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The Chaos Saga

Page 7

by Samuel JT Pratley


  "He doesn't know about the gauntlet."

  "Hmmm. Okay, here you go," Doc said and threw the gauntlet to Sam.

  Sam stared at it for a second and then ran down to the teleporter room. He teleported to Earth, down to a park not too far from his school. He had his armour on and activated his beast mode. He ran through the streets of Dunedin, trying to find Matthew's house, and came upon it by sheer luck. He remembered Matthew describing the two storey grey wood clad house when they were working at school. He reared up onto his back legs and his beast mode turned into his normal armour. He knocked on the old red door and waited. He deactivated his helmet as the door opened.

  "Oh. Sam, right?" asked the woman who was clearly Matthew's mother.

  "Uhh, yes, Ma'am."

  "Matthew's up in his room, if you'd like me to get him for you?"

  "Uhh, no thank you. I'm actually here to talk to you."

  "Oh, then come in."

  The woman led Sam into the living room, where large couches all faced a large television.

  "What are you here to talk about?"

  "Oh, umm, well, I am part of a marine corps that protects Earth."

  "Yeah, I figured that out from the armour," she said, pointing at Sam.

  "Well, I'd like to recruit Matthew as a marine."

  "No."

  "What?"

  "You'd have to take it up with his father."

  "Who's his father?"

  "You don't know?"

  "Uhh, no," Sam said, looking puzzled. Steps could be heard walking down the stairs.

  "Matthew?" his mother yelled.

  "No, it's just me," a voice replied.

  "I know that voice," Sam said, standing up. "Chris?"

  "Sam?"

  "What are you doing here?"

  "I live here. What are you doing here?"

  "Uhh, I wanted Matthew on my team."

  "Well, that's not gonna happen," Chris said as he walked into the living room. "But if you took it up with Dad, I'm sure he'd let it slide."

  "Who's your dad?"

  "The General."

  "Seriously? Wow. Is everyone in your family a marine?"

  "Mum and Dad are, and I am. That's it."

  "That's why I don't want Matthew to be a marine. A - he's too frail, and B - this family has enough marines as it is."

  "I think I can make choices myself, Mum," Matthew said, standing in the doorway.

  "Matthew."

  "So this is why you didn't want to talk about the dead marine. Because he was part of your team and no doubt your friend."

  "Yeah."

  "Mum, I want to be a marine, like Chris and Dad."

  "Really? Is that really what you want?"

  "Yes."

  "Fine, but talk to your father about it first," his mum said, finally giving in.

  5: Family Quarrels

  Sam teleported up to base with Matthew and Chris at his side.

  "So this is where you've been going all these years, Chris?"

  "Yeah."

  "Are you and Sam on the same team?"

  "Nope, I'm much better than he is."

  "Oh, sure, sure Chris. I'm in a much higher team than you are."

  "By one rank."

  They walked through the halls of the base toward the central spire. They climbed the spire and reached the General's throne room.

  "Chris, why is Matthew here?" the General asked as the marines entered.

  "Whoa, cool Armour, Dad."

  "He's not joining your team is he, Chris?"

  "Nope, he's joining mine."

  "Oh, no he's not, Sam. I forbid it."

  "Why?" Sam and Matthew asked at the same time.

  "Because of the one marine per family rule."

  "But me and Jareth are both here, and the Commander let it slide."

  "But I'm not the Commander."

  "Mum says it's okay for me to join."

  "Really? What'd you say to get her to agree?"

  "Nothing yet but I'd like you to look after my boy personally, Sam," their mother said, walking into the room fully armoured.

  "Why do you agree with this, Rachel?"

  "Because I think we need another marine in the family."

  "I don't like it but I'll let it go ahead for a week as a test period, okay Sam?"

  "Yes, Sir. Thank you Sir, Ma'am. C'mon Matthew, follow me," Sam said, walking off with Matthew eagerly following.

  Matthew quickly got settled in with the other S1 marines. He'd been given a gauntlet but no armours yet.

  A tournament was coming up at the base and Doc wanted Sam and Matthew to enter.

  "What kind of tournament is it?"

  "It's a two versus two fight to the death in which 32 teams will enter and one team will exit victoriously."

  "So why me and Matthew then?"

  "Because it's a good experience for Matthew and the both of you get to fight in the first tournament being held at the base. Look, just enter. It'll be fun."

  "Unless we die," Sam said bluntly as the image of Doc faded.

  "Sam, I still have no armours."

  "I can fix that. Come up to the throne room," the General's voice said through the comms. Matthew and Sam headed up the central spire and found the General standing ready for them.

  "Matthew, please kneel before me." Matthew knelt in front of his father. "Matthew, I hereby bestow upon you the Rank of S1. Sam will now be your leader. You will follow his every order and live and serve him until you die."

  "I, Matthew, will now and until I die, serve under Sam's every word and order. I will fight alongside him until my dying breath." Matthew stood.

  "Here is your new armour chip," the General said, handing Matthew a small red chip. Armour chips were little memory chips that hold amours. They could either be put into a gauntlet and downloaded onto the gauntlet, or just used through the gauntlet. Matthew inserted the chip into the small slot on the side of his gauntlet and activated the new armour. The armour was tall and had broad shoulders. A giant two-handed axe was slung over the right shoulder, and Sam quickly recognised the brute of an armour.

  "Is that the Axxon Armour, Sir?"

  "Good spotting, Sam." The General had used Axxon when he fought alongside Sam in the Xantho war.

  "The tournament's going to start soon and I think that both of you will need to practice. Dismissed."

  "Sir," they both said, bowing and then leaving the room.

  "So this Axxon was my dad's Armour?"

  "Yeah, it's seen a lot of death and bloodshed, and now it's yours."

  "Cool," Matthew said as they walked the halls of the base, heading toward the arena.

  6: The Newbie's First Fight

  The arena hadn't been used since Jareth and Cheyenne battled. The tournament would signal its official opening. Sam and Matthew watched the other 15 battles since theirs was the last of that heat. Sam could feel Matthew shaking beside him.

  "Don't worry, Matthew. It'll be fine because I'm you're partner."

  "I know, I'm sorry. I'm just wondering if it's wise to have my first experience as a marine through a fight to the death arena battle."

  "Well, they're not really fight to the death because no-one dies."

  "What? But we see people die."

  "Yeah but we have pretty good medics that bring them back."

  "Okay."

  A voice boomed over the speakers. "Could the participants of the final battle please head down to your respective gates."

  "That's us, Matthew," Sam said as he stood up. Sam took a quick look around to see who his combatants were but he couldn't see anyone else standing.

  Sam and Matthew waited for the gate to rise. They had arrived to see the last fighter being dragged down to the medic station, covered in blood. The gates slowly raised and Sam and Matthew ran into the arena, as did their opposition. Sam activated his beast mode, which was a new sight for Matthew, who activated his Axxon Armour. Their opponents activated standard marine armour with a chain sword and a bolt
pistol each. Sam and Matthew made quick work of the two marines and headed back inside after the fight.

  "Hehe, you even got blood on ya, Matthew."

  "Shut up. It's my first fight, okay."

  "Hey, I'm only joking, you did good out there."

  "Thanks."

  The two marines quickly took care of their next three battles. It was now the final battle. Sam and Matthew were standing in the arena, with thousands of screaming fans above them. They were waiting for their next match as they had just finished one and had deactivated their armours. Their opponents finally arrived.

  "Took your time," Sam said harshly as he activated his beast mode.

  "Hey, shut up. We were getting healed. Didn't want you two to have too much of an easy match."

  "Pfft, like we need help defeating you two losers," Matthew taunted, to Sam's surprise. Matthew activated Axxon and ran for the first guy.

  The first marine had a light armour on with dual chain swords, and was clearly meant for speed. As Matthew swung the great axe at the Marine it jumped onto Matthew's axe and then over Matthew. He got three good kicks into Matthew's back, toppling him over. Sam, in his beast mode, ran for the second marine, whose armour was heavier and had a jump-pack on its back. It carried dual bolt rifles in its hands and two swords were slung over its back.

  "Laser Claw Strike!" Sam exclaimed as he jumped for the second marine. The marine used its jump-pack to fly under Sam and fire its rifles as it flew under him. Sam landed with a thud beside Matthew as the other two marines regrouped on the other side of the arena. The crowd was going wild and wanted bloodshed. Matthew began to get up but the second marine fired its rifles, forcing Matthew back onto the ground.

  "How are we gonna do this, Sam?" Matthew whispered as they both lay on their fronts.

  "I don't know. If you go for the second one, I'll go for the first."

  Matthew nodded in compliance. They both got up and Sam ran behind Matthew and used him as cover as they sprinted for the other marines.

  "Davies, go around them and take out the beast," Sam heard one of them say. Sam saw Davies, in the lighter armour, run around Matthew and head toward him. Sam stopped and faced Davies.

  "Laser Claw Strike," he said, bounding toward the marine. Their blade weapons connected and Sam was thrown back by the chain swords grinding his claws. Matthew continued to sprint toward the heavier marine, who stood there with his swords drawn. They clashed head on, swords against axe. Matthew was taller and stronger due to the Axxon Armour but this marine was tough to push back. The marine overpowered him and swung its sword across Matthew's chest, creating a deep incision. Blood began to pour from the cut.

  "Davies, the big one's been handled. Need help?"

  "Nah, I'm good, Zac. This guy's a total pushover."

  Sam looked over to Matthew, who was on the ground bleeding. He switched to the humanoid version of his beast mode and ran to the downed marine.

  "Matthew, please hang on."

  "I thought no one died."

  "That was a lie to get you to fight with me."

  "Sam! Behind you! Look out!"

  Sam turned and activated his laser blades as Davies bared down upon him, chain swords spinning. The laser blades didn't get shredded as they weren't a solid material but Sam still tried to throw Davies off. Sam managed to fire his gatlers, pushing Davies off him. Sam panted for a few seconds before Zac got him in the back with his swords. Sam screamed in agony as he fell onto one knee.

  "So much for the fabled S1," Zac said as he and Davies regrouped once more.

  "Don't … count us … out. We can … still fight," Sam said as he slowly got back up. He ran toward Zac and swung his laser blades at him but Zac moved aside and kicked Sam onto the sand of the arena floor. Zac and Davies stood over Sam, who had turned onto his back. Blood soaked the sand around Sam.

  Matthew awoke to his armour changing, as it became less bulky and retracted back to his own size. It was a silver armour with deep red highlights going down the arms. It seemed defenceless apart from the two axe heads that protruded from two launchers under his wrists. He stood up and saw Davies and Zac standing over Sam, unaware of him standing behind them. He fired the two axe heads into the ground and chains followed each head.

  "Cool," Matthew said to himself. "Oy, I'm not done with you two," he taunted, making Zac and Davies face him.

  "I thought he only had one armour, Zac."

  "So did I. Take care of him," Zac ordered as he turned back to Sam. Davies sprinted toward Matthew but didn't get far as two chains erupted from the sand and grabbed both of Davies' arms. He saw Matthew kneeling on the ground with his hands in the sand. Matthew had fired his axe heads onto the sand and controlled them over to Davies. Matthew retracted the chains and Davies was pulled to the ground, dropping his swords as he was pulled closer to the sand.

  "What are you gonna do now?" Matthew asked, retracting his chains more.

  "Zac, help!" Zac turned and pointed his rifles at Matthew but Sam swung his legs around, tripping Zac. Zac dropped both of his rifles and Sam quickly got up and grabbed them both before he ran over to Matthew who was still holding Davies to the ground.

  Sam threw the rifles behind him and Matthew. "Well, well, how the tide has changed."

  "We're not down or out yet. We do our best when backed into a corner," Zac retorted as he unsheathed his swords.

  Zac ran toward Davies, who was halfway between him and Sam and Matthew. Sam ran for Zac with his laser blades extended. Zac made it to Davies before Sam could reach them, and cut Matthew's chain holding Davies to the ground with his swords. He handed one to Davies and charged Sam with the other, causing clashing sparks to fly with each hit. Davies ran toward Matthew, who had loosened one of his chains and was swinging it around at his side. He threw it at Davies, who dodged out of the way, but the chain followed him and wrapped itself around his legs, tripping him again. Matthew retracted his chain that was around Davies' legs and fired it into the ground. It came up behind Davies and went over him and then back into the ground before it wrapped itself around Davies a few times and then pinned him to the ground. Matthew fired his other chain at Zac's sword as he swung it at Sam. The chain wrapped around Zac's arm just before it got Sam, and pulled it toward Matthew.

  Sam pointed his twin gatlers at Zac.

  "Any last words?" he taunted as his gatlers revved to life.

  Zac used his free arm to try and punch Sam but the chain that was still holding Davies down erupted out of the sand and grabbed Zac's free hand. It forced him onto his knees as the chains retracted into the sand in separate directions.

  "I think we've won," Sam said, looking around at his opponents who were both trapped by Matthew's chains.

  "I agree. Good match, you four," the General said from atop his throne that watched over the stadium. The marines in the bleachers erupted into a mass roar of victorious cheers and defeated groans as the winners were crowned.

  Sam and Matthew walked up to the podium that sat directly under the General's throne. He greeted them and made his announcement.

  "Marines who are gathered here today, competitors who have competed in the first ever tournament to be held in this new arena, join me in congratulating the two marines who have become victorious and triumphed over the first of many tournaments. Join me in congratulating Sam and Matthew from the S1 team in their victory."

  The crowd once more burst into cheers as the two marines took a bow.

  "Good job, Matthew. I think you deserve to be in my team."

  "Thanks."

  7: The Space Wolves

  Sam, Matthew, Zac and Davies sat in the med bay getting their injuries healed.

  "You two are really good fighters. What faction are you from?" Sam asked, getting his back checked out.

  "Space Wolves," Zac replied.

  "Ahh, you're from Lachlan's old team. I thought I recognised the blood red armour."

  "You know Lachlan?"

  "Yeah, he's now on my team."


  "Wow, really? He was on mine before he moved to your faction. Actually he was our leader."

  "And what team was that?"

  "The best in the Space Wolves."

  "Wow, good on him. Hey, have either of you two ever thought of coming into the Ultra Marines faction?"

  Zac and Davies looked at each other thoughtfully.

  "Not really. There wouldn't be any difference would there?" Davies asked.

  "Well, you'd be protecting a different sector, and you'd have different team mates and different friends. Other stuff. There'd be a heap of changes if you joined."

  Zac and Davies thought for a bit.

  "I won't, sorry. I like my team and my sector," Davies said, looking at Zac.

  "I will - sure. Who's team will I be on?" Zac asked.

  "Oh, ahh, mine I guess."

  "Isn't our team getting a little too big, Sam?" Matthew interjected.

  "Hmm, well, there's me, Matthew, Matt, Cheyenne, Jareth and Lachlan." Sam counted on his fingers. "That's six, and Zac would make seven. I'm fine with those numbers. Once we're done here we'll go and see the General."

  Once they were all healed up and able to walk, they all headed up the Central Spire to the General's throne room, where they found the General talking to Lachlan as they entered.

  "Ahh, Sam and Matthew. What a great battle that was. Congratulations to you both. And good fight to you, Zac and Davies," the General said, facing them.

  "Thank you, Sir," the four of them replied.

  "So this is where you've been hiding, Lachlan," Zac said, looking at his old leader.

  "Yep. And it's so much better here than over in the Gamma Sector."

  "What's wrong with Gamma?" Davies replied.

  "Nothing, I just like Alpha better."

  "Sure, sure."

  "What are you two doing here anyway?"

  "Zac wants to join Sam's team."

  "Really?" Lachlan asked, looking at Sam with a questionable look.

  "What? I'd like a fighter like Zac on my team," Sam said in response.

  "Okay, okay."

  "Are you sure you want to change Sectors, Zac?" the General asked. "There's no going back."

  "Yeah, I'm ready."

 

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