Stained (Red vs Blue)

Introduction

The only reason I assumed it was quiet in the training room was because, even if there was noise, I wouldn't be able to hear it. Music was blaring inside my helmet, cancelling out any other noise. I've seen inside the training room a thousand times. White and grey walls with a broad window-like thing at the very top of the room, giving any audience an impressive view to watch any of the fights that go on down here on the floor. I turned the music down when I faintly heard the onboard AI announce something.

"Agent Nevada, turn off all music playing devices installed on your helmet before the practice session," FILSS said. Oh, if she had eyes she'd be staring right at me. I rolled my eyes, turning the volume up ever to slightly. I smirked.

I smirked at something that didn't even have a body.

"You will be taken out of the match if you do not comply, Agent Nevada," was her response. I grumbled and shut down the installation that Michigan added to my armor. Without it, I'd be even more unfocused than I already am. The beat keeps me awake and aware of my surroundings. If I wasn't forced to obey orders, I probably wouldn't. That's one thing that continually gets me in trouble with the Director.

I shrugged. Not like we needed to be on the best terms. I'm just a soldier who's trained to fight whoever I'm pointed at. He gives the orders. I might not always agree with him, but it's just a part of the job.

I had two opponents. Two very skilled Freelancers against one very skilled Freelancer. Originally, I was going to have my partner by my side, but she was pulled out of the match to help the Director with something or another, leaving little old me all alone. I popped my neck and stretched, watching Montana and Oregon do the same. Two versus one. I actually like the odds. More than anything, though, I think he just pulled her out to get a show from me. Makes it a bit more fun than just one versus one or two versus two. I've always liked a good challenge. Doesn't everyone every once in awhile?

"All participants please prepare for round one. Hand-to-hand combat." FILSS announced.

We all wear the standard Mark VI armor, white as the primary colour, and our choice as the secondary. Mine secondary color is cyan, Montana's is light blue, and Oregon has a rust-like color.

There was a countdown from ten. There was no tension, to me anyways. Montana, with her hatred towards me and her lust for my spot on the board, might just say there was tension, though. A buzzer sounded as the beginning of the match. They distracted each other by talking, meaning they didn't hear the buzzer. Or ignored. Or something of the sort, I don't exactly know.

He might be one of my oldest friends, but that just means I can hurt him and not feel to bad about it. I crossed the room quickly, my only pause being when I dropped lower to the ground and swept Oregon's legs out from underneath him. Montana has fast reflexes, I have to admit. She cursed under her breath as I straightened back up and lashed out at me. I took the hit, not expecting her to react so quickly.

Oregon was up before I even turned back to him. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him swing. Sharply turning to face him, I grabbed his arm from the air, about to send him spiraling toward Montana. Instead, she kicked at me from my right. I let go of Oregon's arm, and managed to block the attack, using the momentum to flip backwards, landing on my feet. I could have sworn that I heard Montana mutter something nasty about me under her breath.

There was a brief pause in the fighting as we all eyed each other, watching and waiting. The tension would have been greater if I hadn't seen Iowa being weird, to put it simply, in the observation window. My focus was still on the fight, but every now and then when I looked up that way she just knew.

Their attack was synchronized and well-timed, as a Freelancer pair should be. Oregon went for the legs, as he was the larger and stronger of the two – more likely to actually take me down with him. Montana covered my upper half, launching herself over Oregon in another attempt to take me to the ground.