You consider some exotic options, but decide in the end to remain within your wheelhouse. Autumn, not you, is the one proficient in multiple weapons. You add a light buckler that will still permit your offhand to handle your weapon, and meet your date in the center of the gym for the first heat.
The first heat ends quickly in your favor. You analyze Autumn's stance, determine which of her blades is likely in the 'off' hand, draw her dominant blade out of position with a feint, and attack her weak side with your full force. She attempts to parry, but your half-handed blow both knocks her off hand weapon away and nicks her arm. Lady Mercury leaps back to gather herself and avoid your follow-up, but perhaps concluding that she can no longer win the heat on points immediately and recklessly charges back in. Your technique is more than a match for her desperation, and you block her knife with your buckler and deliver a heat-ending strike to her undefended torso.
Between heats, Lady Mercury consults with Juan. You can't hear what they are discussing, but to your annoyance you note the Jaun flawlessly mimics your technique and moves as he demonstrates something to her.
The second heat is much closer. You attempt to open with the same move, but this time Lady Mercury doesn't buy your feint and blocks your follow up attack on both her blades. While you are busing trying to dislodge your longsword from her crossguards, your date kicks you hard in the gut, scoring points and knocking the wind out of you. She then jumps back, and spends the rest of the heat leaning on her slightly superior speed and vastly superior stanima to remain outside your effective reach. You manage to eventually shake off the body blow, and manage to land another glancing blow to her non-dominant arm just as time expires. The heat goes to the judges: Brother Karl, Sister Shelly, and Captain Hellfire. Shelly, of course, awards the round to you, and likewise Karl awards it to Autumn. Captain Hellfire, the tiebreaker, awards the heat to Lady Mercury.
Deciding to make Lady Mercury's endurance a non-factor, you open the third heat with a reckless charge of your own. Lady Mercury follows suit. You both land heat ending torso-strikes within a matter of moments. The heat is awarded to you, as replay confirms that your longer weapon landed its attack first.
Things begin to unravel in the fourth heat. Hoping for a repeat of the previous round, you again open with a charge. This time, however, Lady Mercury stands her ground instead of answering in kind. You are skilled enough to direct your big attack towards her off hand side, and she once again attempts to parry with a single blade. This time, however, she intentionally throws her blade aside with great force as it catches yours, knocking you off balance, and spins her way inside your guard. You know instantly the heat is lost; Lady Mercury can easily score a blow to your head or torso before you can recover, but instead she chooses to sweep your legs and follow you to the ground.
What follows is probably the worst few minutes of your life aside from your arrest or your father's funeral. Lady Mercury is trained in grappling. You are not. She easily wrestles your weapon from your hands, and spends the rest of the heat showing off various holds and submission at your expense, never locking anything in deep enough to make you submit. At first you think she is being needlessly cruel, or intentionally showing you up in front of a live audience, but in the final seconds of the heat she shows her true wicked genius; As the clock winds down, she finally locks in a kneebar with all her strength. The pain is terrible, and doesn't let up when you are saved by the bell and Lady Mercury climbs off of you.
You can't help but chuckle as all three judges award the heat to your date; She used the entire round to wear you down without doing enough to make you submit, and then inflicted real damage at the last possible moment. As hotheaded as she seems to be, she is either very clever or takes advice very well. You will enter the final heat both exhausted and hurt.
In preparation for the final heat, Lady Mercury utilizes the one gear switch that each contestant is allowed, swapping out her twin shortblades for a single, long, heavy looking two handed sword. Her plan is obvious: exploit her naturally greater speed, newfound longer weapon, and your bad knee to dance circles around you and attack while remaining virtually untouchable.
You tap a few commands on your wrist interface, and your armor begins to apply gentle pressure to your injured knee in a way that will hopefully keep it stable for the final heat. Significant medical attention is illegal mid-match, but most soft tissue injuries can be quickly resolved with a simple injection of glue nanites, so you are not worried about the rest of the tournament. Still, you will need a miracle or genius plan to take the final heat and win the match.
How do you proceed?
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Topic: (SG) Penal Governor (Read 9114 times)