• • Sunset: Heroes of the Milky Way
• January 1, 2026

Sunset: Heroes of the Milky Way (Chapter 28)

Aleti Ra’non

The Battle Challenge

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This is what Rom has been training for his whole life, the one challenge everyone thinks he has in the bag. For some reason I’m still worried. This is the only time where he can possibly die, and even though the chances are close to zero I can’t ignore that. 

I’ve never had to worried about losing someone before. My father died when I was young, and my mother is the definition of invulnerable, and so is everyone else on Team Sunset. I think this is the first time someone I care for is actually in danger. I wonder if normal people have just learned to live with this feeling.

The Reeky-tites are not worried, rather, they see pretty excited, shaking with anticipation, eating pop-nupple and sharing a soda. It’s as if they’re at a sports game. 

I can’t tell if it’s fucked up or heartbreaking that this show the Riverti put on, making the Watree think they have a chance, doubles as the only time the Watree can freely walk above ground.

Thinking about, even if by some chance the Watree do win, and the Riverti have the sense of honor to step down, Pekipsea and Torun will still be down under because one of them will the “second-class.” 

This fight truly means nothing to them beyond entertainment. At least until Womby shows up.

Hideo thought it to be better to take our seat among the Watree who came from below Ramone. He also couldn’t get us a seat with the Waverites. The Waverite representation only contains a dozen political representatives, meant to watch on their own on Lamberine’s invitation. Something about wanting to learn their unaffected, unbiased opinions on the Tourney afterwards. To me, it sounds more like a way to throw his power around so the Waverites don’t get any ideas.

If they’re willing to manipulate and subjugate their own people, why wouldn’t they do the same to uninvited guests. 

Anyways, the Battle challenge is supposed to start in a couple minutes and I look around to see quite a few Watree giving us dirty looks, either over Pekipsea, or simply because we’re all different. It makes me feel uneasy, especially considering that there is a noticeable gap between Hideo and Torun, and the people next to them. The seats are cramped, but many made a point to not sit with us.

I sure Hideo notices me looking around because he taps his arm against mine to get my attention. “I know what you’re thinking, do they hate Pekipsea, do they hate you, do they hate me, here’s the truth. It doesn’t matter. They know they’d get hurt saying or doing anything, but we can’t make them like us, so don’t worry about it.”

“How do you know that? How do you just go around ignoring people who aren’t even subtle about being assholes?” 

“Well for one, our faces have to be pretty famous, and two… I may have used my sonar to get us some space and scare people away.”

He gets this big smile on his face as I scold him, “Hideo!”

“I like my space!”

The music starts blaring before I can really say anything more. 

The large pool suddenly transforms into a large flat platform in the middle of the colosseum, all while fireworks start shooting up and over our heads. They even have this loud, obvious instruments that sound like someone wheezing through a horn, but it makes everyone seem to cheer.

I expect my ears to start bleeding, but as Hideo literally starst shaking, I consider that maybe it isn’t that bad. 

Just to make it all worse, someone starts yelling over the loudspeaker. “Ladies and gentlemen! The time has come to begin the forty-second Ruleden Tourney!” 

Just when I thought people couldn’t cheer louder. 

And it only gets worse when a walkway extends  out to make a path to the risen platform in the middle of the arena. A Riverti woman in a sparkling green dress walks out onto the platform. She’s probably a host or a referee. I think I see a headphone on her ear.

“Are you all ready to meet your contestants?!” she asks the crowd, and receives a resounding ‘yes.’ 

I feel like I’m in the studio audience of a game show, if the studio audience was literally several hundreds of thousands of people. 

“I can’t hear you!” she taunts. 

I call bullshit on that.

I turn to Hideo, to find that he’s… doing much better now. “How is this noise not driving you crazy anymore?”

Hideo shrugs and responds, “It was tough, but you figure out how to make selective hearing work. I’ve had many years of practice, being annoyed by my Human companion.” 

“Heh.”

“Come out Battle contestants! Fight night is here!”

“Who writes this script?” Hideo complains.

“You think she adlibs?” I ask him, to which I receive a snort.

Pekipsea shushes us. “Stop that, this what we like! Stop judging!”

Hideo clicks his tongue and mutters, “I’ll judge all I want.”

Then more platform bridges reach out to connect to the middle arena. One bridge comes out directly below us, and the other directly across from us. Everyone and me, except Hideo, lean forward to see the contestant coming out.

Then I see him, Rom walking out, trying to see normal, but making an awkward job of it. As he walks he turns around gives the crowds behind him an awkward wave. I try waving to him, maybe he’ll see me considering how people try to segregate themselves from us. 

Then suddenly people come running down and shove Hideo right into me to get closer to the edge. They don’t care about being near Pekipsea if it means a better view of Rom. 

They yell his name, and while I would like to get his attention, it feels kind of futile. These are the Watree who live under Ramone, so they know who Rom is, and they know he can win this challenge. Even if one win is the only win they get, they’ll still hang onto that.

While everyone is cheering, Hideo gestures to me to look at Rom’s opponent. I do and my jaw drops. 

“He’s… big,” I mutter, expectating Hideo to hear me. Rom’s opponent as tall as him, which in itself is astounding. He’s even broader and is built like a tank.

Hideo shoves away a person trying to get back to their seat. “I know it’s rude to eavesdrop, but I just heard that other Rivertan ask Rom if he thought he was ‘special.’ Talking mad shit.” 

The woman stands next to him and introduces him, “The Graduate from Eskia Academy, accomplished platoon soldier, the competitor for the Riverti, ladies and gentlemen, this is Tuvir!”

This is not how the Battle challenge was supposed to go. Even the Watree people who were cheering before have calmed after taking in the sight of Rom’s competitor, realizing that the fight could be closer than they thought. 

I ignore the woman introducing Rom, as I try to see Rom’s face, but I cannot make it out for the life of me. What is he thinking right now. Is he scared, nervous?

“These two contestants will fight in three contests. Whoever wins two contests out of the three, wins the Battle challenge overall,” she explains. “The first challenge will be one that’s purely hand-to-hand, no weapons. The second will allow melee weaponry. The third will be with ranged weaponry. In all matches, if someone is incapacitated, submits, or is knocked to the water below, they’re eliminated and their competitor takes the entire Battle Challenge.”

I mention to Hideo, “Rom may want to try for the ranged contest.”

Hideo corrects me, “That would be a bad idea I think. I seriously doubt the Riverti ever let the Watree put their hands on any kind of gun.”

Fuck, that makes sense.

“Then… his best bet would be the melee challenge, knocking the guy out before he runs the risk of going up against any guns.”

“Probably, but that’s saying a lot. We don’t even know if this other guy fights really well, or just really well for a jarhead.”

I don’t know what jarhead means, but I can ask later.

I’m too busy thinking about how Rom had been practicing and honing his hand-to-hand with us so he did not practice with weapons of any kind. Mom said that when the mob came at them they didn’t have any guns as weapons, so I doubt there would be any at all underground.

“Hideo, can Rom win?”

Hideo shrugs. “I want to say of course, but I just don’t know, kid. I could assume the worst fo Tuvir, but you know what they say about assumptions.”

“What?”

“It makes an ass out of you.”

I expect him to finish his little saying, but when he doesn’t I kind of question if he’s saying it right, but that’s not the question on my mind.

“Hideo, Is he scared?” I ask. Then Hideo turns towards me to show me the confused expression on his face. “I can’t see him that well. Can’t you make out his face? Maybe, I don’t know, see how he’s feeling?”

Hideo sort of nods his head left and right like he is thinking it over. “I’ll see.” I see the concentration form on Hideo’s face, and it takes a few seconds. Then Hideo makes a weird face.

He grins.

“What are you so happy about?” I question him.

“He’s a confident little bastard. Rom’s smiling.”

Hideo TriVi Die-Ve Eron

‘Yarg,’ my demon grumbles. 

He sure is a confident one, I agree. 

Aleti had asked me to see what Rom was feeling. I don’t know what she expected me to find, but I can definitely form a better picture than anyone else by simply setting my mind to it. I can find out if he is shaking, his heartbeat, his breathing, but I cannot determine his feelings. 

Still, I check for her, and I find myself glad that I did. 

I tell Aleti, “He’s a confident little bastard. Rom’s smiling.” 

He has a shit eating grin actually. It is not like a nervous smile, it is genuine, I can tell by the regular rhythm of Rom’s heartbeat. He isn’t nervous, or at least barely so. He’s excited to be getting a real fight. 

“Your new bff is very confident about his chances if his heartbeat is anything to go by.”

Aleti sighs and tells me, “That’s good.” 

I chuckle and stop worrying. If Rom isn’t worried, I’m not going to be.

The announcer standing between Rom and his opponent Tuvir tells them to separate and take position twenty feet away from each other.  She starts walking backwards towards the platform she came from as she tells them the rules. 

“The winner must simply knock his opponent onto the ground to win the first contest. If both of your shoulders or stomach touches the ground in any way, you lose. Hands are fair game in case either of you are acrobats.” Then she looks at the muscular Tuvir and comments, “That’s probably not going to be you.” 

Tuvir snarls at her.

“Okay, what are they feeding you, what do you think folks?” 

I get a headache again thanks to the crowd. Pepkipsea is literally screaming her head off right next to Aleti and me. People will scream for anything.

When the announcer reaches her platform, she raises her arm up straight. She yells, “On three, you may begin!” Then both Rom and Tuvir get into a ready stance. “One!” she counts off. “Two!” Everyone goes silent. “Three!” Then Tuvir rushes straight at Rom, but Rom does not run to meet him.

“What is he waiting for?!” Aleti yells.

I loudly shush her, I don’t read minds. I keep whistling to keep track of everything as soon as it happens.  

There is only fifteen feet between them, and Tuvir closes the distance in seconds. He lifts his massive arms over his head as if to bring them down on Rom’s head. When he gets within arm’s length he’s ready to bring down his fists.

Rom, with great speed, bends backwards, places one hand to the ground to hold himself up, and lifts up his right leg. Then it is over.

Rom kicks Tuvir right in the balls. 

‘Yar…,’ Yarg makes this pained grunt. I understand where it comes from.

Tuvir’s downward swing of his arms loses momentum, allowing Rom to push off the ground with his left leg, do a backwards handstand, and then flip over to his feet several feet away as Tuvir wildly swings his arms as he stumbles to the ground.

Tuvir falls onto his knees, which is not yet a win for Rom. Though as any man can understand, when one feels the full force of a kick right up and into your balls, it hurts like nothing else. 

Rom doesn’t waste this opportunity to rush Tuvir while he can’t defend himself. Rom jumps and spins, while lifting his right leg and spinning like a top. He completes this move with a spinning kick to Tuvir’s temple, knocking him right out.

I point out, “All that muscle didn’t mean much. It probably won’t mean much in the melee weapons contest either.”

No one heard me though. Everyone around me starts screaming and cheering, including Pekipsea, Torun, and especially Aleti.

Alloya Ra’non

I’m hiding around the corner, near the announcer’s room. I hear someone complain to her technicians, “It’s over already?! I thought that these contests were suppose be long.”

Someone apologizes to her, “Sorry, but Rom knocked Tuvir out in two moves.”

“The basementdweller won? Shit…”

“I wouldn’t expect anything normal from this Tourney.” If this guy only knew.

I hear her huff and puff as she leaves out the door with a slam. My direction would lead to the locker rooms so she heads towards her own special entrance. 

I had planned to go sit and watch with Clay from the locker room, but Terra’s idea was too good to pass up. I had something like it in mind, but didn’t think I had anyone willing to step up. Terra proved me wrong.  

First things first, I gotta take control of the announcer’s box. It controls the microphone and speaker outputs, or at least it should, considering the guards I snuck past to get here. Here’s hoping Terra can do what he promised, or else I am going to have a hard time explaining this.

I sneak down the hallway towards the entrance to the announcer’s box. I only hear one other person in there, but I won’t assume. 

‘So what’s the plan? Go in swords blazing or sneak in behind them?’ Rega asks me.

I think I’ll just walk in, I tell her.

Then I slowly push the door open and walk just as slowly. There are two Riverti men in here, one man is sleeping in his chair, and the other is messing with some dials. I let the door start closing as I begin walking up to the one still working. 

He hears me coming and begins turning around. In that same split second, I reach behind my back and under my duster to grab one of my batons. As I rip it out I pool my energy into it, forming a blade, and bring it against the man’s neck.

He raises his hands above his head on reflex, maybe this has happened to him before? He opens his mouth but he doesn’t have anything to say.     

I ask him, “Can I play a recording from in here?” He nods his head quickly. “Will everyone hear it? Even those watching on television screens?” He looks up as if he is thinking, then quickly nods his head the same as before. “Good.” Then I hear the guy next to us starts shifting awake. I probably disturbed his sleep. 

Just like before I reach back with my left and whip out my other baton, blade fully extended. I rest it near the other man’s neck. It takes him a moment to register what’s going on.

“WHOA! WHAT THE-!” he screams as he jumps in his chair. 

“Freeze,” I command, “now!” 

When I yell he stops moving. 

“Now sit back in your chair.” 

As I say it he sits back and I rest my sword right back against his neck. 

“That’s good. We’re all calm. No one has to get hurt as long as you do as say. By the end, you may even be glad you hear what we’re going to play on the intercom.”

“Wha-, what do you want?” 

“If all goes well, a message from the very dear Prime Minister.” 

‘Here’s hoping the Technanot does what he promised,’ Rega comments.

Have a little faith, I tell her. Or shut up.

Hideo TriVi Die-Ve Eron

So after getting knocked out like a little bitch, Tuvir is finally ready for the next contest. 

Some of my companions — not me — lacked some faith in Rom, but those nerves have been dashed.

Not my nerves, but the nerves of others. 

Tuvir, as angry looking as ever, stands across from Rom on opposite sides of the announcer. Her enthusiasm seems much more phoned in than before, probably because she has to change the entire script they had prepared for her.

“After the victory by… Romulic, the score is now one to zero. If Rom wins the next contest, he wins the Battle challenge, and the Watree have one Challenge win overall. If Tuvir wins the next contest, then they both compete in the third and final contest of the Battle challenge.

“As stated before, the second challenge will be a melee weaponry contest. Both contestants may now choose their weapons!” she announces. 

I whistle to keep up with the large lockers of weapons elevating up from the ground. 

People ‘oh’ and ‘ah’ over the contestants looking over the weapons, which is really annoying for me to hear.

Rom and Tuvir are trying to get a feel for what they may want. Rom picks up this sword with a wide base and a blade but symmetrical no matter which way you cut it. 

Then he looks over to see Tuvir picking up a double-sided axe, prompting Rom to put down the sword. Tuvir decides on the axe and raises it as a symbol of his choice. The Riverti on the opposite side of the arena start cheering, which… you know, I guess they wouldn’t know that axes for very specific problems.

Rom needs to realize that he doesn’t want to use a blade to stand up to Tuvir. With his superior strength and that battle axe, he will cut knock it away most weapons, except for, you know, ones with range.

I’m saying Rom needs a spear. It’s like, objectively the best weapon. Sure, an axe could break it, assuming the staff is made of wood, but like… he should never get that close. 

Rom, please dear god, pick the motherfucking spear.

Rom looks at this longsword, which is still not what he needs, then he throws it away, thank god.

Aleti asks me, “What kind of weapon would you chose?” 

Then she realizes that I do not in fact have fully formed hands to use any of these weapons, I say, “A gun.”

“Those aren’t melee weapons.”

“I’m blind, I wouldn’t know that.”

She rolls her eyes but I can tell how hard she’s trying to hide her smirk. “Sorry, better question, what weapon would you tell him to use?”

“I would pick something long, with a staff for a base. Something to keep Tuvir at a distance, but can also be used to get away.” 

Aleti nods her head in understandment.

Then Rom picks up two weapons, one in each hand. In his left, a spear, and in his right a shield with a blade at the bottom. While the spear is not sharp as anyone would have wanted, it is exactly what I had just recommended, but admittedly the shield will protect against everything Tuvir will throw. 

Then it would be a battle of stamina, but even then, trying to get Tuvir with the blade would be extremely difficult. I can sense the concentration on Rom’s face as he is no doubt thinking about the same points as me. 

Then he makes his pick.

Thankfully, he raises his spear and the crowd around me attempts to shatter my eardrums. Again.

Rom walks back to his spot across from Tuvir. 

Once again, she begins backing away as she explains the rules. 

“The first one to cut the other with their weapon wins, that simple. Either contestant can touch the ground with any body part that they want, just don’t be touched by the others blade.” This time when she gets to the platform which took her away the last time. It only separates from the arena portion and stands over the water below. 

“You may begin on three. One!” Like last time, Rom and Tuvir get into their stances. “Two!” she yells. Again, everyone goes quiet. “Three!” 

Tuvir learns from his mistake. He doesn’t rush after Rom like before, but inches towards him, grasping the double-sided axe with both hands. Rom holds his spear at the middle and two-thirds to the back end. Better that way, if he held the spear by the back tip, Tuvir could easily knock it away.

When Tuvir gets within striking range Rom gets overzealous. He stabs towards Tuvir’s left leg, but the brute quickly steps back. He’s gotta let him come in closer before he strikes. It doesn’t matter if Tuvir sees it coming, that doesn’t mean he can dodge it. 

But now… he can swing that axe. When the axe connects with the spear, Rom almost loses his grip on it, which drew some gasps. 

Tuvir slashes at Rom, and Aleti holds in her breath as Rom dives away, clutching his spear tight. 

You know, from here, Aleti may not be able to see just how much distance Rom had between him and the blade. Maybe I should judge her so much.

‘Ya-garg,’ my buddy ‘ole pal says.

Good point, it’s more fun to silently judge the seeing.

Rom rebounds quickly, already back on his feet and stabbing towards Tuvir, but somehow the beefhead dodges. 

As Rom pulls back his spear, Tuvir grabs it. He locks his fingers behind the spear’s blade and lifts it up over his head, causing Rom to let go of it. Then he swings it around like a mad beast as Rom is defenseless, causing the crowd goes silent.

Rom shakes his head and stares at Tuvir. He too is frozen at the sight of Tuvir raising the spear at him. Tuvir throws it with pinpoint accuracy and Rom is too late to dodge. In an attempt to dodge to the left, it sinks into the right of his ribcage. 

“AAAKKK!” I hear him scream in pain. 

It would not take someone with perfect hearing to hear of his scream.

Aleti next to me gasps, covering her face. Pekipsea brings her hand to cover her mouth, and Torun starts shaking his head. Others around us do one of the three.

Tuvir raises his fist in victory, pumping his hands into the air, then he turns around and seems confused. 

Rom has clambered back to his feet. He seems barely able to stand, but still grasps the spear in him, and pulls it out. I hear him say something to Tuvir that makes the brute grow enraged. 

Everyone else hears the announcer remind everyone, “The contest is not yet over. The rule was that the contestant has to cut their opponent with their own weapon. Contestant Tuvir must use his axe.”

Aleti turns to Pekipsea and begs to know, “Why is he getting up? Can’t he just forfeit? He’s too injured to keep fighting!”

Pekipsea responds, “He can! He should! I don’t know why-”

I interrupt her to reprimand them both, “Have a little faith in the kid!” Then I turn back towards the arena. “If Rom didn’t have a chance, he wouldn’t be risking a blow from that axe.”

“Tuvir is going to kill him!” Aleti yells at me.

I shut her up by admitting, “Probably.” 

If they don’t shut up when you tell them to, stun them with cruelty.

‘Yog dog.’

No, I’m definitely sure that’s how the saying goes.

She becomes too stunned to respond.

Tuvir barely calms himself, and runs at Rom head on… like he did before. 

‘Yag,’ My demon sounds off. 

Shush, I’m trying to pay attention.

This is Rom’s chance. If he messes up he’s dead. Tuvir is coming to take his head off, and Rom is keeping himself balanced with his spear.

Rom drops his spear, or at least it looks like it to everyone else. To me, he purposely pushes it down atop his foot. Right before Tuvir can swing his axe, Rom kicks his staff across the ground at Tuvir’s feet.

Tuvir trips, stumbles, and falls flat on his face perfectly, tumbling towards Rom. People grow speechless as Rom has this burst of energy and flexibility as he runs, hops on Tuvir, and then jumps over him. 

While Tuvir is on the ground, Rom moves to get his spear a few feet behind where Tuvir tripped over it. Rom picks up his spear and fluidly turns around with his arm reeled back. Tuvir only turns his head in time to see Rom smile at him. 

Rom informs Tuvir, “Your spear throwing sucks,” right before he throws his straight at Tuvir who tries to roll out of the way. Tuvir’s wider frame screws him over in this moment as the spear slices across his side.

Instantly, everyone around me stands up to cheer. Rom has won two contests, and thus the Battle challenge overall, undefeated.

I turn towards Aleti, “Told you to have faith.”

Then, with a crooked smile, she reminds me, “Weren’t you the one who said Tuvir’s probably going to kill him?”

“Touche.”

“What?” 

“I don’t know, Clay says it.”