2199 Extinction

Just Another Day

         "I'm going to pair you off, one of you will be the student and will fight the Guard, while the other will try and help you to win. If done correctly, the Guard will release his blade." Professor Elan says, walking around the large room.

         "You each have three minutes to disarm your guard and then it will be your partner's turn. The winner of each pair will face off until we have one winner left. For now, Year one students will face Year one students and so on. Then the winner from Year One will face the winner from Year Two. While the winner from Year Three faces the winner from Year Four. Then the winner from the first two will face the winner from the second two." She walks through the students, pointing at who she wants to be paired together.

          Amlican and I are paired together. "I'll go first," I say to him.

           His eyes narrow in suspicion. "Why? So, you can point out all my failures as you fight?"

            "No. I wouldn't call it pointing out your failures but simply giving advice." I say, sweeping my long black hair up into a ponytail. "I know your fighting style by now and I want to help you win. Besides, it would be kind of boring if I kicked your butt every time."

              "I think I'll go first. Then I won't be distracted by how much better you are." Amlican says, chuckling and pulling his Raptor, a long thin-bladed sword, from its sheath.

               "The winning student will be declared the strongest student in the school and will earn a mystery prize. Good luck, everyone. Is everyone ready?" the professor asks. "En Garde! And begin!"

             Amlican holds his Raptor in the Front Guard position, as does the Guard he is fighting.

             "Lunge and Attack!" I shout to him. "You have to move fast before the Guard has time to decide his first move!"

          Amlican lunges forward and attacks but the Guard blocks and rotates just out of reach. He spins around to face the Guard. The Guard's sword is held up in a Front Guard position.

         "Watch out for a feint!" I shout.

         Sure enough, the Guard feints, Amlican guards, and then the Guard lunges forward. Amlican retreats and then guards again. This time Amlican lunges forward, but doesn't move fast enough, and must block his Guard's attack. He is forced to retreat as the Guard performs a series of complicated maneuvers, that knocks Amlican to the ground, with his Guard's sword tip at his throat. Lucky for Amlican, the guards are robots and are programed so they can not hurt the students.

           "Time's up!" The professor shouts. She walks around pointing out the winners and resetting the Guards. "Alright, time for the next round of students. En Garde! And begin!"

           I lunge, attack, parry, advance, and retreat until I have my blade aimed at my Guard's throat. He drops his Raptor and then the teacher calls time's up. Before the next round, the professor pushes a series of buttons on the control, she carries around, to increase the difficulty level.

          This is repeated until there are only two left, me, and a Fourth Year. I have watched this Fourth-Year fight before. He is good. Really good. He stands shoulder and head above me and is broad. He has probably been training his entire life. He looks like he could snap me in two, but luckily for me, I'm a Copaie. I am a born fighter, and I will not go down so easily.

          "Both Guards are turned up to the maximum level. This final battle will not be timed. Instead, the winner will be decided by the first person to disarm their Guard." The professor explains. "Are you both ready?"

        I nod my head in affirmation, as does the Fourth-Year student.

        "En Garde! And begin!" the professor shouts.

          I lunge, attack, parry, duck, retreat and still find myself on my back with the Guard's blade to my throat. Thankfully, being cornered doesn't end the match, its the first one to make their guard drop its blade. I still have a chance! In a moment of pure desperation, I kick out at the Guard's arm that is holding his blade, and to my surprise, he drops it. I quickly grab my Raptor, jump to my feet, and I'm back in the game. My Guard picks up his blade and holds it in the guard position. A mixture of boos and cheers come from the other students, but I tune them out. I can't let them distract me. I feint, then lunge and attack again, this time forcing my Guard to drop his blade in defeat. Themetal blade makes an echoing sound as it hits the marble floor. A few moments later, I hear the Guard of the Fourth Year, dropping his blade. I did it! I won! I successfully beat every other student!

         "Congratulations, Astra! You are officially the strongest student in this school. And the prize is five hundred credits. I will transfer that to your account, later today. In the meantime, class is dismissed." Professor Elan says.

        "Alright, congratulations, Astra! Of course, I always knew you would win." Amlican says.

          "We better hurry, we have Study of the Chronos System, next, and you know how angry professor Kalmin gets if we are late for class," I say to Amlican.