Ask Trip and Ben Do Laser Tag

[Ben Keldan]

Ben was bent in half reaching for his toes to the best of his ability which equated to just below his knee. That was probably average, he thought. He stood to his full height and pulled one arm over his chest in a stretch. He was dressed for battle. Sneakers, black cargo pants, and a camo t-shirt with the sleeve cut off. He had black grease paint across both of his cheekbones and a breathe right strip across his nose. He lifted a paisley red bandanna in both hands and then adorned his brow and tying it off behind is head.

He looked into the mirror, a smile spread across his face. It was go time. Ben stepped out of the locker and spotted his best pal in the fucking world, Trip.

“Dude, I hope you’re ready for this,” Ben looked around sizing up their competition, “Looks like it’s gonna be a hell of a fight in there.”

They were in a laser tag arena. The competition was a motley crew of menacing little kids. A Rodian employee named Quay spotted them and headed over.

“Guys, please tell me you’re gonna be cool today.”
Ben frowned, “Uh, I’m sorry, we’re always cool, right Trip?”
“I’m serious, please don’t traumatize any kids,” pleaded Quay.
Ben stepped forward lowering his voice, “We go to Valhalla Quay!”
The Rodian deflated, and Ben realized he was actually affecting the kid and immediately felt bad, “Ohmygosh, dude, yeah I’m sorry, we’ll be cool, I was just a little amped to play.”

Quay perked up a bit, “Ok cool, uh thanks.”

As the Rodain walked away, Ben said, “No mercy,” just loud enough for Trip to hear while holding his fist out for a bump.

@Raydo

 

[Trip Oldsen]

Trip had adorned his most battle-ready cargo shorts and favorite space warrior t-shirt. He also had added an old-time ammo belt across his chest. He wore sweat bands on his head and both forearms. He took the last sip of his side and went to toss it in the garbage can but missed, the cup bouncing off the lid. "Shit.." he mouthed, picking it up and placing it in the can.

"I have been dreaming of the battle for the last week," he said seriously. They scanned the horde of children that stood in the way between them and victory. "Dude, Frans is here? I hate that kid! He kicked me in the shin last time we were here." he whispered to Ben. The kid stuck his tongue out at Trip, to which Trip quickly returned the gesture.

Quay, the minimum-waged teenager that manned the laser tag arena, sighed as they approached. "We were framed last time! That kid was just mad we won...freaking crybaby." he said.

"Yeah, Quay, its all good! You don't have to worry about a thing!" he said, trying to avoid them getting kicked out before the match even started.

"Time to make these kids wish they had never been born..." he said, pounding his fist against Ben's.

As they stepped out on the glorious field of battle. "I love the smell of fog in the evening." Trip said as they stepped through the odd-smelling fog to take up the position.

The music started thumping in the arena.

Music​

@Zay

 

[Ben Keldan]

“Tonight we’ll savor the sweet taste of ice cold revenge, my friend,” said Ben as he double knotted the laces on his sneakers. Trip mentioned Frans and Ben bolted up and looked his best bud straight in the eye, “Don’t let them get into your head!”

Just over Trip’s shoulder Ben spotted Rico and his bravery wavered, “Oh no,” Ben’s eyes met Rico’s the little twi-lek smiled a big toothy grin and waved excitedly at the dynamic duo, Ben just glared, “Rico’s here, too and he’s already playing mind games.”

The smell of dry ice sweat filled his nostrils as Ben took a deep breath. He added his agreement to Trip, “Smells like sweet, sweet victory.”

Quay now dressed in a spacer cosplay outfit, with a name tag that read Callo, stepped into the arena and began meticulously outlining the rules of engagement. Ben couldn’t help but notice that the Rodian looked in their direction for several of the rules, as if they were gonna play by the rules during a life or death situation.

“Alright you slime balls!” yelled Quay, “[/color=lightgreen]Turn around a put on your blastvests![/color]”

Ben didn’t turn around. He just did a little half squat and slipped into the laser tag vest without looking. He shrugged the vest up and onto his shoulder, tried to fasten it, realized it was still set for a kid, loosened the straps, then clipped it.

He picked up his weapon. The weight of his burden, a true widowmaker, and he looked at it mournfully. Ben closed his eyes wondering if he really had what it took to unleash the darkness inside. He looked at Trip. That was the only confirmation he needed. They were brothers, and he’d be damned before he let his brother down on the battlefield.

Once everyone was ready, which took like fifteen minutes because it was literally a group of kids being helped by their parents, “Peef” stepped back up and laid out the game.

“Alright, scum!” one of the mother’s gasped, Quay winced, muttered a quick apology then went right back to character, “The battle today will have three rounds, the team with the highest score at the end of the final round will be the winner, are both teams ready?!”

“OH YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!” Ben shouted. The kids and parents thought it was hilarious, but they’d know the truth of it soon. These little shits were in for a world of hurt.

“See you on the other side, brother.” Ben said to Trip.

Quay was in the DJ booth now, the music changed to something battle ready and the Rodain said, “GO!!!

@Raydo

 

[Trip Oldsen]

"Dude, I am not above kicking kids..." he said with disgust. Rico was the worst. He brought a slingshot one time and was shooting rocks at them. What did he get for his war crime? Literally nothing...There was no justice in the Galaxy.

They were told to put on their vest. "Alright, let's waste these pun..." he cut off as his arm got stuck trying to put the vest on. He struggled for a second, the music already starting to kick up. "Little help..." he said, continuing to squirm. "They make these things so tricky..." he said.

His vest was finally sorted; he tried unsuccessfully to play it off. "Give them hell." he said to his best friend.

They both sprinted, zig-zagging in and out of the course. They say time slows down in combat; at least, that's what Trip had heard. He felt it; the noise faded, leaving only him, victory, and the 10 or so kids that stood in his way. The first kid rounded the corner, startled by the looming figure of Trip in the dark arena. The kid didn't even stand a chance, dead before the light even registered. The kid broke out crying, but Trip had already taken off in look for his next prey.

He climbed up on an overlook and spotted a group of three kids locked in a firefight with another group. They were sitting ducks. "EAT LASER PUNKS!" he screamed, laughing manically as he cut them all down.

@Zay

 

[Ben Keldan]

Ben shot off with the speed of a whole ass adult racing literal children. He could hear trip falling prey to his berserker form… a part of Ben felt a pang of guilt, but on the other hand fuck dem kids.

He rounded a corner and face to face with the dastardly duo themselves… Rico and Frans. They’re blasters were leveled on him, Ben eased his hands up.

“Let’s not be too hasty here fell—”

The little bastards lit him up like a fucking Christmas tree.

Ben’s body convulsed with every shot, “Arrrrrgh!” he cried slowly falling to his knees with his hands out wide. He slumped over, his last seconds playing out before him as Rico and Frans gleefully danced then ran away.

He’d failed… He’d lost… Mamma…

BLASTVEST REACTIVATED.

HE WAS ALIVE!!!!!!

@Raydo

 

[Trip Oldsen]

In his moment of glory, when things looked like victory was certain. He turned to see Ben cornered.

Time slowed to a near standstill as he watched in horror.

"NOOOOOOOOO!" he yelled, spit flying from his mouth. He raised his gun to fire, but it was too late; it was hopeless. Ben was cut down in his prime! Trip reached out a hand. "I'll avenge you, buddy!" he yelled.

He wouldn't let them just get away with what they had done to his best friend. He would dine on corpses! He hopped over the barrier, his plan for revenge already coming together.

As soon as his feet touched the ground, his vest vibrated. He turned around to see a small kid with huge glasses, taking a hit from his inhaler as he walked away.

"Dammit..." he muttered, his plans of glory dashed.

@Zay

 

[Ben Keldan]

Ben moved through the child sized area with the agility of a predator on the hunt for wounded prey. It was time to go dark. He suddenly stopped, hands clutching at his chest as if in immense pain.

“No, not now, they—they’re just kids!” he pleaded with neon lights mixing with dry ice fog.

“Herk! EEEERAAAAAGHHHHHHH!” Ben screamed, the little kids near him squealed with glee, and tore off screaming, “He’s doing it!”

“Told you! C’mon!”

“—AAAAAAAARRRRRRRGHHHHH!” finished Ben, his chest heaved, spittle clung to his lips as his shoulders hunched over. His weapon was in his hand and his gaze was menacing. Rico appeared out of nowhere, but Ben was to in the zone, to on, too fucking good, and shot the little miscreant in the chest.

“Awww…” were the last words Ben ever heard Rico utter. Suddenly a feral scream tore through the battlefield, Frans was charging, Ben shot him too. “Nani!?” said, Frans.

He six year old fell to his knees, Ben stepped out of a shadow behind him, “You’re already dead.”

Rico jumped up in a last ditch effort to catch Ben unaware, but it was too late. He’d fully succumbed to the darkness. His blaster snapped up firing twice into Rico’s chest.

“Ugh!” cired the kiddo, falling to the grounded and holding his chest.

Frans tried the old Tatooine flip, but Ben had written the book on fake out tactics. As soon as he moved, Ben fired, “Hey, that’s not fair, you’re spawn camping!”

“All’s fair in love and war, child, now dance!” he replied as he spent the rest of the round avenging his friend and making Rico and Frans’ lives a living hell. Was it a little mean? Yeah, but seriously these two kids were dick heads.

@Raydo

 

[Trip Oldsen]

He went back to the respawn area, the "charging up" sound of defeat sounded, and Trip was free to begin a new. He needed to get to Ben; together, they would be unstoppable.

He heard screaming in the distance; the high-pitched screaming left in Ben's rampage made him smile. Trip headed in that direction. As Ben had just been through this area, Trip initially didn't find any targets.

As he pressed towards Ben's position, he stepped on something squishy, his next step making a loud sticking sound. "Oh come on!" he said, looking down at his shoe and seeing the large wad of gum stuck to his shoe. "Who even chews this much gum!" he said, taking another step, his foot sticking lightly to floor. "Just Great!"

Two kids had snuck around Ben, and his ramage at the enemy spawn. "Get his friend!" one shouted. Trip looked up to see them approaching but had too focused on his shoe problem and couldn't respond fast enough. None of it was fair.

"Assholes..." he murmured as he headed back to spawn once again.

@Zay

Spoiler: Roll

Dice Roll: 4 ughhh