Enemy Unseen
written by YEN
10/29/99
final edit (02/05/2000)
 

Yui waited patiently with the others as their gears hovered just inside Shevat's protective shields. Within visual range, she could see the Solarian fleet keeping pace as Shevat moved in the opposite direction away from them. The skycity had to be in constant motion; otherwise, enemy gears could attack en masse and infiltrate Shevat through weakened gaps in the shield barriers. The flying country could move faster than gears, but couldn't outrun the speed of the more maneuverable airships, Fortunately, the shields could last forever against enemy barrages.

... If the shields fail...

"Hah! See, I told you! Those Solarian pigs are just cowards!"

"For once I agree with you. Look at them, they're just sitting out there!"

Yui sighed and removed the compiece from her ear. Although she was irritated by their brash attitudes, she had to admit they were right. ... It has already been 3 days... as if they are waiting for something...
 
 

Far too easy, Hyuga thought as he approached the glowing shield generator. The massive tube of energy brightened the huge cavern where it was housed deep in Shevat's bowels, safe against enemy fire, but unfortunately for the people of Shevat, not secure against saboteurs. ... Nothing is ever safe from sabotage...

He paused before the generator, a hand raised over his eyes to shield against glare, the other hand holding his ever-present katana. These poor fools, he thought as he bowed his head, unsheathing the blade. Too easy... Just conceal my sword in a hollow wooden cane, and they didn't even stop me to examine it. I didn't even have to pass through a detector... although perhaps, that was because they took pity of me in my elderly disguise and let me go on ahead of the other refugees, so I could rest a while before they serve us dinner. He chuckled, remembering the concern in the young man's eyes when he had pretended to stumble as the line of refugees moved forward. Fools...

His eyes traced across the generator's steel housing until he spotted a panel. After opening it, he easily located the main power line that supplied Shevat's shields with energy from the generator. He stared at it thoughtfully, his hand gripping the hilt of his katana tightened. It should only take me a second to cut through it... There were three other generators, any one of which could provide enough power to the shields. It will take their mechanics at least an hour to repair a severed power main. I have that much time to disable the other generators... Easy enough. He glanced down at the Shevat guard uniform he was wearing. Their security is appalling... Or perhaps, they are simply too overconfident of their invulnerability... A fatal mistake.

He lifted his katana to strike...
 
 

"Nice sword..." Hyuga whirled, his katana angling upward to slash at his enemy. Steel met steel, and he found himself staring at calm golden eyes across a pair of silver-lit blades.

"Solarian made, no doubt," The woman quipped, as she jumped back when his fist darted between the swords in order to hit her in the face. Her blade slid up his sword to cut his forearm.

"Not bad." He heard her murmur as he instinctively drew his injured arm against his chest. "Martial artist and swordsman combined. You'll have to move faster though..."

He glared at her and lunged, the sword point aimed straight at her stomach. His eyes widened when she jumped to meet his charge. Idiot! She'll impale herself! As the point brushed against her uniform, she whirled, pirouetting across the blade of the katana to slam her elbow in his stomach.

His sword dropped from paralyzed fingers as he fell to his knees, gasping in pain and for air. Surprised as he was, he slammed his upper torso against his opponent, causing her to loose her balance.
 
 

Yui landed on her side, almost losing her weapon when her sword arm slammed hard against the floor. ... He is good... She immediately rolled away from him, barely managing to escape his hands when he grabbed at her ankles. Pushing herself up, she glanced aside to find him slowly getting up as well, his katana now back in hand, and his dark eyes narrowed, following her every move intently.

...He is no ordinary spy... Yui stared back at him. ...I will have to be careful with him...
 
 

"As you may have just realized, I am not an idiot." Hyuga started, his eyes flickering at her statement. ...She read my mind...?

"I warn you, Solarian. Whether you defeat me in battle or not, you will not survive."

"That remains to be seen," he retorted, "Do not think I will be easily defeated just because I am alone."

She actually smiled at him. "No, you will not be easily beaten. I mean you will die." She went into battle stance. "En garde."

Hyuga shook his head at her presumptuousness and duplicated her actions. His blade rang clear against hers, and the battle began anew.
 
 

What is your name, young man?

Hyuga Ricadeau

What is your class and birthplace?

I was born in third class, in Lower Etranank of the Holy Empire Solaris

How old are you?

15 years old

Do you understand the honor of being admitted into Jugend?

I do

Do you have any family?

...I used to.
 
 

He breathed hard and backed away from her. Already, he was sporting two more cuts on his other arm and one across his chest. They were not deep wounds, but they bled profusely. He stared at her. He had not even managed to score a hit against her. ...Something is wrong... She remained still as he examined the first wound he had received. Slowly, keeping an eye on her, he tasted the cut. It was sour.

"...You poisoned me..." He swallowed hard after spitting out the blood from his mouth. He glared at her as she turned slightly away from him. "Coward! Do dishonorable tactics bring you much satisfaction?!"

She turned back towards him slowly, her eyes meeting his stonily. "No, they do not. Does sabotage count as an honorable tactic, Solarian spy?!"

He gritted his teeth. I have to finish this soon... The poison had long since slowed down his reaction time, and his muscles cramped with the effort of fighting. "Is there an antidote?" he asked.

She didn't answer but instead produced a steel vial. He stared at it as she held it up towards him. She smiled, but her eyes were sad. "There is a cure, but you only have five more minutes before it is already too late." With a flick of her wrist, she concealed the antidote back in the hilt of her sword. "You'll have to take my sword if you want to live."

He stared at her thoughtfully. "If I surrender, will you give me the antidote?"

She looked back at him, a puzzled frown creasing her brow. "Have you no pride, Solarian?"

"I have," he answered calmly, "but I know and accept when I have been defeated," he smiled slightly, "dirty tricks or not, it does not matter. Defeat is defeat."

Her voice was soft. "You are a wise man..."

He nodded at that, but stopped when she continued, "But you are still a dead man." He looked back at her. "Why?"

"Because all Solarian prisoners are executed after they have been interrogated and tortured for information." There was shame in her expression. "I poisoned you so you could at least die a painless death."

"... My only option is to fight then."

She nodded.

"Very well..."
 
 

Yui tensed as he charged towards her, his katana held slant against his chest. Halfway between them, he lunged, twirling, extending the blade at her. She jumped back, barely missing being slashed. He didn't stop, continuing a barrage of attacks at her. She parried, each savage attack causing her to retreat.

I have to stop him... When he paused to catch his breath, she somersaulted backwards increasing the distance between them. Even as she regained her footing, he was already charging at her again, his blade gleaming purposely in the reactor's light.
 

Author's note:  Hooboy...  I hope that went well.  ^^;;

Yen^^
alex@gsilink.com

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Rebuilding
Worlds Collide