Author:
Grenade Man
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Date Posted: 20:18:10 01/28/02 Mon
It was not the biggest event to ever take place in the history of Reploid-kind, but it had a big enough turnout to warrant importance. Dr. Doppler's fight tournament was being broadcast via satellite, and transmitted through various sports/entertainment networks in the area. The Stadium was packed to the gills with vendors, and spectators alike. Media personel clogged entry ways, looking for "exclusive interviews" with anyone they could find. Fighters, trainers, equipment technicians, anyone who would give them the inside scoop. Dr. Doppler had given off a bad reputation after the fiasco with Sigma, and his former city.
Since then he had worked hard to stay low key, and fade from the public eye. In a recent interview though, he told the press how he was looking for a new way to get back into the public eye. But it wasn't going to be like last time. Now he was presenting himself as an entertainer. It was then that he had introduced the tournament. The grand prize was honor, fame, and glory. But there was a dark underbelly for sure.
Now was the time for the opening ceremony to take place. The crowd fell silent as the lights dimmed, and spotlights were switched on. Four of them rotated randomly around the arena, panning over the crowds, heightening the excitement. All four of them circled around the stadium, and then all routed toward the far end; where the four beams crossed, and then flickered out. Suddenly....a huge explosion of sparks, and a big puff of smoke flashed out from pyrotechnics planted near the door way. A laser-light show began, and fast paced techie-pop music played. Lots more spotlights, some with designs like stars, or sparkles flashed around the room. It was surely a spectacle to the eyes. Almost like a circus.
Two huge double doors parted with a seem in the middle. Pure, bright light of the whitest kind flooded through the crack in the doors. First in tiny streams, and then a full out glare. Through the smoke, a figure appeared, then another, then two more, then another 2, and another 2, until it looked as if almost 12 figures were marching into the middle of the stadium. The house lights were turned up full, and the procession could be made plainly visible now.
Dr. Doppler walked in the front of the pack. His chest stuck out, and his jaw was firmly set. He walked proud, and stood tall. His lab coat now replaced with the cloak of a wealthy entrepenuer. Behind him, walked Vile, wearing a gleamingly polished, new suit of dark blue armor. He had gold and silver trim in different places on his body, such as around his visor. His shoulder cannon looked big, and dangerous. Behind him, side-by-side walked Bit, and Byte, looking much the same, but slightly more polished. Then, walking by twos behind them were Doppler's eight specialists. Thunder Ram, Wave Tortise, Needle Porcupine, Saber Wolf, Blast Bull, Wind Raven, Metal Scorpion and finally Razor Mantis. Wolf, and Scorpion had just recently been rebuilt, but had no knowledge of thier past lives.
Along the wall, soldiers of Doppler's private army stood facing out with thier backs toward the wall. As Doppler, and his party entered, a pair of gaurds would advance along side the next one to walk out. By the time the whole party had left the entry way, they were being flanked with a full compliment of gaurds on each side. Each of them carried ceremonial blast rifels, and marched in true soldier fashion. Doppler and his party walked up across the middle of the oval shaped arena, and went up a ramp on the other side. Doppler went up first, as the gaurds broke off, and again waited on the sides, now facing the way they had just come from. Doppler sat down on his luxuriant throne, as the rest of the precession followed. The pairs broke off left, or right, and took seats in the front row, alongside Doppler. When finally they had all been seated, tech crews worked instantly to detatch the ramp, and replace it with a protective wall barrier. Then, from under the stadium floor, in the center of the row, a podium rose out. When it had been locked in place, the music stopped, and the lights died down again. Only the spotlights could be seen now, and they all focused on Doppler. There was a moment of silence as Doppler took the stand. Flash bulbs went off like an explosion of diamonds in the stands.
"My Fellow Reploids. Brothers, and sisters of the Reploid nation. Friends, and newcomers alike, welcome! It is with great pleasure that I Dr. Doppler present to you a tournament of the highest caliber. Not since the ancient tournaments of Medieval mankind has there been such a display of might, and strength. Of courage, and Valour. But I assure you, this tournament is not for the weak! Here, there is only one rule. Only the strong survive! There can be only one! But which one will it be?" Doppler threw out his arms in a gesture of emphasis.
There was another pause, and then more spotlights turned on.
"So, without further adeiu, I give you the combatants..."
The doors opened again, and hordes of Reploids came running through screaming! The lights went crazy again, as the rush of warriors entered the stadium. Then, with a signal from Doppler, all of them stopped, and lined up in perfect military formation. The house lights turned up again, and the flash bulbs went of like another storm. The stadium was filled with warriors. A hundred, and sixty to be exact.
"These brave soldiers have travelled from all over the world to be here. Let's give them all a big hand!"
As he said this, the roar of the crowd was deafening! Doppler again threw his arms up, in a gesture of triumph, and shouted, "Let the tournament begin!"
As the crowd roared, the combatants left the arena. Standing among them was Zero, a.k.a. Zeon. He did just as the others did, leaving the arena with all swiftness. It was time for the tournament to begin, but his fight was far more important than for money or glory. His fight was for the life of his friend, and the safety of mankind. Yet he was the only one who knew that! He would have to fight. He would have to win. Soon....
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