From On the Holovid, The ICS logo flashes above the holovid array as the Llivori announcer proclaims: "Welcome back to the Interverse Combat Series as we begin the second round of competition between the rebellious Outversers and the minions of iron-fisted Zar Hideg Fekretu of the Koltkamir. The winner in the final round walks away with thirteen Kamir artifacts. Half of the second round competitors are Outversers; half represent the Zar. Everyone wants that prize. So who will it be? Who will move on? That's what we're here to find out."
J-2875 whirs into the Last Orders as the tournament gets under way. Finding a spot to observe, it parks and focuses its optic sensors on the screen. "This unit finds this an excellent opportunity to further this unit's study of behavioral science in the context of competition." it notes as it settles in to observe.
From On the Holovid, The scene switches from the studio to an island floating in the air, with a waterfall that tumbles from high rocks that jut up into the clouds. The waterfall spills into a lake. In the middle of the lake, which is surrounded by jungle, sits a floating platform with the ICS logo and a bobbing holocam orb. With a flash of blue light, Umishi materializes. The cambot whirs around and focuses on the Lyiri. "Welcome back, Umishi! What have you been up to since our viewers saw you brave a deadly comet to win your first round bout?"
Varal struts into the Tavern, finding a seat with a good view of the event.
From On the Holovid, Umishi 's ear twitch as she takes in her surroundings, "A lilttle bit of training so i won't be fooled by mirages again."
Dean enters the tavern shortly after J, taking a spot nearby the other Phyrrian as he eyes the screen.
Yuri wanders into the scene as well, "Hoop! A fight on de holovid? Some exitement, atlichna!"
J-2875 remains silent for the moment, gathering information as the tournament broadcast continues.
From On the Holovid, Another flash of light on the platform, not far from Umishi. Her opponent: A female Hekayti that viewers might remember from Dean's bout: Vrigida. The cambot swerves toward the Hekayti and the commentator inquires, "How about you, Vrigida? How's Vard Bokren doing?" That just gets a scowl. "Right, then," the commentator proceeds. "The Hekayti Worthing totem is hidden somewhere in the submerged ruins in this lake. It's up to you to find the totem while avoiding the flesh-eating fish, the scalding gas vents, and the mobile slow-leak singularity that helped detach this chunk of land from the rest of the planet. Understood? Any questions?"
Varal settles into a chair, shifting a bit to make sure his swords aren't uncomfortable. The man is quick to order something to drink.
From On the Holovid, Umishi shakes her head and looks around the edges of the platform.
Dean keeps his attention fixed on the vid. Everyones spread out amongst the tavern, looking at the holo.
From On the Holovid, "Very well," the commentator says. "Good luck to you both!" With that, the cambot zooms back to get both competitors in the frame before they can spring into action.
Yuri heads towards the bar and asks, "A vodka!" Then, as the barman replies there is no vodka, "Hooping tourist, vhat do vi mean dhere is no vodka?"
From On the Holovid, Vrigida gets the slightest of leads as she jumps into the water ahead of the Lyiri and starts plunging through the murky blue-green water.
From On the Holovid, Umishi is following right behind Vrigida takeing a running dive into the water, getting one good look at the Hekayti before she looses sight.
"Species Lyiri and Hekayti identified." J-2875 intones. "Height difference noted."
Kestrel trots in from the tradeport, looking around. Her eyes widen as she spots what's on the holoscreens, and the Later scampers forward, ending up somewhat close to Dean without noticing it. That's alright. She'll just find something shiny to distract her later anyway...
"Bloody Hekayti," Varal grumbles as he sips at whatever is put in front of him. From the looks of it, it he doesn't like it - but that won't stop him.
From On the Holovid, As Vrigida descends, she detects movement below and ahead of her. It appears to be a school of the flesh-eating fish the commentator warned about. But then they flicker, like an image coming through a badly wired holovid display, and she gives a feral smirk - she blows through the Lyiri's illusion, scattering the molecules of light like so many watery fireflies.
"This unit dictates extra attention should be given to minions of Zar." ZO2-791 'Dean' speaks to J-2875. Then he leans over, and the Later can feel a tiny tug on the side of her shirt. "Kes."
From On the Holovid, Umishi attempts to maintain her swimming pace, useing the dispersed light in the water as an indication of her opponents location while keeping eye out for anything of interest or the worthing totem.
"Hov am I supposed to enjoy a hooping fight vithout vodka?!" Shouts Yuri angrily as he sits down on the bar, "Give me something strong den, tourist!"
"Agreed. Altering analysis parameters to include emphasis on tactical proficiency." J-2875 intones.
Varal shoots an annoyed look at the Phyrrians. "Bloody Hekayti and bloody advanced stuff," he grumbles some more. Then drinks some more.
Kestrel starts to scowl as she looks over. "Ain't innerested inna... oh..." She blinks. "...'Ey." She rubs a hand through her hair and looks at her boots for a moment, fidgeting uncomfortably. Ultimately, curiosity wins out, and her gaze goes back to the holovid.
From On the Holovid, Both opponents find ICS crates floating at the end of tethers in the water as they descend toward the ruins. Each crate contains a rebreather device, which will allow unlimited underwater breathing.
Dean kicks a chair out, motioning to Kestrel, "Wanna sit?" His eyes go back to the viewer.
Yuri is handed a lyodka, and he drinks it, "Could be vorse." He tells himself as he watches the viewer.
From On the Holovid, Umishi equips her rebreather, continueing her swim giveing one focused look toward where her rival should be before focusing forward.
J-2875 continues to watch, sensors taking in various details from the transmission.
"...Yeah," Kes says, sitting down at the chair. She sneaks a look over at Dean, fidgets some more, and then returns her attention to the holoscreen once more.
From On the Holovid, Vrigida pops the rebreather into her mouth as she closes on the site of the ruins, but then sees what appears to be another cloud of flesh-eating fish sparkling in the murk. But, again, there's that telltale flicker. She rolls her eyes, continuing to dive, sweeping her arms wide as she passes through the mirage, creating her own illusion of an angel's wings.
From On the Holovid, Vrigida almost doesn't notice the roiling gas vent sending up its scalding plume. When she does, it is only by the barest of margins that she avoids plunging through it and ending up like the last person Umishi fought. Instead, she keeps on track, descending almost all the way to the ruins.
From On the Holovid, Umishi stops in the water as she see a cloud of fish coming toward her, easily enough she swims around them though she gives the pack of fish a focused stare as she does.
From On the Holovid, The silver-scaled fish are distracted from traveling toward Umishi when they see the crafted illusion of a Hekayti female paddling past them, down toward the ruins where Vrigida descended. For a few moments, the flesh-eaters follow the illusion. But they catch up quickly, the lead fish trying to nibble at the fleshless heels of the diver. Bored by the trick of the light, the fish dart off in another random direction.
From On the Holovid, Vrigida, meanwhile, has entered the ruins, swimming down a corridor until she happens on another ICS crate. She opens it. Inside, she finds a subaquatic imaging mask. She puts it on, making the murky water appear as clear as a crisp blue day on Hekayt Prime.
Varal leans back, taking a sip.
From On the Holovid, Umishi is stilll swimming along to try to keep pace looking for anything that would of use to her or that could slow down her rival.
From On the Holovid, As her descent continues, Umishi almost doesn't notice the strange floating 'pearl' in the water, a mote of not-light that glimmers eerily as it floats along through the murk. The only real evidence of its presence is a pulsating ripple and bubbling tendrils: The mobile singularity. One touch, and Umishi would cease to exist.
Dean continues to watch the screen, attention fixated.
From On the Holovid, As The Lyiri approaches the ruins she finally noteices the singularity and moves to dodge around hoping to not hit it, When Umishi finally gets inside the runs she finds a ICS crate with an imageing mask equipping it as fast she can before continueing her swim.
Yuri finishes his Lyodka and keeps watching, "More."
Kestrel reaches over to tug at Dean's sleeve. "'Ey," she says, though she does keep a goodly bit of attention on the holoscreen. "Uh. Sorry."
From On the Holovid, Vrigida works her way through the ruins to the central chamber, where she finds an ancient rock pedestal at the center bathed in silver-red light from orbs overhead. She arrives first and starts swimming toward the waiting totem.
From On the Holovid, Umishi after a brief swim enters the same chamber, flattening her ears back with her eyes narrowing she attempts to kick off a nearby ruin structure to harpoon herself at Vrigida focused on her the entire time.
From On the Holovid, The Lyiri's coming from the underdog position, but she manages to angle herself just right, colliding with Vrigida about halfway to the pedestal. It knocks the Hekayti woman off course. It also makes her really angry, so she grabs for Umishi's rebreather, trying to snatch it loose.
From On the Holovid, Umishi looses her rebreather but at the same time twists her self around in the water to kick off her rivals face as hard as she can and hopefully toward the pedastel.
From On the Holovid, Vrigida just narrowly dodges the Lyiri's twist-and-kick maneuver, then kicks her powerful legs as she races to capture the totem.
"You have no need to apologize," Dean says with a smile, looking towards Kestrel for a half second, but going back as the final strech occurs.
From On the Holovid, Umishi swims as hard as she can towards the pedastel, seeming to expend more air as she does but she finally makes it to the pedestal and the totem making a grab for it.
From On the Holovid, Vrigida reaches the pedestal just after Umishi, brow furrowing as the Lyiri snares the totem - and victory - from her grasp. A flash of blue light engulfs Umishi moments before another flare surrounds Vrigida.
Varal grunts. "Well. Hekayti is out. Win for us," he states, sipping at his drink. "Who does that leave, I wonder."
Kestrel starts to answer Dean, but as the Lyiri grabs the totem, she jumps up from her seat instead, hopping up and down excitedly. "Wooooo! 'At bitch's gone!" The Later cackles with laughter.
From On the Holovid, "And there you have it!" The scene switches back to the ICS tournament broadcast studio. "The Lyiri, Umishi, representing the opponents of Zar Hideg Fekretu, has won the first fight of the second round, eliminating the Medlidikke warrior from the competition. See you next bout!"