RIPE & DRAGGERS

CHAPTER 19

Dualen is a ninety year old Runkan dragger of pure mature power. He is tall and his long hair is bright blue, showing the typical features of a mature dragger.

A ripe and dragger at any age would have the yellow green hair but someone matured would eventually grow bright blue hair, hence showing the evident superior knowledge and ability to drag the space time continuum.

Dualen's face is slightly wrinkled, but a few notches back on the age bar would show that he looks definitely like his genetic grandson, Pedro. Only difference is the eye color. Where his eyes because of old ages like his hair that turned blue, his eyes are now bright yellow.

"I will grant you leave, if you decide to turn around now." Dualen said to Euclid with an aerie calmness that even resembles a smile on his face.

Euclid slowly unsheathed her blade and shook her head, and exhaled at the mediocrity of his gaze.

"You are one sick sonofabitch, you know, you're side-effect syndrome is all over you're face."

"What the fuck are you talking about?" Dualen said laughing. "Anyway, I am quite surprised that anyone from the council will oppose this venture." He said still laughing and waving his hand like dismissing a mediocre remark. "Only you, and that other black haired fella..."

"Bob..." Euclid said in anticipation.

Dualen's face became suddenly serious at the mention of the name.

"That's right.... Bob, the black haired nosy idiot, that questions our supremacy."

"And who ever said that the Runkans are superior above all other species?.... You?!"

The blue haired Runkan slowly drew his blade. "No, not me... but this sword will..." he said with his yellow eyes now turning even more brighter. "And you will know first hand, our might as I strike you down in this platform today."

Euclid quickly drew her sword.

"And what makes you think that I will be in this platform."

Bob saw from the Vegas circling around a battleship parallel to where the two Runkans are standing, that both have each of their swords drawn.

"Oh shit... here we go guys, we need to go around in circle and avoid these two heavy hitters or we'll get pinched ourselves.... Rod!!"

"Yeah, yeah got it." The old pirate replied.

Dualen's appearance started to blur, as if he would split into two clones then vanished altogether. At this instant, Euclid jumped and disappeared from sight as well.

She re-appeared on the port-side of the nearest battleship, holding her sword vertically downwards from neck to waist level, as Dualen re-appeared several feet from her and struck her as she deflect the impact with her own blade.

The hit made a thunderous sound that echoed up to the Vegas, maneuvering about a mile away. Dualen's swing also pushed back Euclid on the thick metallic hull of the ship nearby, and it sent a wave ripple on impact; generating considerable damage to the hull's integrity.

Her armor is a remarkable protection but still she felt the trauma of the collision. She exhaled and took another deep one as she kicked her feet against the metal hull to propel herself for the counter-attack.

The target, which appeared in mid-air between adjacent battleships, is near enough and she rigorously followed. Her back-drag and the chariot boots she's wearing make her speed undoubtedly a spectacle even for Dualen who's only in plain clothing. He can feel the gravity of impact in her swing as he deflects her counter-attack.

Again, the immense clashing of one Runkan blade to another made a thunderous sound that echoed. With Euclid's counter, she somehow expected to throw back her opponent at least a good 40 feet but much to her dismay and shock; Dualen just stayed there and absorbed the impact quite impressively.

It is apparent in her eyes of the surprise in his steadfast defense; and she almost felt helpless as Dualen looked deeply into her eyes and began to smile at the realization of his advantage. He knows that these young draggers are not much adept to the capabilities of the older generation of Runkans.

The generation that bred their talents thru the campaign wars.

After this show of strength, Dualen is quite sure that Euclid will no longer underestimate him. In fact, he will inject fear into her.

Dualen absorbed the shock like vacuum and let it build pressure, then he pushed back her counter-attack with his own blade still in contact to hers, and the reversed flow of the impact catapulted Euclid to the nearest ship above them. This time faster than before that the ship's hull exploded outwards with a roaring sound, and the brunt created a crater 30 feet in diameter.

The blow turned Bob's head to look at them, and like his brother Gener who also saw what happened, now began to worry and doubt at her chance of getting out of here alive.

And this time, her armor did little protection as she felt a broken rib on her right chest and she coughed a few amounts of blood because of the injury.

"We need to help her Gene." Bob said hurriedly.

"Working on it... Working on it!" Gener answered, with panic in his voice, as he and Nene piloted towards her direction.

Rodrick with the Vegas followed but all of them knew it will take a few more seconds before the dangerous old Runkan will be in range for their guns.

Bruises are now visual in Euclid's beautiful face and her armor shows damage, and this time she coughed out more blood while Dualen below her started to kneel. His blade somewhat hidden behind his back and legs bent in a tiger stance. Pale blue circles of energy started to glow under his legs and thigh area continuously, as if he is on top of the very space-time curvature himself . Gener and Bob knows this is a vertical back-drag towards Euclid who is still pinched at the last impact.

The back-drag vertical attack is a direct stab to his opponent's chest area. A killing blow tested time and again in any Runkan battlefield that no armor in the universe can withstand.

Hundreds of years in the campaign wars and the direct back-drag stab is a real peacemaker. Once the Runkan ignites and launches, the opponent is as good as 'nada'.

Gener knows this very well.

"Euclid!!!!" he cried in panic and Nene pushed the control-stick all the way forward; and their mini-frigate fighter jumped into sonic speed with a banging sound from the origin point.

The sudden increase of speed in their frigate hopes to reach her in time but there's too much scoltice fighters in their tail; and both their left and right flanks. One of which, manage to hit their starboard side that Nene is again forced to maneuver in circles as their ship stumbles at the direct hit from a heavy gun.

The Vegas behind them saw how Gener's frigate fighter lose direct heading to Euclid's position, as it swayed spiral to the right. Rodrick on the other hand, aware of the Vegas' shield capacity continued a straight path towards the fighting Runkans; ignoring the several hits on his own ship.

Because of the heavy guns and laser fire hitting the Vegas, the disguise facade of the ship peeled off one by one; showing a much newer type of bulker carrier frigate. Once peeled off completely, it showed a shining F-class mid-size frigate with clever shield and defense units.

However, any advanced ship in the galaxy is still vulnerable to the heavy guns of a Brahm Scoltice fighter cruiser.

Rodrick tried his best to keep his ship in a direct path but another blow to his now limited shield, rolled the Vegas as well.

And the last image they sawbefore the Vegas broke a hard right spiral is that Dualen disappeared androcketed a straight back-drag stab to Euclid.