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Cecil Metus, Antony Seurata, and Jason Volgende stood at one and of the circular ring in the gymnasium attached to the Student Center as the omni- electric field blared about them. "Only three participants from each team will be allowed in the ring," the announcer said in a voice that seemed to come straight out of the air. A white line representing an invisible energy ring had been drawn on the artificial floor with bleachers set a clear distance from that ring for the safety of the spectators. Partially constructed walls, artificial foliage, and numerous, large blocks had been placed at strategic points within as obstacles, and all around was a sea of eager spectators. "According to the rules of Venatio, each participant must wear proper shielding, and only participants will be allowed inside the energy ring; all spectators must remain in the stands or at concession."
Chris Venatio sat on one side of the stands looking regal and scholarly, clearly enjoying the spotlight of his creation. Opposite Chris, just above the Champions, Todd Vals smiled big at Stacy Delecto, Anika Perperam, and Earlen Uetke, who had subsequently moved very close to their competition: three powerlords from Chicago called 'The Suzerainty'. They were ratty and came wearing overly sized black jeans and shirts with strange symbols painted in bright orange paint. One was tall with an assortment of earrings and tattoos on his thick face and large arms, another wore a high, haughty simper, and the third a hardened look like a rock. They held crude omni-powered weapons that looked as if they had been scavenged from a junkyard and forged in a garage.
"The honorary Chris Venatio will now moderate the fight," announced the booming voice. Chris subsequently left his seat at the other side of the ring and approached the omni power source with its titidium antenna just to one side of the energy ring. He pressed a series of buttons on its base causing a myriad of colored lights to flash rapidly across its surface. On cue, Cecil, Anthony, and Jason reached down to something on their belts, and their appearances darkened markedly so that they were almost shadows. The two powerlords made similar movements, although their appearances didn't change in any noticeable manner. Behind them, Stacy, Anika, and Earlen reached to identical necklaces.
"Shake hands," commanded Chris. Cecil, Anthony, and Jason strutted through the various obstacles to shake hands with their insolent opponents. To Joram, sitting just behind Todd with Nick and Tomma (clearly more involved with each other than with the fight), the Champions looked bold and confident, while the Suzerainty appeared to be suffering from some kind of distraction.
They all moved back to their corners as Chris then waved with his arms high over his head, "The fight between the Champions and the Suzerainty will now begin.”
Cecil and his sidekicks advanced confidently to meet their opponents, Cecil's scowl becoming a war cry as Todd and Briel shouted their approval. The powerlords were having difficulty getting started. They were staring transfixed at something off to one side of them, in the direction of Stacy, Anika, and Earlen.
Cecil advanced just beyond a large block in clear sight of one of the powerlords and pounced, firing black lightning that struck him square in the chest so that he was blown out of the ring. The crowd all around them erupted as Chris made a circular motion with one arm: one was down.
Joram watched the other two powerlords as Antony and Jason advanced just behind Cecil. They didn't move. Joram's fingernails dug into his jeans. Why didn't they do something?
Two more flashes of black lightning lit the ring as the other two powerlords were down. The crowd rose to their feet and roared. Joram looked at Nick and Tomma, knowing they were both thinking the same thing. The Champions had handily beaten a tough team in a very short amount of time.
Narration by Howard Douglas; based on discussions with Tomma Torstig.
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