[02] City Sector FIGHT

[DA 2009]

MAL NOVA VS. ASHE

Okay, now what, Ashe? she asked herself mentally. Thus far, she’d managed to stay alive through sheer dumb luck, and even though they said it was better to be lucky than good, she wasn’t very confident that it would last her very much longer.

Mal Nova, however, didn’t need luck; he had skill, and he knew it. After the visit from his father, he was more than eager to prove himself as Retane’s equal. As fate would have it, he went from one dumb blonde to the next…or rather, half-blonde, half…pink? The imperfect namek was still in control, so it didn’t really matter.

Ashe squeaked as Mal shoved her harder against the window.

“You can’t fly, can you?” he asked pointedly.

The girl was stunned…it speaks! She had no idea who, or what, it was, but somehow it made it all the more creepy that it was intelligent, especially since it was a green, huge, partly machine…thing. Yet, it seemed far more comfortable with her than she was of it. The thing was familiar with a human, but she wasn’t familiar with whatever the hell it was. Maybe she could use that to her advantage?

“O-of course I can!” she choked, trying to force as much bravado in her voice as possible. “I mean, HA, who doesn’t fly?”

What a bald-faced lie. Hadn’t she clutched onto him for dear life not less than ten minutes ago? He’d have to be pretty stupid to…

“No, I don’t think you can,” he said.

…damn.

He pushed her against the glass harder, so hard, that it cracked.

“I really don’t want to do this to a girl, but, this is Dante’s Abyss, and this is what I do,” Mal continued calmly.

Ashe forced a meek smile, hoping to keep him distracted just long enough so she could get the wand she’d stashed in her pocket. It was far more reliable than her attempts at controlling energy. With barely detectible motions—that of a student trying to text on a concealed cell phone in class—she slid the oddly-shaped ki rifle out of her pocket, and, using the pencil-flicking gestures earlier, repeated the same motion as before. This time, her aim was a little…angled. The blast caught the namek a grazing blow in the eye, the very same one she’d punched. He recoiled in pain, releasing her from his grip. She dropped to her feet, but her knees quickly buckled against the sudden impact. Ashe scrambled to a standing position and booted the green monster in the shin before shoving him backwards. Hastily beating a swift retreat, the teenager then flew towards the exit of the hotel.

Suddenly, Mal Nova thrust out a palm, a blast of wind sourcing from his outstretched hands. Ashe was blown up against a wall, cracking her head hard against the ceiling. She sank to the ground, feeling a warm trickle running down her face.

“Not…this time…” Mal growled, getting up. “I’m not…losing…again…”

The memory of his father’s recent image burned deeply in his brain, and his resolution was firm.

Ashe moaned, trying to collect her wits. She knew her luck would run out sooner or later, and it looked like it was going to be sooner. She looked up at it just before he was about to lunge with his claws. Mal launched forward, but was surprised when he felt a blast barrel directly into his gut, knocking him back and sending him sprawling among the destroyed furniture. Knowing this opportunity would be her last, Ashe staggered up, and ran out the door.