Across the Stars 4: Fight

The terran stands before the mirror in his quarters.  "Been a long time since I last wore you," he tells the reflection as he looks at the olive-drab battle-dress uniform.  The pulse sidearm rests against his right upper leg.  A machete hangs on his left.  His hand grabs the pulse rifle resting against the wall.  "Time to fight."

His boots thump against the floor plating as he walks through corridor after corridor.  Eyes watch him every step of the way as those in the marketplace see him, an armed soldier, make his way towards the holographic deck.  In through the door and past the front desk.  The clerk merely glances at the human as he passes by.  Everyone knows of the human's plan, the odds of his survival being the long shot.  Erikk's reservation stands ready and the doors open with the familiar hushed hiss of compressed air.

The bland grid of holographic emitters gives the square room such a lifeless look.  Erikk stands by the computer terminal next to the door as the selected program activates.  An ancient arena from some far away planet replaces the square room.  Sand now covers the floor and the stadium fills with holographic spectators.  The scenario calls for warriors of every type with every possible weapon.  The computer selects opponents complimentary to Erikk.  They enter the arena through the different arched entrances scattered around the stone walls.

A bull stomps across the sand with a double-bladed axe as tall as Erikk.  The blade glows as energy courses over the metal.  A wolf snarls as he steps from his arch.  An energy bow rests in its holster across his back.  A vixen saunters out with katars hanging from her belt.  Simple leather serves as her armor as it covers her chest and loins.  A clydesdale walks out with a stutter step, almost dancing his way to the gathering.  The paint on his face and chest remind Erikk of the ancient Native Americans of Earth.  He has no weapons in his hands or on his body.  A slender black feline gracefully walks out.  Twin pulse pistols hang against her hips.

Trumpets blare, signaling the arrival of the patriarch of the fight.  All give the traditional salute to the leader before he waves a hand.  Almost immediately the fight begins.  The bull charges the vixen while the equine faces off against the wolf.  The human watches the feline disappear into the ruins placed in one section of the arena.  Erikk finds the best blind spot to approach the stone structures, one eye on the combatants.

The vixen easily dodges the bull and the bulky creature falls as she effortlessly runs a katar through the side of his neck.  Blood sprays out in crimson arcs.  Erikk reaches the building as the vixen works her way behind the horse.

Purring echoes around the darkened interior of the structure as he listens for sounds of the cat.  "Come and get me," comes a sultry voice.  Erikk smiles and taps the switch on his goggles.  Darkness turns to light as he points the rifle around the corner, the scope serving as a camera for his eyes.  He spots the feline backing out of the room into another section.  Too fast is she for him to squeeze off a round.  Then into the building he goes, but not before glancing over his shoulder and watching the vixen spiral through the air as a green glow surrounds her body.  She thumps into the wolf and both tumble from the impact.

Energy bolts flash through the doorway as he steps to the interior exit.  One almost catches his left shoulder.  "I love playing with my prey!"

"Then here's a ball for you to play with!"  Erikk tosses a round flash grenade into the room.  He hears her hiss just before the blinding light fills the room.  The cat hides beside a broken column and curses at the weapon as she shakes her head and blinks repeatedly.  Erikk doesn't hesitate as the rifle discharges.  Several rounds pepper the black panther.  The holographic opponent disappears, defeated by the human.

The remains of the building shake as something crashes through the outer wall.  The choking and writhing vixen lies atop the rubble from the new hole.  Her body flails for a moment before ceasing and disappearing.  The wolf howls and his shadow crosses the opening as he leaps at the stallion.  Erikk takes the moment to fire off several rounds at the magic user.

The wolf flies backwards as the horse easily flings him back.  But the energy pulses smack against his left shoulder and leg.  He neighs loudly and claps his hands together, aiming at the ruins.  A wave of sound slams against the stones and the building begins to buckle.  Erikk gets only a moment to dive out of the collapsing structure.  A second wave throws the human back through the doorway he just passed.

Erikk pulls himself out of the debris and watches a fireball engulf the wolf as he charges the horse.  The terran levels his rifle at the clydesdale and pulls the trigger.  The fire fizzles around the smoldering wolf as the horse loses his concentration.  Energy strikes all over his torso as Erikk eliminates the equine.  The human looks at the wolf just in time to see the energy bolt release from the bow.  The bolt strikes the pulse rifle as Erikk twists himself around.  The useless weapon falls from his grasp.

A blue blast of energy engulfs the wolf as he charges the human.  Erikk spots the equine standing with his eyes locked on the canine.  He favors his left leg as he leans heavily on his right.  But this doesn't slow the horse.  The terran takes a moment to slip back into what remains of the ruins.  He watches the wolf retreat and duck behind several toppled stone columns.  The stallion neighs his discontent with the action.  Now Erikk works his way through the destroyed building and out the back.  Sand crunches under his boots as he makes his way around the arena and his eyes meet those of the wolf's.

A blast of sand across the front of the columns sends a yellow gritty rain over the wolf.  He snorts and returns his gaze to the human.  The canine points in the direction of the magic user then slides his hand across his neck.  Erikk nods, knowing the wolf would rather take out the greater threat.  The Lieutenant turns and heads back around the ruins and works his way behind the clydesdale.

The horse slaps his hands together again and sends another wave of sound towards the columns.  More sand washes over the stone.  An energy arrow springs from the wolf's position and the mage dissipates it with a wave of his hands.  Erikk crouches low and worms his way across the sand, making his way closer to the opponent.  The human freezes as he watches the columns shudder and slowly rise, revealing the wolf.  The wolf snarls while Erikk launches himself at the equine.  The columns drop as the wrestling duo fall to the sand.

The horse grabs Erikk's leg and pulls hard, yanking the human from his back.  Erikk rolls and comes up in a crouch.  A handful of white hair falls from the pink hands as the terran lunges towards the equine's wounded leg.  The stallion whinnies loudly and falls, bringing his fist against the human's back as he topples.  Erikk feels the wind knocked out of him as the blow thumps against him.  A howl fills the arena and the human feels the horse shift his weight as he attempts to regain his footing.  Only his body falls back on Erikk, the shadows showing the wolf grappling on top of the equine.  The terran feels himself sink into the sand from the weight of the two opponents above him.

Erikk coughs and scrambles away from the pair as they roll around, releasing him from his imprisonment under them.  He turns and watches as the two wrestle, teeth bared and hands clamped around each neck.  The horse is by far stronger.  Even with the damage dealt by the human's weapon earlier, the clydesdale slowly strangles the canine.  The fallen warrior dissipates in an energy discharge.  Fire fills the horse's eyes as he stands looking around for the last of his foes.

Only a couple yards separate the towering equine and the terran.  His eyes drill through the hairless creature.  Sand dusts his fur and mats over the wounds he's sustained during the fight, his white mane mangled and rat-filled.  "Draw your weapon," says a deep voice.  In the blink of an eye, Erikk's hand flashes to his side and round after round leaps from the barrel of the sidearm.  And round after round fails to hit the target as the energy fades before it reaches the shaman.  The horse laughs, "Don't rely on your technology for it will be the end of you!"  His hands rise above his head and begin moving in some pattern.

Erikk doesn't wait for the stallion to finish.  Instead, he charges much like before.  Only this time the large blade hanging on his left slashes from the horse's right waist up to his left shoulder.  Blood sprays up into the air as the human finishes his follow through.  He stands over the falling body as it disappears before hitting the ground.  "And old school wins the day again," he mutters as the applause of the audience fills the arena.

Battered and bruised, the warrior salutes the patriarch before the scenario ends and the arena turns back into the drab grey room.    The pulse rifle's strap slips over his shoulder and he sheathes the machete.  Feeling exhausted both physically and mentally, Erikk leaves the entertainment facility.  Many applaud him as he walks through the marketplace.  Seems everyone tuned in to watch the event.

Sleep washes him away as soon as he hits the couch in his quarters, still dressed in his green uniform.