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Chapter Eleven: Mario’s Turn
The second day of the Azure Cup had come and Mario was lucky enough to grab the first match of the day. His opponent was Fafner, an EAP general that he had beaten before on the battlefield. Knowing this he had little concern about the match itself, he was sure he was going to win. As he slept inside Anima’s cockpit Michelle stared at him while placing a cloth blanket over his motionless body. They had been on Prosperity for about a month and in that month they had both come to know each other well. Ever since the day that Mario went up against Rebel358 in an attempt to impress Michelle with his moves she had been fond of him and him of her. His eyes began to shiver, he slowly woke up, his vision blurred at first but eventually cleared up; Michelle smiled staring down at him. “Good morning.” Michelle mentioned. Mario smiled at the sound of her voice. “Hey…” He then looked around taking notice of the blanket that now covered his body. “Thanks.” “You for someone who believes that this match is going to be a joke you’ve been spending a lot of time in your cockpit.” “Heh, it’s not Fafner I’m worried about. He’s a predictable pilot. He fights with dual energy sabers, and two energy cannons that fold under the joints that connect the arms to the core. He’ll spend the majority of the fight flying around while firing the cannon as a distraction in an attempt to get close to land a blow with the energy saber. Anima is too fast for his MF, Arcadia. I’m just not too sure if there’s a point to this tournament…I mean that guy, Rebel what’s his name is the most skilled pilot I’ve ever seen. I’m not sure if anyone is going to beat him.” Mario replied. “Come on, he can’t be that good. You’re making him sound invincible, he’s only human.” Michelle replied. “I’m not so sure…I’ve never seen anyone handle an MF quite like him before…he’s the only one that ever pushed me to the brink of fear…” “So what are you suggesting? That you give up? That we all just give up and let this guy take the tournament?” Mario wanted to say yes, but he knew that would only infuriate her. The fact of the matter was that he was afraid of Rebel358, and knew he could never beat him. In his eyes the tournament has already completed its goal, to find the strongest MF pilot. Rebel358 was the strongest pilot, he beat Adam without a sweat or much effort for that matter, the tournament was just a game now. “Just take it one match at a time. When it gets to Rebel then worry about him, until then fight the fight. Now, don’t you have a match?” “Heh…maybe things will be alright for once. Mario Liberalis. Anima launching!” The boosters flickered as the ivory MF launched out of the hanger heading towards space. As Michelle fluttered down she smiled, she had a feeling that everything was going to work out for the best. “So he’s fighting Fafner again huh?” Adam asked as he threw a bottle of orange juice at his brother who reclined on his bed. As Stephen caught the bottle he chuckled. “Yeah, I found it funny when I first found out. I mean Mario beat Fafner pretty bad on Mars so I kind of figure that this match shouldn’t take too much time. Although I do kind of feel bad for not going to the dome to watch the match.” Stephen replied as his fingers split opened the top of bottle. “Well I’m kind of tired; I mean we did stay out pretty late last night. Besides we can watch the match here in the comfort of my room…which reminds me, why are you in my room anyway?” Adam asked as he turned looking back at his brother. “Well Ashley is having a girls meeting in our room and I was kicked out.” Stephen replied as he took a sip of his orange juice. He didn’t even bother to look at his brother, his eyes just wandered around the pallid room that they were in. Adam who was lying comfortably on the bed, with his head resting underneath one of the ivory pillows suddenly jumped up causing the pillow to fling against the wall. Stephen chuckled under his breath. “Whoa…wait a minute. I thought Ashley had her own room. I didn’t know you two were sharing! When did this happen?” “Well she was supposed to have her own room, but the computer screwed up and there wasn’t a room available so I got stuck with her.” Stephen replied. Adam began to snicker, he knew that Ashley was taking a liking to his brother, he just wasn’t completely sure. “Hehe, so tell me then. What do you think of her?” Stephen sighed as his brother mentioned this. He knew it was inevitable, the question that his brother posed. He responded in the only way he knew how. “She’s a nice person.” He mumbled, he then began to spread cream cheese onto his slightly burned toast. Adam knew what he was doing, he was trying to get off the subject, but Adam refused to let that go. “She’s nice, right…you like her. I could tell that you liked her ever since that night at the club.” Adam replied. “I like her, like I said she’s a nice person, a good friend.” “A friend right…well then, we’ve been here for about a month now and you two have been living in the same room for that long. I think it’s pretty clear that something has had to happen by now.” Adam replied. Stephen paused for a moment, long enough to take a bite out of his toast. “Whatever we’ve done is none of your business.” Stephen mildly replied. “Oh my God! You did….you had sex with her!” Adam screamed out as his body rolled back into the bed in a fit of laughter. As his brother mocked him Stephen continued to eat his toast. He then took hold of the remote control and turned on the TV. “How come you didn’t tell me? Wow, we’re brothers; you’re supposed to tell me everything.” “I’m not inclined to feed you every detail of my personal life. Do I ask you about you and Sharon? I could say the same thing. You two have been living here for a month now.” “Hahaha, that may be true, but we’re in a relationship. You just met Ashley a little over 6 weeks ago.” Adam replied. “I never once said I had sex with her. Look, the match has already started.” Stephen replied. Adam continued to be amused by the topic of conversation. It had been a long time since he was able to joke and just enjoy himself, not with all of the deception surrounding Genesis and the war. He didn’t forget, but he figured if he was going to find out anything that he should try and enjoy his youth while he had it. He decided to drop the subject; Stephen obviously didn’t want to talk about it. Stephen had always been mysterious when it came to his relationships, when he dated Veronica only a selective few were aware. Then when they broke up suddenly she left her job as OM. Adam always thought about that in the back of his mind, he couldn’t understand why Stephen never really got close with the opposite sex, he always thought that Stephen was so focused on his agenda that he was afraid he might lose his lover in some traumatic way, that was the only explanation Adam could come up with. But he watched the way Ashley and Stephen interacted, they got along well and they had the same sense of humor, they were a good match. Adam’s eyes managed to wander back to the screen as Anima dashed through space following Fafner. “Heh, looks like Mario already has the upper hand.” Adam mumbled. Anima boosted around the energy beams that Fafner sent out. The nimble MF made everything look extremely easy, as Mario closed in on Fafner’s MF the two energy whips abruptly shot out. Arcadia’s energy sabers ignited as the yellow MF began to swing in an attempt to slice the energy whips in two. As Arcadia continued to swing blindly through space Anima’s positron cannon quickly detached from the back and began to float in space. The right arm of Anima swung forward; the energy whip smacked the left side of Arcadia sending a torrent of electricity through the yellow MF. Smoke began to smolder out from the control console in Arcadia’s cockpit, Fafner began to curse loudly as he waved his hands to get rid of the smoke. Suddenly the energy whip wrapped around Arcadia’s right arm limiting its movements. “MARIO!” Fafner screamed as the two energy cannons pivoted and fired. As Mario sighed from the predictable moves that Fafner was displaying Anima’s left arm grabbed hold of the positron cannon that lingered. Arcadia quickly reacted by slicing through the energy whip with the energy saber in the right arm. Just then the massive cannon fired an elongated beam of positron energy that tore through the right arm of Arcadia. The intensity of the blast sent Arcadia spiraling out of control. Anima once again let go of the positron cannon and sped towards Fafner. Fafner struggled with the controls inside Arcadia while Mario continued to close in on the falling MF. Mario shrugged his shoulders while grabbing onto one of the energy sabers. As the beam of energy ignited the energy whip on the left arm flung through space and wrapped around both of Arcadia’s leg units. Just then Arcadia stopped falling out of control as Anima’s energy whip began to retract and like a fishing rod reeled Arcadia in. As the yellow MF squirmed like a defenseless fish Anima sliced through the lower half of Arcadia’s torso. Adam and Stephen continued to laugh at the pathetic antics of Fafner, they knew that Mario was just toying with him but they still enjoyed the show. Mario was like that, if he has a choice between entertaining and ending the battle quickly he’ll entertain. The match was clearly over as Arcadia floated in space surrounded by a debris belt of its own armor while Anime lingered above with its metallic arms folded across its chest. “Well so far our entire camp has moved onto the 2nd round.” Adam mentioned. “Yep, except for Reine.” Stephen replied. “Yeah, well that doesn’t count because he was fighting Zach and Zach is part of our camp now.” Adam replied. “Wouldn’t it be funny if we both lost in the first round?” Stephen brought up jokingly. The two glanced at one another and began to crack up. “Right…hahaha, us, lose in the first round. Please, we’re at least making it to the second round.” Adam replied as spurts of laughter crept out of his lips. The day passed by quickly and before everyone knew it Section ‘B’ had finished their round. Aside from Mario, there was no other pilot that Adam nor did Stephen feel any desire to watch. The three pilots stood staring at the massive screen in the lounge where the results for the day were being posted. Adam’s anxiety continued to build up because with each passing hour he was that much closer to competing. “You did good Mario.” Stephen mentioned. “Yeah, I did ok. But Fafner wasn’t much of a challenge.” “That may be true but you put on a show that much is for sure. I have to be honest I really liked that maneuver when you reeled him in just to cut off Arcadia’s legs, that was priceless.” Adam said still laughing from the permanent image that was embedded into his memory. “So then, are you looking for tomorrow’s matches?” Mario questioned. Both Adam and Stephen remained quiet. “What? What happened?” “Tomorrow the first round for Section ‘C’…” Stephen began to mention. “Yeah, ‘C’ and then ‘D’ the next and ‘E’ after that, what’s the big deal?” Mario asked. “Rebel358 leads off tomorrow’s matches.” Adam mumbled. It then hit Mario, tomorrow Rebel would start his journey towards victory, the fun and games would end and the tone of the tournament would become cold.
‘B-1’ Mario Pennance Kyle Mark ‘B-2’ Anya David Splendor Elaine There it was spelled out, the winners of Section ‘B’, those who were fortunate enough to proceed to the second round of the Azure Cup tournament. “Looks like you’re fighting Penance Mario.” Stephen mentioned. “Yeah…” “It won’t be as easy as Fafner. You know that right Mario?” Stephen asked. “Yeah…I know...” Mario mumbled “The Silent Assassin for the EAP” Adam interrupted. “Yeah…” Mario said as he glanced to the side. The Earth was in plain sight now, its radiant turquoise aura lit up the solitude and darkness of space. It was calming; it was hard to believe that it was filled with such violence and chaos. Rebel358 stood staring into the void that was space. His crimson tinted eyes piercing through the cerulean orb known as Earth. His hands pressed firmly onto the frigid pane glass in the tunnel connecting the two sections of Prosperity. His ears then twitched at the sound of shoes touching the ground in a rhythmic fashion. Rebel358 paid this person no attention and continued to gaze into the serenity that was Earth. “Everyone thinks you’re going to win the Azure Cup.” Rebel smirked; he pushed his body away from the glass in order to properly greet Caleb who was now leaning against the other side of the tunnel. “Everyone speculates.” Rebel replied. “That may be true, but you are not going to win the tournament.” Caleb replied. “Ooh and I suppose destiny reserved that pleasure for you then.” His sarcasm was hurtful, it wasn’t even the bitter reply; it was how calm Rebel appeared when he said it. Like Caleb was nothing of concern. “That’s right. I am the one who is going to be the victor. I get my shot at Novus, no one else, especially not a failure like you!” Caleb screamed, he soon found himself holding the collar of Rebel’s obsidian leather jacket. His fingers dug deeply into the fabric as his forehead pressed against Rebel’s. Rebel mere chuckled under his breath, his crimson pupils burrowed into Caleb’s very essence, his soul. He needed to say nothing, a sharp chill suddenly over ran Caleb’s body, he began to quiver with fear; his fingers loosened their grip and eventually let go of the jacket. Rebel fixed his wrinkled collar and began to walk away leaving Caleb leaning against the wall. As Caleb began to breathe inconsistently his body slid to the floor in a state of panic. “And for the record Caleb, I sincerely hope that you are truly prepared for what’s to come.” Rebel said as his body was engulfed in the shadows that brimmed throughout the tunnel.
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