By Stoney M. Setzer
“See?” Joler exclaimed, waking me up. “I beg Crobet to train with me every day, but he just sits there!”
“Why haven’t you been training?” Turgess snapped. “You’re getting flabby!”
I shrugged, regretting giving them the access code to the underground command center. “When was the last threat? Three years ago, maybe four?”
“So?” The wiry old man kicked my couch. “You’re the Champion of Pecullar! You have to be prepared at all times! If word gets out that you’ve gotten soft and lazy, we’re doomed!”
“You called me a phenom, remember? Nobody’s faster or stronger than me!” I rolled over, trying to go back to sleep.
“That’s no substitute for staying sharp!”
“Why bother? My reputation is enough.” There had been threats to Pecullar when I first became Champion, but I had defeated them all. Word got out among our enemies, who responded by staying away.
“What about me?” Joler asked. “I’m your protégé! You’re supposed to…”
“You just handle the light work, kid.” I yawned. “And it’s all light work now, so why don’t you two just—?”
A siren blared as the lights in the command center turned scarlet. “Red alert! Aggressor detected! Immediate response required!”
I jerked my head up. “Am I dreaming?”
“Not unless we can share nightmares!” Turgess snapped. “Get up, now! Get ready!”
I lowered the footrest and struggled to my feet, displeased at how achy my joints felt. How long since I had gotten off this couch?
“You feel it, don’t ya?” Turgess growled. “The rust, you’re feeling it, right when we need you!”
“I’m fine!” I said, not really believing it. I hurried over to the viewscreen, trying to mask the stiffness in my left knee and right ankle.
The camera showed me Pecullar’s front gate. Fifty yards away stood a warrior, clad in full armor—nanotech by the look of it. Great, just great. “Send me your Champion! I, Suvall, challenge him on behalf of the Zerephites!”
My throat tightened. Nobody had challenged me since Ramal of Yolem, and I had taken him out in less than two minutes.
But back then, I had trained as I was supposed to, five days a week. Then I let it slide to four, then three, and now it had been two weeks since the last time I’d even gone through the motions…
“You have to answer Suvall’s challenge!” Turgess shouted. “If three hours go by without an answer, he wins by default, and those filthy Zerephites either exterminate or rule us!”
“I know the code!” I snapped. Ever since the Outbreak of 2094, warfare had taken on a far different look. Battles were waged by single combatants, with their people’s fates hanging in the balance.
“And?”
“I’ll need my armor.” I pressed the button that opened the equipment closet, wishing I had upgraded my gear.
“Me, too!” Joler added, sprinting over to his own gear.
***
The armor still fit, but it felt heavier to my flabby limbs.
I marched toward the outer gate, sonic scimitar in hand. It seemed farther away than I remembered. Mentally, I replayed all my previous victories. Wasn’t I still the same guy, a phenom? Surely it would all come back to me.
Joler and Turgess were behind me as I strode through the gate, but I paid them no mind. Suvall commanded all my attention. A towering mass of muscle, he was armed with a sword that pulsated with electric current.
The warrior sneered as I approached. “I hope you’ve enjoyed your break from being challenged? My people have been planning for this day for four years now!”
In a flash, I understood. Yolem had been utterly destroyed after Ramal had fallen. I had expected their Zerephite allies to avenge them, but they had been silent. Lulling me into false security… and it worked.
“Is this the mighty Crobet?” Suvall sneered. “The Champion who slayed Ramal in less than two minutes?”
“Quiet!” I shouted. “Here I am to meet your challenge!”
Suvall charged forward. I did likewise, trying not to think about how unnatural it felt or how I didn’t seem to be moving as fast as I once did. At least Suvall wasn’t coming at me with a jetpack like Parin of Uvaldo had years ago. With all of the other tech he had, it wouldn’t have surprised me.
Sparks flew as our powered blades met. The Zerephite was strong, but my adrenaline was coursing. For a few minutes, I believed I could win.
Then my limbs began to tire. I fought valiantly, but my stamina was fading. I needed to finish him off fast, before he could finish me…
Suvall caught my arm, striking my wrist. My scimitar fell to the ground as all feeling left my hand. Another blow came across my back, and my legs collapsed beneath me. I tried to stand, only to find that I had no feeling below my waist. Spinal cord, I realized with helpless dread.
“Now to finish you, and Pecullar will belong to the Zerephites!” Suvall declared.
A cry of fury pierced the air. Joler vaulted over me like I was nothing more than a hurdle on a track, attacking Suvall like a living tornado. From the ground, I watched in fascination. Joler lacked my natural gifts, but his diligent training was evident.
Just like my lack of it.
Suvall fought back, but Joler’s element of surprise was too much to overcome. Moments later, the Zerephite fell beside me, dead.
Joler rushed over. “Crobet! Can you hear me?”
“Yeah… Too bad I didn’t listen to you more. Great job, kid.”
“Thanks!” Joler’s smile quickly crumpled to an uneasy frown. “Can you get up?”
My legs remained numb and lifeless. “I’m gonna need medics. And you need to help yourself to my armor and supplies.” The next words stung my throat and my soul, but I’d brought them upon myself. “You’re the Champion of Pecullar now, Joler. You deserve it.”
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