Space Combat (Part 1 of 2)

Kenny felt alive every time he stepped into the Game Bunker. It was the place for miniature wargaming. All his friends, made up of geeks and nerds, were in on the action already. Rolling a bunch of dice on a detailed table top scenery with hundreds of exquisitely painted figurines made no sense to most people. But to Kenny, Space Combat was his life. His ex-girlfriend broke up with him because he cared more about his figurines of robots and ships than her.

“Hey Kenny,” Chan said, his fat body hunched over a table. He was teaching some new people the rules to Space Combat. “Need your help here. Come teach them.”

Kenny smiled, taking off his jacket. The musky smell of this place under Chan hadn’t changed in 10 years. Kenny hoped to run a place like this in the future if possible. But for now, he was stuck as a paper pusher in a marketing company.

Game Bunker was like his second family. Chan introduced Kenny the newbies proudly, “This is Kenny, one of our best tacticians ever to play Space Combat. He’ll show you his collection and teach you the basic rules.”

Among the newcomers, other than kids and their fathers, was a girl in her late teens. She had the fairest skin and blue eyes that Kenny had ever seen. But she wasn’t smiling and looked like the hardcore gamer chick type. Kenny didn’t want to mess with her.

Kenny took out his massive collection from a portable case and placed it among the miniature trees and volcanoes. The kids cheered in excitement as Kenny explained it enthusiastically. Most of them were still clueless since it was a rather complex game.

Then the girl spoke up in a strange accent, “Show us a real game.”

“Sure who’s up for a challenge?” Kenny asked.

Chan took out another case for the challenger. “My personal champion collection for the challenger.”

“Me,” the girl said in a firm no nonsense tone.

The kids grew silent and let her step up to the table.

“What is your name?” Kenny tried to be friendly.

“Tavia.” Her steely gaze never left him.

Kenny said, “Let’s play Tavia. Hope you got the rules down. I’ll go easy on you.”

Tavia nodded, placing Chan’s collection on the table carefully. She examined the pieces and checked the stats in the rulebook. Kenny quickly realized she was no beginner. She maneuvered the troops and units expertly, maintaining the optimal distance and taking advantage of the unit classes and their abilities. Chan nodded in approval.

Kenny was sweating profusely. The mood at the table was changed drastically. Kenny analyzed and realized she didn’t consider the terrain carefully enough. If he hit her forces from an angle, he might have a slim chance to overwhelm the defense. But it was risky. If he failed, his forces would be wiped out.

Tavia attacked as he predicted and half of his troops were decimated in the first few turns. He hit back with an orbital blast but his dice roll did little to help. Moans came from the audience watching. By now, most of the other gamers from other tables came over to watch them. Kenny felt as if he was in a championship game, his nervousness gnawing away at him. He had to take the strategic gamble. If not he would lose anyway.

Tavia looked dead serious as she played. Not even a smile. She didn’t need much time to think as she played. Just executing the actions effortlessly. Kenny realized his troops were cornered and he planned to rush across the steep terrain to attack her troops from the flank. It was a low chance of success but he knew his troops well enough. Some of his units had the special skill to tackle it.

“Are you sure?” Tavia asked, for once looking shocked.

“Yes,” Kenny said, rolling the dice. He beat the challenge roll and his troops destroyed Tavia’s forces. Everyone began cheering wildly. It was funny because Tavia was smiling too. Why would she smile if she lost?

“Great game,” Chan commented. “And you’re very good Tavia. You could probably beat the mid-tier players too.”

“Kenny was lucky,” Tavia said. “He could have lost the gamble. I wouldn’t have taken that risk.”

“Life is all about risk and reward,” Kenny replied.

Tavia crossed over to Kenny and whispered, “I need to talk to you alone…about the game.”

“Post-game analysis? Sure! Let me get you a coffee nearby,” Kenny said. He didn’t know his life was going to change forever.

---

“You played very well,” Kenny said. “Where did you learn it?” He ordered a black coffee for them both at the cafe. 

“Just recently.”

“Impressive. I took many years just to reach this level.” He sipped on the warm coffee.

“Listen,” Tavia said, looking around warily. She leaned forward. “I’ve travelled game shops all over the country and you’re the only one who beat me. I need your tactical genius to fight a war.”

“You mean a tournament coming up overseas?”

“No, a real war in my galaxy.” Tavia gripped her coffee cup with shaky hands. “I’m not from this planet Earth and we’re having a galaxy war right now. We need your help.”

Kenny choked on the coffee then burst out laughing. The other patrons stared angrily at him for making so much noise.

“You look human to me,” Kenny said.

“Our human race has existed for eons in my galaxy too. Millions of us are going to be extinct very soon if we don't find a way to win.”

Tavia looked serious. It was either she was raving mad or she was telling the truth. But he knew that she seemed sane.

“Where did you think Space Combat came from?” Tavia asked.

“Wasn’t it made by Paul Williams?” Kenny said inquisitively. “He’s a human right?”

“Paul Williams or as we know him Pa’u Wishimm was an ancestor of mine. He escaped to earth and replicated the wars that we face in order to find a champion who could master the game and help us defeat the Urgus.”

“The Urgus are real?” Kenny scratched his head in disbelief. It did make sense in some ways but who could verify the truth? It sounded more like a fantasy novel. “Let me think about it.” He downed the rest of his coffee and got up from the booth.

Tavia sat there sullenly and nodded. She took out a crumpled piece of paper from her pocket and gave it to Kenny. “Here’s my address if you change your mind. But let me know before midnight. I’ll be returning if no one can help us.”

Kenny nodded and went back to the Game Bunker to play but he couldn’t stop thinking about Tavia’s offer. If he didn’t help, would her galaxy and millions of people be annihilated?

---

“You sure this is the place?” the taxi driver asked Kenny.

“Let me see.” Kenny checked Tavia’s paper again – the Good Hostel. It wasn’t looking good at all but it was the right place. The place was rundown with shady characters roaming the streets. “Yes it is.”

Kenny paid the driver hurriedly. It was close to midnight already. He rushed into the hostel and located Room 312. He knocked on the door and said, “Hey Tavia, it’s me Kenny.”

He heard some movement and the door opened. Tavia smiled widely and said, “I knew you’d come.”

“How did you know?”

“Winners always want a new challenge.” Tavia pressed a small device in her hand and a bright light issued from it. A circular vortex appeared and it seemed like a whirlwind was passing through the room. The table and chairs were shaking madly.

“Don’t let go no matter what,” Tavia said, linking her arm with Kenny’s. She pulled him into the portal and he felt himself falling and falling in zero gravity as if every muscle in his body was ripped apart.

After what seemed like eternity, Kenny woke with a start. He wasn’t dead.

“Breath slowly. Keep on breathing.” Tavia’s voice soothed him as he drifted in and out of consciousness.

Kenny felt his lungs working properly again and relaxed. Was he in another galaxy now? He looked around and saw Tavia seated next to him. She was dressed in a strange modern robe with star-like patterns. He remembered seeing that costume on some of the miniature characters before. “You’re a voyager?”

“Yes, I can voyage through time and space. Pa’u was also one too.”

Kenny looked around and saw that he was in a spaceship of sorts. All the walls were grey metallic hues with bright panels displaying his vital signs and brain waves. A few devices were strapped to his arms and head. “Is this your galaxy?”

“Welcome to Rutaine, my home,” Tavia said. “We thought we would lose you during the vortex teleportation. But you’re a strong person.”

Kenny was at a loss of words. He laughed uncontrollably in disbelief. “A new world! Amazing.”

Tavia unhooked the devices on Kenny and helped him sit up. His head was still reeling a bit.

The entrance, a blue screen, flashed open as a man entered. He looked like a statesman in regal armour. He had long flowing wild mane of a hair framing a crusty battle-hardened face. A huge sword hung from his waist. Kenny guessed he was the boss.

“Is this the man you found?” his voice boomed like thunder.

“Yes. Kenny meet my father, Zorr, leader of Rutaine.” She wrung her hands nervously.

“Nice to meet you,” Kenny said with a tremble in his voice. “Tavia told me about a war against the Urgus that needed my help.”

“Help?” Zorr said. “Tavia thinks a wimp like you from another planet who plays games can help us win this war! What utter foolishness. I have been fighting real battles before you were even born.”

“Father, it’s worth a try. He beat me in Space Combat, I mean the war game,” Tavia said. “He’s a good tactician.”

“It’s just a game.” Zorr pointed at Kenny with a finger. “Send him back to his trash world. He disgust me.”

Kenny burned with anger. After all he had been through, he was not just going to go back without a fight. He slid off the table and yelled, “I’ll teach you a thing or two, old man!”

Tavia gasped in horror.

Zorr withdrew his sword and was going to slice him in half. Kenny’s face drained of all colour. “You think you're a clever boy? These are lives you’re talking about. They die in real life if your tactics are wrong!”

Tavia stood in front of Kenny, protecting him from the sword. “Please let Kenny give some advice but you’re not obliged to follow it. After that, I’ll send Kenny back home.”

“Fine,” Zorr said after thinking a few moments. “I didn’t kill you boy because I don’t want my daughter to cry. You have one day to figure out a strategy. The Urgus are preparing for the last showdown tomorrow."

Click here to Part 2