by J. C. Fiske
“Or?” Ranto asked.
“There is no ‘or.’ Only what will happen should you disobey me. Now, here’s what needs to be done,” the Goat Man said.
Chapter Ten: The Water Event
“Look at this place! Did they build it overnight?” Gisbo asked, marveling at the gigantic oval stadium that now occupied the entire Courtyard of Strength.
“Never underestimate Renegade ingenuity,” Shaved said. “And it was more like a few hours, not overnight. I still got a full eight hours of sleep.”
“Amazing,” Gisbo said.
“Ok, if you’re all done giving the new stadium an O-Face, let’s get in there and grab some good seats!” Knob said as he ran into the gaping entryway, leading a charge that nobody followed.
“Natural leader, that one,” Kennis said.
“He’s right though; we better get some good seats! A place where Grandfield and Rolce can see us,” Anaka said. Grabbing Shaved’s arm, they rushed behind Knob. “Come on, you guys!”
“You never told me I’d be, what do they call it, the third wheel?” Jackobi asked, his arms folded, suddenly appearing beside Gisbo and Kennis.
“Oh, come on, tall, dark and gloomy. It’s good to get you out of the tree house,” Kennis said as she ran after Shaved and Anaka. “I’ll sit next to Anaka if it will make you feel better. You can have Gisbo all to yourself!”
“That’s, that’s not exactly what I meant,” Jackobi said.
“Hah, tall, dark, and gloomy,” Gisbo said. Jackobi snapped a cold stare.
“Right. Ok, buddy, off we go. If you’re lucky, I’ll let you sit on my lap,” Gisbo said.
“Hrmph,” Jackobi grunted as he entered the stadium.
“That didn’t sound like a no . . .” Gisbo said.
With much effort at pushing through hundreds of people, Gisbo and his friends managed to land seats in the seventh row. Rows upon rows surrounded a circular grass field where the courtyard of Strength was located. Rather than a painted circle, there was a giant, raised granite slab that would be the battlefield for the contenders.
“How the hell did you get that thing in there, Shaved?” Gisbo asked.
“Carefully,” Shaved muttered, smiling.
“Are you both worried about Rolce?” Anaka asked, looking at Jackobi and Gisbo.
“Worried? Hell no. Rolce and Grandfield’s fat asses are gonna steam roll over those Strifes!” Gisbo said. Jackobi looked at him.
“It seems you’re back to your normal self,” Jackobi said. “I liked you better angry. You were more relatable.”
“Maybe I am,” Gisbo said, smiling and winking at Kennis, who smiled back with huge dimples.
“Normal self?” Anaka asked.
“Um,” Shaved started.
“Diarrhea, explosive diarrhea,” Gisbo said.
“Oh,” Anaka said. Gisbo then leaned in and whispered in Knob’s ear.
“Ultimate stop block. Nobody wants to take the topic of diarrhea further. Works every time,” Gisbo said.
“Yeah, you genius you. It works; especially when you call in sick multiple times to Ernie, and I have to pick up your slack,” Knob said.
“Oh, sorry,” Gisbo said.
“Looks like they’re wasting no time getting this thing started,” Shaved said. They all focused their attention on the giant granite ring as Narroway stepped out and placed a Soarian voice amplifier over his throat known as a Boom Batang.
“LADIES! GENTLEMAN! AND EVERYONE IN-BETWEEN! I welcome you all to the . . . well, sort of lost count over the years as to what exact number this Elekai’ Exhibition is, um, let’s call it Seventeenth? Sure, seventeenth Elekai’ Exhibition! Let’s introduce our combatants for the west half of the circle! Team Strife!”
“BOOOO!” Gisbo and Knob screamed as loud as they could, followed by the host of Heaven’s Shelter, overwhelming the Strifes’ few cheers as the Strife Team walked out and stood on their half of the ring with Chieftain Lamik leading them.
“And on the east half, may I present, YOUR RENEGADES!” Narroway bellowed as the Renegade team, lead out by Perry, took their place standing across from the Strifes.
“Why are they all draped in black cloaks?” Gisbo asked.
“So the other team can’t recognize their identities and plan ahead,” Shaved said.
“That big one’s got to be Grandfield. GO, GRANDFIELD!” Anaka yelled.
“GO, ROLCE! GO, GRANDFIELD! KICK SOME STRIFE ASS!” Gisbo yelled. “As lame as I thought this was, I’m actually excited. This is awesome!”
“It won’t be lame with Elekai’ involved. I thought so too until I saw the team practicing late last night. We’re in for a show, pal,” Shaved said.
“I believe it!” Gisbo said.
“Now, if the Team Captains would throw their Spark Dice, we can get this thing started. Team Renegade, ready to throw?” Narroway asked in a booming voice. Perry gave the thumbs up. “Team Strife, ready?” Lamik gave the thumbs up.
Narroway raised his hand, then dropped it swiftly as both captains threw their dice out onto the ring. They rolled about, bouncing, and finally halted. Once they stopped, they vibrated and blasted upward like a firework, each revealing their number in giant fiery symbols for the crowd. Perry rolled a four and Lamik rolled a six.
“Team Strife, you get to choose. Present your fighter, or pass the decision to Team Renegade,” Narroway asked.
“We pass,” Lamik said.
“Team Renegade, present your fighter!” Narroway said.
Perry turned to his team and paced back and forth, then stopped.
“I’m going to activate a Mind-Link with Narroway, Honj, and Shax to deliberate what our best option should be. Excuse me for but a moment,” Perry said as he closed his eyes. A second later, he snapped his eyes open and smiled.
“I think it’s best that we set the tone early. Roarie, get in there,” Perry said. Roarie looked at the rest of her teammates.
“Me? What? Fine,” Roarie said, muttering. “Least I can get this over with.”
“Roarie,” Perry said.
“Yeah?” Roarie answered, hands on her hips.
“Don’t forget, this is a war, even if it is by a different name. If a chance comes to kill your opponent, do not hesitate,” Perry said.
“Don’t need to tell me twice,” Roarie said as she threw off her black cloak and walked out into the center of the arena to many cheers and boos.
“Renegades have chosen their fighter. Strifes, present her opponent!” Narroway said. Lamik turned to face his team made up of mostly, giant brutes. All he did was point, and the fighter, rather than walking forward, activated his essence and exploded up into the air, disintegrating his cloak, and landed within the granite ring, sending out tiny cracks across the stone. The man was huge, gorilla like, with a bald pointed head and a ring of black hair around it. His green eyes matched his Strife uniform and his Naforian energy that seemed to pour out of him like a leaky faucet.
“Was that really necessary, Moose?” Roarie asked.
“How many women does it take to light a kitchen?” Moose asked.
“Jokes, wonderful,” Roarie muttered.
“None, the bitch can do the dishes in the dark!” Moose said, bellowing with laughter.
“Ugh, damn you, Narroway,” Roarie muttered to herself, rolling her eyes as Moose continued to crack up at his own joke.
“Fighters, if you would take your places. You both know the rules. Knock your opponent by any means necessary out of the ring. Should any body part touch the ground outside the ring, they are immediately eliminated. Understood?” Narroway asked.
“What if I squish her before she falls out of the ring?” Moose asked. Roarie just sighed loudly.
“Then you will have to drag her squished remains out of the ring; it’s not brain surgery, Moose,” Narroway said. “Now, fighters, to your respective lines.”
“Hey, Roarie,” Moose called as Roarie walked towards her line. Roarie only raised a middle finge
r without turning around.
“Heh, this will be fun,” Moose said as he made his way to his line.
“Fighters, left stomp!” Narroway said. Moose squatted down and performed his left stomp. Roarie stood, with a disgusted face, arms folded.
“Team Renegade, left stomp!” Narroway said. Roarie rolled her eyes and stomped her left foot while standing straight up with her arms folded.
“Good enough! Right stomp!” Narroway said. “Now, take your positions!”
Roarie bent down and placed her fists upon the cold, granite ring and put her rear in the air only to hear hoots and hollers from the male onlookers.
“So. Embarrassing,” Roarie said, gritting her teeth.
“Fighters, BEGIN!” Narroway bellowed.
“RAHHH!” Moose yelled as he charged at Roarie in a green blast of energy. Roarie only stood, calmly, patiently, not at all activating her essence.
“What’s she doing? She’s gonna get killed!” Anaka yelled. Gisbo only smiled.
“Roarie? Not a chance,” Gisbo said.
“DIE!” Moose screamed as he closed the gap, ready to throw all of his body, all of his power into one massive hit. Unfortunately for Moose, Roarie was about to do the same.
With a speed that would make any Shininja jealous, Roarie dropped to one knee and threw all of her power into one straight punch into Moose’s groin, causing him to lurch over in full motion, crashing his nether regions straight into Roarie’s fist. With one quick raise of her fist, she let physics do the rest as Moose rolled over Roarie and face planted into the grass out of bounds.
“FOUL! I CALL FOUL! SHE PUNCHED HIM! THE RULES STATE NO PUNCHING! ONLY SLAPPING! I SEE A FIST!” Lamik screamed in fury as he charged onto the arena floor. Roarie, still on one knee with her fist extended, quickly opened her fist into a flat palm. Narroway looked at her, smiled, and intercepted Lamik.
“From my eyes, it seems Roarie indeed used a palm strike. Look for yourself,” Narroway said. Lamik only growled and stormed off the arena floor as Roarie returned to her team, arms folded, and a point for the Renegade team went on the giant holographic screen floating above the arena.
“Well, that was, um, quick. Is it just me or did Roarie look bored?” Knob asked.
“Is it just me or did she just cheat?” Kennis asked.
“Did she win?” Gisbo asked.
“Yes,” Kennis said.
“Then it’s not cheating,” Gisbo said.
“I’ll be sure to tell Perry your reasoning, especially when it applied to his homework,” Kennis said.
“Don’t you dare!” Gisbo said.
“Lamik’s already rolling. The guy’s pissed,” Knob said. As Knob spoke, a giant six shot up from Lamik’s die, forcing Perry to tie it to force another roll. He came up with a five. Lamik grinned and decided that he would choose his fighter as he returned to his team.
“Cheating to win, sounds just like the Renegades. They mock us. Fine, then let us force their hand. Tanjo, get in there,” Lamik said.
“Sir,” Tanjo said, standing up to his full height and throwing off his cloak.
“And, Tanjo, whatever it takes, even should you lose . . . kill your opponent,” Lamik said. Tanjo grinned.
“Yes, sir,” Tanjo said.
“Strife forever,” Lamik said.
“Strife forever,” Tanjo said as he made his way to the ring.
Perry watched the conversation that he couldn’t hear and smiled. “He’s rushing things to prove a point, sending out his most powerful fighter. We’ve embarrassed him. All according to plan,” Perry said to himself.
“It seems we’ve offended him. You think he takes this personally?” Groggo asked with a smile.
“For good reason,” Perry said. “But let’s not get over-confident.”
“I’m ready, coach, put me in,” Groggo said.
“Rolce, get in there,” Perry said.
“What!? But, sir! The boy will be slaughtered; he’ll be . . .” Groggo started.
“He’ll be victorious, but Rolce, before you get on stage, let me have a word for your ears only,” Perry said. Rolce stepped up and Perry whispered something in his ear, then looked at Narroway, who nodded and winked. Rolce took a deep breath and made his way up to face off against the ex-Renegade Tanjo Banaray. Rolce saw that Tanjo was the same height as him, but had much more bulk, and brandished an odd, “X” shaped scar on his forehead. Upon sizing him up, Tanjo smacked both of his fists together, cracking all his knuckles at once like a series of fire crackers.
“Do you know who I am, boy?” Tanjo asked.
“Should I?” Rolce asked.
“Your executioner,” Tanjo said.
“How clever,” Rolce said.
“You say your fancy words now, boy, because they will be the last things you say!” Tanjo said as he made his way to his line.
“I didn’t think I said anything fancy . . . strange guy,” Rolce said as he made his way to his own line, and they both performed the opening stomping rituals.
“BEGIN!” Narroway shouted, throwing up his hand.
“RARGH!” Tanjo screamed, igniting his Aquarian essence, and charged along with Rolce. The two of them met. When Rolce raised his head, Tanjo slammed his forehead hard into Rolce’s stomach, throwing him off balance just enough to allow Tanjo to lift Rolce high into the air.
“Sorry, kid, nothing personal,” Tanjo said. With all his strength, he spiked Rolce downward like an axe to a block of wood. Rolce’s head burst open like a watermelon as the rest of his body toppled lifeless over the edge and onto the grass out of bounds, forming a pool of blood.
Tanjo raised his hand in victory, hopping and hollering to cheering applause only to suddenly see, like a melting oil painting, the world around him drizzled away. He was no longer in the ring, but out of bounds, jumping and hollering. Narroway declared a point to the Renegades and Rolce stood within the arena, smiling at him, perfectly fine.
“What, WHAT!? HE USED SOME KIND OF TRICK! I BEAT HIM! I BEAT HIM! YOU’RE DEAD, KID! YOU’RE . . .” Tanjo started when he felt a pinch to his neck and the world around him went black. Perry stood over him and glared down at the Rascalsnare he placed upon the back of his neck. He then looked over at Grandfield and Groggo.
“Put this louse over there where he can’t hurt anyone,” Perry ordered. Grandfield and Groggo lugged the massive man and propped him up against the arena wall as Rolce re-joined his teammates.
Upon reaching the bench, Rolce stumbled and Perry caught him.
“We played him like a fiddle. You all right, son?” Perry asked.
“Whew, yeah, I’ve just never projected such a descriptive image to anyone before with the Mind-Link. Getting the crowd right, the air, everything, completely drained me. In fact, I, I overdid it,” Rolce said.
“The match is over, and our team has a point. All is well, you’ve deserved your rest,” Perry said.
“Thanks, I . . .” Rolce started, and then passed out completely, laying down on the bench.
“What, what just happened? The guy just ran out of the ring like a mad man! Right past Rolce! Rolce didn’t even power up his essence!” Kennis said.
“He looks pretty exhausted for someone who just stood there,” Knob said, folding his arms, puzzled.
“He must have used the Mind-Link on him, just like he did for us before the battle at Sandlake. I don’t know much about it, but I know it drains you. For a guy like Rolce to pass out, he must have projected quite an illusion,” Shaved said.
“Lamik must be pissssssed,” Knob cooed. “All easy street now!”
“Dunno about that,” Shaved said.
“That guy Tanjo had to be their most powerful, and we’ve still got Groggo intact!” Knob said. “Game over, man!”
“Then for a guy who should be as pissed as you say, why is he smiling?” Shaved asked. They all looked to see Lamik’s smile, as if he knew something that nobody else did. He threw his die and landed a three where Perry landed a five.
<
br /> “Finally,” Perry said as he instructed Lamik to choose the fighter first. In a moment’s time, a tall man with a thin, grasshopper-like build strutted his way towards the middle.
“Grill Jaffrey,” Perry mumbled. “There is no need to deliberate. Groggo, you NEED to take this one.”
“I’m on it,” Groggo said.
“Groggo, watch this one. I don’t like the look on Lamik’s face,” Perry warned. “He’s up to something.”
“Pah,” Groggo said as he made his way into the ring.
“Go get ‘em, Dad!” Grandfield yelled. Groggo turned around to his son and gave him a thumbs up and a wink. Upon entering the arena, each man did the stomping ritual and planted their fists upon the ground.
“BEGIN!” Narroway yelled.
“RAGH!” Groggo screamed as he ignited his Flarian essence and flew at his opponent like a firestorm. Grill ignited his Aquarian essence and flew at Groggo just as fast, each with pulled back palms, set to strike like giant cobras. Blow for blow, the two men went at it, smacking away, each trying to find an opening. As they countered each other, Groggo was beginning to push Grill back with each strike.
“He’s doing it! GET ‘EM, DAD!” Grandfield yelled.
Strike after strike sent steam into the air as water crashed with fire, and roars from the crowd accompanied the crashes. Grill was nearing the edge of the ring.
“It’s been fun, but now it’s over, creepy!” Groggo yelled as he opened his arms, took several weak hits from Grill, and clapped his hands together, igniting his signature move, the crashing fire wave, and blowing Grill out of the ring. The man landed on his back with a thud as Groggo stood over him, still in the ring.
“Sorry, pal, nothing personal,” Groggo said.
“The victory is mine . . .” Grill said.
