The Battle Event/Fletcher's Death

## Characters Involved

* Niccolo Salinas
* Kiemo
* Gagan
* Summer
* Cliff
* Fletcher Vireo
* Felicity Vireo
* Alvis
* Chaison
* LeFaux
* Dr. Berris

## The Event

One of the most important events for modern Rp-2, this took place in November, 2020. It began with Dr. Berris calling the students out into the yard and pairing them off based on a sign that was posted to the wall. At some point, Kiemo rigged it to have him against Fletcher in retaliation to Gagan's humiliation of him. Kiemo worried such an action would lead him to be overthrown and render him unable to reach his goals. It starts with practice as a warmup before quickly moving into the matchups themselves. The other students are forced to gather and watch. Notably, Morgan is missing and Niccolo is left having to cover for him and is incredibly nervous about having to appear as a leader given the circumstances.

When the fights are about to begin, Fletcher and Felicity share words of encouragement with each other. Zakra and Chaison do the same and appear to be excited at the idea of showing off and proving themselves. Kiemo snorts at Niccolo before joining Summer, clearly they've devised a plan of sorts. He seems more upset with the researchers than anyone else. Felicity is shown calming and trying to soothe Cliff before returning her attention to Fletcher himself. Fletcher worries about impressing Gagan as he talks to Cliff and Felicity, knowing that he didn't get the knife training he wanted that morning and will have to go off of instinct. At this point, he's pretty romantically interested in Gagan.

Chaison and Alvis are the first to go against each other. Chaison, who is starting to develop feelings for Alvis as a rebound at first, goes easier on Alvis. He selects the swords because they make him look cooler and he spars with Alvis. He continues to assure him along the way, promising it'll be okay, presumably because he wants to be able to save Alvis when he couldn't save Cynthia. Alvis manages to best him and Chaison accompanies Alvis off to be healed along with himself, the two having a discussion later on. The next fight is between Georgia and Ivy. Kiemo isn't thrilled about this as Georgia was at one point affiliated with him but he tries not to care. He still obviously feels hurt about this. Georgia fights hard against Ivy while Fletcher has a small chat with Maggie, the latter recently being in contact with Kiemo. They don't get very far before the fight ends. Kiemo's disappointed Georgia lets Ivy go and doesn't prove her strength more. Gavin and Lea fight next. Not too much happens outside of Gavin being supported by his boyfriend, Jacob. Kiemo is not impressed by the fight or people continuing to disobey his orders.

Ally and Niccolo, two friends, fight next. Niccolo is thankful he wasn't placed against Kiemo, knowing how much the boy doesn't like or care for him. Both friends agree to try and fool the researchers and do as little damage as possible. Dr. Berris is upset with Niccolo's continued failures to land hits and scolds both, ordering them to do better. The fight stops more as Felicity, Ally, Summer, and Niccolo in turn snap at the researcher about the ethics of such a decision to make them all fight like this. Especially when they have no idea why they must do this. Dr. Berris is fairly certain no one will find out and doesn't seem to care about the whole thing or experience. He also explains that no one even knows that they are at the school in the first place. He also warns that the school is all there is to keep them safe. Dr. Berris remarks too that they don't need everyone to survive. At this, Kiemo orders Summer to attack Dr. Berris but he stops Summer from doing so. She later retreats, returning to sulk over by Kiemo. He's enraged by this and that he couldn't kill a researcher.

Felicity and Summer fight after everything. Kiemo warms Summer not to let him down twice and Summer assures him she won't. She quickly turns to taunting Felicity, who gets upset at Summer taunting people she cares about. Felicity manages to strike Summer more after that and Fletcher is shown fretting over Felicity the entire time. Kiemo is too, though he tries not to show it. The coyote becomes more upset when Felicity insults him personally and how good of a person he is, only to be soothed by Summer leaping to his defense. The two girls continue to fight, Felicity bringing up Fletcher's burned lab and the treatment of others and Summer bringing up his "pure" goal to get them out. Summer is once again ordered by Kiemo to finish Felicity. Fletcher tries to interfere but Kiemo stops him, the two meeting face-to-face as he dares him to try. Luckily, Dr. Berris steps in and orders Felicity to be taken to be healed. Fletcher is stopped from checking her over completely. Felicity does take time to worry about Fletcher as it is his turn and things don't look great. Kiemo has already failed today and watched Summer be hurt. Fletcher bravely faces him, taking out the Kiemo Shank and glancing at Gagan before he begins up the arena's steps. Kiemo congratulates Summer briefly before he joins Fletcher. The two fight and Kiemo quickly gains the upper hand. However, Fletcher doesn't go down easily and does manage to last for a bit, some of Kiemo's current scars being from this battle. Kiemo does manage to pin him though and taunts him, mentioning how everyone is watching him get his butt handed to him and that joining Kiemo would've changed everything. Fletcher doesn't regret it. Kiemo is confident Gagan won't come to help and smirks at the panicked gaze Fletcher shoots at Gagan. With this encouragement, Fletcher slashes Kiemo more, trying to escape but Kiemo is ready and Fletcher gives into exhaustion. He feels himself starting to bleed more and is surprised as he starts blacking out that Kiemo is looking just as panicked at him. Kiemo cries for someone to heal Fletcher before he dies. Fletcher passes out looking from this scene to Gagan, believing he let him down.

LeFaux interrupts the fight and threatens Kiemo, warning the coyote to step back or risk death. Kiemo obeys as Fletcher's body is taken by LeFaux through a portal to the infirmary. Gagan does not get the sweet moment he wanted and instead is left terrified that he just lost another friend of his. Unable to confront LeFaux about just leaving with Fletcher and unable to protest, his attention turns to Kiemo. He's reasonably upset about the whole thing and demands to know how Kiemo feels about the whole thing. Kiemo is too shocked to answer him, terrified he almost saw Fletcher die despite his intentions. He then, as Gagan steps away, hisses that he didn't mean to do it and is just as surprised. Gagan attacks him and the two fight over this whole thing. Kiemo tries to stop the fight, trying to assure Gagan that Fletcher must be alive somehow. Gagan keeps attacking him and battering him in front of everyone and he viciously attacks Kiemo. Kiemo fears that this is how he'll die too and cries out for Summer despite everything. Gaining control of himself though, he manages to pull out his knife and wound Gagan, assuring him that he, Kiemo, has won regardless if Fletcher lives or not. Summer leaps in to protect Kiemo from Gagan. As she does so, she is hit with a heavy blow from Gagan. After, Gagan returns to attacking Kiemo though Summer continues to defend Kiemo until they both are able to escape. Both are heavily wounded. Kiemo's terrified for Summer and now wants further vengeance against Gagan. After a conversation with Gagan and the arrogance remaining, he weighs the cure in his mind. He decides he'll steal Fletcher's research and just kill Fletcher (now that Gagan tells him he's alive; before he was a little torn up about it) to hurt Gagan further and in retaliation for hurting someone he loved. With Summer's help, he sneaks inside where Fletcher is and they attack as Gagan is forced to watch.

Gagan attacks Kiemo again, keeping him from Fletcher but he's already dying. Gagan tries to save him, to get him new blood but it's too late. Fletcher is scared to die and confesses this to Gagan. He regrets losing and leaving Gagan the most and even tells him that he loves him too. Gagan is shocked and pleads that they didn't have time to talk and it'll be okay. Fletcher ends up dying though with Gagan pleading with him that he'll never be alone, something Fletcher promises when Gagan himself is assumed to be dead. Gagan also as life leaves Fletcher and it's unknown if he was able to hear the words, Gagan admits that he loves him too.