Peacekeepers by Walter Knight

corner, the hometown favorite, leader of scorpion freedom fighters, the irrepressible, undefeatable, the Beast from the East, The Mouth from the South, the Cannibal from Down Under, Hidden-Sting!”
    Hidden-Sting whipped his knives and stinger about in crisp coordinated thrusts. He pointed at Corporal Wayne as the crowd went crazy. “You are so ugly you should donate your face to the USGF Bureau of Wildlife!” he shouted.
    Both fighters had to be separated by Colonel Lopez and attendants. Lopez gave them last minute instructions. “Keep the fight clean. If either fighter goes down, the other will retreat to his corner until medics can check the down fighter for fatal injures. I will shoot any fighter who does not follow instructions immediately. And, most important, be careful with those knives. Do not risk injury to me or members of the audience by throwing your knives. Knife-throwing is prohibited, and will result in the permanent loss of your weapon. Good luck, gentlemen. To your corners. It’s show time!” Colonel Lopez checked his email, then placed his bets.
     
     
    * * * * *
     
     
     
    Despite all the earlier bravado and disrespect, when the bell rang, both combatants circled cautiously, knives probing and feinting for an opening. Suddenly, with incredible lightning like speed, Hidden-Sting swiped across at Wayne’s throat. Hidden-Sting danced back to safety, surveying the damage. Corporal Wayne stood motionless for a moment, then dropped his knifes as he fell to the floor clutching his sliced windpipe. Gasping for air, Wayne convulsed in spasms. Hidden-Sting lorded over Wayne, knives raised, poised to kill the fallen spider. Colonel Lopez drew his pistol and ordered Hidden-Sting to back off. Legionnaires armed with assault rifles and fixed bayonets charged into the ring, forming a protective barrier around Corporal Wayne.
    Legionnaire medic Corporal Elena Ceausescu knelt beside the fallen Wayne. She tore off a piece of duct tape and placed it over Wayne’s exposed windpipe, sealing the hole in his exoskeleton. For good measure, she wrapped more duct tape completely around Wayne’s neck to keep the original patch in place. Corporal Wayne soon recovered, his breathing regaining normalcy.
    “Look, ladies and gentlemen!” said the announcer. “Another use for duct tape!” The crowd applauded wildly.
    Corporal Wayne looked about, dazed. Focusing on Hidden-Sting at the other corner, Wayne furiously threw one of his combat knives. Hidden-Sting easily ducked, but the knife stuck into one of his attendants. EMT medics rushed the shocked attendant to the hospital. Corporal Wayne sprang to his feet, and the fight resumed. Sergeant Williams tossed Wayne another knife from their corner. The crowd booed, but Colonel Lopez allowed it.
    “You won’t be talking trash now,” jeered Hidden-Sting, as they circled the ring again.
    Corporal Wayne tried to answer, but his throat injury kept him quiet. In frustration, he lashed out with both knives, but Hidden-Sting easily parried both thrusts and taunted, “Ah, your silence is so golden!”
    As the first round ended, Corporal Wayne was cut several more times. His segmented exoskeleton prevented serious blood loss, but he was still weakened. He sat dejectedly in his corner.
    Hidden-Sting stood in his corner, waving at the crowd. He contemptuously sought me out in the crowd, and gave me the one-fingered salute. Damn! He was going to double-cross me. Our agreement was for Hidden-Sting to take a series of minor injuries, and not come out for the third round. No mas! I could clearly see Hidden-Sting was not going to stick to the plan. Money be damned, Hidden-Sting was going for the kill. I quickly left the stadium. I sent Sergeant Williams and Corporal Ceausescu text messages.
    The second round was more of the same. Wayne tried to keep away from Hidden-Sting as the scorpion became more confident. Again Wayne went down, this time due to a cut to one of his legs. He hobbled to