DRFB: Chpt 32 Slugball!

DRFB
CH 32: Slugball
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"We disappear for three days. THREE DAYS! And Eli Shane infiltrates the base, rescues RedHook, discovers the accelerator thingies and the Deep Caverns portal, infiltrates the base again and kicks Blakks ass down to the Underworld along with the Darkbane Army, all by himself, and now he's throwing a Slugball tournament to celebrate?" Twist exclaimed.

"You forgot to mention he had help from the Shadowclan." Kaiya replied, much more interested in Nicole who was trying out Kaiyas boxing bag.

"Good form though try not to always go for vitals. Makes you predictable."

Nicole stepped back from the swaying black bag," I think I know that."
Kaiya shrugged, "I'm just bored."
"Fair enough."

"Guys?" Twist asked, feeling ignored.
"Yeah, yeah. We'll go watch the game." Kaiya waved dismissively.

"Wait-We'll What?!?" Both friends chorused, looking equally confused
"What? I want to see them play!" Kaiya got up and stretched. She'd been to inactive lately.
"If you guys didn't know I don't pay any attention to sports other than Mecha Races or... well, just mecha races. Most of which I'm banned from anyway." She finished lamely.

Twist scowled but reluctantly agreed "Fine. Maybe I can sabotage it or something."

Kaiya nodded but inside, she really didn't want Twist to screw up the game.
Nicole voiced her thoughts for her.
"Really Twist? Can't you go to a simple function without making an attempt on Eli Shanes life?"

Twist said nothing, choosing to glower at the pair from behind his blonde fringe.

Nicole clapped her hands, "Then it's settled! We're going to the game!!"



One Hour Later

"Wow. A lot of people turned up."

The trio were watching as Slugterra citizens all shapes and colours filed in, keen to watch the big game.
Nicole was wearing a cute blue blouse with dark blue jeans, taking full advantage of the freedom she was offered.
Kaiya had her trademark leather jacket on but underneath, had a striking purple t-shirt with a leopard print pattern slipping down from the shoulder.
Twist, however, was in his usual get-up of yellow jacket and brown and white t-shirt.

("Don't you ever change clothes?" Kaiya had asked.
Twist just laughed and shook his head, "What else do I have to wear? That stupid Blakk Industries uniform? No thanks!" )

"You don't say." Nicole muttered as a large Cave-troll settled down next her, making her lean on a 45 degree angle to avoid the huge arm.

Twist snickered at the sight.
"Oops, sorry." The Cave-Troll rumbled, squeezing his arms closer to his sides.

A fanfare of digital trumpets announced the teams playing.

"On the left hand side we have.......The Shane Sssssstrikers!" A voice exploded over the speakers.
The crowd screamed in support as the team members walked out onto the court. Twist simply snorted.

Leading them was the one and only Eli Shane. Hero of the 99 Caverns.
He smiled and waved as he floated out on a green and black hover board.
His team of four followed behind him, all clad in the same green and black armour.
Kord and Eli were on hover boards but they were the only original Shane Gang members to be playing.
On the two hyena mechas was Elina and a long blonde haired woman whom Kaiya had recognized as Harper Pine, a feared slinging veteran.
Resting casually on her shoulder was a huge cannon blaster.

Kaiya whistled, "Don't want to get hit by that!"

Nicole gulped, "Are blasters of that power even allowed?"

"I'm guessing so, I just hope it doesn't have an accelerator."

Twist laughed, "Why not? It'll make things more interesting."

Kaiya considered his remark then nodded in agreement. She was keen to see some proper physical sport.


The speakers shuddered as another booming voice rang out.
"And please give a warm welcome to the challengers, The Mayhem-Makers!"

Another team of four, donned in scarlet armour slowly glided out onto the magnetized field.

"For you people who don't know these newbies, I'll have the pleasure of introducing them!
Team Captain: Zaylee Foxx!"
A young woman on a hover board waved to the crowd.

"Our two mecha riders are Lace and Angelina Montez!"

The purple haired girl waved at the crowd as she edged her mecha forward, the blonde with pink tints following behind her quietly yet proudly.

"And our fourth and final member is Eliza Shane, on the second hover board!"
The tall blonde girl waved sheepishly, the flexible red armour moving easily.

"Is she related to Eli?" Twist muttered.

"Everyone is these days, I just hope not, Eli Shane and his gang alone are enough to deal with. I'd prefer it if we didn't have vengeful family members after us."

The crowd roared their support, eager for a good game.

"So, ladies and gentlemen I am happ-"
The announcement cut off in a burst of static breath, muffling a dull thud and some sharp whispering.

The crowd murmured anxiously and The Shane Strikers shared a look.

Nicole leaned, forward, craning for a look at the announcing box, "What happened?"

Her question was answered by another voice, this one distinguishingly female.

"Sorry 'bout that Slugterra. But anyway, this is Vinyl and Chance announcing the live Slugball game between The Shane Strikers!-"

Another voice cut in, this one deeper but still female, " And The Mayhem Makers!"

The crowd roared but Eli seemed gob struck along with Kaiya.

Twist looked at her, amused, "Did I just hear what they just said?" He asked.
Kaiya nodded, her blank face twisting into annoyance.
"Vinyl just hijacked the announcers box! Why that stupid little..." She trailed off, her hands clawing and grasping at an invisible neck.
"The nerve of her! First she shows up at Blakks, hooks a job and then is rude to everyone she sees! I fixed her damn mecha beast with my own spare parts and all I get is attitude! I would've been even with her on the training run but then she teleported out." Kaiya was so worked up she missed the game start.

Twist nudged her, bringing her back to reality and away from her daydream of throttling Vinyl.

She instantly forgot her anger as Kord scored the first goal, sending the crowd spastic.

“What a stunning goal from the big Cave-Troll down there, right Vinyl?”
“Definitely, Chance!”

The Strikers grouped up for a team high-five while the Mayhem Makers prepared themselves for the next round.

This time,  Zaylee grabbed the ball as it shot up from the center field, neatly sliding her board down the Cavetrolls enormous back as he also made a grab for the ball.

The board hit the magnetic field and Zaylee was off, Elina and Eli in hot pursuit.

“Oooo, she’s got both the Shanes on her tail now!”
“Uh. One of them is a Shae. No ‘N’”
“I knew that.”

Quickly taking in account her two opponents, she bravely entered the gauntlet, Eli is tow.

The crowd turned to the big screen, murmuring in excitement as Zaylee and Eli matched wits, agility and speed as the dodged obstacle after obstacle.

“Will you look at those MOVES! Duckin’ and dodgin’ like a pro!” Vinyls voice rang over the speakers

Out of the corner of her eye, Kaiya caught a glimpse of Harper loading the giant blaster and aiming at the Gauntlet exit.

Zaylee left the gauntlet first, Eli a few metres behind, as a huge Triceratops slug barreled towards her, intent on pulverizing the player.

The captain barely had enough time to pass to Lace before the slug slammed into the wall, inches from her head, the shock-wave sending her clattering to the floor as Eli zoomed over head.

“That was a hell of a lucky pass, right Vinyl! Hope that slug didn’t get her that badly!”

All attention turned Lace as Elina and Kord hounded her in her race to the goal hoop.

“Ooo, she’s nearly there! But will she make it?”

Eli had dropped back for a short breather, while Harper retrieved her slug and helped Zaylee up.

Kaiya smiled inwardly, 'At least good sportsmanship still exists.'

Lace was approaching the goal but Elina was hot on her tail and Lace couldn't shake her, even with all the digi blades and walls popping up.

“Doesn’t look like it Chance!”

Then Angelina came out of nowhere, ramming into Elina with an apologetic smile and causing both mechas to fall back, sparks flying.

Now it was only Lace and Kord.

“You sure ‘bout that Vinyl?”

One glance back told Lace it was now or never.

In a split second, she had thrown the ball at the ring.
It was a perfect shot, had Kord not reacted as fast as he did.

An Arachnet slug snagged the ball in a sticky strand.

“Yep!”

Lace cried out in despair as the ball hurtled towards the trolls waiting blue hands.

But at the last minute, a nimble hand plucked the ball out.

“I think not!”

Eliza grasped the ball while completing a back flip over the stunned troll and slammed it through the goal, causing the ring to light up red and the speakers to buzz.

“That was an impressive save from Eliza Shane, there folks! What a way to end the second  round!”

Kaiya and Nicole jumped up along with audience, releasing the tension the game had stored inside them.

"Did you see that flip!" Kaiya exclaimed to no-one in particular.

"Yeah! The whole goal was amazing. Pity for the Captain though, she did really well!"

Kaiya turned to find a young girl sitting next to her, chatting excitedly.

The girl met Kaiyas gaze with a small smile.

She seemed tan enough but seemed kind of pale, like she was sick. Her hair was light hazel, the edges dipped in slug blue.

"My name's Genki Fawn. Wasn't Eli amazing? Those skills, those muscles, those eyes..." She trailed off dreamily until the next round buzzer startled her.

"Oh next round!" The brown haired girl squeaked as the players took their positions again.

Three more rounds went by, the Strikers leading by one.

Everything seemed to be going well by the fourth round.
Elina had the ball and was trying to shake Harper, who was trying to line up the large blaster to fire.

Elina was so engrossed in steering clear of Harper she completely missed the spinning blades that showed up in front of her.

Harper signaled desperately for her to move but Elina didn't pick up.

The announcers stayed silent while the crowd screamed a warning.
But it went unheard as Elina continued towards the spinning whirlwind.

Elina finally turned around, her eyes grew wide and she froze in fear as the mecha ran blindly forward.
It was too late to stop the mecha. now.

Eliza swooped out of nowhere, leaping from her board and pushing Elina out of the way, seconds before the mechas head reached the shredding blades.

The crowd roared in awe at the quick actions as a scream slashed through the air.

The roar from the crowd quickly diminished and was replaced by worried mutters.

"What happened?" Twist leaned forward, to engrossed in the game to think of sabotage.

The mobile camera zoomed in on a figure in red lying motionless on the arena floor.

"Whoa! Looks like we'll need to check the slo-mo  camera to see what happened there!" Vinyls voice rang out over the stadium, a brittle sound amongst the deafening silence from the stunned crowd.

The big screen flashed to life, showing Eliza pushing Elina out of harms way but getting her foot stuck in the mecha engine, only getting loose after the blades slashed the mechas engine to ribbons.

But not before multiple blades cracked against her helmet. The force was clearly shown as the holographic numbers on her shoulders flickered out.
Two more blades smashed against her back, eventually throwing her aside into an unconscious heap.


Elina was being tended to by Eli and Kord was waving the 'Timeout' signal.

Angelina and Lace were gathered around Eliza while Harper hauled the mutilated mecha carcass away to the sidelines

Medics rushed out to attend to the two girls. Elina was in shock and Eliza was unresponsive to any medical care.

Kaiya watched in silent horror, her mind to blank to portray the sudden shock carved into Nicoles face, or the genuine disbelief on Twists.

A sudden nauseas feeling arose in Kaiyas stomach, though her mind knew it wasn't from the accident.
Something worse was going to happen.

It was a thing mechanics had. Kaiyas keen eyes immediately caught Kord still waving the Timeout signal.

Why?

Wait...
"Genki! How is a slugball field programmed?!" She asked her neighbor fiercely.

Genki jumped out of her shock, "I-I..I don't know!"

Kaiya grew frustrated, "How do the obstacles pop up randomly? "

Genki winced "I think its weight sensitive, the arena. It also tracks the ball. But the programmers would've shut the system down by now. Especially since Kord is asking for a time out."

Kaiya nodded, processing the information, "Is there a back up switch?"

"I'm going to guess the announcers box? Why?"

Kaiya didn't reply, instead switching on her red glasses, scanning the major power lines. All were intact and nothing seemed wrong.

Harper had finished dragging the mangled remains of the mecha beast to the side line and was halfway to the incident scene when Kaiyas glasses started beeping.

A red cross showed up on the mecha beasts mid section and Kaiya had had enough experience with mecha beasts to know what was going to happen next.
Especially to cheap hyena models.

The explosion was terrific, Harper was barely out of shrapnel range and she turned around with a briefly terrified face.

The body had been blown up from the inside, the shredded metal curling outwards in a grotesque fashion.

The force from the ruptured engine had slammed pieces of metal into the wall, Kaiyas glasses revealing the main control line from the programmers box had been completely severed.

"Oh no..." she managed, before bolting out of her seat and heading for the stairwell.

Twist noticed Kaiya leave and made to stop her before a dramatic action on the field caught his eye.

A digi wall erupted upwards, smashing into the side of a red panther mecha, toppling over towards Angelina, Lace and the unconscious Eliza.

A scream escaped from Angelinas lips and Lace froze in fear as the mecha slowly bore down on them.

Just as the mecha leaned over the point of no return, two bright blue hands stopped its fall.
Kord was straining to right it because of the wall and Angelina joined him holding it up while Lace carefully carried Eliza to safety.

Kord and Angie let the mecha fall down only to have it shoved back up and torn to pieces by spinning blades.

Harper was the first to realize what had happened.

"Guys! Get off the field! Round Two's started!" She yelled, racing towards the group on the Strikers remaining mecha.


Meanwhile Kaiya had reached the announcers booth.
She tried the door.
Locked.

Not to her steel capped boots though.
The door smashed inwards, one of the few wooden doors that existed in Slugterra.

Vinyl and her friend barely had time to turn around before Kaiya yanked their blasters away.

"Hey! Give those back!" Vinyl commanded.
Kaiya just glared at her, pulling out a knife.

Vinyls eyes grew wide but she remained silent and stepped back.
Her friend Chance lunged for the blasters. Kaiya swiftly evaded the lunge and swung a leg out, tripping the unbalanced girl before planting a boot on her back.

"Both of you. Out. Now!" She growled.

The two girls complied, silently fuming.
Vinyl stalked out but Chance had pasted a creepy smile on her face and was giggling.

Kaiya didn't trust either of them.
Taking a small knife she jabbed it twice into each blaster, making sure she cut the trigger cord.

The damage was small and nearly unnoticeable but she could've done better had there been more time.

Chucking the useless blasters through the shattered doorway she used her glasses and knowledge to find the control switch.

Risking a glance upwards towards the field she saw Eli, Kord and Lace playing a twisted game of Slugball in their efforts to keep the computers attention away from Lace and Harper who were heading for the stadiums side entrances with the two wounded girls, although Elina seemed fine, well enough to hobble next to Lace, whose mecha had nearly squashed her before being shredded by the blades.

"Come on, come on where are you?" Kaiya muttered frantically, x-ray eyes scanning the jumble of wires.

Finally she found the wires junction. A touch screen tablet that was locked.

Quickly connecting the hacking device kept in her glove controls she waited impatiently for it to crack the password.

While she was waiting, her eyes drifted to the big screen, presently showing Eli and the Slugball.

A warning nagged at her brain and she quickly remembered the announcers being shown on the screen.

She gulped. Last thing she needed was to be blamed for this botch up.

A beep announced the software was complete.


Twists insides churned as Harper launched slug after slug at the sealed doors, trying to open them and find a safe place to help Eliza.
But the doors held. They'd been designed for a Slugball game, which included explosive slugs, powerful slugs and being rammed or smashed with multiple objects including mechas, hover boards and players.

One of the medics shook his head.
"It ain't gonna open like 'dat, missy. It's desaign'd fer a Slugball arena. It's gotta be tough."

Harper ceased her slinging and stepped back, clearly irritated.
"Then how 'ah we' gonna git outta' this death-trap?" She kicked the door in frustrated worry.
Her friend was down, her others were risking their necks for them or were just plain defenseless.
All of them riding on her.

She growled, shaking the pessimistic thoughts away.

'Come on gel! Y'ur a vet'ren! Ya think on y'ur feet!'

Spectator help was unoptional, the walls were too high and a force field surrounded the tops so the crowd could see but not get hit by slugs or players.
She was guessing the arena controls were down and the back up was in the announcers stand. The one that got taken over by a couple of kids.

She risked a glance up at the booth. She could only see one head, bent over and out of direct sight.

No help from there then.

She sighed then drew a sharp breath as two spinning blades shot up, slowly advancing on the small group of medics and players.

"Ev'ryone behind meh' now!" She ordered, parking her mecha in an attempt to shield them from the whining blades.

Nicole turned white, "I can't watch"
Twist just gulped, to engrossed in the horrific turns of events to turn away.
Genki just whimpered, eyes wide and tearful.


Kaiya looked up briefly and her heart sank. Two spinners had materialized and were heading for Harper.

"Come on, come on!" She urged the tablet as she desperately tried to find the arena controls.

A small little box had kept popping up. Kaiya hadn't been bothered to read what it had said, simply pressing no and continuing the search.

"Come on, come o-YES!" She crowed triumphantly as she found the file labeled 'Arena Controls'.
Opening it she selected  the correct control typed in the passkey and...

The little box popped up again.
Kaiya slammed her fists down on either side of the tablet in anger.
She had learnt not to slam fists on devices.
It had lost her a lot of work.
And tablets, lap-pads, phones etc.

She just pressed a random button then continued to type in the passkey and disable the arena.


Harper was crouched behind the mecha beast as the blades made short work of the metal and ice they'd used to hold the mecha in place.

She would've made urged the group to make a run for it but digi walls had materialized in a box shape, trapping them against the solid metal door.

A flash on the big screen caught her attention.
It was from the inside the announcers box. Except there weren't two girls there, just one.
In a black leather jacket and brown ponytail, leaning over a screen and desperately tapping.


"Yes, yes, yeeeesss.. YES! Arena traps are disabled!" Kaiya fist pumped the air, performing a little victory dance to celebrate.

"Awwwww Yeah! Whose awesome? I'm Awesome! Whoop whoop!"

She then leaned over the control board, running her hand through her hair before looking out at the exhausted members, a faint smile on her face.

Before spotting she was on the big screen.

"Ah!" She jumped backwards, the smile disappearing.

She could she herself sideways on the T.V.
Slowly turning her head she spotted the livestream camera, hidden in the shadows, filming her victory.

Harper allowed herself a smile, as the doors opened and Eliza, Elina and the medics were ushered to safety, which only grew at the sight of Kaiyas victory dance then her bemused expression at the camera.

She looked sheepish, embarrassed and awkward as she slowly realized she was live on the screen.
Eventually she clicked and the T.V. went static as a knife slashed the screen.

Harper absentmindedly brushed at a cut on her arm.

'Maybe bad guys can change'


Kaiya stared terrified at the smoking camera. She had been on the big screen! And eveyone had seen! This was bad, bad, bad.

No, this is not the time to panic. Stay calm, stay calm. You'll be fine.

After a few deep breaths, she dashed out the shattered doorway, only to be stopped by Chance and  Vinyl.
Both blasters aimed at her.

She groaned and rolled her eyes, "Don't have time guys!" She made to go past but an arm stopped her.

"Move and we fire!" Vinyl stated, shoving the blaster up in Kaiyas face.

Kaiya had had enough of her.
Pushing the  blaster aside, she delivered to short, sharp punches to the stomach, stepping past when Vinyl doubled over.
Chance growled and pulled the trigger, expecting her Flaringo to be launched.

But it didn't. Kaiyas sabotage had worked and the saboteur left a confused Chance, who was repeatedly pulling the trigger to try and get the blaster to work.

Leaping down the stairwell she sent a message to Twist via the earpiece.

"I'll catch up with you later"

Dashing around the corner she ran straight into someone, knocking them both over.

"Ow. Watch it." She growled
"Yeah, sorry, you alright?"
She knew that voice.

Looking up she met Elis gaze, his blue eyes widening in surprise.

"Kaiya!" He exclaimed. He was still wearing the green armour, she wouldn't be able to beat him with that protection.

"Yeah?!" She snarled, rubbing her head.

Eli stood up and offered her a hand up.
She ignored it and got up herself.

"Thanks."

Kaiya froze, "What?"

"Thanks, for the help. For saving Elina, Eliza and practically everyone playing." Eli held out a hand.

Kaiya stared at him, unbelieving, before her ear-piece buzzed.

"I-I..I gotta go. Later loser." She shoved past him.
As she stomped off she didn't see the knowing smile that spread across his face.