MATTEO: Life and Death

Chapter 52

Matteo and his team met in the engine room. Matt had an idea for the team. He wanted to get to know them. To get to know them better. To get to know their greatest strengths and weaknesses. The engine room became the second place (right after the command center) where the team met. Rarely did anyone come here - usually the engineers who worked on the engine and systems of the Normandy came here. Shepard gathered all his team members there. He had no desire to meet in the conference room - he found it too political and too boring. Besides , there was no room for something he was supposed to organize. For something he was supposed to show all the people - the members of his team. A new project. A new idea , which would be pasted into their memory. Something that if it was a book , would stand out. If Shepard's new project was a book , it would not be about a 15-year-old girl who lost her mother and grandmother and suddenly finds herself in the United States of America , where her brothers live , who each represent the most toxic things and behavior. Nor will it be a story about a teenage girl who has a crush on a rebellious boy who has these fucking black irises. And these two words - "Black irises" (or there eyes) appear on every possible page , making the plot of the book boring. Don't. The story of Shepard's project will be different.

Cassie Lang , Melinda May , Riri Williams , Kate Bishop , Yelena Belova , Peter Parker , Shang Chi , Khamala Khan , Sam Wilson , Daisy Johnson , Chelli Lona Aphra , Black Krrssantan , Arno Renault , Arla Jareni , Damian Reese and Kira Nes stood before Shepard. Their leader stood in front of them and had his shoulders hunched. His facial expressions and body posture said it all - this meeting will be important. And a very important one at that.

Shepard looked at them all. He collected in his thoughts the words , which he will speak to his team. These words will not be a speech before the great war. No. They will be rules , which Matteo will put rules into their brains. Rules that they will remember.

"The first rule of the Shepard Club. We are not talking about the Shepard Club." The Canadian started. He started walking to the right. "Second rule. We're not talking about the Shepard Club! Third rule - Someone yells stop or goes limp taps out the fight is over. Fourth rule - . Only two guys to a fight. Fifth rule - One fight at a time. Sixth rule -No shirts no shoes and no powers. Seventh rule - Fights will go on as long as they have to. Eighth rule - . If this is your first night at fight club, you have to fight. Do you know the rules? Great. You know what awaits you.

The first fight was between Arno Renault and Matteo Shepard. The Frenchman took off his upper armor and faced the Canadian. Shepard was the first to strike a blow. Renault flew backwards , but got all up. He moved on the Commander and began pounding his fists towards his superior. Matt dodged his blows. He launched a right hook. Shep dodged this attack and hit the Frenchman in the face with his left fist. Arno spat blood on the ground and continued fighting. He started cursing under his breath in his native language. Matt cursed in English , as he dealt blows to the French baguette lover. Bloody wounds were making on the lieutenant's face. Shepard dealt a very strong blow to the face , and then to the abdomen. Arno fell to the ground.

"Stop!" Renault began to tap the floor. Everyone began to cheer. The Frenchman got up and stepped aside in pain. Shepard began to cheer. He noticed that there was no Damian in the group - apparently Arla led him to the room. All in all, a very good idea - Shepard himself wondered why he took him here? He's young and inexperienced. He could get killed in the middle of a fight. One of the rules is 'No shirts , no shoes and no powers.' He wouldn't have been able to handle it. Rarely were Jedi trained in martial arts. They were usually trained in the use of a lightsaber. And as we know, a lightsaber is not only a weapon but also the life of a Jedi. It is from this metal rod , which activates the laser blade that can cut off any clover of the body. An elegant weapon for such times.

Matteo came down and approached Arla Jareni. She was not satisfied. In the meantime, Yelena and Melinda entered the ring. They immediately began fighting each other. Jareni had her arms crossed. Something did not please her. But , what? Matt decided to ask her.

"What's going on Master Jareni?" Shepard asked. Arla straightened up and looked at the Earthling.

"I don't like it." She began. "I don't like this whole club of yours. We are a team. We should be discussing some plans to fight the Empire , not fighting among ourselves in a dark corner of the ship. To me it's some kind of stupid thing. It is apparent that you modeled the film on The Fight Club. I watched that movie - it was very interesting and interesting. But , I doubt that you will make some sick cult here that will fight against bureaucracy and people in suits. I don't think you're going to make soap from human fat here right?"

Matteo put his hand on her shoulder. "Arla. Just because I watched 'Fight Club' doesn't mean I'm going to do anarchy. This meeting is to prove the struggle without using your powers. I know what you are thinking , but listen - these people need to be tested. I need to know what are their weaknesses and what are their strengths. The fight is supposed to show the answers to these questions. I know it's a strange idea. But who isn't weird these days?" Shepard raised his shoulders. Jareni rolled her eyes. She knew , Shepard was intelligent. He could have done something else - like meeting over food or presenting a plan to fight the enemy and liberate the galaxy from the hands of the Empire. However, creating his club is the dumbest idea Shepard has come up with in his entire life. She looked at him again with mild disgust. At the same time, Melinda May won against Yelena Belova. The ladies left the ring. Peter Parker and Shang-Chi entered next. Everyone started cheering and thinking who would win this fight.

"I don't know Shepard. Sometimes your genius is almost frightening," the Jedi Master commented. Jareni had lived longer than Shepard. She had known Jedi culture and tradition longer than Kandadian. Arla went through not only all the trials of the jedi as well as the hell , in which she lost many friends and her master. She remembered how a sith took the life of her best friend (that sith turned out to be Darth Maul). Matteo compared Jareni's life to Wrestlemania 17 , but the jedi didn't know what that was , so she ignored his comparison. Jareni wiped a tear from her eye (she was tired of looking at it all) , she also yawned from exhaustion.

"I'm going back to my room," Arla started walking toward the exit. Matt turned around and saw Peter Parker beating Shang-Chi. He stood back and watched as his men beat each other.