As the five friends became acquainted with their new Elemental strategies and equipment, Kyara's two months on board came to an end. There was no call to duty, no summons from the Rim government, and no chance to honor their families. Still, Kieran Ravy landed the ship for a few days to supervise the installation of four 'Creators' in the ship's hallways. With the help of vats of fundamental nutritional components, this emerging technology could create food right on a plate. By using mass spectrometry to determine the exact chemical formula, a Creator could precisely duplicate any dish and pour it into a recess. However, at this point, it could only be used for food, and the technology still needed to be improved. Kyara's installed models were able to follow spoken instructions and ask questions when necessary.
Kieran Ravy also obtained instruction manuals for Kyara's five main piloting stations during this stopover and gave them to his friends. Assigned positions included Chief Engineer Kieran Ravy, Diagnostics Officer Nayla Zantara, Sensors Technician Luna Trevyn, Tactical Officer Yan Zantara, and Ship's Doctor/Communications Officer Nora Rahmyn.
They started putting their skills to the test against one another in simulated combat after everyone was at ease with the adjustments to their routines and abilities. Except for the sporadic unpredictable "fluke" that the simulator added for realism, like Kieran Ravy's gun jamming against Nayla Zantara at a crucial moment, Yan Zantara mysteriously breaking his leg while just walking, or Nora Rahmyn's armor dissolving in the atmosphere of an alien world, almost every fight ended in a draw.
With the arrival of the Creators and the galley's transformation into much-needed storage space, their one regular gathering—dinner—had all but stopped. Late one evening, Luna Trevyn was the one who brought everyone together in Nora Rahmyn's room to discuss their shared future. Luna Trevyn sat on the top bunk of Nora Rahmyn's bed while the others relaxed in beanbag chairs, giving her the appearance of "presiding" over the conversation, even though it was hardly a formal event.
She started, "Okay, there are three things we need to figure out," as she crossed them off her list. "First, will we be competing in any tournaments soon? Second: which one, if any? Third, why haven't we heard anything if the government needs the work we're supposed to be doing so badly? Who knows the answers?
Zantara Nayla was the first to speak. "The first one is mine to have. I searched the ship's computer for local competitions in between training and meditations. Just a few light-years away, at the end of this week, the Finals Clash, an Elemental team tournament, will begin. groups of ten or more. It could be interesting if we're all prepared.
"Congrats on spilling other people's blood! "It sounds like fun!" With only a hint of humor, Nora Rahmyn interrupted.
Yan Zantara's beanbag leaned forward. "Battles between teams? It's not even a category in the entry-level competitions, wow. I'm prepared. I'm definitely itching for action.
"Action from girls or the arena?" Nayla Zantara, curled up in her corner, asked smugly.
Yan Zantara avoided the situation deftly. "Come on, sis, you know where my priorities lie."
Kieran Ravy cut them off in their teasing. "Yan Zantara, we all do. But really, who's opposed to going? I believe I can compete, but I would like more practice before we jump in. Any ideas?"
Nayla Zantara brought up a useful point. "How do we form a team once we arrive? Guys versus girls? "All five at once?"
Luna Trevyn answered right away. "I support each of the five. Better synergy, more firepower.
"Good," said Kieran Ravy. I'm going to lay in the course. I'll be in the sim if anyone needs me." As he left, Nayla Zantara sprinted ahead of him in a competition to take the simulator first.
Three days later, they made a subdued, almost unimpressive, entrance at the Finals Clash. With skillful practice, Kieran Ravy docked Kyara. They stayed on board, sending in their entry form through radio communications, and only disembarked the next day when their match was revealed.
Intense silence surrounded the locker room's last preparations. Every warrior was completely engrossed in their own rites and was unaware of the others. Wearing only his boxers, Kieran Ravy sat on a bench and meditated, but no one paid him any attention. Nayla Zantara closed her eyes, took deep breaths, and remained motionless on her head. The others concentrated on their equipment. Kieran Ravy got up at the ten-minute warning and carefully put on his armor piece by piece, then his climate control suit. The others followed suit. Luna Trevyn sharpened some blades at the last minute. Yan Zantara painstakingly polished a fictitious flaw off his chest plate. On her radio systems, Nora Rahmyn performed diagnostics. For a moment, Nayla Zantara shimmered into a vague outline as she tested her stealth unit. For its first combat test, Kieran Ravy whirled his new bladestaff in sleek, vertical circles.
The five were prepared, fully armored and armed. They adjusted the tints on their helmet visors to block the sudden glare of the arena lights as the double doors in front of them slowly slid open. They entered the field in a straight line, confident but not cocky, after a straightforward, prearranged routine. They paused at the starting markers, each shining in freshly painted armor with their Elements' emblems displayed on their upper arms and chest. The hilts of their main melee weapons now held the elemental stones they had been given during their induction ceremony.
They drew their weapons sequentially, from left to right, at the first gong. After a brief moment of holding their weapon in the air, each charged full force into the arena's thick jungle terrain. Their strategy, which they had committed to memory in advance, was simple: Kieran Ravy and Nora Rahmyn would occupy the middle, with Luna Trevyn, Nayla Zantara, and Yan Zantara spreading out 500 meters to the left, right, and front, respectively. As the lead scout, Nayla Zantara moved quickly but carefully through the foliage, looking for their opponents' distinctive blue flash. They were a group of Water Elementals wearing identical blue mail armor with bracers and greaves. Kieran Ravy and Nora Rahmyn, who carried the most ballistic firepower, were to be radioed by any scout who made contact. Radio silence until then.
Luna Trevyn's voice broke the stillness after almost ten minutes of tense, silent walking through the forest. As agreed, she referred to each person by their element.
"Air, Water, Fire, and Earth all die. Make contact. Five targets were spotted. keeping the safest possible distance. I could use your expertise in stealth, Nayla Zantara.
"Air copies," was Nayla Zantara's prompt response. "Your long-range sensors are on. I'm on my way.
"Death to all points," Luna Trevyn hastily added. "Warning: targets have efficient stealth countermeasures. Only infrared sensors can detect it. There was no evidence of visual cloaking.
"Water copies," confirmed Nora Rahmyn.
The words "Fire copies," Kieran Ravy said. "Death, can you provide a bearing?"
"There are targets 253 degrees ahead of me, about 200 meters. Kindly let me know," Luna Trevyn said.
The transmission was "Earth to Fire and Water," by Yan Zantara. "Split apart and flank them on either side. I'll go straight for it. "Earth out."
"Fire copies."
"Copies of water. Complete the maneuver, return to radio silence, and all points. "Out," ordered Nora Rahmyn.
With Uzi in one hand and a sword in the other, Nayla Zantara nodded to Kieran Ravy and jogged off into the undergrowth. Kieran Ravy took the other route, bladestaff slung loosely across his back, shotgun at the ready. For two more minutes, there was silence as the flanking trio moved into position, hiding low in the trees and waiting for their targets.
The communications then crackled once more. "Water, Fire, and Air to Earth. Encourage a silent run. At the first indication of engagement, turn on the systems.
"Earth copies." "Fire copies." "Water copies."
"Silent run" meant staying motionless and turning off all powered systems, including communications, active sensors, and armor servos. In this mode, stationary targets could only be detected by infrared scanners, which would be challenging in the warm, dense jungle. As a consequence, the system's batteries cooled, necessitating a few valuable seconds to restart. Luna Trevyn and Nayla Zantara were therefore unable to alert the others when they witnessed their quarry suddenly alter its course. If they fought alone, they would be overpowered; if they did nothing, one of their comrades who were waiting in silence would be ambushed.
Luna Trevyn and Nayla Zantara, cut off from Yan Zantara, Kieran Ravy, and Nora Rahmyn, had a brief conference over their still-active communications. They concluded that letting the Water Elementals find one of their allies by chance and then joining the resulting battle was the best, albeit dangerous, course of action. While Luna Trevyn tracked, Nayla Zantara would separate to find the enemy's new route.
Luna Trevyn heard the clear double blast of a shotgun a minute after Nayla Zantara had left, followed instantly by a steady barrage of machine-gun fire. Kieran Ravy had been located. Until their communications were reactivated, the others would be focusing on the sounds of combat and powering up. Luna Trevyn rushed forward, transmitting urgently while drawing her own machine gun.
"To all points, death! The fire is being heavily attacked! Lock onto his coordinates, receiving units, and get there immediately!"
"Water to Death! On its way! Out 450 meters! I have air with me. In response, Nora Rahmyn said.
Luna Trevyn hoped he was on his way to the gunfire, but Yan Zantara provided no radio confirmation, his systems probably still down. When she arrived at Kieran Ravy's location, she saw a scene of desperation. With his bladestaff in a spinning arc of protection from the constant stabs and slashes of three Water warriors, he was leaning against a big tree. The other two stepped back, filling his chest plate with machine gun clips. Blood seeped from a wound to his left shoulder, and bullets broke and bounced off his armor.