New Year, New Ring (Once Again)

[DoF Archive]

Date: 1/15/1999 3:15 PM Central Daylight Time
From: RDI Glo

The construction on this ring had been slowed. Part of that was his own fault; the power drains he'd been causing in the Outback had prevented the contractors from getting the job done on time. He took full responsibility for that and now that the two power generators were active, things were running smoothly again. He had no reason to believe anyone suspected him of causing the electrical drains because, well, as
far as he knew his secret was still safe. The generators had bought him some time…not enough, but when one was on the verge of death anything was useful. He'd been programmed to get this ring completed and that program, unlike so many others (some he was aware of and others he was not) had remained intact despite the severe beating his matrix and database had taken.
The bipedal form, to him, seemed quite unsuitable for water. So exactly why the real Matt Simon had designed this ring was beyond him. Perhaps it was the human desire to challenge oneself. Perhaps it was sheer idiocy. But a program was a program and it might be fun to see people, human or otherwise, struggle inside this thing. The contractors had to burst through the Outback's foundation to ensure that leakage, if it occurred, didn't rot the
entire building. The concrete had been poured long ago and the light blue fiberglass basin lain down only recently, just before the power outages began. Tomorrow, the water would be put in place.
Just what was this thing? In essence, it was a swimming pool. Located just a few feet from Ring Styx, the 25 foot long and 18 foot wide pool held two feet of water in the shallow end and twelve feet in the deep. The tiled floor of the pool contained the design of a large closed fist at the locus, the fist itself in red, the surrounding floor tiles colored black. The water was regulated and remained a constant 85 degrees, the temperature
adjustable should any desire it. Two diving boards hung over the deep end where duelers could enter the ring (two ladders made of tungsten on each side at the midpoint had been placed for those wishing a less spectacular entry) or even, if their opponents were disoriented enough, perhaps launch an aerial assault from in midfight. But in order to do that one would have to be dueling a very confused individual or just not care if they advertised
their intents to the entire room, opponent included. Along the pool's sidewalls every two feet along the width and 2 feet underneath the waterline were springloaded pushpads designed to rocket duelers into the middle of the pool. Activated by pressure (such as placing both feet on the outlined parts of the wall and pushing against them), the pads could turn distance into close ranged combat quite quickly and an unprepared dueler could be torpedoed
under water by their opponent. It contained a few other surprises as well, this ring, but he'd leave the duelers to discover the rest on their own. Brief descriptions and instructions regarding the ring were left in the occupied lockers for patrons to find and read at their leisure…hopefully before being placed into the ring during combat.
This ring had everything…even it's own special attire. Duelers could rent or purchase their own water suits for use in this ring (and anywhere else they might want to use them). Black trunks with the name "Outback" embroidered in small but bold printed letters on one leg and "Duel of Fists" embroidered in cursive writing on the other (both in orange lettering) had been purchased for the males to utilize. Females had two choices in design. The
two-piece suit, also black with the small cursive "Duel of Fists" moniker along the left side of the top piece wasn't overly revealing (more of a sports-bra than bikini top) but he doubted any males present would find anything to complain about. Or, the women could opt to wear a one-piece suit, black, with the cursive orange lettering also on the upper left of the garment.
Safe inside a machine, the matrix containing Matt Simon's lifeblood smiled to itself (or, it would have had it been imaged to look like Matt Simon and not a collection of codes and data streams as was its present form). He'd heard people complain about the now infamous "Pit" with all its weevils and other hazards. Others muttered when they had to fight up on top of the fifteen-foot high wooden ring, Styx. He idly wondered how they'd react to
this latest creation…with goodwill and cheer no doubt. Until they got used to it, patrons would flounder more than duel in the thing, or so he imagined. Soon, the ring named "I Wish I Had Duck Feet" would be open for business and as he powered down the machinery to enter his "sleep" cycle, he realized that his existence as a hologram, and his present inability to be lynched, was probably a very very good thing.

[DoF Archive]

Date: 1/15/1999 8:20 PM Central Daylight Time
From: DalamarMaj

The elf had noticed the construction going on for a short while now. At first he had little idea what they could be building now. As it began to take shape, Dal started to get the idea of what it was going to be. "Oh great. Water sports. Just what we need." Then he began to get an idea. Maybe they should add some holding tanks for a shark or some eels or something. He chuckled. After all, would the Pit be as fun if theWeevils weren't there. Maybe, maybe not. At least the added danger might cause a limb or two to be lost. He laughed and disappeard from the Outback.