===
After spending time with Leo on the streets, those researchers finally alerted their boss of my escape.
“Greetings…my name is Doctor Archon. I lead research in stemata development. It’s a very important field of study that could spell the overall advancement of the Kingdom of Holia. With that being said, I believe you have something that belongs to me.”
Dr. Archon along with ten police officers found Leo sitting on the floor holding me close to his chest. At the moment I was surprised because he would normally just let me follow him around. He showed no desire to let go of me though.
“Sir, I don’t want to get physical with you, but if I have to—”
“She…she saved my life! When I had nowhere to go or anyone to call a friend, she was there! I was living in a terrible hell of my own creation and she’s been slowly but surely pulling me out of that! And I can tell from her shivering…you guys are bad news. You’re going to treat her even worse. I won’t let you…she’s my best friend.”
“Sir…” Dr. Archon crouched to get to our level. He met Leo eye to eye and said “If you created that hell for yourself, then you deserve to stay there, don’t you think?”
One officer pulled Leo away from me while another yanked me by the collar, almost choking me in the process. Leo was screaming hysterically in a frenzy of tears while I began to transform into the form of a tiger. As I did, another officer ran over and plunged a needle into my spine. I twisted my back and whimpered in pain. A level of exhaustion took over me and my eyelids were beginning to weigh heavy. Regardless of it though, I snarled, bared my teeth, and kept that burning anger in me hot. I knew that if I were to go down here, I would never see Leo again so I fought like the world was on the line…because it was.
I transformed into that monkey and swung from police head to police head bashing their faces. Dr. Archon watched with a blank expression as each of his men went down. I didn’t kill any of them of course, I just made sure they wouldn’t be able to get back up. As I ran toward him, I turned into a tiger. He sighed as I closed the distance and said. “I have a proposition.”
I skidded to a stop and stared daggers into him.
“Join the BCT. If you do that, I’ll have no need to run tests on you because my theory would have been proven true. Your friend can join along too. You get one shot though. I’ll have you enrolled as soon as possible.”
From that point on, Leo and I became trainees.
And that’s how we got into this mess.
===
I felt the very dislocation of his jaw as I sent him flying toward the very end of the street and crashing into a brick wall. Julien Ferritin was submerged in a sea of bricks on the wall before falling to the ground unconscious. I, on the other hand, tumbled and scraped parts of my now bare skin as I landed and slid halfway across the street. I looked over to Leo, who had a pool of blood surrounding him, and my first instinct was to run over and help him…but that wasn’t the best move here. I don’t know CPR or any other method to help. I took the bomb out of my mouth and viewed the ten seconds and counting I had left on it. Until this moment, I never transformed into a human. After all, before Leo, they seemed so terrifying to me. But as I moved my thumb to feel my fingers, I didn’t get that feeling. They felt soft and delicate. Maybe…maybe humans aren’t monsters, but because of the world around them, they turn into those things. I put the defusal code in. One button after another. I only had selfish reasons for becoming a CT but maybe…with these delicate fingers, I’ll become an actual CT. One that makes sure as little people as possible have to be affected by the cruelness of the world…
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
“And with that, our penultimate fight of the day is complete! After a long and hard-fought battle between these four combatants, the victors have been decided! Leo Poliark and Arno Achebe are your winners! After a quick break and transition of stages we’ll begin our final fight of the day, so sit tight!” As Nellie announced, I threw the bomb to the side and ran toward Leo.
Leo
I could feel the coagulated blood surrounding my eyes and mouth as my blurred vision became a tiny bit clearer. Although it looked like a blob of colors, that golden mane of hers stood out as clear as day to me.
I coughed a bit before mustering all my strength to say, “Bonnie?”
I felt this person’s warm embrace and reciprocated the hug. “I guess this means we made it, huh? Look at us! A couple of CTS! Up to the Elizabeth we go!” I pointed up into the ceiling and winced in pain for a moment.
Still, all of this felt pretty unreal to me. Even though we trained for a year for this, our life really did just change for the better with this fight. I can already imagine life on the Elizabeth! No more sleeping in the streets or the uncomfortable barracks. I wonder if they have room service up there!
I looked over to the opposite end of the hospital room and just as I figured, Arno was over there. “Hey Arno, nice work out—” My vision adjusted a bit more as Arno came more into view. “PFFFFT HAHAHAHAHAHA! DUDE, YOU LOOK LIKE A GIANT PILL!”
Arno
“Thanks…”
I feel like a giant pill. I had bandages wrapped around my entire body. It was so excessive that the bandages began to make a cylindrical shape around my entire body. The only part of me that was exposed to the outside world was my face.
And Ori was in the exact same ordeal as she lay right next to me.
As Leo was dying of laughter in the background, Ori spoke up. “I’m sorry…for putting you through this.”
“I don’t wanna hear all that Ori…you gave it your all in a fight against me. I saw sides of you I never even knew existed! I couldn’t be any happier getting to learn more about my girlfriend through a good fight. So don’t be sad. Don't be sad that this part of our journey together ended…” I rocked back and forth, using the momentum I was building up to lift off and look directly at her, our eyes meeting. “Be glad that it happened! And for what our next step could look like!”
A light seemed to return in her eyes as she watched me with a slight smile.
“Right.”
Once I did that move, I realized I didn’t account for what would happen after. I yelped as I slowly leaned over my hospital bed and toppled over, falling to the ground. By the time Bonnie noticed she realized she was going to be too late. Leo immediately stopped his laughter and just watched hopelessly.
Luckily, two hands grabbed onto me, lifted me up, and turned me around to face them.
“Oh hi, Derris!”
“Hey Arno…” He set me back into my hospital bed before grabbing a seat and sitting between Ori and I.
“I kind of wanted to ask for some advice going into my next fight.”
“Advice? The old you would’ve never asked for advice.”
“...Is that so?” He seemed very listless as he stared at the tiles on the floor.
“His nerves are probably rattled up because he’s going up against Tomi Shimamoto and Therese Cistra.” Ori said.
“...” He kept quiet as his eyes stayed trained on the floor.
“Derris…do you think of Rono as any less of a CT?”
“Of course not! He gave his best in that fight…”
“Exactly. Whether he won or lost, I still would’ve rooted for him as loud as I did. You could be the biggest loser on the planet, but if you give it your all, I’ll still stay by your side!”
Derris began to chuckle “I don’t think Rono would appreciate you saying that.”
“I’m serious though! Derris…you’re a good friend I made over the year. I’m gonna tell you to go out there and kick ass! And if you win, we’ll throw a little party before tomorrow! But I’ll be there to pat you on the back if you need to be comforted too.”
That empty look in his eyes and the hint of sadness I felt was replaced with a faint smile. “Right…thanks Arno.”
“Of course! That’s what friends are for!” A gave a smile that I hoped was bright enough to illuminate whatever trouble my friend was going through mentally.