X-Com's Finest (An X-Com 2 play through)

Operation Blood King

The two rangers stared at each other, swords in hand, as sweat dripped down their bodies. There had to be a winner here. Svagerko feigned right, but attacked left. Van Dyke was not surprised and easily parried, returning with a flurry of attacks that were easily defended. At stake? The Hunter Axes. One of these two was going to get them, and they had deemed a fight to the death – or first blood anyway – was appropriate for the prize at stake. They had been at it for nearly an hour and the crowd that had initially gathered to watch the match had slowly drifted away, leaving only the two rangers and Zalewski, who was more intent on cataloging the list of parts for his assignment.

As Van Dyke paused, taking another breath, he looked over at his fellow ranger and asked hesitantly, "How about we just flip for it? Svagerko looked back, tired, and ready to be done with it. The two were more than evenly matched, and she gave herself the 50/50 chance that she'd win either way. "Fine." She picked up her scabbard and sheathed her sword.

As soon as Svagerko had sheathed her sword, Van Dyke lunged forward leaving the tip of his sword an inch from her chest.

"I believe I won the match."

Svagerko looked at him incredulously, "You cheated!"

"I did no such thing." Van Dyke poked her allowing a small drop of blood to pool before gravity took effect and the drop began its decent to the floor.

"That's not fair!"

"The match was to first blood or mercy. I believe I have first blood." He poked her on the other side of her chest, and a matching pinprick of blood began to pool.

"Would you stop that!"

Van Dyke poked her yet a third time. "We can do this all day you know..."

"OK! OK! YOU WIN! Idiot."

Before anything else could be made of it, the speaker crackled, "Ranger Van Dyke, Pubentz, Pritchett, and Watt, suit up and report to briefing by 0300."

Van Dyke glanced at the clock – he had about ten minutes. "Maybe next time."

As he was walked through the door he heard a whirring sound and flinched as an axe embedded itself mere inches from his head – deep into the door frame. He turned and stared at Svagerko who looked at him innocently and shrugged, "You forgot your other axe."

***

Ok everyone, here's the deal. We've got a hot spot here. One of our rebel allied groups is under attack by the alien menace. Our job is to be cavalry and kill as many of the slimies as possible while we're down there.

Pritchett smiled, "Now that's what I'm talking about!"

You're all just about suited up with the best we have. Pubentz had only been half-listening to the Captain's speech, more intrigued by the weapon sitting on the table behind him. Finally the curiosity got to her, "What's that?"

The Captain paused for a second, trying to figure out what Pubentz was talking about, then looked at the weapon that was sitting behind him. "We call that a bolt-caster. We found it in one of our caches. It's like an electric bow. It shoots electric lightning bolts. It does serious damage, with a huge electrical charge that...." The Captain paused when he realized Pubentz was no longer listening. She had dropped her assault rifle and was testing the Bolt Caster's weight, sites, and trigger.

The Captain looked irritated at the audacity this Squaddie had and cleared his throat, "I haven't decided...."

"I'll take it. You saddled me with THIS thing," pointing to the GREMLIN that was merrily orbiting her while beeping in soft tones, "so I'm going to take this. Thank you Captain. This will do." Pubentz holstered the weapon and took her seat.