by: Chrystal Wynd
words: 7500
mc mf md hu disco
Jezz and Edge 2- Disco is a Dish Best Served Cold
Jezz shook her head. The brown-haired, athletic-looking woman stepped in front of the shorter and thinner old man and held up her hand.
"No, Edge. Don't do it."
"Stand back, apprentice."
"But they cannot possibly be prepared for one of your skill, sensei."
"Then the fault lies with their teachers."
"But master, they-"
"Enough, apprentice. Now be silent."
Jezz sighed and stepped to the side.
Edge examined the ranged weapon in his hand. He balanced the object on his palm, felt its properties, its lines, its shape. The steel point extended for perhaps an inch, the opposite end feathered. The shaft was poorly made, but serviceable.
It would do. It would have to.
To the casual eye, Edge appeared to be about 80 years old. Although Jezz knew he was much older. To the casual eye, Edge appeared thin, almost to the point of frailty. Although Jezz knew he was frail in much the same way an urban assault vehicle is frail. He was Asian in appearance, with a surprisingly full head of white hair that extended just past his shoulders and a goatee that dangled several inches from his chin. Only a few inches over 5 feet, he appeared to walk only with the help of a wooden staff that was as tall as he was. Although Jezz knew he could walk perfectly well without it.
And now Edge faced a challenge...a challenge he refused to back away from. Still holding the weapon, he gauged the distance to the target. Then, his eyes narrowed, he drew back his hand and slung the weapon forward.
The dart sailed true and struck the exact center of the balloon. Edge's victory was trumpeted with a sudden 'pop!'.
"That's one," announced the carnie in a bored tone.
Four more darts immediately followed the carnie's announcement. Four consecutive pops sounded.
"We have a winner," said the carnie, not bothering to look at the board.
Edge narrowed his eyes at the carnie. He then switched hands and used his left hand to fling darts at the target board. Five consecutive pops sounded.
"We have...another winner," said the carnie, appearing a bit more impressed with the old man having apparently used his opposite hand without missing.
Edge then turned around and flung 5 darts over his shoulder. Again five consecutive pops sounded.
Then Edge closed his eyes and flung his final 5 darts over his shoulder. Five more consecutive pops resounded.
"We have...another...winner..." said the carnie, clearly at a loss for words.
"I have won, yes?" said Edge.
"Yeah," said the carnie. "Uhh...pick your prize."
"I choose the blue elephant," said Edge.
"Winner gets the blue elephant!" said the carnie, picking up the large stuffed animal. He handed it to Jezz across the counter.
Edge beamed as he turned away from the carnival dart game. Jezz followed him.
Typical carnival sounds surrounded them as they made their way across the grounds. Children squealing, hoots and hollers, bells ringing, sirens going off, the clicking and clacking of various rides. Music from merry-go-rounds, carnies hawking their games and wares, pops and whistles resounding. A wealth of food aromas brought the setting to life as well, with the smell of carnival staples everywhere.
Catching up to Edge, Jezz said, "Why do *I* have to carry this thing? It's your prize."
Edge made no move to take the giant stuffed animal. "It is your duty as student to bear your teacher's burdens."
"Well, fine, but stop winning giant prizes," said Jezz. "Win smaller things."
Edge pretended not to hear her. He stopped before another series of game booths.
"Aha!" said Edge. "Perhaps there is challenge to be found here."
Jezz said, "Unlikely, sensei. These are just stupid carnival games."
"I see," said Edge. "So you are so versed in all things that you know what does or does not constitute as training."
"Training?" said Jezz. "Carnival games do not constitute training."
"I see," repeated Edge. "Since you have obviously learned everything required to be a master, then you will have no trouble showing that you are the match of your feeble teacher in these non-training activities, yes?"
Jezz paused, allowing no expression to cross her features. She recognized that tone.
"Perhaps I was mistaken, sensei," she said carefully. "The variable conditions do, after all, present a challenge unlikely to be overcome by a mere apprentice who is still-"
"You are far too modest, student," Edge cut in. "What would I, an elderly, feeble teacher, know of the extent of your abilities? You are surely correct. In fact, I have an idea!"
Jezz's eyes widened slightly. "No, sensei, I assure you, there is no need for-"
"Silence, apprentice," said Edge. He indicated the row of carnival booths with a wave of his long-nailed fingers. "Here you will show your unmeasurable skill, matching- or no doubt surpassing- your instructor's feeble efforts."
"Sensei, this is not-"
"Do not argue, apprentice. False modesty is unbecoming, is it not? I am positive you will prove the equal or better of your teacher. Of course, should you fail to do so," said Edge, in a casual manner, "I would be most humiliated as your instructor. In fact, I would certainly be forced to discipline you in such a manner so as to remind you of your place."
Jezz sighed. There was no way she could best Edge in these games, since he would never miss. Her only chance was to match him in every game. Every single one.
They started at the first booth, which was occupied by a game requiring the participant to knock down a stack of heavy milk bottles with a softball. Edge threw his softball with little apparent effort, but struck the milk bottles with so much force that even the carnie looked surprised. All six milk bottles were knocked down.
Edge, who managed to make himself look even older and more feeble, gave a shrug and said, "Mere luck, I am sure."
Jezz sighed. She picked up the softball and held it aloft for a moment. She was pretty sure it was full of cork and therefore lighter than a traditional softball. No doubt the milk bottles were made of lead or an equally heavy metal, making this game impossible to win.
Unless one had training, of course.
Jezz made an underhanded throw, making it look as casual as possible to the untrained eye, but in actuality giving it a twist of steam. She smiled in satisfaction as the milk bottles missiled in various directions.
"A winner!" said the carnie, looking even more shocked. "Two winners, in fact! Pick your prizes!"
Next was the basketball shot. Edge made ten consecutive shots and Jezz matched him shot-for-shot. The bean bag toss was next. Edge shot his bean bags into the 500-point hole ten consecutive times, and Jezz again matched him shot-for-shot. The next booth involved tossing a softball into a tilted basket, and Jezz once again matched Edge each time.
Down the row they went, game after game, collecting prizes from the incredulous carnies. Jezz now carried over twenty stuffed animals of various sizes, as well as a number of small games and decorative mirrors. Her upper body was barely visible behind the pile of prizes.
The final game was the ring toss. A large grid of bottles stood upright. The game consisted of tossing rings around the protruding necks of the bottles to win prizes. They each received five rings.
Edge tossed his rings in rapid succession. Not only did he manage to land each ring on a bottleneck, he had landed all five rings on the same bottle. He turned to Jezz with a humble look.
"Such luck!" he said. "Despite my not being nearly as skilled as my obviously superior apprentice."
Jezz sighed, then began tossing her rings in rapid succession. As she did so, however, Edge suddenly emitted a piercing shriek, then swung a flattened hand toward her, followed by a sweeping kick.