Fluke Episode 10: Team Opulent

"Prove it, here and now. Prove to me that you can play fair and I might take back what I said." Darian proclaimed. The two parties fell silent as the guardians around them began murmuring about a battle royal. The girls looked at each other and began to quietly converse. Alton remained speechless as he watched anxiously. "Fine, we accept this challenge. Just don't go crying to us for forgiveness." Ursula said excitingly. Darian started giggling villainously, everyone in the lobby looked at him crazily. "What's so funny, Titan?" "There's only two of you and three of us. How do you expect to win without a third member?" Darian joked while in between malicious laughter. The women's cocky smile was enough of an answer. "Man, you are really stupid." Ursula said. The two girls nodded before Penelope turned around towards one of the crowds. "Lance, get over here." Penelope called out to the lone figure that stood away from the crowd staring out of the window. As he walked closer, Melody strangely began to take interest in his appearance. His handsome face was clean and free of any blemishes, minus the faint shadow of a shaved beard. A slick backed head of rich brown hair complemented the rest of his facial features, particularly the daring eyes of the same color. The clothing he wore was painted in a mysterious deep blue texture with accents of a fine gold trimming, a plate of silver padding hid behind the mounds of stitched cloth and small pouches. Melody could see that he was carrying two small hand cannons on his left leg while three knife sized sheaths occupied his right leg. His expression was inviting to her and it didn’t change once he stopped on Penelope's left side. "Good afternoon, guardians. I have been listening to this dispute from over there. Naturally, I would look the other way when such action happens. But when you disrespect my team, I fight to prove you wrong." his mature tone was intimidating despite the formal choice of words. Melody couldn't help but state at the well mannered guardian. She was lost in his eyes and sure enough, he almost fell into the same trance. "The game is Elimination Capture the Flag. We'll discuss who receives what afterwards. Be back here at noon tomorrow and I suggest you prepare mentally for your foreseeable defeat by Team Opulent. Until then, we shall take our leave." Team Opulent left the lobby room with a distinctive walk. It left a bad taste in Alton mouth, but his brain felt stimulated for some reason. Seeing her blush made him feel giddy inside but distractions like that could cost him and his friends a one way ticket to square one. He balled his hands into dedicated fists and rewired his confident expression. Turing to his team, whose faces mirrored his, they all nodded in agreement. "We are not losing to those guys. Let's do this." Alton commanded. "Roger." his companions responded together. _________________________ Elimination Capture the Flag is one of the many war games that guardians find the most appealing. The game is simple enough, capture the enemy team's flag without losing your team's flag. Any method of capture is possible and many teams have come out on top through ridiculous means. Teams can respond as many times as they want after being bested by their competitors, but most can agree that there is no fun in that. Real combatants flock to Elimination, where no extra chances to pull last minute fixes are given. One life means one opportunity to strategically plan accordingly and claim victory. A challenge worthy of any willing guardian grants respect from all, if one can win that is. Alton's fireteam was definitely willing to take that risk. The simulation started up as it always did. Many disliked the thought of fighting virtually instead of actually gaining valuable combat experience on the battlefield, but it had its benefits. They were able to project extravagant locations with special terrain features and other needed accommodations for aerodynamic battles. Today's premier selection was a jungle like patch of land that was meant to reflect the atmosphere of Venus. Two small bases lie on opposite sides, expect one overlooks the other. The disadvantage was with the South Base, where sharpshooters could easily snipe with their given height at the North Base. But, South Base has the benefit of cliffs and cutoffs in the hill that leads north. One can use the passageways that lie in between to snake their way to the top while avoiding the sniper's crosshairs. Alton's team was very lucky for once, they spawned in the South Base. Once the countdown clock struck zero, the game officially began with the three guardians crowding around the center of their base. "So they choose this map uh? Good choice." Darian's eagerness was rising. "They may have the higher ground, but we know the land better than they do. Which means that..." Alton turned to Melody, who already knew which strategy to use. "I'll work my way around." Melody said while slinging her rifle around into her hands. "I'm on it." "Good. Melody will go on the offensive and rush the flag while Darian and I play the defensive game. Darian, I want you to cover the door. Nobody gets in or out unless I say so." "Roger that." he responded. Alton nodded as Melody approached the front door. Once she stopped, something knocked against the door. Darian walked up and peered though the convenient slit in the door. "Who's there?" "We are and I would suggest you step away from the door." A female's voice matched up with the one of the two people standing outside the base. Even under their helmets, Darian could feel their sneaky smiles flow in through the peep hole. "Get down!" Darian instinctively dove back as an explosion ripped the door in a lavish orange fire. Alton's ears were ringing slightly at the close ranged eruption, his vision worked to quickly piece together the blurry image. He could hear one of the rectangular windows break close by the blown down door and shouting, added to the play yells were gunfire. Darian pulled Alton up to his feet and handed him his rifle. Pointed at the door, the barrels of two deadly weapons were ready to fire at the two foggy figures. "Don't move in there. We've got a grenade handy, and it's primed to blow at any moment." the more muscular female figure called into the base. Alton pointed towards the crates in the back of the base towards the flag, Darian understood the silent message and quickly scooted his way behind the right one. Alton grabbed cover behind the crate closest to the flag as well, which happened to be the left one. The two guardians checked their weapons and waited quietly for their enemy to trickle in like the simulated rain. Alton found it funny that it began to rain synthetic raindrops outside, the moans of their enemy made it that more satisfying. The senior members of Team Opulent checked their perimeter before slowly inching their way to the flag; a surprise was waiting in the hands of the Warlock. "No magic!" Alton yelled, startling his opponents. They were slow to react which gave him the upper hand, but the strange device in the Warlock's hand was tossed like a toy onto the floor. Another fume of smoke shaded the inside completely and the assault for the flag began. Darian could hear the heavy footsteps hunker closer. He dove out of cover once he heard the last step and tackled a figure down to the ground. He picked up the rifle next to his, but his enemy swipes it away from his grip and punched him in the stomach. Alton came to his rescue but was sidetracked by a spray of bullets. Leaving his friend to fend for himself, he circled his way around through the fading smokescreen and whipped the weapon out of the Warlock's hands. Immediately, a glowing ball emerged in the enemy Warlock's fists. Alton barely dodged the continuous attacks until he carefully tackled his opponent to the ground. She struggled to break from his hold on the ground, his slim combat knife inched closer to her chest. "You wouldn't dare stab a lady, would you?" Penelope warned while trying to avoid the blade. "I yelled no magic, didn't I?" Alton thrust the blade onto the panicked Warlock, but he stopped short once a loud thump attracted their attention. Darian and Ursula stood up quickly in a defensive stance. Penelope used this as an opportunity to break free of Alton's hold and rush for the flag. Alton leaped like a frog to grab her speeding legs, one well placed grab caused the guardian to fall down. She struggled again while the two Titans fought with their fists. Penelope kicked Alton in the face with the captured leg and he let go. "That’s the last time you trip me." "Darian, she's going for the flag. Maneuver Plan 7!" Alton called out. The Titan kicked his formidable enemy down and went for the weapon that lied close to him. But before he could reach, the weapon flung itself out the broken window with ease along with every other weapon on the ground. Rejected by a rifle and every other weapon, Alton chuckled as he prepared magic of his own. Darian met up with the Warlock at the blow down door and instantly knew what he meant when he pointed towards the metal door outside. Using his strength, Darian lifted the metal shield up and quickly blocked the door before the sniper could shoot him. With a barrier up, the female guardians faced the male ones. [b]Keep On Scrollin'[/b]