PREVIOUSLY, IN PARADOX FIGHTERS: The greatest warriors from across many universes have been assembled for a Grand Combat. The contestants wake in a mysterious facility, knowing nothing about how they got there. The mysterious Master of Games explains that they must engage in mortal combat to determine the champion. Police elf Holly Short and Hunger Games Tribute Katniss Everdeen square off in the first round. When it appears that Holly will win, she spares the girl, causing the Master of Games to call off the tournament temporarily.

The common hall was set for breakfast, and everywhere the little cliques the warriors had formed were chattering amongst themselves. Friendships had been formed, and the contestants were glad that they wouldn't have to be shattered by bloodshed. Most everyone was in a good mood- that is, except the perpetually melancholy Katniss.

She had decided that it was never going to be safe-any of it. It was all too much like the Games, after all. The sparse gray walls were like the training rooms and the food was all too reminiscent of the decadent Capitol stuff. Katniss never thought she would take good food for granted, but she wanted to distance herself from those times so much that the mere sight of a dinner roll made her queasy. Another upsetting thing was the contestants' bizarre physical state. Before this awful festival of everything that was what she hated began, Katniss was a mother, living in a free Panem, and writing a book with her husband. She woke up in this wretched place a teenager, panicked and vulnerable. She overheard conversations among the other contestants that confirmed this- quite a few recalled dying before being brought here. The Master of Games (Katniss didn't like to say or think about the name, it reminded her too much of Gamemaker.) had put them in the bodies they had in their fighting prime. It was sick.

So Katniss sat alone at her table, cradling her head in her hands and trying to stay awake. She hadn't gotten any sleep last night on the account of cruel nightmares, and as a result was in a foul mood. Through heavy eyelids she spotted Holly Short, the elf who spared her yesterday. How ironic, Katniss thought. She makes a better Mockingjay than me. She tried to not beat herself up too much. Yesterday she had been so consumed by fear that she had become a senseless animal. She had an excuse. Today, she promised, I will be sociable. Katniss gestured for Holly to join her at her table and the elf complied, bringing a new companion.

"Well. You look like you slept well."

The elf's sarcasm was as sharp as a knife under the ribs.

"You're so funny, Holly. Who's the muscle?"

"Muscle" was an understatement on Katniss' part. The man who had been talking with Holly earlier and had come to the table with her was a wall of rusted armor and sinew. He wore a vicious-looking helmet with cruelly curved horns and possessed an unruly beard and haircut.

"Honestly, I still don't know his name," Holly replied while leaning over to Katniss and adding under her breath, "he's a bit odd."

The man chuckled lightly and answered in a deep, soft voice.

"I told you before, Guardslady Short. My name has been lost to the ages. What will remain always is my title- Dovahkiin." He sat there for a moment, appearing to wait for a response. Katniss and Holly both waited for explanation.

"It means Dragon-born. I possess a dragon's soul," he attempted to explain, but still going far over Katniss's head. Holly made the most of the situation.

"Then shouldn't you give it back to him?" Holly said with a smirk. Katniss managed to snicker a little at that one. The Dovahkiin, however, did not seem as entertained.

"The mer's humor is lost on me. But you, child- what is your title?"

"Well… people called me the Mockingjay. I was a figurehead of a rebellion. You can call me Katniss, though."

The Dovahkiin nodded.

"Rebelling against the oppressor is an honorable deed. You have marked a place for yourself in the story-halls as a lady of valor and virtue." Katniss nodded and gave a look that to the Dovahkiin showed gratitude and to Holly showed that she had no idea what he just said.

A tall man in gray robes entered the common hall. The Dovahkiin stood up and began to leave.

"I am sorry for the interruption, but yonder mage has summoned me. He requests an audience with a select few, and I have the pleasure to be one of them. Have a good day." The armor-clad man strode away.

"It takes all kinds," oiled Katniss. "Some crazier than others. How did you get to talking to that pincushion?"

"He came up to me as I was eating," whispered Holly. "Honestly, I think he was checking me out."

"So what do you think of him?"

"Oh, I… I'm kind of… committed already. He's not my type, either."

"I would think your type would be a little less tall."

"Oh, you're a riot. What about you, though? Do you have a special someone?"

"I'm married."

Holly was a little alarmed at first, but then caught on.

"Of course! If the dead fighters were brought back, then the living ones must have been returned to their fighting primes, while retaining the memories of their lives!"

"Yeah, that. Anyway- what do you think about the tournament's hiatus?"

"It won't last a day," Holly said confidently, until she realized that she had just implied there would be more chances for Katniss to get hurt, or worse. "Or maybe it will!" Holly corrected herself. "Whatever the case, we girls, we'll stick together, right?"

"That's what they say at first," grunted Katniss, feeling hurt.

Holly was going to apologize when the Master of Games, who had a knack for interrupting things, whirled into his throne on the far side of the room.

"Good day to you, my fine warriors! I hope you find your breakfast enjoyable!"

There were a few pleased murmurs from the contestants, but Katniss made a point to boo loudly.

"I would like to comment on my decision from yesterday," he carried on. "For my tournament to continue in a valid fashion, physical combat is necessary."

Katniss felt a weight in the pit of her stomach.

"However, I've decided that our next few challenges will not be trials of mortal combat. Instead, I have set up a few objectives for you to complete. Your performance will be judged by some new guests."

The Master of Games rose from his throne and clapped twice, causing the room behind him to double in size. Two massive structures rose from the ground, and one descended from the ceiling. Lights flickered on around these structures and they began to hum softly.

"I'll let them introduce themselves."

Katniss nudged Holly gently.

"What are those?"

"Supercomputers, it looks like. Be quiet."

The first of the computers, situated on the far left of the Master, spoke first in a reasonable human voice.

"Hello. I am the great computer Deep Thought. I would like to congratulate Miss Everdeen and Miss Short on resolving the conflict yesterday without anyone being killed."

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Katniss found it odd to be complimented by a machine, but Holly seemed to be soaking it in.

The second computer, which had descended from the ceiling, cut in.

"Well, isn't that nice. Another example of humans not being able to finish something."

Katniss didn't like this computer's voice. It was always shifting pitches and seemed cold.

"If I was in that elf's place, I would have shoved a large chunk of limestone in the girl's frontal lobe while I had the chance. But I'm getting off topic. I am a Genetic Life-form and Disk Operating System. GLaDOS, so you stupid humans won't forget halfway through saying it."

The Master attempted to do damage control.

"Well, uhm, she can be a little strongly-opinioned, can't she? Ha ha! Now, for our last new guest!"

The final computer began an eerie monotone.

"Thank you, Master. I am a HAL 9000 supercomputer, the ultimate in processing power and reliability. I would like to remind the contestants that our calculations will be done in the most efficient matter possible, no matter what. I will let the Master of Games introduce today's challenge."

The Master clapped again and the computers disappeared.

"Now, on to today's challenge. Since you all like making friends so much," A laser-like glare was directed at Holly and Katniss. "Today you will be participating in a team exercise. Three teams will compete in an urban environment to achieve three goals to the best of your abilities. Each team has one token- for your team to win, you must collect all three. You must also locate a cache of weapons specifically for your team. Finally, you must incapacitate as many members of the other teams as possible. Killing blows are… optional."

Various murmurs rose from the crowd. The Dovahkiin stepped out of the rabble briefly.

"Guardslady Short?"

"Take it easy, Dragon-born."

"There's no need to assume. I wanted to tell you that I have unfortunately been recruited to another team. I'm so sorry, milady," he said, kissing Holly's hand goodbye.

Katniss managed to chuckle a little at this.

"Shut up, you. This isn't funny. It's disturbing."

"Gosh. This is one of the morbid moments in my life, you know, and then something like this happens that's completely out of place."

"You're never going to let me live this down, are you?"

"Not at all."

Holly looked around. Perhaps they should find other warriors to fill out their ranks. She didn't have to wait long, as the uniformed boy from yesterday budged his way into their midst. He gave a stern look at Holly.

"The 'alien' joke yesterday? Wasn't funny," he stated, as if his opinion applied to everyone who ever lived.

"But you two proved that you're decent people, once you get past the irreverence," He nodded at Holly, "and bursts of psychotic self-defense," He gestured toward Katniss.

"Thanks. You make me feel like a million bucks," said Holly dryly.

"You two know that your team needs a pilot, and-"

"You're right. Have you seen any?" Katniss was surprised Holly could be so glib at a time like this.

Amuro was infuriated at this point.

"So I come over here, volunteering to help you, and this is what I get?"

"Don't worry. You're in," Katniss spoke up. "But let me give you a warning: volunteering isn't all it's cracked up to be."

Amuro stood there, a little dazed. Holly leaned over and whispered, "She's different."

Warriors were quickly being assimilated into teams. Holly noticed a team forming around that gray-robed Mud Man, and another team being assembled by a huge man in olive-green power armor. There were only a few contestants left. One of them was a samurai, clad in black and leaning against the wall. Holly nudged Katniss.

"Go see if you can convince him to join us," she whispered.

"Why me? I'm no people person."

"He's probably never seen a fairy before. He'll understand a human girl."

Katniss shuffled over to the man, who appeared to be asleep.

"Um, excuse me," she said feebly.

The man opened his one eye.

"What is it?"

"I was wondering if you would like to join our team."

"A poor little team wants a great warrior king to join their sad ranks."

"You didn't have to be so mean about it."

"My apologies. That was a poem- some of the adjectives were necessary."

"What kind of poem doesn't rhyme?"

"A decent one. Now, does your team need help or not?"

"Yes, we do. And maybe I can promise no one will question your taste in poetry, either."

"Then the blade of Date Masamune is on your side."

As Katniss and Date walked back to the rest of the group, she noticed that Holly had also picked up a new member while she was away. The bearded man stood with a look of supreme confidence, as if he was completely sure of how everything in the world worked.

Holly was positively bubbling with excitement.

"Do you know who this is?"

"No. Why would I?"

"He's one of the finest practitioners of martial arts in the world! And not a half bad actor, either!"

"I don't even know if we had martial arts in Panem. I guess the Games kind of count." The thought of those times made her sick, and now there wasn't any comfort that it was all gone. This Grand Combat could be a bloodbath by the time it was done. And that Master of Games did seem to be enjoying it. Who was he anyway? Her head was spinning.

"Whoa, there. Never seen a girl get so sick so fast." The man put his arms out to steady her.

"I… I just don't want to… to…"

"Ssssh, sssh. It's alright. We'll figure a way out of this mess. For now, my name's Mr. Chuck, okay?"

"I mean, come on, Katniss! Chuck… aw, you probably wouldn't know him. Still, is that great or what?" said Holly eagerly.

Katniss merely raised her eyes to meet Holly's. She had seen her fair share of unfair things, but Holly realized she could never grasp the inhumanity Katniss had lived through. Every day, Holly could say that her life was her own. Katniss had never been so lucky.

I need to learn more. If I'm going to be her friend through this, I need to be able to relate. Holly considered when it would be a good time for hearing Katniss' life story.

"Sorry. Sensitive subject. I'll try… to be more thoughtful next time." Holly needed to keep her boisterous nature in check. Not all of the warriors were brutes.

The Master of Games cleared his throat.

"Ahem. You are all dismissed to your rooms. In one hour, you will be called into the prep rooms with your team. Happy hunting," He noticed the disheveled Katniss Everdeen. A thought of revenge about being showed up yesterday crossed his mind. He stared directly at her and added one last farewell.

"And may the odds be ever in your favor."

Katniss hadn't touched her breakfast, but it didn't stop her from finding something to wretch all over the cold floor.