Chapter 2

The next day began like any other. After ordering up his breakfast, Takashi went to shave and check his reflection. Steady green eyes stared back at him, black hair styled back. His light frame was a testament to his fighting style, which he often practiced in his spare time. He wolfed down the light meal and headed down to the garage, where a retina scan confirmed his identity and summoned up his car, which he took to the arena. Only a handful of people met him; fans jostling for an autograph and reporters searching for a story and his prematch thoughts. After satisfying both parties, he went down to review his borg. It didn't take him long to notice that a critical bolt had been loosened; a mistake the maintenance crew would not have made. He simply shook his head as he reached for a wrench.

Third time in eight battles, he thought to himself.

After he finished, he stepped back to examine his handiwork. Setting down the wrench, he now drew the sword he wore on his back at all times. He studied the polished blade, scratched from its use centuries before. One of his ancestors had received it upon defeating another samurai long ago, and it had been passed down through his family for generations. The characters inscribed on the blade were also on that of his borg, which was named accordingly: Tatsu Tooii, Dragon fire. Its name described it well, as it struck fast and hard, taking no quarter. It had only been defeated once, when Takashi had first joined the IRBF. In order to put each competitor in their proper class, they would fight the champions of last season until they were defeated. He had beat class D but was defeated at C. Since then, however, he had grown much better with a blade, proven by every battle so far this season.

Now, with his katana slicing the air, everything else seemed to fade out around him, his blade merely an extension of his arms. He was interrupted by the teleporter jumping to life as one of the maintenance crew came to check on the borg.

"Hey Takashi. You might want to get down to the control room."

"Why? the match doesn't start for another..."

He looked to his watch and was amazed to find it a half hour later than he thought. The crew member shook his head.

You always lose track of time when you swing that thing around. Oblivious to anything but your enemy, too."

Takashi simply grunted as he sheathed his blade before taking the teleporter down to the control room. After putting on the electrodes, he animated the borg.

"Tatsu Tooii."

As Tatsu stepped out onto the empty coliseum field, crowds of people seemed to pile on one another as the seating rose higher and higher, generating ample noise by cheering on the competitor. It wasn't long before his opponent appeared as well; an axe borg of large girth and apparent power. As the force fields and holograms were activated, the announcer proclaimed the commencement.

"The battle is on!"

Tatsu ran to the base of a nearby cliff and leapt to the top in a single nimble move, scanning the rocky terrain for his foe. He was pulled from his search as the cliff crumbled, the culprit identified as the enemy's axe. As he fell, he kicked off a rock, freeing his sword as he flipped forward. Taking it in two hands, he brought it down hard but found his enemy's shield rather than chassis. He quickly ducked the first swing, then hand sprung back as the second left his axe embedded in the rock. He shot forward again, sword back and ready to strike. Again he was met by a shield, and again he dodged, sidestepping another vertical, which he pinned down with his foot against the pole of the weapon as he made a deft slash across his foe's arm, severing the metallic limb. The other roared out and slammed him with his shield, letting go in favor of his axe and knocking Tatsu off balance. As he recovered, he had just enough time to parry a horizontal and shove it back to his right, forcing his foe to roll with the force. Now they faced off, each staring the other down as they mentally prepared for the second round.

Here we go, thought Takashi as he twirled his blade expertly.

"Come on, do your worst!"

The other rushed him, trying to slam him with a diagonal cleave. Tatsu, however, was already in the air, landing behind him and catching him around the throat with his left arm. He spun rapidly several times before using the momentum to hurl his opponent into the air. Crouching down, he cocked back his blade and rested its back between his thumb and first finger.

Ready...now!

Suddenly he sprang, thrusting his sword skywards and catching the lower part of the hilt with his free hand. He was rewarded by a sudden stop, as his rising force and his enemies falling force cancelled each other out. He now flicked his sword down, and the lifeless chassis slid from its blade and crashed unceremoniously to the ground, Tatsu landing beside it. He was now suddenly again aware of the roaring crowds and the booming announcer as he sheathed his blade. "It's another victory! Takashi wins unscathed yet again!" The announcer went on and on, as did the crowd as the force fields and holograms switched off, the cleaning bots came forth, and Takashi's inanimate borg slid down on the elevator.

Takashi had checked on his borg, gone up to the lobby, and had not taken but a few steps towards the door when he, and everyone around him, were knocked to the floor by a deafening boom. There were many screams, and large pieces of debris came crashing through the roof, narrowly missing some and pinning others. Takashi was back on his feet in a heartbeat, racing towards the stands to see what had transpired, and what he saw stopped him dead in his tracks.

There, hovering by means of boosters, floated two black and gray borgs armed with assault rifles and bearing the red symbol of the Enemy.