Running From Your Shadows

Chapter 15

"What do we have here, gentlemen?"

"Caught us a monster, captain. I think it understands what we're saying." Locus looked around above him, confused. What monster? What do they mean? Did they mean him? He peered curiously at each of the men in the squad until he heard a familiar voice.

"Felix..." He saw the scout stand at the captain's left side.

"I say we blow it's brains out." Locus was a bit shaken hearing those words from Felix, something he's used to saying himself while on Chorus.

"That's your answer to everything." Locus looked to the captain's right to see himself up there in his old LOCUS class UNSC armor. He was curious as to why the past Locus was more empathetic, concerned. Why was he showing mercy to him?

"You're me..." He reasoned with the illusion. Locus watched as his past started lowering his weapon.

"Sir, I think it's trying to surrender." Locus could feel his heart tremble, wondering what he did to deserve his own mercy.

"Bullshit, I think it's stalling! Sir, this feels like a trap." Wait, Locus thought only he thought this way, since when was Felix so heartless? He hasn't felt so conflicted in a long time, wondering why no one recognized him. He was one of them! He soon heard Felix and the captain agree to have them take him into a building to take him out.

"Sir, it's scared." Locus heard his past self protest, and suddenly it all made sense to him. "If we could restrain it, we could--"

Sam snapped himself out of his flashback as he kept walking one Saturday morning. Yuang was out of town with his wife for a supply run to earth, and had Sam take time off.

"I don't want to burden you with my responsibilities, Sam. Take some time off, and be with Marina. You look like you need her." Sam never forgot those words, especially when reminiscing of Martin's last words to him.

"Am I still a monster?" He thought to himself. Sam shook his head as he continued walking towards the training ground to work out some aggression when he saw a crowd as he walked closer to Central Square. He could tell the entire town was there, cheering for something, more like rooting for someone. As Sam walked closer, he saw Johnson running up to him in excitement.

"John, what's happening here?" Johnson pointed to the crowd.

"It's a sparring match. One man from each family dukes it out for a title of Best Hand to Hand Fighter in town! Dad was training really hard for this one, because this would've been his first one he wanted to participate in..." Sam noticed Johnson's smile fading, looking to the ground in sorrow. He knelt down to the grieving child, and placed both of his hands on his shoulders, an idea present in his mind.

"I know it may not be the same, but would you like me to win for your father, for his family, for you?" Sam forgot the mass amounts of energy kids can have, especially with how fast Johnson perked up.

"Yeah! No one better than my dad's best friend will win for us! If you entered this with my dad, both dad and I knew you'd beat him. He says he respects you, and that you are stronger than ten bears combined!" Sam blushed as he scratched the back of his head, wondering what sorts of things Martin was telling his kid. Johnson then grabbed Sam's hand and dragged him to his mom, who was watching in the background. She noticed her son and Sam, and stood.

"Mrs. Bronson, hello."

"Samuel, good to see you. John seems worked up about something, what's going on?"

"Mr. Sam volunteered to go in daddy's place!" She looked between the two, a smirk gracing her lips.

"As long as Samuel is okay with it, I think Martin would be happy to have his best friend participate for him." Sam nodded.

"Thank you." He let the child guide him to where registration was still about. Sam could feel the gazes of everyone, wondering why he would want to participate. It took them watching Johnson's reactions of Sam being fully registered; they knew Sam was going in his partner's place as an act of goodwill towards Martin's family.

"Just be aware, Samuel, that this is a friendly sparring match. Keep it clean, and do not break bones or anything. Just be mindful." Sam nodded.

"Understood."

---

Sam circled his opponent, his fists in the air. He analyzed the man, realizing the opponent was already exhausted. Sam could tell he had informal training, but it was merely the basics, very clever, and favored his left side. Sam knew he had a basic understanding before making his move, first feigning right before nailing him on the left side. Watching the man double over to cover his left, Sam then went in, pinning the man down in a cross-face cradle.

"Yield! Yield! He's too strong!" Sam let him go at the count to five, and helped him up. They shook hands.

"Not bad, man. I can tell you've had informal, but there's more work to be done to be a proficient fighter." The man nodded, nursing his left side.

"You are strong, Samuel. I can tell you are clearly ex-military. The man in the finals is also ex-military, a hand-to-hand specialist. Good luck to you." Sam nodded as he watched his former opponent leave the ring to be tended by a physician in town. Sam couldn't stop himself from removing his tank to wipe the sweat away, threatening to remove his concealing makeup with it.

"Now for the final round: Samuel versus Phelyx!" The color drained from Sam's face as he heard the name, a name he never wanted to hear again. Phelyx entered the ring, and Sam could tell he was indeed ex-military. Lanky, but appeared agile and flexible. Looking closer, Sam could tell he at some point continuously broke his shoulder and ankle. Like Felix, but this one didn't get shot in the leg multiple times.

"Remember, this isn't Isaac, Sam. The Isaac Felix you know is gone. This is a different one, with his name as Phelyx." Sam thought to himself as he shook with his opponent. They both fell into a comfortable fighting stance, waiting for the other to make the first move.

As if on cue, Phelyx moved in first with an undercut, which Sam dodged effortlessly as he moved to counter. It didn't matter to Samuel what this man did, he moved too much like how Felix fought. Phelyx was obviously light on his toes, meaning he was quick to dodge and fluid-like in his movements. Sam could tell he relied on flexibility, agility, and quick-cleverness to supplement his lack of strength.

"He favors his kicking with his right, wonder what other damage was done to him?" Sam inwardly analyzed as he moved in to feign a punch to his right shoulder, but instead ducked to plant his forearm against his left side, then grasped his left arm and threw him over to the ground. Ah, it's his left shoulder that is weak. Samuel smirked as he moved in to finish the first round, pinning the man down by his shoulder.

"Round one: Samuel!"