"RIP and KIA" by Mike (KaT Adams) McCann

Eighteen year-old Rick Portra raised his hands in victory. He'd dropped another off the ranking with his elite skillz. Twenty sets. That qualified him for the local semi's for War Caste IV, and from there it was the National Championship. Rick stepped away from the cheering crowd, smiling because he was good enough to take out half of the city's finest virtual fighters. He opened his cell phone and looked at the screen with his friends who'd been watching the match from the main screens two blocks north.

"Hey man! Cool win! That DBAB combo just destroyed him! " "Yeah! I've never seen you so fluid!" "Hey, you got the most 'Absolute's out of everyone here!" "It's too bad you couldn't see it on the big screen!" "No problem, I got it on my mini!" "You loser! It's not like the recorded disks cost that much!" "So?"

Rick waved his hads. "Guys! C'mon! Relax! I've still got the Semi-Finals, and those will be the challenge."
BDABBDBBABBBDBABDBDBDBDBDBDBDBDBDBDBAADB
{K.O.! WINNER: R.Z.R.!}

The crowd went insane at the "Absolute" victory. Razor laughed and cheered for himself, bathing in the standing ovation. He deserved it. Twenty sets, with forty-three "Absolutes" was a significant victory. He dominated in War Caste. It had been his game since he'd started playing, he might as well have been playing all twenty-seven years of his life.There'd been no challenge in this. It was a day of glory. He just wished his friends had been there, but they had others to root for, and he wondered if those would be he new targets.

And the lights were brilliant.
ABAED
{K.O.! WINNER: K.I.A.!}

Lisa rushed from the control stand and jumped into her boyfriends arms. With twenty sets, she was going to be reaching the Semi-Finals and hopefully the championship. Will hugged back, smiling at her accomplishment. He had no intrest in the games and couldn't understand them, but he knew they were important to Lisa, and that was all that mattered.

"Oh my God, did you see that final combo? An ABAED right off the play-zone! He didn't even see it!" 

Will smiled back. He had no idea what in the blue hell she was talking about, but it sounded good.

She continued to dance around him, hanging on his arms, and he stood smiling. It was no use trying to calm her down, and he wouldn't try.

Razor sat up and typed back to Jen.

RZR435 [I was unbeatable. I only lost one game and took every set.]

JThiot89 [I knew you'd win. Rick won, too. He took all twenty. Lost about 18 games, but he still did well.]

RZR435 [Good. I want to fight this rick of yours.]

JThiot 89 [He's not 'mine'! We're friends. You think too much. Anyhow, I don't honestly think he will have a chance against you.]

Razor stopped. Interesting. Maybe the Semi-Finals would be easier than he thought.

RZR435 [What's his combo kiss? ]

JThiot89 [Yeah, right. nice try though.]

RZR435 [Well, it was worth a shot. I'll see you at the Semi's] 000200000DFC00000C18DF6,

Razor signed off and stared at his MacinTop's screen. This was fun. He grabbed the game pad, opened his pirate copy of War Caste IV. He ignored the beeping from his vid-phone and played into the night, instinct directing his keystrokes.

Lisa hung over Will's shoulder as his perplexed eyes stared at the computer screen and the "no answer" alert message.

"What, is he just not answering? Damn. I wanted to meet your friend. He might have even helped my game."

[Not likely]

Lisa stared at the message he'd typed on the computer.

"Why not?"

[he's also in the Semi-Finals. And he's very good]

"How'd he do?"

Will paused, his fingers hovering over the panel.

Lisa asked him again, trying to hide her concern with a forced laugh. "Will? What is it? How'd he do?"

[43 absolutes.]

Lisa swallowed. "Forty-three? That's insane! He must have had push over competition!"

Will shook his head. [No. He was having a bad day.]

Will typed in a command and the screen alert rang.

Dom brought up the alert message. Two way live with Will? That was rare.

Tweedledom [Hey, Will, whats^?]

Will8473 [I can't get ahold of rzr, I figured he'd be playing WC4, but thought he might be 2waying with you.]

Tweedledom [nope. He's probably with 'his baby', you know how rzr can be. He shut off the world and goes into his game. I was with you and Lisa, but I heard he got 43 Absolutes!!!!]

Will8473 [yeah]

Tweedledom [Jeez! heh heh. I guess he was tired.]

Will8473 [he was.]

Dom knew Will was no great conversationalist, so he said goodbye and logged off.

The sand on wood floor rumbled as the heavy doors on either side of the massive arena grated open, the pnumatic cylindars opening them just enough to let light flood out of the prep rooms. This was the Elements Battle Arena. Rick and company cheered as the heavy favourite entered- Lawrence Tybalt. Six and a half feet of pure death. The man had a heart of steel, having sent his last six challengers into retirement. The blinding light of the prep rooms was sealed off as the doors rumbled into place and the padlocks crashed into their sealed position. The light of the prep rooms would have taken the fighter's night vision as they were thrust into the dimly lit arena. the group of teenagers cheered the challengers bravery as he began circling Tybalt. Tybalt, opposingly. Made no move, even as the challenger who's name wasn't important and would soon be forgotten circled behind him. Tybalt simply stared straight ahead and waited.

Rick stopped cheering for a moment to sheild his eyes from the flood lights when they sparked and hummed to life, blinding the competitors intentionally. The LCD paneling quickly adjusted its filter, letting the audience watch unimpeded.

Across the arena, Lisa and Will sat, thrilling in the excitement as the challenger charged Tybalt and leapt for the champion's exposed back. Tybalt droped and his hand shot up, grasping the challengers throat and successively throwing him against the ground. Lisa screamed in excitement and hung off of Will. Will watched his girlfriend screaming, listening to her incoherent words as she jumped up and down, encourgin all manners of gruesome tactics. He was surprised that she would act this way being nineteen years old, of course, he was still a junior, so he didn't know that many nineteen-year-old girls to begin with.

"So you need to enter the first string path again to bring the third part of the coding... hey, are you even listening to me?" 000200000E5300001A0EE4D,

Will nodded. He was in fact, hanging on every word. This junior girl tutoring him was absolutely beautiful. He sighed. For the first time in his life he wished to speak for a reason besides "normalcy."He typed on the screen in binary, interupting Lisa's code: [Would you go out with me?]

Lisa stared at the single line of ASCII. She thought back hard, recalling the defunct computerlanguage. "Oh my god." Lisa had never been asked that question in such an outright manner. "You mean, as in a date?" She didn't mean to insult him, but he was a freshman, and she wasn't too sure he meant what she thought he meant.

In normal English this time: [That was the question.]

Lisa was shocked. And flattered. And happy. She hadn't wanted to ask, he was a freshman after all, but he was... different.

"I guess I have nothing else to do on Saturday... around six?"

Will gave her a quiet smile. [I'll pick you up then.]

"You're a freshman! You can't drive!"

Will laughed silently, a trait Lisa would come to love. [but I do have a new 9000´ MagLev ticket.]

Lisa smield. "Yen?"

[I bought it before we moved ]

Lisa stopped. "I didn't know you were Japanese... Er, no offense, but you don't look it."

[I'm not, we lived there for a couple of years, that's all.]

"Well, I'm glad you moved here."

Directly above the Champion's prep room, Dom and Razor cheered on the Challenger in their own fashions. Dom screamed at the top of his lungs and the larger Razor sat silently with a disapproving frown on his face. The challenger had recovered immeadiately, but he was still on the loosing side. Most of the virtual fighters who were going to the semi-finals were here tonight, courtesy of Orb Vid Games Inc. But unlike those others, Razor had been watching the challenger's progress. He'd watched his spectacular rise in the ranks, seemingly coming from nowhere. But now it seemed his rise was coming to an end.

The Champion shuffled backwards, his feet never giving up their purchase on the sand floor. He baited the challenger on, and the challenger blindly attacked. Five strikes and the Challenger skittered across the floor, but Razor approved of his tenacity. The challenger was on his feet again, but there was a new look on his face this time. He was calm. Razor permitted a smile.

Lisa bashed her fists against the LCD paneling. Tybalt charged the new blood, sensing a drop in energy, weakness. The challenger's muscles bulked, charged and he bear slammed Tybalt against the wall. Then he went to work with his fists, pummeling Tybalt into the dust. With one sickening crack, Tybalt's shoulder dislodged, the top of the arm bone bulging out of it's socket, the skin around the shoulder grotesquely twisted.

Rick sighed. That was it. If the Champ had anything left in him, he'd be usin' it to get out of the arena under his own power. He glanced at the challenger and a thought hit him. Why isn't he relaxing? And his unspoken question was answered as Tybalt dragged himself to his feet. The two combatants glared at each other and charged. Tybalt threw a punch with his good right arm, but didn't connect. The challenger had twisted underneath him and drove his heel into the small of Tybalt's back. Tybalt dropped to his knees before collapsing to the ground, his right hand tapping out. The "cease" bell rang out, singing the end of Tybalt's reign.

Dom cheered wildly beside his partner Razor who simply applauded the incredible young challenger, Christian Platte. "He destroyed him!" A nod from Razor. "Wasn't that your combination at the end?" Razor smiled. It HAD been very close. 000200000FBF0000285BFB9,

Rick sat for a moment in shock. There hadn't been any doubt that the Champion would win. He stared at the ticket stub in his hand.

{Tyablt (ES) vs Platte (FW) , 47-9 in favor of Tybalt. Platte heavy underdog.}

The spell lifted and Rick rose to cheer the newest Elements Champion. Jen could only smile at his grin.

Later, after the crowd had settled, Rick walked away from the Arena with a grin on his face. The fight had been awesome. He was disappointed Tybalt had been beaten so horribly, but this new Chapion might hold the belt through some incredible rounds.

Rick froze. Jen turned around to face him. "What? What's wrong?"

Rick looked back at the now closed Arena. "My backpack..."

[So, did you enjoy the fight?]

Lisa laughed. "Are you kidding? Some nobody underdog comes outta nowhere and destroys a five year champion at the Elements arena and you wonder if I enjoyed it? Damn skippy I did! And did you see that finishing stroke? He didn't even look!"

[I've seen that cattack before, now that you mention it.]

"Where?"

Will thought for a moment. [I think... no. I KNOW it's Razor's.]

"Your friend in the War Caste Tournament?" Lisa asked in surprise.

[Yes. I know he was there, so he probably saw it, too.] He paused. [He will use it to finish off his competition. You have to attack him with spirit attacks.]

Lisa sighed. [But those take forEVER to beat someone with!"

[Yes, but If you get close, he'll get you. It's better to risk a counter than to get your VF too near to him.]

Lisa looked at Will in concern. "Do you think he's that good? Is there even a chance I can beat him?"

[Yes.] And he didn't specify which question he was answering.

Lisa sighed and sat back in her chair, wondering what Will was thinking as she rubbed the red and black backpack she'd found when they were leaving the Arena.
Together forever

"Rick, would you PLEASE practice? You have to be ready for the tourney! Put that notebook down, you can draw LATER!"

Rick ripped another sheet from his sketch book and tossed the crumpled, lifeless remains of another half-created drawing onto the ground where a construct scooped it up. He ignored Jen's pleadings until-

"It was just a sketch-book! You have dozens of them! And you can get all the Prismas you want with the extra credits you've got stockpiled! Besides-"

"Besides WHAT, Jen?" Rick exploded on Jen and she dropped to the bench, cowering from his darkened frame. "That sketchbook had all the sketches and code plots and hardware designs for the first game I've had considered by a company! Without it I'm toast! I have to come up with something at least on the level of pathetic or I'll never have another chance at game design! It had a completely new crystal disk structure diagram in that! And there's no way I could prove it's mine! If someone else uses it, I lose the past three years of coding!" The furied momentum dropped off and Rick dropped back to the bench, his eye's rippling with tears, straining to drop. "It's all I had- the only chance for me to get to the Tokyo Megametro. The only chance for me to go anywhere. I-"

Jen sat, watching Rick cry, and wondering why she couldn't help him.

Dom watched as Razor played against the Never hack he'd downloaded for War Caste. Twice as fast and strong as the computer's normal expert level, it was the only way Razor could have any challenge. It still beats him every now and then, Dom mused. I wonder if he can really ever have a challenge with a human opponent.

Razor K.O.ed another opponent for his foutieth game in a row. Dom laughed as Razor reached for the select button. "Hold it, hot stuff. I think fourty is plenty for one sitting. Besides, you know every possible move and combination of the game by heart. Give it a rest. Relax for the next two days. Besides, we have these cushy in-outdoors hotel accomodations. This is the closest either of us has had to being in the "real" world, lets enjoy it!" 000200000F9500003814F8F,

Razor smiled at Dom, his way of agreeing. They could spend the last two days before the match relaxing "outside."

Lisa stretched out on the ergonomic recliner by the pool. The hotel's simulated sky dome stretched thirty stories over head. She knew that just beyond that bright-blue facade, there was more city, more Colorado City, over two hundred more stories, in fact, but she enjoyed the sim domes. UV-free "sunshine," animated clouds, and grass of all things; she just felt more, ALIVE in sim domes than in the gothic sci-fi like corridors of the regular city. But since mom had passed, they hadn't really had enough in the way of credits to go to the domes-not much money for anything, really. She smiled and adjusted the top part of her bikini, quite franky not caring if anyone but Will was watching.

A pair of dark sunglasses covered Will's eyes as he looked at Lisa. He wished he had the voice to tell her how much he loved her, but since the Mag Lev crash, there was really no chance he could ever speak again. It was a cruel fate, for Will, to hear but not speak. Lisa didn't know how close he'd been to killing himself before he met her. Somehow, he felt he should tell her, but it didn't feel right not to use his voice, what was his voice.

He gave a curious glance at the red backpack she'd found as it rested beside her. She'd kept what was in it secret even from him, which he found didn't bother him. What bothered him was his heart. He loved Lisa, beyond words, but... It wasn't right anymore. Lisa shifted and the tiny bell on the red backpack jingled.
Who?

Jen bounced out of the hotel to the pool area, which was void of any one she recognized. A couple of guys occupied the few seat on the far side, chatting about the girls in their swimsuits. Hmph, they ought to be push over's in competition. She turned and caught a glimpse of red disappearing into the building. Jen smiled and step out of a couples way, recieving warm hellos in her direction. She wished Rick would come out and play, but he was too busy with his game. He was trying to remember all the data on the old sketches, and was beating his brains out in the proceess. "Ricky won't have a CHANCE if he keeps this up!"

"So, you're here with the mysterious Rick, I take it?"

Jen turned and gave Razor a hug. "Hi! Oh, rick? Eh-heh. He's upstairs in his room. Since we're not together and since neither of our parents approved of us bunking in the same room, we got a separate numbers. He's... drawing. So, how are you guys?" Razor simply smiled and Dom started talking. Jen smiled knowing it would be a long time before he would stop.
Letters

Will- I found a job in the LA section of Cali Metro. It's a good job, Will. I know you won't want to leave, and I know you don't want to leave Lisa, so I won't make you. You are old enough to keep your own credit, and you've been earning most of the expenses for the past year, so you could do fine. I have to work, dear. I can't just wait to die. I can't go without a fight. I know you understand, but I- well, I think you'll do fine. Give my love to Lisa, would you? -Love, Mom.

Will stared at the e-mail for what could have been an eternal moment. La was pretty far away. Over the mountains. But he had no reason to stay. And his mother wasn't strong enough to live on her own. He knew what she said, but it was an illusion. A dream. She needed him, and Lisa didn't.
My dearest Lisa;

I love you more than I could ever express. You are my soul. But I'm leaving for Cali metro with my mother tonight. By the time you find this, I'll have left and will be waiting for the photofoil. I know you will be hurt, and I'll try to stay in touch, if you want me to.

My Mother needs me, Lisa. You don't. And you know it's true. You saved me, and I'd like to think I will always be a happy memory for you, and we will always be friends. But it's not right, anymore. 000200000EAE000047A3EA8,

Bad time to tell you, but you saved my life. I had nothing left in me after the Mag Lev crash which took my voice. I used to sing operettas, did I tell you that? Sound was my life. I thought it cruel of the world to take my voice- my music- but leave my ability to know another's. I felt as if everything I knew had been taken, and it was. But with you I became stronger. I worked through all that. I still cry, sometimes, listening to music- ballets, opera, acapella- but I found I could still have music with instruments, you showed me how. Thank you. And I love you.

-Will

He left the note and a data chip on their bed and packed silently.

I love you. I always have. Why didn't you ever notice? But it doesn't matter. No matter what you do- no matter how loud you can yell when we fight- I love you. I can't help it.

But what about you? Rick, what DO you love? I only want you to look at me, do something I can participate in, but you only want to design and leave Colorado. Leave me. Why can' you LOVE ME?!?! It just-

It's not how it's supposed to be. I fall in love with the perfect person and he loves me back. That would mean you. So why isn't it working? What charm do I need? What spell? god, Rick! Look at me? I need-

Tears raced to the letter, embracing the surface with joy, but Jen found no solace. With a screamed sob she ripped the paper from the notepad and tossed it's crumpled remains to the ground. It skipped against the pavement and settled on the grass. Jen washed her face in the bathroom and went to the diner to eat with Rick.
Crossroads

Dom waved to Jen and she came over to sit with the three guys. Rick smiled at her, but she could bring herself to look at him. Dom laughed. "So, when are you two going to hook up?"

Rick laughed. "Jen, this guy's a riot! What bar did you dig him up in? He's absolutely hilarious!"

Jen smiled. "We aren't going to hook up. I've said it a million times."

"You're missing out!" Dom gave Razor a peck on the cheek, causing the usually reserved gamer to blush slightly. Jen smiled, feeling her dark cloud fade as she laughed with her friends. A waiter set a handful of water glasses on the table and they pealed out with laughter.

Razor nodded to Will as he sat down. Will gave Razor a questioning gaze, the two quiet friends seeming to know each other's mind. Razor shook his head. "No, I don't know where Lisa is. Why?"

Will wrote a note on a napkin and handed it to Razor. Razor read it in a glance and nodded. They stood, embraced, and shook hands- an unspoken farewell. A sentence waited to leap across the void, but neither needed to sasy it. Thank you for meeting me.

Will nodded to the others, and left, wordlessly. Razor sat down and slipped the note into his pocket. Dom tried but couldn't get the note from him and Jen and Rick simply sat in confusion, wondering what had just transpired.
A letter read

Darkness. Harsh lines of sight and unsight cut across the floor, bitterly dividing a trembling child. She curled into a bundle, her right hand gripping a torn paper, the left holding a tiny silver bar- Will's last recorded songs. The small child shook with tears among the darkened light of a silent room.

"So you need to enter the first string path again to bring the third part of the coding... hey, are you even listening to me?"

Will nodded. Lisa marveled at his brilliant eyes and soft, gentle hair. her eyes skirted across his heavily scarred throat, but it was his eyes that drew her in. He sighed. Lisa reveled in the first sound she'd ever heard him make. Even his movements seemed silent- like someone and pressed the human mute button. 0002000015780000564B1571,

Will typed on the screen in binary, interupting Lisa's code: [Would you go out with me?]

Lisa stared at the single line of ASCII. She thought back hard, recalling the defunct computer language. "Oh... my god." Lisa had never been asked that question in such an outright manner. "You mean, as in a date?" She didn't mean to insult him, but he was a freshman, and she wasn't too sure he meant what she thought he meant.

In normal English this time: [That was the question.]

Lisa was shocked. And flattered. And happy. She hadn't wanted to ask, he was a freshman after all, but he was... different.

"I guess I have nothing else to do at about six on saturday. I can pick you up." Will gave her a quiet smile. She felt like laughing with joy when he smiled. [I'll pick YOU up.] <P>"You're a freshman! You can't drive!" <P>Will laughed silently, a trait Lisa would come to love. [But I do have a new 9000´ MagLev ticket.] <P>Lisa smield. "Yen?" she asked, quickly working outwhy he would have a standard ticket in a foreign currency. Of course it'd still work, but- yen? <P>[I bought it before we moved ] <P>Lisa stopped. "I didn't know you were Japanese... Er, no offense, but you don't look it." <P>[I'm not, we lived there for a couple of years, that's all.] <P>"Well, I'm glad you moved here." <P>[So am I. I feel...] <P>"What?" <P>A shadow crossed Will's face and was quickly overcome by a smile. [I feel happy.] <P>"Is that unusual?" <P>[It seems to be. But I haven't had a reason in a long time- what seems like a long time.]

The memories faded and Lisa stood to play Will's voice. She wasn't sure she wanted to hear it, change what she remembered of Will, but she had to know. As the chip was scanned, a quiet operetta filled the room. A tenor. The music flowed through and through her were it likened to pure energy, but gentle. Soft. it was Will. It was his voice. It was comfort. As the song began to roll to silence, she knew she could live- even without Will. She stood, knocking over the red and black backpack, the bell on it emoting a ring which faded with the song and tone- harmonizing in a strange but beautiful way. "There's more love to be found. Just gotta look!" With a sad smile, she turned to take a shower.
Battle

Razor advanced up the branches quickly, destroying every opponent. Rick's mind focused on his objective and he eliminated opponent after opponent. Lisa fought each opponent as if it could be her on the screen, and her spirit attack tactics took each opponent by surprise, knocking them quickly from battle.

As the roster narrowed, Lisa, Rick, and Razor remained in. Finally, it was down to the last eight people. The game was set up anew to allow for an eight player rumble. Razor grinned and cracked his knuckles. This is what he had saved his mind and moves for. Lisa grinned, just happy to have defeated enough people to get to the rumble match, and she shifted the back pack on her shoulders, gaining a ring from the small bell. "Oh, yes," She said to it. "I know I won't win, but I'll take a few down with me!" Rick was not able to concentrate so well. He got a glipse of Lisa and his backpack and could only hope he could get it back. The counter hit zero and the fight was on.

Two fighters were imeadiately elinated by Razor's Vf, but he decided to wait. The character avoided conflict, prefering to wait and see who would come out as the strongest aside from himself. Soon, Lisa was taken down, then another player, and Rick. Razor attacked the last two. With one move, both oponents were blown from the ring and the roster, leaving only the best.
Recovery

Jen ran to hug Rick, her friend, but he pushed past her and all the others ruching to congratulate him on getting to the rumble. He pushed right up to Lisa and got in her face. "Give me my bag!"

"What?!" "My bag! And why do you have it?" <P>Lisa backed away. "I- I found it at the Tybalt-Platt match. Here, it's all there." Lisa shifted her weight and looked down at her feet. "I... did take a look- and you're incredibly talented! That game and it's hardware are incredible. You might want to tighten the swing ratios, just for more stability and sacrifice some RAM, in fact-" <P>Rick was staring right at her. <P>"Or- not. You know. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have looked. It wasn't very polite. I'm sure it's a very personal thing, and you must hate having to recover it. I hope you can... what?" <P>Rick smiled at her, looking into her eyes. "Would... you go out with me?" Lisa smiled at the jingling bell as he absent mindedly zipped up the bag. <P>"Why the hell not?" <BR> Closure<BR> <BR> <P>Rick sat, looking up at the dark sky, the simulated stars twinkling, carefully adjusted to look like they really would have at this time of year a century ago, when they sky wasn't garish red and dry. He leaned back and his hand brushed a crumpled piece of paper. He unwrapped the sheet, immeadiately recognizing Jen's hand writing. Without quesion, he knew she meant him. <P>Lisa dropped next to him. "What's that?" <P>Rick folded it and pushed it in his pocket. "Nothing important." <P>Laughter interrupted them and they both turned to see Dom, Razor, and Jen approaching. Rick smiled at Jen and she smiled back, as she said hello to Lisa. So it was settled. The simulated starfield shone brightly, and an animated beam of a shooting star fell across the world, and you could almost hear it ring.