as Ros'. The other for mimicked her, leaving six splayed bodies in the middle of the cavern. "What." Tal said flatly with a disapproving look. "Leave them be Tal. I'm her with something serious." As Gliese continued to speak and explain her visit, Ros continued to play with the puppies, the "alpha" female greatly interested in him.
As time dragged on, Ros left to retrieve Kathy as night fell, Pith happy to wait outside in the familiar chill of mountain air. With another person to play with, the pups were so excited Ros got bit more than a few times. Kathy however, had the full attention of the three male pups.
Tal cursed under hi
s breath after Gliese's story. Vac leaned against him reassuringly. "It'll be okay dear." She said softly before addressing Gliese. "I trust that you know what you're doing. I also trust both that dragon out there and that grey man that terrifies him so." "How can you trust a Myshcell?" Tal grumbled. "Because he had Aenfel and a True Safeguard, and we've only learned about him now." Vac replied. Tal rolled his eyes. With a sigh, Vac looked back to Gliese. "We can give you the Termas, but this is something for tomorrow. My babies need to sleep."
At the word "sleep", the Pencore pups grew attentive of their mother, ears perked and turned towards her. She nodded. "Yes, yes, time to sleep!" They hurried over, immediately snuggling up close to her. Gliese laid down off to the side as Tal dimmed the Korvan lamp and joined his mate, laying between her and the wall. Ros forfeited his coat to Kathy, sitting an acceptable distance away against the wall.
The "alpha" pup looked at them and tilted her head. She hopped up and padded over to them. Ros had little time to react, finding himself lifted by his belt in the mouth of the pup. "Cold!" She exclaimed through Ros. "Sleep!" She dropped him onto a startled Gliese. Kathy was collected by one of the male pups. She pulled Ros' coat down to maintain her dignity as he carried her by Ros' coat. Unlike Ros, she was wedged between the three males and Val. Ros was left alone with Gliese as the remaining pup ran back to her mother.
"Umm…" Ros said nervously. "Shut up." Gliese said quietly s she laid her head back down and curled her tail around to cover him. "You don't want to argue with your hosts." 'King is going to kill me.' Ros thought to himself. Gliese curled her head in around him. 'She's definietely going to kill me.' He sigjed, leaning back against Gliese's warm belly. 'But I'll be damned if I'll give up a warm bed for fear of death.' For the first time in a long time, Ros quickly fell into a peaceful sleep.
Ros dreamed with a comfortable smile on his face. He woke up to the "alpha" pup licking his face. "Morning!" She exclaimed. Ros stretched and sat up. Gliese was already up, head up and talking to Vac about her plans with King. Kathy waved weakly from the pile of sleeping fur. As Ros yawned wide, the "alpha" pup peeked down his throat. She yawned back, filling Ros' nose with the smell of her mother's milk.
Ros didn't know if the smell was good or bad, so he started for the entrance to get some fresh air regardless. Before he even entered the tunnel, Tal filled his view, three deer held tight in his jaws. Ros stepped aside. Tal dropped two in front of Vac and ate the third himself. Ros' first step outside was met with a chilly wind and the rising sun. He took a moment to watch it rise above the distant mountains.
"Pretty isn't it?" Pith asked, sprawled out on a nearby ledge. Ros nodded. "I don't know if I've ever stopped to look before, but doing it now makes me wonder." "Hmm. I've seen many myself, but they're never the same." Pith replied. Ros began to walk around a large rock. "What are you doing?" Pith asked. "Relieving myself." Ros replied before ducking behind the rock. Pith frowned, but shrugged nonetheless. 'What's a person to do when nature calls?'
[X]
It was early afternoon when the Terma hunting group began to make moves to leave. Tal revealed the two Termas hidden in a corner under a large crystal. Kathy and Ros split the pieces between each other. "You know," Vac said. "I do remember Silv getting upset over something and spouting some form of warning." Gliese raised an eyebrow. "She's on the move? Doesn't she hang out a ways away somewhere?"
Vac nodded. "This was a few years ago and the only time I've heard of it. I guess she didn't make it to you guys. Anyway, you've got four more Termas to collect right? Light, Dark, Plasma, and Nova?" Gliese nodded. "Hal and Shadow as well as Neon and Star have paired up for that reason. They're kind of spread out though. Hal's place is off to the far east, and the knuckleheads are tooling around the west past the Nojorn Woods."
"You aren't kidding. That'll take months." Gliese said with tired eyes. "Not if we split up." Kathy suggested. "Pith knows the east fairly well, plus we can fly." "And I'm sure, based on what Vac said, we'd be better equipped to handle a couple 'knuckleheads' than a dragon." Ros said to Gliese. Gliese nodded. Hal and Shadow are reasonable and would listen to Pith despite not knowing him. Neon and Star are too bull headed, and would be suspicious without reason." Kathy returned Ros' coat, crinkled and smelling of Pendragon. Ros shook it a few times before pulling it on.
"Good luck!" Vac called as they left. "Bye!" The "alpha" called to Ros with a toothy grin, crawling over her mother's side. As Kathy settled on Pith, Gliese explained to plan to the dragon. "Hal's very optimistic and will dodge questions about the Termas, so try to Shadow first; he's a little dark, but is usually in a better mood when in Hal's company for some reason."
Pith nodded at Gliese's advice. "I'll keep that in mind." He flapped his wings. "Good luck you two. And watch out for any Pendragon hunters." Ros watched him go from Gliese's back. She turned as Pith vanished behind a mountain. "I still want to know where he got that girl." Gliese said absently as she descended the rocky terrain.
Eric winced with a grin as Nate pulled off his medical suit with a tug. "Tingly!" He said happily. "And a little twitchy." Janese replied, poking Eric's knee. "I just can't wait!" Eric exclaimed gleefully as Janese helped him up out of his chair. "It won't be easy." Nate replied, looking over the suit. He paused on the pump. "Come now Nate." Janese scolded. "Shoes suck Janese." Nate replied, absently poking the pump. 'Shit.' Nate thought, looking at the pump. 'This isn't good.' "Ugh!" Nate exclaimed, holding the suit out. "Smells like feet!"
Eric chuckled. "Then go wash it!" "We'll be fine." Janese added. "If nothing happened in this past week, it won't now. I just need to triple check the movement of the toxin." Nate nodded, his hand already on the doorknob. "See ya in a few. I'll see of Arend has any tricks that'll save me from breaking a washer or washing by hand."
Arend was in the middle of a meeting when Nate showed up. "Oh Nate! Good timing! Care to give a little advice on Exo-suits?" "Not now Arend." Nate said hurriedly, tugging at his arm. Arend rolled his hand, an eyebrow arched. Nate rolled his eyes. He looked to Arend' team. "Don't put them on animals, triple check the users for abnormalities," Nate held up Eric's medical suit. "And for god's sake think about how to clean them."
"Isn't that-?" Arend asked quietly. "Yes." Nate hissed under his breath. "And I need your help." With a sigh, Arend stood up. "Keep the ball rolling guys. This is important." Arend rode up the lift with Nate, locking it to maintain privacy. "So what's up with it?" Arend asked. Nate tossed it to him. "See for yourself." "Ugh. I can tell it's been worn a week by the smell alone." Arend said the moment he caught it. It only took a glance and a poke to figure out the problem like Nate had.
"So the pump finally died." Arend said. "Not yet, but it's really close." Nate replied. "Another day and *poof*." "So you did know this pump can't run 24/7 like that?" Arend asked. "Yes." Nate replied, sitting on a desk. "But I needed something to test with. I don't know any Orenth pump that can run continually without falling apart in a week. That was my best model."
Arend smirked. "If only you had my heart eh? It doubles as an Orenth pump; most don't know that the heart is what stimulates their Orenth when they're emotional." Nate looked up at him. "Can it run on a battery, or is it biological only?" "Well it can run on a battery, but it wouldn't work right without some sort of load- wait. Are you seriously considering-?"
"We create a variant of your artificial heart." Nate said. "You're not opening my chest." Arend said sternly. "We don't have to! If we had the blueprints this would be east, but I'm sure Janese knows some non-invasive mapping techniques. X-Ray, sonogram, infrared, and so on." Nate replied. Arend sighed. "Those won't be cheap Nate." "You won't-" Arend silenced him with a hand. "I could use the information myself. I want to know if there's a way to recharge the Shield in there." Nate slid off the desk. "I'll explain everything to them. I kind of left them in the dark on this. I can tell you this: There's a lot of paperwork involved in tests like that."
[X]
Daniel Prickett was dresse
d in a thin floral shirt and khaki shorts, relaxing in a beach chair. He complimented the outfit with a slightly alcoholic fruity drink. John Mark, a scattered member of Styx Fix, sat next to him in a similar getup, a pair of pink tinted sunglasses blocking the high sun.
A gentle ocean breeze stirred Daniel's parasol. He let out a long sigh. "I love it here J. No cold, no snow…" "No crazy nephew?" John said. "Naw he's an alright kid. He's getting a handle on things now." Daniel replied. "Enough for you to retire?" Daniel laughed, stirring his drink. "You sir," He took a sip. "Have the right idea."
John sat up and leaned closer to Daniel, pushing his chair's feet further into the sand. "But really Dan, what's up? You didn't call me here to hang out and drink." "Of course not." Daniel replied with a serious look. "We both know what I need. That man who filled the campus with drunk Floxes so long ago." John couldn't help the chuckle and ensuing groan as he held his head at the thought. "That's not the half of it you know. You didn't wake up in a sorority with a bunch of fur-covered women." "I woke up next to a Pog, John." Daniel replied with a laugh. John fell over. "Oh my god! That's a story I gotta hear!"