Papuru Star: Coalition Carnage

Chapter 9: The Powers That Be

Kane (voiceover)
My fav part about this competition so far is being reunited with my best bud, Claude.

Kane Urasa and Claude of Styfe are relaxing in Kane's opulent Super suite of the galaxy renowned Papuru Inn, eating food provided by room service. Decorated in the blue-gold colors of the competition, the suite held two bedrooms, a kitchen, relaxation quarters, and game room. They sat in the latter, feet propped up in the finest hoverchairs from Cy, a ninety inch holoview displaying an ad for the latest orb product before them. Kane had his customary burger and fries while Claude munched on a medley of fruit, including a sweet smelling rainbow melon. They were deep in a conversation, both aggressively animated in their gestures.

Kane (voiceover)
I haven't had a genuine convo with someone I wasn't in a high stakes game of chance with in a long time. With Claude, I didn't have to pretend to be some high roller, ladies man, or down on his luck rogue. Those personalities I save for opponents. Claude has known me since we were babies; seven years separation isn't enough to sever our bonds.

Claude
You are an idiot! No way Joppa would defeat Hellbent. Not even Will Lord Drax could beat such a beast.

Kane
Hold up, bro. Will Lord Drax can beat any and every Superstar.

Claude
Drax only won because it was the first tournament; the galaxy was still young and power styles a new commodity. If he would have lived even two hundred years ago and he and Crango were in the Final Bout, Crango would win.

Kane
Crango?! Are you kidding me? Do you even play holostar?

Claude
No, I am not familiar with the game.

Kane
Crango is the most useless piece of the board-

Claude
That does not translate into actual ability, Kane, be real.

Kane
And he only won because there were no note worthy Superstars that year.

Claude
I forgot you were there, so you would know.

Kane
I got a friend who hacked the Guilds' database. Not one mention of any Superstars competing in the 80th Competition.

Claude
Yeah...I heard a few theories about that...

Kane (voiceover)
We argue all the time, but Claude has my back, no matter what situation we in. This may be a one on one comp, but I have a feeling all the action to come won't be contained inside a geodome.

Kane and Claude's conspiratorial talk is put on hold as the theme of Coalition Carnage plays and the visage of Roxy's pink hologram flies up to the viewscope like she was one of those tiny Pixans from Oym.

Roxy
Welcome back! Our next matchup have two unknowns butting heads, but first, we're going to our favorite Coalition Carnage Color Commentator, the one and only Grodin! What's going on, my Ksush?

Grodin
Don't forget former host, Roxy. I'm here in the tiny village of Milanbery located on the outskirts of the Zareil Kingdom. With no technology on Pia, how do the Pians keep up with the competition?

He gestures behind him with his third arm, where over fifty people sat before a stage set. A red fabric curtain hung from pillars on both ends and lowered behind the fog-glass floor that made up the stage. A man sat high above the stage upon the same red fabric, swinging back and forth like a toddler. In front of the curtain was a painting of an erupting volcano and Pians wearing red clothing or paint wriggled on the stage floor behind several prop rocks, attempting to imitate a slow moving lava flow. Center stage were two Pians, one dressed as Kane, the other Claude. One held a bo staff, the other a sword of white painted wood that he kept swiping at his opponent at a much slower pace then the actions he was imitating.