by Robin Roseau
"What do we do?"
"I will offer a series of simple choices. I will alternate who makes the choice. For instance, the first choice is this, and I am asking you. Large, medium, or small?"
"The size of the arena?"
"Yes. The arena you saw is medium."
"Large."
She turned to Bronze. "Combat or race?" Then she turned her tablet to face Bronze, who barely looked at it before tapping a choice. Jasmine looked at it.
"Your challenger has chosen a race. That does not preclude combat, but it means the main goal is not to clash with weapons. There are different types of race challenges. It is your turn. Technological or primitive. This has to do with the level of technology allowed. Primitive could mean anything prior to the invention of the automobile. Technological would almost certainly include technology you've never seen."
"Would I be taught?"
"Only if use of the technology is required to win."
"You could declare a race and put a couple of motorcycles at the starting point. Technically I suppose the motorcycle isn't required."
She smiled. "You would be taught if it is likely the technology is critical to winning. But we could provide alternative choices, such as a horse, and make the course such that the motorcycle's speed is balanced against the horse's ability to travel over rougher ground. Do you see?"
"Primitive."
She nodded, and tapped her tablet. She turned to Bronze. "Jungle, Savannah, or Ocean?" She turned the tablet to Bronze, who tapped an icon. Jasmine looked at it. "She has chosen jungle."
"Where are we?" I blurted.
Jasmine cocked her head. "We have ten thousand square miles of Africa."
"We're in Africa? You're going to send me into an African jungle with no knowledge of snakes and what not to avoid?"
"We relocated any creatures that could be dangerous. There aren't even any mosquitoes."
"Nice trick. Quick sand?"
"There might be quick sand. You'll be carefully tracked at all times. If you fall in, we'll rescue you."
"You suck."
"I know. Now, you will select a handicap."
"Excuse me?"
She turned the tablet towards me. "They come with points assigned, and you may spend up to ten points. But then Bronze may match the points you spent, although her list for you is different. If you spend five, she may spend up to five."
I ran through the list. It was lengthy and included things like temporary blindness in one eye or a cast molded around one leg, stiffening the knee. The partial blindness was two points; the immobilized leg was seven.
There was one with one point labeled "Bell." When I hovered over it, a popup description appeared. I smiled and selected it. I looked at the rest, but the ones I thought would actually help me cost too many points, and I didn't want to receive a similar level of handicap. I returned the tablet to Jasmine. She saw my selection and smiled.
"One point," she said. I was watching Bronze. She didn't react. "And quite fitting, I must say, although I bet neither of you would understand the irony, and I'm not going to explain. Bronze, you will wear a bell. You will not be able to remove it or silence it, other than through your own motions. It is sufficiently loud as to be heard for forty yards and longer in more ideal situations."
Bronze nodded and accepted the tablet. It took her only an instant. Jasmine smiled. "You'll both be belled." She looked back at me. "Why did you pick a bell?"
"When I'm well in front of her, I want to know where she is."
"Races are not necessarily foot races. They can be the first to complete a task. Or there can be some sort of interaction, but not necessarily physical combat."
"I understand. What's next?"
"Now we narrow down the exact type of race. I will present three major groups of race types, and you will be allowed to eliminate one type. Bronze will then pick between the two remaining types. Then we repeat, narrowing the choices further until only one remains, but we alternate who eliminates a choice."
"I understand."
"The first group are simple races such as a foot race, a horse race, climbing a mountain, or the like. The second group is task based. You may need to build a structure to certain dimensions, for instance. The third is to find something. This could mean hunting a particular animal or some sort of scavenger hunt."
"I eliminate one?"
"Correct."
"There's no way I'm going to win a simple race. That one."
"Very good." Bronze reached over and tapped a symbol on the tablet. "She has chosen the third group, finding.
We went back and forth a few times, and then I didn't understand the implications of one of my choices when I made an elimination.
"Bronze has chosen capture. That is our final choice."
"Capture? Capture what?"
"You. In this challenge, you will both be released into one of the challenge parks from opposite locations. To win, you must avoid capture for exactly one day. For her to win, she must capture you and bring you to a particular location."
"That's almost like the first challenge."
Jasmine smiled. "Many of our challengers are species with a strong hunting instinct. There are a number of paths that lead to a hunt."
"With me as the prey."
"Yes. This is not a combat challenge, Ms. Fletcher. You must seek to evade her, not fight her."
I sighed. "Fine."
She smiled. "Your challenger-mate wishes to offer gifts."
"Gifts? I didn't bring her anything." It was said sarcastically, but I didn't know if either of them realized that.
"Gifts do not come with these sort of expectations."
I looked at Bronze. "Thank you." I wasn't sure if that was sarcasm or not.
Bronze stood, and as soon as she did, a nook appeared in the wall behind Jasmine. Inside were four gift-wrapped boxes in a small stack, the largest on the bottom. She collected them then returned to her seat, arranging the boxes before her.
"Bronze, does your race give gifts in this fashion?"
Bronze collected Jasmine's tablet and tapped out an answer. Jasmine read it to me. "We give gifts, but the wrapping is a human custom."
"That's very sweet," I said. "Thank you." I rattled my wrists. I'm going to need help. Will you open them for me?"
She nodded and selected the biggest. Then she gestured to the seat next to me, and I nodded. So she moved into the new location, rotating me to face her. Then, with her help, I had enough movement of my hands to remove the paper.
"It is customary to tear, you understand."
She nodded.
I was presented with a simple cardboard box. Bronze had to open it for me, sliding the top from the box. Nestled inside were a pair of boots.
"Bronze?"
"She knows your feet are tender," Jasmine said. "Perhaps all your skin is tender, but your feet most of all. She wishes good challenges, and if you can barely walk, they would be poor challenges."
"Thank you, Bronze," I said. "I was wondering how I was going to do in the jungle in my bare feet." I looked down. "Will you put them on me?"
She nodded and then knelt before me. Her touch was gentle as she pulled each boot into place.
I hadn't gotten a good look at them. Until they closed around my feet, much like the chair did, I didn't realize they were of alien technology.
"They... they..."
"Your feet will remain dry and protected," Jasmine said.
I was touched. "Thank you, Bronze. These mean a lot to me. Will you hug me?"
She enveloped me, holding me for a while. I finally kissed her cheek, and she released me, returning to her seat.
The next box was nearly as large as the first, and when Bronze opened it, I found a safari hat waiting for me, the brim large.
"The sun is bright," Jasmine explained. Bronze put the hat on my head, and then it formed itself, much like the visor did. "You'll be able to readily remove it, but it won't dislodge accidentally."
&nbs
p; For that, we exchanged another hug and a pair of cheek kisses.
Bronze skipped the next smaller box, instead opening the one that was by far the smallest. Inside was a small pouch, which I thought was odd, but then she opened it and withdrew a standard tube of sunscreen, SPF 50. I began laughing and then thanked her. She replaced the tube in the pouch and draped it over my neck. I squeezed her hand and kissed her check. Again.
Then she sat and fingered the final box before helping me open it.
Inside I found my visor. I stared at it.
"That definitely doesn't qualify as primitive."
Bronze patted my knee then reached for my glasses. I had to explain about the strap, but she removed them and placed the visor in place for me. It activated, and as before, I could see so much better.
"It's the same visor," Jasmine said gently. "I remove her authority during challenges, but at all other times she has the same control over it that I do, and I will not override any choices she removes from you. On the other hand, she will not override any I remove."
"Is this a gift from you, or from Bronze?"
"You have not earned your privileges back. And so it is from her. Technically, she is not giving you the visor. She is giving you the privilege."
I shouldn't have been as overwhelmed by the gesture as I was, but I couldn't help it. I looked at her and felt real warmth. "Thank you. I- I don't know how to thank you. We've already been hugging."
She patted her lap, and I smiled. But when she pulled me to her, I let her, curling up against her and letting her hold me.
"When is our challenge?" I whispered.
"We depart immediately after lunch," Jasmine explained. "You will be given small supplies and one piece of technology, a water purifier. It is for safety."
"What about clothing? I'm in my pajamas."
"You get the choice of what you are wearing now or what you wore in the gym, or you can dress as your challenger did for the first challenge."
I laughed. "Gym clothes."
The Hunt
I was taken back to my cell for lunch. I ate everything, although there wasn't enough to make me full and stupid. Minutes after I gave my tray back, the clothing arrived. I changed, lathering up with the sunscreen thoroughly first and pulling on the boots and hat last.
The guards came, and I was escorted, my visor blinded, to a waiting vehicle. They strapped me in, and the visor remained blinded. And then we began to move.
I shrieked when we began flying. But at least it was only a ten-minute flight, and then we were back on solid ground. The guards helped me from the helicopter, or whatever the hell it was, and after a very short walk, I found my hands encased in another pillar. They removed the shackles, and then the visor brightened. Jasmine stood in front of me.
"We meet again."
"Before we talk about this challenge, there's something else I want you to think about."
"I think I should have my head in the game here."
"This is small but important."
"All right. What is it?"
"I am balancing multiple priorities. You recognize this. My main focus is on your long term happiness and well being."
"Behind Bronze's."
"No. Alongside hers. I would not sacrifice either of you for the other. However, when necessary, I am willing to allow short term agony, even despair, if it leads towards an optimal long term arrangement. I want to ask you something."
"Fine."
"Are you willing to suffer now if it means you win in the end?"
"Of course."
"I thought so. Some people say that, but they don't mean it. But I think you mean it. Not that the answer would influence whether I was willing to let you suffer now for joy later, but it's so much nicer when I have permission."
"I haven't given you permission."
"Oh, please." Then she changed the subject. She pointed to a small backpack, a few steps away. "Your gear. There isn't much. Water, the water filter I mentioned, food. A compass. Waterproof matches. A knife, but it is not to be used against your opponent. And a map of this arena."
I nodded.
"Your visor will count down the time. You must remain free for twenty four hours from the instant I call start."
"So you said."
"This arena is a ten kilometer circle including a variety of terrain. We are at the extreme western edge. Your challenger is at the extreme eastern edge. Both starting places are shown on the map."
"So she knows where I am."
"Yes. The terrain is very difficult. If this had been the savannah arena, it would be larger. Across open ground, she can probably run ten kilometers in about a half hour, maybe a little less. It will take her somewhat longer than that to reach this location and begin to hunt you."
"Are you telling me more than you're supposed to?"
She smiled. "Yes."
"Why?"
"You know why. I want you to win. Will you really let me court you?"
"Yes, although I'll point out that it was Bronze that gave the visor back, not you."
She smiled, paused a moment, then lean closer. "Whom do you think told her to?" she asked very quietly. "But she thought of the rest."
"You had to punish me?"
"Yes. And I can't take her gift from you or even really disable it. I can only disable features that you'd probably agree should be disabled, anyway."
"Like blinding me during transportation?"
"Exactly."
"I bet you have other ways to punish me."
"I do. But I also have other privileges to offer, and you're going to be here for a while."
"So sure, are you? I'm going for three."
"I guarantee you aren't going to win the third challenge. But we're getting ahead of ourselves." She leaned back and paused before continuing. I wonder if she had turned off the cameras for a moment or something. Maybe we went to commercial break. I smiled at the thought.
"There are a few other rules," she said. "You may both set traps, but they should not be the sort that would cause serious harm. And as I said, you should not engage in combat with her. If she truly catches you, you must surrender. Violations of these rules will result in penalties. You won't like the penalties, so don't break these rules."
"Got it."
"There are stores of additional materials. They are marked on the map. More food, more tools, more clothing, more protection from the elements." She smiled. "Rope. Nets. Things Bronze might use to catch you. Things you could use to slow her down."
"Right. Because I'm going to have time for that."
"One of the nets is exceedingly sticky. If you tangle her in it, she's going to be tangled for a while."
"She'll just give up some skin."
"Believe me or not. You are both being monitored very carefully. You won't be able to see it, but you are being videoed from multiple directions. If you get into serious trouble, call for help. Depending upon the dire nature of the trouble, we will either direct Bronze to assist you or come ourselves. It will be my decision whether to consider it a forfeit or to enact a somewhat more playful penalty before resuming the challenge. If I deem you require assistance, I will provide it whether you ask or not."
"Right."
"Questions?"
"Do I have a chance in hell?"
She smiled. "For this, yes."
"What do I get if I win?"
"Points to use later."
"Points? Points matter?"
"They are used to handicap your opponent and to steer the nature of the challenges."
"Oh," I said. "Do you have any advice?"
"Don't get caught."
"So helpful."
"There are places to hide. They are not marked on your copy of the map. Some are marked on hers. Not all. That doesn't mean she won't find them. Otherwise you have to keep moving, but that comes with its own dangers."
"Like what?"
"This." And then from her bag she lifted a sort of collar, and it had a cow's bell on
it.
I laughed. "You said we wouldn't be able to silence it, but you didn't say it was against the rules. I'm pretty sure I can silence the clapper."
"You're free to try." She stepped around the pillar and fitted the collar around my neck. It hung loosely, but she made sure the hoop was small enough I couldn't lift it away. "It is not entirely indestructible, but the penalty for openly attempting to destroy it are severe."
"More of those horrible weapons you hit me with?"
"No. That's a safety device, Ms. Fletcher. We can, however, light up your location so your opponent can easily find you. We can interfere with your visor, which, by the way, is locked in place for the duration of this challenge. We can steer you into her traps. We can activate some of our own."
"There are traps already waiting for me?"
"Inactive. I can decide to punish you in a variety of ways, either in this event or in future events. Were you going to destroy the bell?"
"No. But it's not very loud."
"It's not turned on."
"It's a bell. There's no 'turned on'."
"Believe me or not. It activates at the same time I call start."
"Anything else."
She paused then nodded. "I know your opponent personally."
"I thought you might. You're friends?"
"Oh, hell no, as you might say. She has been my main rival at least once too many times."
"You steered me to her!"
"We also have deep respect for each other."
"All right. You were saying?"
"She is an insanely curious person. She is also playful. If you take the time to offer her challenges, she will probably allow you to distract her. If you give her a challenge, she'll play with you, even though she gets the most points for winning early. She can probably easily catch you, but I predict she's going to set several traps for you and then attempt to drive you into them."
"So she might not run straight here."
"Oh, she might, and she might track you for a while, if for no other reason than to be sure she knows what direction you traveled. I guess we'll see."
I nodded. "All right. Thank you."
"Good luck, Sapphire."
"I'm going to need it."
"If you last past twelve hours, you begin collecting points, even if ultimately she captures you. But she gets points for catching you, for how quickly she does, and for style."
