Dawn of the RACU

Chapter 3: The Tournament

"Hello, soon-to-be Defenders," Nychus' mother says to the children in the training room.  "Today is your last day of official training before your week before the final exam.  As such, I want you all to practice your techniques for facing RACU one last time.  However, as today is your last day, there will be a twist to your training: you will all participate in a sparring tournament, in which I will allow you to choose your opponents."  Across the room, Anthony Tyrose can't hide his excitement.  The colony's leader just gave him his best chance to show how much better he was than the "Defender-Prince."  He smirks, and looks at Nychus, who looks back at Anthony when his mother's announcement concludes.  Nychus knows why his mother is allowing this tournament: to give Anthony the excuse to challenge him to a sparring match, to hopefully stop his taunting of Jessica and Andrew to a match.  Either way, Nychus is plans on telling Anthony before they fight that no matter what the result, Anthony will stop picking on him, Jessica, and Andrew.

"Oh, and before I forget," Nychus' mother adds.  "The first person to challenge you is your first opponent, and there will be a point system for matches after.  Your arm tablets will record your wins and losses, each match will either earning or costing you one point respectively, and the first person to reach ten points wins the tournament.  The time limit for one match is ten minutes.  You can also not fight the same opponent consecutively, but you can fight the same opponent more than one time during the duration of the tournament.  Now then, have a great time today!"

All the Defenders, as well as trainees, have a special miniature tablet that attaches to their forearm.  The arm tablet is an essential part of a Defender's arsenal; it activates and controls the power of a Defender's shock weapon.  A shock weapon is a weapon made from scrapped RACU offensive parts, such as their fangs, claws, and such.  The electricity in the weapons are equally as devastating to humans as they are to RACU, however some rare RACU have plating that either mitigates or is unaffected by the electricity.  A Defender's arm tablet is also used to manage communications between other Defenders, which connects to a microphone integrated into every Defender's helmet allowing for the issuing of commands while on missions.

After finishing her speech, Victoria goes to the wall of the Central Complex, by a ladder, and climbs up to the railing to watch over the trainees.  As the crowd of teenagers disperses to find their opponents, Anthony swaggers straight for Nychus, staring him in the eyes, a broad smirk on his face. Nychus stares back, knowing that if he looks away he will be admitting defeat before the battle starts.  He keeps his eyes locked onto Anthony's while the older boy approaches him, like a RACU being challenged for territory.  When Anthony finally stands in front of and very close to Nychus,  he says with complete confidence and arrogance, "I challenge you, Defender-Prince, to a match.  Winner will become the next ruler of the colony, and the loser is exiled to beyond the forest surrounding the colony."

Nychus knows this bet is a win-win situation.  If he wins, he still gets to be the leader of the colony after his mother dies or retires.  If he loses, he just gets to explore what lies beyond the forest.  It will give him more opportunities to observe RACU, but it will also mean he will be completely devoid of organic companionship.  "I accept, Anthony.  Your terms and your challenge."

"What?!  No!" Jessica exclaims, who along with Andrew is still beside Nychus.  "I will not let you have a match with him with those stakes, Nie, no matter if he is just doing it to scare you!"

"Yeah.  It's too risky, man," says Andrew, worry in his voice from how blunt Anthony was with his challenge.  "Just decline."

"I can't, remember?"  Nychus says to them.  "'The first person to challenge you is your opponent.'  My mom's rules, not mine.  Besides, I'm accepting for another reason."