After thoroughly testing one as a sword, I decided to try using the second at the same time to see if I could make a shield. While maintaining my sword, I activated the second emitter while trying to focus on the idea of a shield. The blade sputtered furiously as it tried to maintain shape. I realized I needed to focus on the idea of a sword and shield together, treat the devices like extensions of the same concept. The two emitters stabilized. The shield seemed a little hazy and was wavering. I figured it must be that I was asking too much of the emitter. I tried going with a sword and buckler image. The shield looked much more rigid. I tapped the two together and was rewarded with a stiff bouncing off of each other. They seemed to be solid enough as limited Aether constructs go. It was time to move on. The next hurdle was to try and use them as a projectile firing weapon. I know many riggers swear by energy blasts, but nothing says hello like a slug to the chest. I tried to maintain the shield shape, while still firing a slug like projectile from the end of the emitter. I had kind of intuited where the emitter release points were based on the design. That seemed to work quite well. It seemed to be able to be held like a 1 handed or 2 handed sword a pistol/submachine gun or combat rifle, and last but not least a shield. I tried wielding one emitter in both hands imagining different configurations and was rewarded with a claymore like blade, a large tower shield type device, and a shotgun or battle rifle type construct, as I attempted various visualizations. I felt like I had a good number of options. Using two together, I could use them like a couple of pistols, sword and shield, a thin pilum like spear and shield, or even two shields if it warranted it. I tried to use blast and burst and found I could use them both one handed or two handed, but results varied greatly. I tried the using the Rail aspect and was only really able to make a couple of laser-like pistols if using them 1 in each hand, and a medium output rail gun rifle if I used 1 in a 2 handed grip. I figured I should call it there, if they were watching me, it would ruin any more surprises that I could come up with.

I tried to wave in the air and call out for them to see if that would get their attention. In just a moment or two, Jester and Exxes popped into the room and walked over to the arena.

“So are we doing this like combatives, or should I consider this a street fight? No holds barred.”

“We can kind of treat it like combatives at first and see how it goes in a melee engagement. I will go first, Jester will go second if you are still up for it. This is a 2:1 room so you might need to expect some bumps and bruises, possibly broken bones. We have a healing station in the Lobby, but you could be out for over an hour in that thing.”

“Let’s do this.” I said with confidence. I was always first in combatives. I was very confident in my ability to melee. I wasn’t sure I was ready for a magic battle, but I feel like I could hold my own in a gunfight, as well. Hopefully, my skills weren’t rusty.

“We have the field set to raw Aether, so it will actively inhibit any elemental factors. This is more just a test of your ability to mix it up. Melee weapons are all on the table, but no projectiles yet.”

We circled around to the middle of the Arena space, sizing each other up. I observed she only had one emitter, but I knew already that it was a plenty flexible tool, I could not take a single emitter lightly, just because I felt I could handle two. Jester took in a quick breath of air. “BEGIN!” He bellowed.

Exxes moved towards me with a quick step in, switching her emitter on at the last second like a bladed tonfa. The blade shot out at an unbelievable speed. It was much longer than I originally gave it credit for. I was saved by the fact that I had decided to go for a shield at the last second. Having only activated one emitter had given me a larger more solid shield, even while holding it with just one hand. I pushed her attack to the outside, and Exxes whipped it back around like longsword attached to the end of the tonfa. These kind of unorthodox attacks were keeping me off balance. I was clearly having my defenses tested. I again interposed my shield to parry her. Following the parry, I pushed in before she could take her next swipe. As I stepped in, I holstered my second emitter and gripped the handle on the long end, that was near my elbow, while it was in the shield style hold. It gave a clear impression that I was holding a pistol grip pump action shotgun. I ‘fired’ my devised pile driver, aiming for her wrist. I was rewarded with a very crunchy sound and feel. Her wrist went limp and dropped the emitter. I was about to ask her if she conceded when she dropped into a low sweeping kick that caught my heel as I tried to jump back. I tumbled backward, and rolled out of my back fall. She used that low sweep as an opportunity to pick up the emitter with her uninjured hand. She took a kendo high stance but with only one hand on the emitter. She swung down clearly intending for a forward step strike to the head, and it was fast. She bent the blade at the last second, seeing as I was attempting to sidestep. I barely managed to get the shield up in time, as the blade came down on my shield, it wrapped around the edge. My shield was pulled, and I was thrown off balance. I didn’t have much time to react, I just continued with my off balance trajectory and threw myself to the side as she attempted to thrust the blade into me for a chest strike. She was fast and pushing my reaction speeds. She was clearly running me low on stamina as my breathing was much heavier than hers. The break in her wrist or forearm was fatiguing her as well, as you could clearly see the strain on her face.

I called out as we took our distance and started the dance of combat and spacing. “How about we call this one a draw. I’m running on fumes and you’re injured.” I didn’t feel it was smart to injure my soon to be squadmate, especially if that would hamper our training time.

“Not a chance Sunny Jim. You got me by surprise, but I’m not done yet. We go till Jester calls it.”

Her face grew hard, it looked like she thought I was taking her lightly. That couldn’t be further from the truth. I could tell that if I hadn’t got her by surprise, I would have had to be working much harder. She clearly had a great sense of visualization. I knew that I needed to end it, if I could, in the next engagement.

“Hey. You doing okay there champ? Looking a little woozy.” I trash talked a little bit trying to get her to dive in rashly. Seems it worked a little too well. She charged in at me and kicked back my shield. I pushed into it and regained my forward lean. She whipped her sword towards my open side. I shoulder charged my shield into the blow deflecting it wide. She couldn’t respond in time as I pulled my second emitter and formed an oversized gauntlet type weapon and at the last second I dropped my shield projection and used a pile driver type action on the gauntlet weapon, slamming it home and doubling her over as it sent her sprawling backward.

“Hold! Going to have to call it there. She’s out cold.” Jester moved forward and attempted to pick up Exxes. Her body a little limper then it should be, he ended up dragging the ragdoll off to the side and picking her up only to place her in a pod that appeared near the silver plate. After securing her, it disappeared. “Well, the hothead is chilling out for a while. That was pretty cold. Quite the veteran fighter.”

“I was top of the Advanced combatives competition for 5 years running.”

“Shall we just have a friendly spar? I don’t mean take it easy, but I am not the hot head that Exxes is. I’m more of a ranged specialist anyways.”

“Fair enough. Weapons or hand to hand?”

“Let’s start hand to hand, and then we can move to a series of weapon challenges. Sound good?”

“Works for me.”

We circled around each other looking for openings. I stepped in with a jab to his body. Lightly making contact as he stepped back. “That’s a sharp jab.” He started using a bit of fancy footwork to stay out of my range.

“Having mastery of the basics is often the best way to move forward.” I dove in weaving between his jabs as he retreated staying light on his feet. I kept trying to work him towards the edge of the arena. “I give you lots of credit for being fast on your feet. It definitely suits a ranged specialist, but I thought this was supposed to be a melee.”

“I can tell when I’m being worked, and especially when I am being worked towards the wall.” He rapidly shifted from dodging backward to diving quickly in. My intuition screamed that he was trying to sucker me into punching so he could counter. He clearly had some boxing training. It wasn’t going to save him from my assault. I shifted into his line and kicked out with a step kick, forcing him to stop his forward movement. Instead of pulling back after the kick, I use the forward movement, of the step, to step into him. He tried to get his arms up in time to stop the knee, but that was just a feint. He didn’t see the left hook, after the unorthodox right jab, and dodged right into it. It was a clean hit and rattled him. My left was also smarting as we didn’t have any kind of gloves on. He stepped back clearly trying to stay on his feet. “Should we call it there?” I called out.

“Yeah, I can tell when my bell has been rung. You picked up on my bad habit of falling into boxing habits when pressed in melee. Against monsters, it has limited success. I try and avoid that bad habit, especially having been an outboxer.”

“It left you less flexible, but it suits you. I would suggest sticking with it. After all, when you add in some of your rigs techniques I imagine it is quite the daunting task to keep up with you in melee. Don’t sell your skill short.”

“I appreciate the compliment. You really do know your stuff. Plus, you have that flexibility from facing abilities out in the field. The experience really shows. I bet it would be a sold-out match between you and the boss.”

“Who is the boss of Skeleton Crew? I heard that everyone just calls him ‘Big Boss’ or Something Snake, I think. Can’t remember, at the moment.”

“David Hayger.” He paused a moment as he saw shock cross my face. “He was in some special forces unit. Although putting pieces together I think you might know each other. He used to mention the Wolf of the Battlefield. That led ‘The Pack’ to victory. Judging by your face. I assume that’s you?”

Standing there a little dazed and reeling. I shook myself to regain my wits. “I was his CO, I was the Captain of the Special Forces that head up most of the early action of the Last War. We later became pivotal as we started to sabotage their technology and force them back. He became my right hand as we went through hell together. I just couldn’t find anyone to replace him either, despite both of our mounting injuries. He served in that function until our company was recalled.”

“I guess that explains a few things. He has always forced us to be our individual best. To lean into our strengths and find new ways to capitalize on our own weakness. I’m guessing we have you to thank for that?”

Still reeling I didn’t really acknowledge what Jester said. I was too lost in my own thoughts. “We lost touch after that. I was a wreck. I lost time and contact, with most people, during my coma. This is probably going to be an interesting reunion. I have no doubt he has grown responsible and capable in the interim. The rhyme and reason to the Skeleton Crew makes more sense. I can see why it has the reputation it has. I’m not sure I look forward to seeing him again, but I want to nonetheless.”

“Well, that is certainly an enlightening revelation.”