Shadow Drive

Tokyo, Japan 2044

Prologue: The future of the 21st century has become different in many ways. Where once government was the power now lies in the corporations that pull them to their will, and new power source known as Draknaid. No one knows the real origins of Draknaid, but it appeared in the market at about 2010, and took over the worlds economic like a storm causing even the valve of gold to fall to mere pennies. Unlike normal matter, Draknaid went beyond normal physics. It’s able to create its own energy without being exhausted, and use unlimited power. Soon countries started to fight for the power of this new resource, and brought the coming of World War III. After the war, when all the countries fell into debt from the conflict, Corporations rose up and gained control of the governments becoming the head body of them all. However, severely corporations rivalled for power, money and respect among them selves; so a new sport was created called Shadow Drive. When using Draknaid radiation into human DNA, the power of the inner soul is unleashed bringing forth the transformation of the inner creature, and giving humans unique powers that the world has never seen. This process has been defined as Shadow Driving, and is only given to elite fighters in the Shadow Drive fights.

Many teams are in and many will try anything to gain the edge…

Chapter I

Drake Namura looked at the screens of coding carefully from his station at Dak Corporation. “You sure these readings are right?”

“Positive sir the Driving units are stable with the Draknaid.” His assistant assured.

It had been only a year since Drake joined the Dak Corporation, right out of his studies in Draknaid molecular sciences, and already he was one of the leading technicians in radiating Draknaid to new fighters for the Shadow Drive fights. He brushed his black hair and turned to his young assistant. “Keep an eye on the readings then. Draknaid can be unstable very easily.”
“Yes sir.”

Drake glanced up at the canisters of Draknaid watching there calm blue aura that protruded from the small windows in them. His supervisors had told him that it was a new kind of Draknaid for the fighters, and now they were testing its parameters. Even though Drake had been around Shadow Drive most of his career he still didn’t take much liking to it. The sight of two humans changing into creatures and fighting in an arena sometimes even till the death; wasn’t right somehow. How ironic he ended up working to develop better fighters for the games.

Meanwhile as the two worked, figures appeared in the shadows on the roof with guns at a ready. They dressed in pitch black uniforms and there faces were covered with masks. One checked his watch reading the digital timer to be 22 hundred hours, and signalled to a second group that moved in along the roof door.

“Bravo team in position?” one called into the com that was hidden in there masks.

“Bravo team here ready.” Another called out signalling to the head squad.

Suddenly the roof door opened causing the teams to fall silent as a Dak guard moved outside into the cold air.

“Hold your positions till the time is right…” Alpha leader muttered as he watched the guard pull a cigarette from his pocket, and place it in his mouth. The guard sighed at his long hour shift and pulled out a book of matches that he took from one of the science tables and started to try and light the match. “Damm cold air.” He muttered as he first strikes caused no flame, but soon the third was the charm and the match burned in a light of fire. However, as the light reached out to the shadows, it unveiled Bravo teams’ member’s foot. The guards eyes went wide and he started to go for his gun, but he quickly felt pressure on his neck and a loud snapping was the last thing her heard as a member held his limp body, and dropped it to the ground.

“Dam that was close. Bravo team move to the labs and let’s get our stuff. Remember leave no witnesses. ” One spoke into the com causing the other team to move down the stairs with their rifles drawn.

“Hey sir will you be watching the Shadow Drive tomorrow? Dak verses Ender corp.”

“No thanks I plan on some quiet time at home with couple of books.” Drake said as stared at clock ticking away to almost 11:30pm.

“Well suit yourself.” He said lying back in his chair. “I’m hoping Dak will win this round I have 200 yens riding on them.” He added.

“And you’re going to lose it like the last time.” Drake chuckled.

“Well this time I’m sure.” At that moment a small sound could be heard rolling along the lab floor causing the two to look up from there stations. Soon a canister appeared into the light of their desk lamps and Drake realized what it was.

“GET DOWN!” Drake cried out as he dived behind his desk. The canister blew up sending a bright flash out blinding his assistant who couldn’t dive in time. “Ahhhh my eyes!” screamed his assistant as he clenched his eyes. As the flash faded, the door busted open with men dressed in black storming in. Drake’s eyes went wide as he heard them click their rifles and train them on his assistant.

“Take them down.” One said as they pulled the trigger hitting his friend in the chest and killing him. Drake rolled behind the desk and covered his face as the bullets from the rifles sent papers and glass everywhere. Drake quickly turned to his desk and grabbed a hold of a hidden pistol that was in a holster under the desk. He pulled the cartage back and turned around the corner of the desk firing at the Black men.

The men broke up and hid behind some equipment as Drake laid down some fire. “Damm it he’s arm.” One said in the communicator, “Get the Draknaid and move out while Alpha team takes out the lab rat.”

“Rodger, covering fire!” The three members of Bravo team shouted as they stood up and started to fire at Drake as he hid under the desk.

“Shit!” Drake muttered as he reloaded his pistol as bullets flew around him. It was a good thing that Dak Corp had trained all there employees in the art of using a gun otherwise he would be dead, but he was out numbered he needed to think of something. As Drake glanced around the corner of the desk, he saw some of the men going after the Draknaid that he and his assistant were testing. They were taking the Draknaid! He couldn’t allow them to get a hold of the new Draknaid for who knows what they would do with it. Drake slid out into the open and aimed for the heating pressure valve that was near the black clothed men. He fired and a pressure of hot air hit their faces blinding them giving Drake a chance to pull his trigger, and fire some bullets into them. He turned his pistol to the soldier with the canister and fired causing him to drop it, and fall to the ground in pain.

Drake watched the canister with worry as it rolled towards him, and saw what he most feared. The once calmed blue Draknaid was now moving fast in the canister with bright flashes. The movement of the canister had caused it to become unstable!

A noise of broken glass came to Drake causing him to look up and notice another Black clothed man appear, but this one wore a red ribbon around his head and he aimed a rifle at the canister, and fired. Time seemed to slow as the bullet flew from the rifle and hit the glass canister sending the shards of glass into Drake’s face and covering his body with the blue Draknaid.

The red ribbon soldier holstered his rifle and turned to his comrades. “Get the rest and move out before anymore comes, now!” As his words passed, the men moved swiftly picking the rest of the canisters up and leaving. The big soldier looked at Drake whom was now his knees with his hands shaking as the Draknaid seamed into his body.

“Thanks for the stuff lab rat.” He said before leaving the room as the alarms went off sensing the spill.

Drake clenched himself as he felt the Draknaid seep into his skin increasing the pain, which caused him to cry out in agony. He felt his insides start to change, and reshape themselves on their own sending pain surging through his organs. “What’s…happening…” he groaned as his eyes started to change from a dark brown to a glowing blue. The alarms in the room seemed to fade from Drake’s hearing as his pain started to become blinding to him. He looked down at his hands and saw the skin start to darken to a pitch black, and his fingers started to melt together to form three fingers. “Aghhh!” Drake screamed as he felt his feet change into dragon like claws ripping his skin and shoes to shreds. His heart beat faster and faster as the pain of his changes grew worse. He wanted to die so much so this pain would stop, but his changes continued. He felt his ears seem to come apart as a new set of webbed ears started to come out his head. His hands continued to shake as he felt more changes come into him like knives stabbing his body. With a single moment, a long tail sprouted from his backside ripping his pants to shreds causing them to lie around his ankles. His muscles started to become stronger, tougher, and more defined. He felt claws sprout from his feet and hands and soon felt a growl coming into his throat as he tried to fight the pain. His black hair fell out on to the floor and his face started to reform itself. His nose changed into a snout along with his jaw line becoming dislocated and reform to a new dragon like face.

Blood from the X shaped wound from the container’s glass, still poured down his face as he heard footsteps with his new dragon ears coming from the stairs to the lab.

The door opened and three men came in chemical suits. “Let’s get it contained before it goes out further…what the hell is that!” one of them yelled pointing at Drake. He looked at the men and stood up in his new body which was covered in the blood of his old body. He tried to say something, but nothing came to him but blankness. Then his mind seemed to go foggy, and looked at the men in wonder and fear. “Who…am…I?” he said to them. Suddenly, pain surged through his forearms like nothing ever before. It felt like something was cutting his arm and he screamed in a high pitch, as the pain grew worse and worse.

The men looked at the creature in shock as suddenly blades sprouted from his forearms sending blood and torn skin everywhere. The blades fanned out in a curved nature that resembled the shape of a sabre, their razor like edges gleaming in the light.

“Fire! Kill it!” one man yelled pulling his pistol, and aiming at the dark dragon. He fired a series of shots, but the dark dragon put his blades up in a shield and deflected it away. The other two pulled their pistols and aimed at the dark dragon. Drake quickly broke into a run as he dodged the countless volleys of bullets. He ran to the window and jumped smashing through the glass disappearing into the shadows.

The three men ran to the window and gazed down only to find the dark streets below and no sign of the mysterious creature.

“Where did it go?” one asked.

“I don’t know.”

“Dam that thing was fast. What was it?” another asked.

However, before the other could answer, one of the coms on the chemical suits ringed and he picked it up.

“What the hell is going up there?” a voice called from the com.

“Sir we managed to contain the spill, but we found a dead lab worker and some sort of creature.”

“A creature? What creature?”

“We’re not sure sir, but when we arrived it was standing in the middle of the room with large blades. We shot at it, but it deflected our bullets and jumped out the 24th floor window.”

“Lock down the building and contain the spill. Contact security and tell them to search the area for this creature. Do it without much police, we don’t want those media bastards getting a hold of this. You got it?” the voice snarled.

“Yes, sir right away.” The man said before the com went silent.

The punching bag moved fast as Sarah threw a kick to its mid section then spinning around throwing a punch to the throat level.

The training room was empty for the day, which allowed the blue haired woman to concentrate at last. Blow after blow she threw into the punching bag making it shake, and rattle. She grunted once more as she threw an uppercut into the bag causing it to move more violently.

“You know if you keep that up where going to have to get a new punching bag again.” A leaning figure called out from the doorway causing her to stop. Sarah looked up and squinted her eyes a bit, and got her glasses from the side putting them on so she could see far once more.

As her eyes adjusted she placed her hand on the bag making it stop moving. “Hi Riku…” she muttered looking at the 24-year-old, “What brings you here?” she continued slowly taking her glasses off again and resuming her punches into the bag.

“Just checking on you,” Riku replied brushing his dark brown hair with his hand, “you have been awfully distant as of late.”

Sarah stopped for a second and sighed, “Yeah just…I have had a lot of things on my mind.” Riku tapped his boots on the floor and looked at her blue eyes seeing her guilt within them.

“Sarah, it wasn’t your fault.”

“Yes it was.” she said brushing away from Riku’s eyes. “I am the team caption…I should have taken him out. Jeff shouldn’t have gone in.”

“You were knocked unconscious and broke two of your ribs.”

“Doesn’t matter, Jeff wouldn’t have been thrown into a coma if I had finished the job.” She answered as she grabbed a towel from the side and dried her face of her sweat.

“Jeff knew the risks, Sarah.” Riku added, “He went in to win the round and save your life. We didn’t know how strong Team Ender would have been.”

“Still…I should have been able to take Nightdragon out…and because I didn’t Jeff paid.” She whispered picking up her bag, and walking to the shower room leaving Riku alone in the room with only the sounds of the pouring night rain to fill the void of the silence in the training room.

“It’s what happens in the Shadow Drives. As fighters for NeoGen we are always at risk.” He mumbled to himself. “I wish somehow you could see that Sarah.”

As the water from the shower flowed down her naked body, Sarah’s mind wandered into what Riku had said. He was right of course being a Shadow Fighter was dangerous and one should expect the risks, but still Jeff was now lying in a hospital bed in a coma while she was now showering in the warmth of smooth flowing water. “I should be there not him.” She muttered as she washed her hair with some of the cheap company shampoo that they always leave in the showers. She washed the soap in into her long hair and then down the rest of her body with her thoughts still wandering. Soon after she turned off the shower and dried her body with a towel. If felt great to feel all clean again and not feel covered in the dirt and sweat she earned in training. After the defeat at the last tournament the president had forced her and Riku into deeper training as punishment for the lost. Thank god it was over now and she could go home to her apartment, and sleep, but still she had to phone someone before she went home.

After she got her jeans and shirt on she reached for her short blue coat pulling out her cell phone. She flipped it open and dialled the hospital number, and listened to the tone of ringing.

“Hello Tokyo city central hospital how can I help you?” a nurse said over the line.

“Can I please speak with Doctor Klaus?”

“Yes Mam just a moment.” The phone went silent and a soft buzzing sound went through till a male voice came over the speaker.

“Hello?”

“Hi doc, how is Jeff?” She said hoping that Jeff was doing better.

“He’s still the same Miss Hart, and still on life support.”

She sighed and brushed her hair with her hand like she always did when bad news came to her. “Alright phone me when he wakes up please?”

“I will don’t worry about it. Good night Miss Hart.”

“Night Doc.” She said as she ended the call, and put her phone away and walked through the doors and into the rain of the city. Sarah sighed as she remembered her umbrella was left at her apartment. “Talk about my luck. Maybe lightning will be the next thing.” She kidded herself as she walked down the street with the neon lights lighting up the night, with the rain coming down hard.

“In the news today, Jeff Di’Maco of Team NeoGen is still in a coma from his fight with Team Enders fighter Nightdragon.” A TV broadcast reported through a window causing Sarah to look at it. It seemed the match has reached the headline news as they replayed back the match showing Jeff being knocked around as the dark fighter known as Nightdragon continued the fight. Sarah didn’t cry as she watched the footage, but merely looked down sadly.

“No word has come from the president of NeoGen, Janus Tezuki, wither or not Jeff Di’Maco will be replaced for next week’s tournament, but we send our best wishes to Jeff Di’Maco, and hope he will make his return to the arena soon.” The young man on the screen said with a smile. Sarah snorted at the smile. All those media people wished for was sadness and kills for ratings. “Bunch of bastards.” She thought.

“In other news, Dak Corporation had a massive Draknaid spill in their Tokyo headquarters tonight causing the death of two scientist, and millions of dollars in damage. President Izturis made a statement for the press saying, “It was unfortunate to the lost of the two men, and we will be investigating the spill in further detail to discover what happened. However, so far it seems that the two scientists made a mistake with the Draknaid causing the containers to explode killing them instantly. We will clean the spill and resume business in the morning.”

“The names of the two scientists were not disclosed to the media at this time. And now to the weather...”

Sarah narrowed her eyes at the report and shook her head. “I maybe just a fighter, but I know a corporation espionage when I see it…I wonder who would pull a operation like that.” She questioned as she continued down the street, “Meh…not my problem…I just need to get out of the rain and get some sleep.” The rain seemed to pour harder as Sarah walked a bit faster to her apartment home.

Janus moved his brown eyes around the chessboard in front of him as the rain echoed along the side of his 30 floor NeoGen building in Tokyo. His hands were clasped to one another as he thought to where he should make his next move.

“Will you be making a move soon?” Petrov said dryly as he sat across the chessboard with his hands resting on the dark table. It was a regular time for Janus to play a round of chess with his rival CEO from Ender Corp. and he could tell that the waiting was annoying Petrov. Janus smirked a little, the forty-seven year old CEO always seem to have that problem of not being patient, but as Janus could remember Petrov was never one to allow failure to impede the road to success. One reason why Ender Corp was considered the best corporation in the Shadow Drive Tournament, and NeoGen’s rival.

“Are you in a hurry?” Janus replied as he moved Rook two spaces on the chessboard.

“No…I just grew tired of waiting for your moves.” Petrov answered as he moved his Queen piece and took Janus’ Rook out of play. “Then again you always seemed too slow to act, and costing you far more then it should.”

“That holds some truth…” Janus began as he stroked his short beard with his hand his dark glasses hiding his cold stare that he made to Petrov. “However, being around fifty-seven years has shown me a couple of things.”

“And that is?” Petrov asked, lighting a cigarette, and filling the room with the aroma of burning tobacco.

“That you always watch what others do. See the reasons why they do it. Understand it…and once you see it you know how to use the proper action to ruin them.” Janus moved his Bishop a few spaces on the board to an area that his opponent left open once his Queen had moved allowing him to trap the enemy King, and winning the chess match. Petrov puffed his cigarette and blew the smoke out of his nostrils as he looked over the board and saw his defeat. “Hmm interesting views Janus. I’ll remember that when we play again.” He smirked as he sat back in the chair he was sitting in, taking hold of his glass of whiskey that he had poured earlier. “So how is your fallen Shadow Driver? Is he still in that coma?” Petrov sneered in his own victory as he took a sip from his glass.

“Jeff Di’Maco is still in his coma, and won’t be ready for the next tournament.”

Petrov looked at his glass, and slowly took another sip before inhaling more of his cigarette that he held in his left hand.

“I guess Nightdragon kind of over did in that last fight. It’s a shame you won’t be able to put a team in. Without NeoGen, there aren’t much worth while contenders to battle with.” Janus stood up from his chair and slowly walked to the bar pouring himself a shot of Vodka his leg limping a bit from an old wound he got when he was younger. “I will get another member soon enough…, and will have another match soon enough.”

Petrov chuckled, “Afraid not Janus, with that loss your team has fallen in the ranks. You don’t even have the right to challenge Team Ender to a match.” He said finishing off his drink and placing the glass on the table. “But maybe soon enough you’ll get back to a respectable rank to challenge my team again. Now if you excuse me I have some business to attend to. Thanks for the game and the drink. I’ll see you next week.”

“Very well…” Janus replied not looking to Petrov as he heard him open the door to his office.

“And if you can’t find fighter I could always allow you to sign one of Ender’s rejects instead. They will be worthy enough to be on NeoGen. ” Petrov sneered as he closed the door leaving Janus alone. The NeoGen CEO tightened the grip on his drink, and looked at the liquid with a stern face. He hated Petrov’s arrogance and smart talk when it came to the business of Shadow Drive, and now with one member short his team was worthless. He finished his vodka, smashed the glass on the table, and pressed a button on a keypad allowing a monitor to appear in front of the room. It switched on, and illuminated a face of a young man with small framed glasses. “Dean here, what would you like Mr. Tezuki?” he asked his manner clam and collected.

“I want you to start scouting for some new Shadow Drivers to replace Jeff.”

“Very well sir, I’ll start visiting the training facilities tomorrow.”

“No…”

Dean eyes blinked in confusion. “No sir?”
”You heard me,” Janus said sitting down in his leather chair. “I don’t wish to see anymore fighters from the training program. I want you to go to the streets, and watch for any one that shows potential.”

“The streets sir?!” Dean said his voice filled with surprise. “But those are filled with thieves and rejects of the S.D.L.(Shadow. Drive. League.) There just desperate people.”

“Exactly…the people do it to survive. And when a fighter is desperate for money they will be loyal to the company, and will work harder then any of the training fighters.” Janus slowly leaned back in his chair and stared at Dean. “So I want your full scouting report on these street fighters by tomorrow night.”

‘Very well sir…what do I do if I find someone that might get your attention?”

“Just contact me…and we can make the fighter an offer.”

“And if he or she refuses?” Dean questioned.

“Then we will make them accept…” Janus said coldly, his hands pressing against one another as he continued to look at Dean.

“Yes sir…I’ll have a report tomorrow.” With that, the screen went blank, and Janus was left in the darkness of his office with the sounds of the rain hitting his window.

A day had past, and the sky was dark again as the night fell on the city of Tokyo. It’s light shining brightly not allowing the streets to sleep. Many walked in search of simple things in life. A “good time” or just a night to paint the town red as one would say. However, some didn’t favour this lawful way, and wished to entertain themselves with other illegal ways. Deep in the alleyways, a crowd had formed a ring around two people locked in mortal combat. The street scum of Tokyo knew this as street fighting. Often enough the people who participated in this were poor, less fortune people that needed the money, and gladly risked their lives on the line to earn that quick cash promised to victors. However, not all were in that predicament as such, as the larger fighter was to his smaller opponent. Mino, as he was known, was an ex-shadow fighter who was removed from the S.D.L., for his lack of skills, but now his powers against normal men that could never match the power and speed that his Minotaur shadow form could offer.

However, that wasn’t the only thing to gaze into this alleyway. On the side stood a figure dressed in a cloak watching the match with curious eyes. Drake was his name, but that was all he could remember about himself ever since he managed to escape that large building that he was in the other night. He couldn’t quite remember how he survived the long fall from the building, but when he woke up in the bright day light, he managed to hide in the shadows, and grab a coat from nearby dumpster. However, at night, Drake’s now simple mind figured that he could walk around at night. He placed a three fingered claw hand on the side of the wall, and slowly moved towards the crowd sniffing them slightly as he tried to make out what was going. The people in front of him didn’t seem to notice as they were too busy watching the match in front them. Drake’s blinked in curiosity, and he too started to watch the match in the middle of the man made ring... Minos, a large muscle bound fighter, was in his shadow form, and he threw the younger opponent to the ground causing the man to cough up blood as he lay on the cement. The younger man waved his hand slowly asking for an end to the contest, and Mino’s lifted his arms in triumph to his clear victory. Drake blinked at this wondering why this was entertaining for these people around him. Everything seemed to be so confusing to him now, not knowing who he was or what his past had been, not even remembering how to speak was difficult for his now child like mind. However, two men in front of Drake began to talk allowing him to hear their converse.

“That’s his second win this week.” One grumbled, “He doesn’t deserve to be fighting here so long as he has shadow driving powers.”

“Yeah, Minos is a has been, a loser that could never cut it in the S.D.L.” the other replied.

Drake’s ears twitched to the new words that her heard and wanted to know how to say them so he slowly sounded them out. “Mi….Mino is…has been” he said, and smiled that he managed to get some of the words out, and decided to try it out again this time louder. “Mino is a has been!” he shouted getting the words to sound clear, but his smile soon faded as he realized the crowd stopped cheering and everyone looked to him in silent. Mino’s stared at Drake with rage building in his eyes.

“What did you say little punk!” the large Minotaur shouted his hoofs digging into the cement.

Drake looked up at Mino, his ears drooped feeling that he did something wrong, and didn’t say anything else. Mino however, became more infuriated at this silent, and huffed through his nostrils. He charged into the crowd towards Drake. Drake’s eyes went wide, and flipped over the large cow landing behind him. Mino’s turned, and snarled. “You think you are better then me?!” Mino yelled as he charged again. Drake raised his hands and shook his head. “No…..m...me no fight….” He tried to sound out, but felt Mino’s grip his neck with his large hands, and lifting him up in the air. Mino smiled as Drake squirmed as he tried to get some air into him, but the grip was tight on him. The crowd cheered as they watched the fight unfold.

Drake’s heart raced in fear, as he squirmed more, his cloak still covering his dragon body, but suddenly he felt something inside him snap. His eyes narrowed in a predator like manner, and blades sprouted from his forearm ripping his cloak and stabbing Mino’s arm in the process. Drake landed on his feet as Mino’s dropped him his naked dragon skinned body shown the crowd in full who were now in silent. Mino’s held his bleeding hand, and looked up at Drake who stood ready with his curved blades. “You’re a shadow driver…but how on earth are you able to have blades like that?!”

Drake didn’t answer Mino’s words. Instead, he snarled his blue eyes narrowed and filled with determination and his tail moving back and forward in anticipation.

“No matter…I will still crush you!”

Mino charged him in hopes to grabbing the dark dragon and ending the match quickly, but Drake moved too fast. He slashed the large hand then turned around and slashed the arm of Mino’s causing the large Minotaur to fall to the ground in a pool of blood, and his face twisted in pain. The crowd watched in utter astonishment as they witnessed Mino’s defeat happen in under a minute since the match started. Drake breathed heavily, his eyes slowly became normal, and he blinked. He didn’t know what happened, and saw that the crowd watched him. Why were they watching him? He turned and saw Mino slumped over on the concrete in blood causing the black dragon to look startled. How was Mino hurt that much? He thought, but his eyes soon saw his curved blades, and the blood that covered them. Drake’s hands started to shake as he realized that he…he harmed Mino. Quickly Drake turned and ran passing the crowd and into the alleyway. What had he become? Was he a monster? Tears streamed along his eyes as he left the alleyway, and jumped up a fire escape, and climbed to a rooftop. He huddled beside a wall holding out his arms. Tears rolled down his eyes as he looked at Mino’s blood that still stained his forearm blades. His hands trembled and he placed his face into them. He wanted to know how he came to be what he was, but nothing came. Was he a monster? Drake sobbed more, but has he did a sound of footsteps on the gravel roof alerted his ears. He looked up but soon felt pain in his arm as a dart struck him. His eyes went wide as he jumped to his feet pulling the dart out and looking over to see a man in a suit holding a dart gun smiling. Drake snarled at the man, but he suddenly felt dizzy, and wanted to sleep. He tried to fight it, but his vision blurred and he fell to the ground losing conscious.

Dean stood over Drake with a smile of accomplishment, and pulled out his cell phone pressing auto-dial.

“Hello?” Janus answered.

“Dean here sir, I have your next fighter for you.”