Another Mark 3

*CHAPTER SIX*

Candidate trials where stupid, hopeless and ridiculous. I had already finished my trials and nobody had gotten past one strike. I then decided to watch Raleigh go against his candidates and Mako was reading the score as Raleigh finished another round. 

"Four points to zero." She dully said as the crowd behind the battle area applauded. Pentecost was quick to gesture for the trial to continue. Raleigh turned and his next contestant came up. He swung the battle stick, flipped and came into a stand. Raleigh waited for him to take the first move, like all good pilots or fighters when facing their enemies. As predicted the contestant hit first, fast to but Raleigh was quicker to block. They hit each other a few more times, left, right, right, up, down until Raleigh caught his shoulders. Smashing him to the ground, holding him with the weapon, Mako called the score again. "Four points to one." The crowd appealed again. The final candidate came up, spinning the weapon above his head, turning and bringing it in front of him, arms bent. Raleigh brought the weapon to this side, right arm across his chest and left arm bent. As the candidate moved first, Raleigh brought the weapon forward, blocking instantly. They two went, right, left, down, around, up, up and Raleigh was able to catch his feet. Flipping him and holding him down. "Four points to two." Mako called again. Raleigh then walk up, looking a little mad, weapon still in hand. 

"Okay, what?" he asked, as he stood, balancing his arms on the stick. "You don't like them? I thought you," he then looked to me as I had been reacting the same as Mako, "and you selected them personally." 

"Excuse me?" Mako questioned. 

"Every time a match ends you," he looked to Mako and made a face, trying to impersonate her, "make this gesture, like your critical of their performance. And Kristen, you just look pissed off." I rolled my eyes. Of course I was pissed off, Pentecost wouldn't let me fight you even when none of my candidates got past one strike. 

"It's not their performance, it's yours. Your gambit. You could have taken all of them two moves earlier." Mako explained, holding her clipboard to her chest. 

"I agree." I added, placing my hand up a little. Raleigh then looked surprised and raised the stick and tapped it on the ground again, sighing. 

"You both think so?"

"We know so." Mako verified. Raleigh then shifted to his right leg, lifting the stick, caring it in his right hand. 

"Can we change this up?" he pointed to Mako and I with the weapon. "How about we give the girls a shot?" murmurs where heard and me and Mako both looked to Pentecost, pretty much begging with our eyes. He looked to us, then back to Raleigh. 

"No. We stick to the cadet list we have, ranger. Only candidates with Drift compatibility-" 

"Which I have, Marshal." Mako complained. 

"None of my cadets bet me, Marshal. Or even got close." I explained. 

"Mako, Kristen, this is not only about a neural connection. It's also about a physical compatibility." 

"Are you for real!" I cried. Raleigh then spoke up. 

"What's the matter, Marshal? Don't think your one of your brightest and another ranger can cut it in the ring with me?" he challenged. Pentecost then looked to Mako, ignoring me. 

"Go." He sharply said, taking Mako's clipboard. He seemed a little angry as Mako walked down to take her button top and shoes off. 

"This is slightly unfair." I whispered, moving to Pentecost. 

"Lets see how Mako goes first." He replied, whispering too. Mako grabbed a stick and placed her shoes down by the edge of the battle mat. "Four strikes marks a win." Pentecost cried. Mako then stood straight and walked across the mat, Raleigh following.