Episode 12
After a short rest Lexel found the buzz in her head had died
down, the nutra-snack pack she found smashed at the bottom of her bag helped
some too. On one hand she was gratefully she had forgotten to clean out the bag
but on the other she wished it had been a little fresher. Lexel pushed the
thought of snacks aside and reminded herself that they had more pressing
matters to attend to. They still had to make it to the meeting point and Lexel
figured it a good idea to talk strategy with Zero before hand, just to be safe.
Plastic sheeting crinkled at Lexel’s elbow as she allowed
herself a quick stretch to break the silence. Some of the loose debris must
have slid around her while she cat napped in their makeshift shelter. Zero was
still positioned by her side, standing guard like some stone statue; it was
like he had never even moved.
“We have some ground to cover if we are going to make it to
our little audition on time,” Lexel whispered. For a second she thought she
noticed Zero’s head move just a hair but she couldn’t be sure. Did the robot
need to shut down or something like she slept she wondered? “Zero,” she made
the name a question, trying to see if she could get his attention.
“The area seems secure,” Zero reported to her in response.
“We can leave at your discretion.” It was definitely going to take some getting
use to being around the peculiar prototype Lexel noted to herself. Every time
she found herself thinking of him as just another robot he would do something
out of place, and likewise when she began to see him as something alive. She
was at a complete loss as how to think of Zero, so she decided maybe it was
best to leave such philosophical debates to others and just accept him as her
friend. That seemed simple enough for her.
“Zero, are you familiar with the term: fighting dirty,”
Lexel asked as she brushed some bits of packaging from her jacket. Zero
followed her out from behind the piled debris, tracking her with his eyes as
she went. “Unknown,” he finally answered after a short pause. “Are you
referring to fighting in unclean environments or while being dirty?”
“Neither Zero,” Lexel explained. “It is an expression; what
it means is fighting without morals or obeying any rules. See, we are about to
be tested by people who fight on the streets for money and they typically are
not too trusting of outsiders. So I think we should at the very least expect to
face opponents with no intention of fighting fair. Because we either prove
ourselves to these people or well, our lives might depend on it.”
“Understood,” Zero confirmed. For once Lexel was oddly
disappointed by the lack of commentary from her companion. She waited for him
to add some comment or observation on the matter but when he didn’t she found
herself grasping for something to talk about as they walked. “So, what weapon
systems do we have to work with,” Lexel asked her four legged friend. “Which
load outs did you still have on you when you escaped? Did you blast and burn
your way, blow open some doors, what?”
“Negative, I have no mounted weapons available,” Zero
answered. “My escape was managed by a carefully planed routine and made using my
default on-board utility components.” It was not the answer Lexel expected to
hear; in fact it made her feel like she had just been punched in the stomach –
hard. Without any weapons how were they supposed to fight?
“Do not be alarmed, you yourself can attest to my prowess in
battle even if only using the available tools at my disposal.” Lexel had to
smile at that, the memory of their last Match Fight simulation still fresh in
her mind. They would have to be creative and think on their feet, but they would
at least have a chance. Maybe Xeph had rubbed off on her, because Lexel was
still finding herself worried.
The meeting site turned out to be an old abandoned lot
littered with the ruins of some former structure. While Lexel wasn’t surprised
by the choice in location, she soon discovered something that did. Standing in
the middle of a rubble ringed clearing was a purple and silver figure with a
polish that gleamed in the last rays of sunlight. On either forearm a mounted
disk of shiny metal sat with edges of bluish green energy already glowing as
the spun around the rim.
This glittering gladiator was already poised and waiting for
battle, its amethyst eyes immediately training themselves on Zero. “Can I be
alarmed now,” Lexel asked weakly. Zero didn’t answer, already focusing his
attention on studying his waiting adversary. With the last rays of sunlight
vanishing from the sky neon lights blossomed to illuminate the air above them.
And with the neon glow came a gruff voice from somewhere unseen. “You wanted a
chance, this is it – all you have to do is survive. That is, if you can.”
Without ceremony or flash the battle began with only a
single word being uttered; “Fight.”
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