Chapter 3: A Less than Friendly Bout

There were many things I missed about driving. For starters view of the skies above Neo Arcadia was as stunning as ever. The silicon towers split the clouds overhead like a knife cutting through a cake. In the distance, I could see giant floating platforms that had different buildings sitting atop them as well as a number of ships in all shapes and sizes. A view like this was typical on other planets like Earth and Prometheus but Neo Arcadia itself had something special.

As we made our way along the skyway we'd pass a massive stone that levitated right above the city. The stone had a humanoid form though it only possessed an upper body. It looked like a boy carrying something with him while he looked beyond the horizon of the western border. Stones like this appeared all over Neo Arcadia and from what I remembered from my history class there are 21 others spread across the continent. They all depicted different things though I could never recall what they were named.

Snapping myself out of sightseeing I quickly glanced around the car to see what the others were up to. Andrew looked absorbed into Uni-Net, His eyes darting around like he was observing his surroundings yet that was only because I couldn't see anything on his display. In the back seat, Clarke seemed to be engrossed in a small rectangular object that opened and was filled with paper. I remember the two of them telling me that it was a book, a relic in Earth's ancient history, much like written scrolls were in Promethean history. I could only see "The Art of Serenity" written with some mandarin characters written on the side. I couldn't blame either of them for being so engrossed in whatever they were doing, the drive to the school was often a little too long from the dorm we stayed at. I only stayed here because it was better than where my parents wanted me to stay.

Getting another quick look at the stone I often wondered what about it made me like it so much. I couldn't get anywhere near it since it was considered illegal to even fly near it. So just passing it was going to have to be enough at the moment. Pressing the small display in the middle of the dashboard a small broadcast began to play through the aeromobile's speakers.

"This is Juno O'Brien with a special news report. A military base located on Neo Arcadia's second moon Tegea has recently gone silent just a few days ago. The Prime Council has announced that it is sending an investigating force comprised of the Neo Arcadian Military and the Peacekeeper Force. Prime Minister Yalta is expected to address the nation later today."

I'd cut the broadcast before it could get any further. As informative as that was I'd rather listen to my Basic teacher's lecture on proper grammar than listen to the news gush over my Dad.

After another half hour, we'd finally reach the route to the school. Floating above Neo Arcadia's Argus district had been Albion Academy, my prestigious military school that I'd often get the crap kicked out of me. The school was one of the largest in Neo Arcadia with a student body consisting of a few thousand. It was here you'd come to be one of the best and brightest, making it as an esteemed officer or an extraordinary pilot. I don't even remember how I managed to pass some of the entry exams. I kinda just winged it in my other years while getting some help from my friends when I needed it.

As we landed in the school's garage, we disembarked and headed towards a large building that only took a few minutes to get there. As we entered the lights flashed on revealing a large yet empty room. Though out of the floor a panel opened with a small terminal rising out of it. While Andrew and I passed by with no attention given to it, Clarke stopped right in front and began utilizing it. Hearing a few keys and then a low chime, more panels began opening up from the floor. Some of them were much larger than the ones from before. These tables were filled to the brim with different weaponry spread out across them. While it had been a couple of weeks since I came here I didn't just loaf about most of the time. I only picked two weapons for this occasion. First a beam saber, then a six-shooter with a holster. Glancing over on Andrew's side I could see him picking up a kite shield and a longsword. As usual, he was going with the style his Father taught him today. But I did notice he had another blade at his hilt, something curved. As much as I wanted to put down the gun it was better having it than dealing with that.

Clarke entered some more commands into the terminal and from the roof, another panel opened. Lowering itself from the sealing was an Ether core that began to disperse a large energy field surrounding the perimeter that Andrew and I inhabited. I tried to keep myself from lurching at the smell the core produced and it didn't help when I saw Andrew and Clarke taking it in. I'm sure they were smelling something sweet like cake or ice cream. It's what I was told Ether smelled like. All that filled my nostrils had been something like iron or rust.

As much as society depended on Ether you'd think they'd at least think about a way to make it smell better. But of course, I'm the crazy one since I'm the only one who can smell it this way. As a completely renewable energy source that could practically last forever. The worst part was drinking it too. It could be made into a compound that was drinkable. Some people violently rejected it while others end up like us. Which brought me to the worst part about this stupid sparring match.

"Yo Snow, did you even hear him?" Andrew said as he yanked me back in forth by my shoulder. I snapped out of my own spirling thoughts to see that the weapon tables had already been gone.

"Look I get that you're thinking about your future girlfriend but could you at least pay attention? I don't want you to lose 'cause your head was in the clouds."

A remark I was gonna punch him for later but whatever.

"Sorry Clarke, you think you could explain it all to me again."

"It's not an issue Soran. To put it simply you two are going to have a three-point match. The first to land three clean hits with their weapons will win like usual. The use of Esper Abilities is permitted."

"A simple ruleset for a simple match I suppose."

With a flick of a switch, the gleaming red beam sparked to life as it burned the air around it. Andrew took his stance first. With his shield strapped to his right arm, he held it in front of him while he held his sword firmly in his left. His feet were spread evenly and he almost appeared immovable in a way. But today wasn't going to turn out like the rest.

Following in the footsteps of Alara I waved my hand and small wisps of flame ignited into existence forming a small arch overhead. As our eyes met I could see Andrew's eyes shifting in color. The usual dark brown eyes underneath his bright blond hair became alight with a cool electric blue. I could feel the blood in my body rushing throughout my veins as my brain processed the difficulty of this endeavor.

"Begin when ready," Clarke said.

I'd make the first move, darting to the right as two of the small wisps of flame brightened violently and began hurling themselves toward Andrew. He maintained his stance as the first flame struck his shield. Just as the second was about to find its mark he instead twisted his torso to his right and cleaved the second flame with his sword. Ranged attacks were going to do any good against his eyes so step two would have to commence now. Breaking my encirclement, I charged him while two more balls of flame lunged for Andrew. Regaining his stance, he pulled his shield close to him, and as the two balls of flame slammed into his shield he staggered backward while a puff of smoke formed between us. Seizing this opportunity I got in close, swung my saber upward, then struck something with my blade.

As the smoke cleared, Our blades were locked onto each other and before I knew it I'd been trapped within his range. Suddenly he lunged forward, burying his right knee into my stomach and sending me stumbling backward. With a heavy stomp, he bashed me in the chest with his shield scoring himself a point in the process and sending me plummeting to the floor as my body flashed red. It took a few seconds for me to stand to my feet as his staggering blows felt like a hammer striking me twice. Thank Arcadia I didn't lose grip of my weapon.

Adrenaline began surging through my body as my excitement with a little anger swelled in my mind. Flames ignited at my heels as I started sprinting toward Andrew with my saber in hand. Launching myself upward with a blast of flames I gripped the saber's hilt in both hands swinging downward to land a heavy strike. Andrew raised his shield and both plasma and metal collided with each other with enough force to force his knees to buckle for a moment. Yet he was all too prepared for the attack as he swung his shield to the right with all of his might causing me to spin harshly in the same direction. I almost tumbled backward until I felt the tip of Andrew's blade against my shielding push me forward. My body flashed red once more, another point was scored for Andrew.

My anger quickly overtook my excitement which was going to be a big problem. Without thinking I spun around and backed off, then unholstered my six-shooter. Concentrating all of my fire into the weapon it glowed a bright orange with a small ball of flame generating at the barrel. Andrew's esper ability allowed him a heightened speed of reflexes but that didn't mean he could dodge a bullet. Now, this was technically dangerous to do since Espers could overpower Ether shielding. But to be honest this wasn't my best moment and I was a bit angry.

"Try dodging this loser!"

As soon as I pulled the trigger I instantly regretted it for three reasons. One was because I was about to shoot my best friend and while it wouldn't kill him, with as much power I used I could've hurt him seriously. The second was because I underestimated him. It was like my entire world slowed down so much so that seconds began to feel like minutes. Without missing a beat, Andrew tossed away both his sword and shield. Spreading his feet and planting them on the ground he reached for his left side. As the overcharged bullet zipped its way in close proximity to Andrew he drew his second blade faster than I could even perceive it and cleaved the projectile in two. In another rapid motion, he sheathed his blade and disappeared from my sight only to reappear only a foot in front of me and swung once again. Even though it was a blade I was seeing it felt like another hammer was slammed right into my side and it sent me flying to the right. I bounced up and down off the floor a couple of times before sliding into the barrier.

Now instead of anger, pain and wanting to insult me viciously were the only things I could think. The third thing I'd conveniently forgotten. Both of Andrew's parents were warriors at heart, meaning it kinda made him a badass.

"That was a bit desperate don't ya think," Andrew said as he reached his hand out to me. No matter how much I wanted to brush it off it would've been a bit unsportsmanlike of me. As I got to my feet I brushed the dust off of my jacket. "It isn't like you didn't have it coming. Getting cheeky batting away everything I threw at you."

"You know who my Dad is and you think I wouldn't use his techniques against you?"

"No I was prepared for that," I admitted. "It's why I did what I did. I knew you wouldn't be able to handle that attack. But I wasn't expecting you to channel that Mom of yours."

Andrew opened his mouth to speak, but he hesitated for a moment. He averted his gaze but he seemed to tense up. "Look, I just reacted out of instinct. I can't control that in the slightest." He pointed to his eyes, which returned to their usual hue. He stepped right up to me staring daggers into my eyes this time. "I'd think twice before mentioning her in my face again."

I raised my hands. I wanted to shoot him a quick jab for bragging after winning. But I didn't want to push so far. Clarke stepped in between us, pushing the two of us apart in the process. "I know we were here originally to blow off some steam. But you two can't start fighting for real. Or have you forgotten the real reason you brought him here?" Clarke's gaze fell upon Andrew as he said that last remark. Whatever Clarke meant it got Andrew to stop giving me a death glare.

"Look... I was out of line when I mentioned her. Sorry about that man." I held my hand out to Andrew and while he seemed reluctant he took it. "I'm sorry as well mate. You kinda had me in a panic with that attack. I didn't mean to come off like a jerk."

Clarke patted us both on the back, almost knocking the wind out of both of us. "It's a good thing I stopped you both when I did. I wasn't sure if I could stop you if you decided to fight again."

"Still can't project strong enough barriers?" Andrew crossed his arms. "Don't you think that's something you need to get checked out?"

"Well, they are strong enough to block normal attacks. But you two aren't exactly the most normal Espers ever." He certainly had that right. I'd just started realizing how bad things would've gotten if I had lost my cool. Shiranui's face suddenly popped up in my head along with a slew of bad memories. "I think it'd be best if we went on to class now." I checked the time, it had been close to eight now. The others nodded and we began to reset the training room. I could place the beam saber back in its rightful place but the gun wasn't so lucky. I hadn't noticed it until now but the barrel was completely destroyed.

"I really wished I had a gun that could keep up," I muttered to myself. I somewhat wished I hadn't when I felt a slight chill down my spine.