Author: RINGSHADOW Subject: Story--Silent Bullet Posted: JANUARY 07, 1999 17:10 A mysterious female figure in a black hooded cape entered the bar. Most of her wasn't visible, including her face and most of her body. She walked silently, with flowing steps. A few of the patrons looked up and watched her, mostly people new to the bar and unfamiliar with her. "Haven't seen you in a while." The bartender remarked, as the enshrouded figure sat at the bar. "Business good?" "As good as it ever gets." Replied a low, accentless voice. "The usual, Sam, and don't hurry 'bout it. I got time." "Yes ma'am." Sam mixed the drink and handed it to her, making her reveal a long-fingered hand. "Who's that Sam?" An apprentice barkeep asked, drying a glass absently. "Tom, there's some things normal people just weren't meant to know. That young lady's name is one of them. She's been coming here two years straight, dropping in when least expected. I never complain, she tips pretty well and doesn't cause trouble." He shrugged. "We get a lot of mysterious people here. Just serve them like everyone else." A short, muscular raccoon came in. He wore baggy camo pants, and a camo shirt to match. A broadsword was strapped to his back, a dagger hung at his side, and a miniture crossbow was on one wrist. He carried hiself with a self assured, don't-mess-with-me air. He sat down next to the cloaked figure, guesturing for a drink as he did so. "Hello warrior." Said the cloaked figure. He nodded. "Why the camo? You just come out of the feild?" "Yeah." He buried his nose in his ale. "So, how's life at your end?" "Can't complain. Rookies keep trying to push us seniors aside though, they think they're the best, and it just gets them killed." "I wish they'd learn." "So do I." She leaned on the bar, hands moving up to her covered face to rub her temples. "There's a meeting tonight, you going to be there?" "Of course. Not many of us will be there, a lot of us are working." "Fine by me. I want to talk without worrying about things. See you tonight." She stood, dropped money on the counter, and left. "So who's the girl?" Asked a barfly. "Can't say." Warrior replied testily, adjusting the dagger. "VERY few know her name, I'm one of them. She's careful about that, has a right to be." "Want a refil, Warrior?" Sam asked. "Nah. Thanks for the drink." He stood, tossed money on the bar, and left. Once in her room, the mysterious figure removed her cloak. She was in her late twenties, slender but muscular. A long scar ran down one arm, and a wedge was taken out of one ear. Scars that proved her trade. She opened her suitcase and removed a fake side, revealing sharp, bladed peices of metal, and what appeared to be the hilt of a sword. She pulled the hilt out, weighing it absently. She used that to warm up, easily using the part of the sword. Then she pulled the remaining peices of blade out, assembling a complete broadsword. It was her weapon of choice, she had never been defeated, probably never would. It was her job to win, after all. After practicing, she sat down and began to take the blade apart. Carved saphire letters flashed up at her, displaying her name. Mary Ann Frances. After sealing her sword back into its hiding place, she put her cloak back on and left to meet a client. She didn't enjoy talking to them, but being hired meant money. Such was the life of a high-class soldier and assassin. Wrapping her fingers around the cross on her necklace, she went to meet her client. Author: RINGSHADOW Subject: Silent Bullet, part 2 Posted: JANUARY 08, 1999 13:23 Government hired assassins Warrior and Gustile wandered the Academy. "Heard you got into a fight again, Gus." Warrior remarked. The tall eagle snorted. "Yep. Wasn't my fault." "It's never your fault." Gustile growled to himself, turning into a weapons training building/gym. "One of the rookies shoved me into an occupied table, got beer all over me." "So naturally you fought?" "Right. You have no room to talk, War, you fight just as much as me." Warrior grinned, cocked the crossbow on his wrist, and shot. The bolt hit a target hanging on the far wall of the gym, a dead-center bullseye. "Can't help it if I have a temper now can I?" "You always say that." He shrugged, pulled the broadsword out of the scabbard on his back, and swung it absently. "So who's showing up?" "At the meeting?" "Yeah besides us." "Let's see here...BM Jordian should be there." "He's a Battle Master now?" "Uh-huh, has a bunch of students." "Zat a fact? Hmph, I no longer outrank him. Horrifying thought. Who else?" Warrior's blade swung to close, so Gustile pulled his sword and parried automatically. "Wyld should be there, so should Silent." "Wyld is still around? Amazing." "Don't I know it. That's all I know, who do you know is coming?" Pause. "Zombie might, and I know Mary is." "MARY'S BACK IN TOWN?! I thought she had been killed on her last assignment." "Yeah right. I think she's a true immortal." "Why do you say that?" "Gus, how many times has she been 'mortilally wounded'?" "Mmm, good point." Another parry, and Gus's blade flew across the room and planted into the wall. "Out of practice Gus?" "Shut up, Warrior." Author: RINGSHADOW Subject: Silent Bullet, part 3 Posted: JANUARY 08, 1999 14:47 It was a tavern, complete with fire places and torches. For its arcane appearence, it was high-tech under the wood-and-stone surface and many high-society meetings were held there. Mary walked in, rain dripping off her cloak. Everyone else was waiting. "Am I late?" "Nah." Zombie said. His fighting name was appropriate, for he had greyish-blue scales and strange milky-white eyes. "Good." She was about to take her cloak off when she noticed someone she didn't know. She lowered her hands, eyes narrowing. "Relax Mary, he's all right." Said Jordian. "I don't know that." She replied cooly. "My word." Jordian swore. She removed the cloak, revealing black jeans and a dark brown T-shirt, as well as her gold cross necklace and lop ears--she was a rabbit, after all. Her eyes were narrowed warily at the new kid. "Relax." Said the new kid, seeing her unease. "I don't know you, therefore can't trust you. You must earn my trust" She replied softly, firmly. Then she glanced around, smiling at the others. "So how's life?" "Jus' fine." Jordian smiled. "Busy lately. I'm a Battle Master now." "Oh? Congratulations." "My whole block thinks I'm mute, because I don't talk....to outsiders..." Said Silent timidly. A short, grey-furred wisp of a mouse, she was almost invisible...and deadly with a gun. They talked for two or three hours, mostly causual stuff, very little business. Mary was the first to leave. "What's wrong with her?" Asked the new kid in exasperation, a stocky parrot nicknamed Ghost. "Nothing as far as we know." Said Gustile. "Then why does she act like that?" "I'll explain. Come on, big mouth." Jordian led Ghost outside, where they stood under the eave. "When Mary was 12, her entire family except for her was killed in a terrorist bombing. She had to go into foster care." He stared out into the rain. "At 16 she became a student of Lightning." "But didn't Lightning...?" "Hush up a moment. She became Lightning's finest student, we're talking Black Belt, BETTER then Lightning herself. In fact, Mary became Lightning's assistent. Then, Lightning found unorthadox ways, evil ways...and it corrupted her. She went insane, and began to teach her students the moves she had found. Ghost, have you ever heard of the 'Angry God' offencive move?" "Yeah. It kills instantly, but is said to corrupt the mind." "Yes. Soon many of Lightning's students were corrupted, and most of them immortal as a biproduct of the Angry God move. Lightning became completely evil. All she does for enjoyment now is kill. She murdered all of her students. Except Mary. Mary, then 25, executed the Angry God move to stop Lightning." "But if she...." "Mary isn't corrupted, as far as we know. Lord only knows why not. But as far as we can tell, she's a true immortal. Not only that she's the highest paid assassin in existance, and has no home. Lightning is still alive, is also immortal, and bent on seeking out and killing Mary." Ghost just stared at Jordian. "She doesn't trust you because the only one she trusted, Lightning, turned on her. Now she's forever on the run. We can't help her, we would just get killed. After all, if anyone kills Lightning, it has to be Mary." Lightning carefully slid past the space radar nets and flew her plane toward Corneria. That was where she expected Mary to be. Adrenaline still was fresh in her viens, making her smile and perk her ears up happily. Her lust to kill was sated...for now, and made her feel good. She enjoyed killing, and even more so if it was another immortal that was her victim. She smiled fondly, remembering when she had discovered the new techniques and had begun to teach them to Mary. Mary had been an eager learner then. Lightning frowned a little. When she had killed the rest of her students, Mary had been on an errend. When she had come back and seen Lightning covered in blood, she had been stunned and furious. In the fight that followed, Mary had executed the Angry God move in a desperate attempt to stay alive. When Lightning had woke up, Mary was long gone. Lightning growled, her blood lust returning. Someday, Mary. Someday. Author: RINGSHADOW Subject: Silent Bullet, Part 4 Posted: JANUARY 11, 1999 14:00 Mary slunk past the armed guard, going towards the large house. 'Jeez, you can tell the corporate life has gotten competetive when it's too the point a guy wants his partner discretely bumped off.' She mused silently. It was extremely easy for her to get inside the house, and bypass the security systems. Her target sat in a private library, a middle aged jackrabbit. 'Sound proofed room, all the better.' She thought, slipping in and locking the door. He looked up, and the look in his eyes was both of fear and resignation. "So, Nathan decided to have me killed?" Mary walked soundlessly towards him, nodding once. "Can I have a last request?" He stayed seated, not moving. "I know I don't have a chance against a trained killer." "Depends on the request." She paused, a few feet away from him, drawing her cloak closer around herself. "Let me see your face." After a long moment, she reached up and pushed the hood down, then looked at him silently. He slowly nodded, swallowing. "How are you going to kill me?" She pulled a syringe out of a pocket in her cape, and touched a button on the side. A three inch long needle appeared. He stared. "W-what's in that?" "That doesn't matter. Painless, can't be detected. You won't feel a thing. You'll go to sleep." He swallowed, and held out a hand. "Jason Anderson." She shook his hand willingly. "Mary Ann Frances." "Nice knowing you, I guess." Jason swallowed again, pushing up his sleeve. Pulling her hood up to hide her discomfort and dislike of killing, she knelt and slid the needle inside his arm. Blinking at his complete lack of reaction, she silently administered the poison and removed the needle. Jason shuddered. "Odd....it's calming, like." "I created it to be so--fatal without pain." She stood. "You're a brave man Mr. Anderson." "Why do you say that?" Pushing the button again, the needle retracted, and she tucked the empty syringe back into her pocket. "You didn't try to run, didn't fight me, and didn't react to the needle or poison." "That makes me brave?" "That makes you very brave. I must go now." Yawning openly, Jason nodded. "Thanks for a merciful death." She nodded, slipping out the door again and leaving. When people hired her, they asked around, trying to contact 'Silent Bullet.' She came to her would-be hirers as it pleased her. She didn't have to take assignments, life was precious to her after all. She had more then enough money to retire with grace. 'I cannot settle down. I must keep moving.' Mary reminded herslef, running down the street. Author: RINGSHADOW Subject: Silent Bullet, Part 5 Posted: JANUARY 12, 1999 14:03 "The Lylat System was stunned today when the news that Jason Anderson, a well known millionaire and ship builder, has been killed..." Announced the radio. Lightning's ears perked up. "Well, well, well. An active assassin, are we Mary? Anderson was a healthy man, and healthy men don't just up and die. Hm, yes. Yes. Mary is on Corneria, she's got to be. And if she is, I can find her easily." She turned off the radio, looking at herself in the mirror. Her fur and hair were a peculiar shade of blonde-white, very bright, like a bolt of lightning. She grinned at the thought. "I'm a lot more lethal then normal lightning though." She murmured to herself, proud of the fact. Locking her hotel room, she left the building and walked down the street. She purposely was in the bad part of town, where another killing wouldn't get ANY attention. "Hey, foxy lady!!" Called someone, whistling. She tossed her head and continued down the street short, royal blue dress carefully chosen. She enjoyed attention, and didn't have to worry about getting mugged. A cheetah/fox cross, she was strong on top of her fighting skills. Falco Lombardi reclined at the corner with his gang, talking. Seeing Lightning, he elbowed a buddy and gestured. "There's a sight for sore eyes." His friend grinned. "No kidding. Looks dangerous." "Kev, you know I LIKE danger." Falco rose an eyebrow lazily, and sent a wolf whistle in Lightning's direction. A teenager driving an expensive motorcycle pulled up. Fox put a foot down to steady the Harley, and blinked. "Fal, you told me you'd meet me at the track." Falco shifted uneasily, as his fellow gang members glanced at him. "I don't got much money Fox. UNLIKE YOU. I can't afford the gas as well as the parking, and entrance fee. Thanks for the invitation though." Fox rolled his eyes. "My dad races sometimes. We have a skybox, a big one. So I get in free, along with anyone who's with me." "Track?" Kev jumped into the conversation. "You mean hover racing?" "Yeah. The skybox seats ten, you guys want to come?" Fox glanced at the gang members, currently eight of them were there. Several sets of eyes bugged out. "US?! You want US to come?!" "No, the guys behind you....OF COURSE I MEAN YOU GUYS! If you're coming, better saddle up, or we'll be late." The whole group stared in shock, then ran to their bikes. Mary wandered the stadium that half-circled the racetrack, watching the crowd absently. Hidden under her cloak, she had no identity, but the people around her did. Gang members and 'yuppies'. Pilots and civilians. Kids and adults. People of every size and shape imaginable. "GOOD AFTERNOON, RACING FANS! TODAY'S CARS OF CHOICE INCLUDE DRAGONSBREATH, ICE STORM, BEAST, AND ENERGY BOLT..." She smiled. Much like herself, most racers perfered to be anonymus to avoid being swamped with fans when off the track. Therefore, the car names were announced instead of drivers. "FIRST RACE STARTS IN FIFTEEN MINUTES..." Lightning sat in the stadium, slouched in a chair, eyes closed, sword on her back. She could sense Mary, and was trying to pinpoint her former student's location. 'We will meet, Mary. Soon.' Author: RINGSHADOW Subject: Silent Bullet, Part 6 Posted: JANUARY 13, 1999 13:36 The ten teenagers kicked back in the skybox. "Which car does your dad drive?" Steve asked. "Dragonsbreath." Fox replied absently. "YOU KIDDING?!" Falco gawped. "That's my favorite racer!" Fox grinned. "Pardon me for asking, Fox, but are you a yuppie?" Kev asked. "Heck no, why do you ask?" "Yeah you are. Skybox, expensive bike..." "Well, my dad's the leader of the Star Fox team, he does expect some money for his troubles, after all." At this point, some of the gang members didn't beleive Fox. "My son never lies." James leaned on the doorframe on the skybox. "I do lead Star Fox, I do drive Dragonsbreath. Whether or not I'm a good pilot is subject to who's judging me." He smiled slightly. "My son has been known to kick my tail in dogfights." "Well hello to you to dad." Fox remarked. James smiled, and studied the rag-tag group in front of him. He wasn't surprised or bothered that these teenagers were gang members. His eyes fell on Falco. "So, I'm your favorite driver? I'm flattered." "I-it's a great honor sir." "Oh, for God's sake, don't treat me like the President." He said, mildly exasperated. "I'm just a normal guy with an odd job." He glanced at his watch. "Better get to the pit, do a final check. Nice meeting you all." He turned and left. Falco shook himself awake. "Cool guy to have as a dad, Fox." Fox laughed. "I'm used to him, but I keep forgetting that other people aren't." It was after the first race-James winning by a nose-that Mary and Lightning met. The minute they saw each other, they knew. Both drew their swords and started circling each other warily. Mary undid her cloak and threw it aside, revealing black jeans and a tucked in black T-shirt. Lightning was still in her dress, but now a scabbard was strapped to her back. Lightning held up the sword, pointing at Mary to challenge her. "You were a fool to try to run." "You're insane, Lightning." "True, true. You will die, just like the others." "I'm not like the others." A spectator stepped forward, a teenage girl named Katt Monroe. "Please, could you at least take your fights elsewhere, or talk it out? There are a lot of innocents here, and surely there's a better way to solve this then fighting." "Sorry, but no." Lightning stepped toward Katt and suddenly swung the blade, so the flat of the blade hit Katt across the temple. Katt hit the ground, unconsious. Mary lunged at her old teacher and swung her broadsword with all her might. Lightning parried just in time. "FIGHT!" Shouted someone. A carefully distanced circle of spectators grew. Fox's group passed by, and he recognized Katt immeadiatly. "KATT?" Fara had darted in and managed to get her friend farther from the fight. Katt, a little punch-drunk, smiled at Fox. "Hi.." Fox, wanting to make sure his long-time friend was all right, stayed to the edge of the cleared circle as he walked. Lightning saw Fox, grinned sadistically, and swung at him as well. Fox yelped indignantly and sat down by Katt, back bleeding from a shallow cut. "I think she's got a mild concussion." Fara said, in reference to Katt, as she looked at his back. "It could have been a heckuva lot worse as far as both of you are concerned." A sword-delt slash on Mary's chest didn't slow her down any. She retaliated, hitting Lightning's upper leg. "A sucessful hit, I congratulate you." Hissed Lightning. "You can't win this fight, you know it." "I've won before, I can win again." "Remember Tanner? How you were such good friends?" Another sadistic grin, and a cackle. "He tried to run, ran like a coward. Tried to run away." Mary snarled in anger and charged, which had been exactly what Lightning had wanted. She sidestepped, and stabbed forward, hitting Mary's heart. Mary screamed, and tried to pull away, blood gushing down her shirt. The crowd started screaming, several people running for help. Fox swore several times, stunned. "You can't kill me like this..." Mary gasped, trying to pull away from the blade. "I can weaken you, slow you down." Lightning twisted the blade with another cackle. Mary shrieked in absolute pain and managed to pull away, swinging her sword to push her enemy's bloody blade away. Hearing sirens and seeing cop cars pull up in front of the stadium, Lightning sheathed the sword with a laugh. Covered in blood, but she laughed, buzzed with blood lust. "We will meet again, Mary Ann. Soon." Then she was gone, disappeared into thin air. Mary fell to her knees, dropping her sword, hands coming up to cover the wound. "Good god." Fox said, stunned. "She should be dead by now." Falco commented, staring at Mary. "I cannot die." Groaned Mary, in agony. "I am immortal." She held herself off the ground with one hand, lifting her eyes to look at Fox's small group. "If the cops find me, they will arrest and jail me. Help me? Please?" Author: RINGSHADOW Subject: Silent Bullet, Part 7 Posted: JANUARY 15, 1999 13:50 "Nice house Fox." Falco said, helping Katt out of the car and up the walk. Katt's balance was off thanks to her concussion. "Thanks." Fox held the door open. He personally thought that Katt had better balance then she was letting on. She had taken an immediate liking to rough-and-tumble Falco, after all. "You okay Mary?" "Covered in blood, weak as heck, spliting headache, and my heart still hasn't completely healed." She grumbled in reply. Fara came in last, hauling the broadsword, and Fox closed the door. "Jeez, this thing is heavy." Fara growled to herself. "To me, light swords don't have the force of broadswords." Sucking air in, Mary untied the tunic and shrugged out of it slowly, revealing a tank top. "Why did you two interfere with the fight anyway?" "I just wanted to stop a fight before it started." Katt replied, sitting down hard. "Sweet thought." Mary sighed. "But when Lightning is fighting, she kills all who interfere, or tries. Katt, if I hadn't attacked at that moment, Lightning would have killed you. What about you, Fox?" "I saw that Katt was hurt that's all. We've known each other since we were little kids. I wanted to make sure she was all right, and I thought I was out of range of the fight." Fox came in and tossed a few towels to Mary. "Guess it was pretty stupid of me." "Not going to comment on that." She draped one of the towels around her neck absently, and worked at the drying blood with another. "So what was this fight all about?" Asked James. "She used to be my martial arts instructor. I was her assistant in fact, for a while. Then she found unorthadox ways and it corrupted her mind. She killed all her students, but I managed to get away somehow." She sighed. "I've been on the run ever since, working as an assassin." "You're an assassin?" "Afraid so, for two and a half years now. I'm also a Kerlruit Gladiator." Mary gave up, glaring at the dried blood. "I need a shower and clean clothing, I'm afraid." "What's Kerlruit?" Falco asked from down the hall. He was exploring the house. "Planet outsystem. Pretty similar to us, but a little behind in technology.Have a love of bloodthirsty sports." Fox said. "Gladiator Warfare is one of their more popular sports. Hand-to-hand combat to the death." He turned amazed and admiring eyes to Mary. "How many battles have you been through?" She shrugged. "I'm last year's champion." Exclamations filled the room. "I have to ask, Mary." Said James. "Are you like Lightning? Do you enjoy killing?" "No. I am not insane, I do not enjoy it. But I see nothing wrong with making money off it. I'd like to retire ASAP though, I've made quite enough." "How much?" "Hm. Between assassinations and the championship....closing in on a billion." More exclamations and a lot more surprised swearing. "God, girl!" Said Falco, stunned. "I hate my life." She replied bluntly. "What's the use of all my money if I can spend none? I own nearly nothing because all purchases can be traced. No car, no ship, no house, nothing." She picked up the sword and glared at the blade, testing it. "Dull..." She growled to herself. "I have sharpening equipment." Offered James. "Thanks, I'll deal with the edge later." She set the sword in her lap and began to disassemble it carefully, looking at each peice for damage. "Cool." Falco said, watching Mary take her sword apart with interest. "Actually yes." She glanced up. "No damage for once. This blade's one of the best ever made, and still, it's cracked more then once." Fara picked up a section of the heavy blade. "Must be one serious impact to damage folded steel." She observed. "Doesn't look damaged." "Fused it back together." Mary shrugged. "It's hard to explain so don't ask. The simplest I can put it is that I have a lot of mental power and I use it in many ways." She tested various parts of the blade. REALLY dull. "Got any asprin?" "Sure." James tossed her a medicine bottle. "Thanks." She knocked several back. "So what do you do now?" "Run again, and sooner or later, Lightning and I will meet again. As much as I want to take a stand and kill her, she always has the upper hand somehow." She sighed, rubbing one of her ears, fingering a nick Lightning had taken out of it in an earlier fight. "What if we helped you?" "Might get you killed. You're nice people the lot of you, don't want you killed by the insanest person in the system. Lightning's killed around 700 people, maybe more." "My god." Fara said, stunned. "A serial killer?" "Something like that." She agreed. Raw rage at her instructor was hard to avoid when she thought about what Lightning had done. Those friends that had all been brutally murdered....walking into the Dojo to find Lightning covered in blood, and the bodies...she shuddered, anger burning in her eyes for a minute. "I'm really lucky. I should be like her, I don't know why I'm not." "A suggestion." Said James. "Yes?" "The way I see it, she's chasing you, not the other way around, right?" "Right..." "Well, you can choose where you meet then. You can choose the playing feild." "A place I'm familiar with but she isn't? Not a bad idea." "Also, would she try to change the odds?" "I'm more worried about cops." "Find a few friends to make sure the cops don't come around, and if they do, have them warn you somehow." Suddenly she smiled. "After all I've been telling you, you still want to help me?" "Yeah. I want to see the end of this." James admitted easily. "Fine by me. Any ideas on where to set this up?" "Well." Katt said suddenly. "I have an idea that might work." Author: RINGSHADOW Subject: Silent Bullet, Part 8 Posted: JANUARY 17, 1999 08:11 The group studied Katt's idea. It was an old stadium, closed for renovation. "No one around, lots of space." Katt explained. "Good idea." Mary agreed. "Football statium?" "Yep." "Let's take a look, shall we?" An hour later, the stadium had been investigated and Mary had said she would be able to use it, and thanked Katt again. "Now I have to track a few buddies of mine down to cop-watch." Mary said, thinking aloud. "How long before Lightning finds you?" Fara asked. "Goodness knows. Which means I have to hurry." Mary sighed. "See you later tonight." And she disappeared into thin air. "Cool trick." Said Falco, stunned. Mary entered the tavern, in her cloak and clean clothes. Warrior, Gustile, and Ghost sat at the bar. She went up to them, and sat down beside Ghost. "I need your help, you three." She quietly told them. "I'm setting up for a final battle between Lightning and myself, and I want to make sure the cops stay away. I need people to keep watch." The trio looked at her. "I heard about what happened this afternoon." Said Warrior. "Do you want to help or not? I'll pay you if you want me to." They nodded. "Come on then." "A stadium?" Ghost asked as they slipped through a hole in the fence. "Empty, it's being renovated." Mary replied. "Dang good idea." Gustile grinned. "Someone's coming." Warrior said, hand touching his sword automatically. "Mary?" Called James. "Here. We're coming." "Okay. Come on in. Grabbed some things I thought would be useful, go ahead and call me stupid." A light turned dimly on, revealing a truck. In the back was some equipment, including headset walkie-talkies, and blade sharpening equipment. "I'm impressed." Said Warrior. "Hey, you're James McCloud, that merc pilot." "Warrior, correct?" James rose an eyebrow. "The assassin? I've heard of you." "Oh?" Warrior put one of the headsets on, and tested it. "Is that good or bad?" Mary stiffened. "Hurry, we don't have much time." "What is it?" James asked warily, hand on gun. "I can feel her presence. She'll be here very soon. Hurry." Author: RINGSHADOW Subject: Silent Bullet, Part 9 Posted: JANUARY 18, 1999 09:52 //This is the last chapter of the story// With moonlight as her only light, Mary strode to the center of the football field and knelt, sword laying on the ground beside her as she prayed. Then she set a hand on her sword and crouched, ready and waiting silently. Lightning appeared, wearing intense silver and gold fighting clothes. She stood facing Mary, a good twelve feet away, and rose her sword in a challenge. Mary bounced lightly to her feet and advanced, sword in hand. "Hello, Mary Ann." Lightning said in a harsh, angry voice. "Hello Lightning." Her voice was just as angry and harsh. "This is the final fight." "I know. I can beat you." "Let's see if you can." Mary attacked, both hands on the hilt of her sword. Lightning parried, and attacked back. Sparks flew as the crashing steel hit again and again. The two fought with unleashed anger. Mary forced herself to remain calm and patient as she fought, seeing it just like the sword play she and Lightning had done during her training years ago, but this was more intense, more dangerous. Lightning smiled grimly as she fought. She was enjoying herself, taking her time. 'Mary has vastly improved her skills.' She mused absently. The first blood to fly was Lightning's. She yelped in surprise, backing away, staring at the bloody slash on her stomach. "I congratulate you on first blood." She snarled. Mary grimly smiled and attacked again, only to receive a slash across her cheek. Ignoring the pain and blood, she swung her bloody blade again, using the flat side to push Lightning aside. Lightning decided she had had quite enough, and charged. Mary sidestepped, and tripped Lightning as she passed, swinging her sword again, cutting a long, deep cut down her enemy's back. Lightning shrieked in pain, hit the ground and rolled, cutting herself on her own sword in the process. Her eyes glowed chill black as she looked at Mary. Mary's were opposite, soft mother-of-pearl, reflecting the moonlight. "You have learned Mary Ann." Lightning said in an angry voice. "The Kerlruit have removed all mercy from your fighting." "If that was true you'd be dead right now." The cheetah-fox cross stood up, picked up her sword, and approached Mary. "Maybe, maybe not. My ability to execute the Angry God move is superior to you. I can kill you with it." Her body perpared for the evil move. Mary repositioned herself, and again smiled grimly. "I found a move on Kerlruit that can counter your move and kill you for good." "You aren't good enough." She threw down her sword. Mary tossed her sword down, and raised her hands into a ready fighting position. "Try me." A bolt of white fur lanced toward Mary, who blocked and hit back. Lightning clawed and fought desperately, Mary calmly returned the blows, taking blows without a twitch. Lightning was getting tired, impatient, and weak from blood loss. She swallowed, knowing she had one chance, unsure if it would work but desperate enough to try it. She backed away and leapt into the air and toward Mary, starting the Angry God move. Mary leapt to meet her former trainer with a war cry. The people who were watching, amazed, had to turn away in surprise. A flash of darkness, from Lightning, a flash of blinding light from Mary. Both screamed in surprise and pain, and fell to the ground. When the group of mortals arrived, only one got up. "So what was that anyway?" Warrior asked, sitting down in the tavern. "The darkness was the Angry God move, the light was the Lady Peace defensive move." Mary replied. She looked exhausted, dark circled under her eyes. "I'm glad it's over, really glad. But where do I go now?" "What do you mean?" James asked. "I've been running so long I've forgotten almost everything else. Maybe I'll just retire. Buy a nice house, a car, and my own spaceship. 'Bout time I could spend money without worry of it being traced." Mary slouched. "After all you've been through, you deserve a break." Falco said, raising his glass. "Cheers." "Cheers." The rest agreed, clanking glasses. Yet another odd story from my library of them. Hope you liked this one. I've been working on other stories as well, I have many. If you like any of my work enough to see more, ask and I'll post more. In particular are the stories about Anna, a former Venomian genetic experiment. Also, I'm working on a story about an assassin named Draco, who is given the hardest assignment of all: assassinate Andross//this one is not done!//. Ringshadow, the mad writer.