NBA Dramatique: If at First

"Twice already."

"Yeah, I know. But I think we can do it."

"Why? What's different this time?"

"We're better. We're more experienced. We've fought them before."

O.J. and Rudy looked again upon the bright and shining exterior of the Machine. In their heads were visions of conquest. They could visualize the flying sparks and oil slicks upon the ground as the Bear Tribesmen laid waste to cybernetic terminators. It was pure imagination fueling these visions, though. The Bear Tribe had been repeatedly beaten by the forces of the Machine.

"We still have that guy from the Sky Fortress. Can we use him for anything?"

Rudy shook his head. "Nah. I don't know if he's ever gonna be any use to us. Maybe we'll eat him."

*****

The Bear-men had encircled their enemy's headquarters, and had been pelting it with stones in an attempt to provoke. The repeated noise of rocks bouncing off steel activated defense programs, bringing the cyborg killers on-line. In the low red light of the staging bay, eye-like ocular sensors glowed green. Relays and motors began to click and whir. Lubricating oil and hydraulic fluid began to warm and the robotic killers began to move at the command of the Great Machine. Their movements were deliberate and calculated. Efficiency dictated every motion. The bay doors opened and the bright sun threw its rays into the barely-lit interior of the Machine. Not one of the cyborgs was still human enough to throw up an arm to block the sun from their eyes, nor even to squint. The sun's light was brilliant on the chrome skin of each fighter, and made their bodies appear wrapped in mercury or molten silver. They began to take heavy but calm steps out into the light to face their opponent. The chants of the Bear Tribe fell silent. Those in fur watched those in metal form their own circle around their fortress. The cyborgs were expressionless, emotionless, and their electric "eyes" gazed at the tribesmen with cold indifference. The enormous spiked cog destroyed the pregnant pause by spinning into action, making a terrible mechanical growl as it drove downward, and just missed a number of tribesmen who were fortunate enough to dodge the surprise attack.

Rudy's assessment before the battle had not been completely incorrect. The fighters of the Bear Tribe had learned. They had faced this opponent and they had faced others, and now they were using their experience to wage a smarter war. O.J. especially was becoming a more fierce fighter with every day that passed. Rudy had moments in which he wondered if O.J would surpass him, and wondered if his friend would eventually usurp his leadership. When he thought about it, he found that to be the most likely outcome. He also thought at times that they might be too competitive to remain friends and that one of them would have to go. For now though, they were tribesmen. They were strong with the spirit of the Great Bear. Rudy was happy that O.J. was his friend, and he was happy to have a fellow hero to fight and bleed beside him.

*****

O.J. was determined. He was no loser, and these cyborgs had tried to convince him otherwise already on two separate occasions. He gave no quarter, and attacked with the strength the Bear had granted him. He accepted blows against him and repaid in kind. He dented and broke solid parts of machine-men and tore or ripped the softer pieces of his enemies. He grew tired, and felt beaten, then would feel the Bear roar in his gut and have new energy to keep fighting. He refused to quit in his head or heart. That would have served him against other opponents, but this was, after all, the Machine. Where his emotions would have been a poison against lesser armies, the Machine was immune. They countered attacks. They defended mightily. They felt no fear of loss even when ebbing. They showed resolve and patience, because they had not been programmed to show anything else. So in the end, they won. Again.

*****

On the trail away from the Machine, with bodies aching and bruised, Rudy and O.J. remained silent. Both had the same thought in their heads:

"Three times already."

Both also followed that thought with another:

"Next time."