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       No one would say: that two fragile physicists would be such fierce armwrestlers: and the
finale in the category under seventy-five kilograms fired everyone up to red.
       It took almost seven minutes and the boys were bellowing like a herd of hungry walruses.
       In the end: Gregory: a wiry quantum mechanic with a charming cheeky cowboy smile:    won
and earned a long and passionate standing ovation.
       Then I went with Volture  and two other pilots to the hangar  and after a short: but in-
tense left-handed women's heavyweight contest: we performed a perfect etherbatic creation: that
the audience could watch live on the big holographic sky on the wardroom ceiling.     The sweet
fruit of our secret daily training  was spectacularly manifested  in the form of a stunning in-
terlaced pirouette: that we proudly painted together among the stars.
       When I returned  to the darkened hall  again:  there was a buzz of tense excitement  all
around. I found Lena: Whisper and Andrea in the crowd and squeezed in amidst them.
       "Impressive:" said Lena to the address of my performance.
       "Thank you:" I said beaming.
       "Truly wonderful:" said Andrea: gradually hiding her fingers in her palm:    "especially
the tangled .. DNA spiral."
       I grabbed her little green fist happily.
       The light went out completely: and after a few seconds of absolute darkness:  two bright
cones revealed the glowing ring.
       "Friends: comrades: brothers and sisters - Good evening:" Butterfly said solemnly:    "I
greet you  and welcome you  to a friendly boxing match  between the captains of our two  allied
battleships. MoRay versus Hydron - John versus Alia."
       "Aliaaaaaaa:" little Whisper wheezed like a deranged witch and climbed onto my back.
       "Johnaliaaan:" roared the audience.
       The light moved in a dramatic arc  to the inky entrance: from which  two walking figures
came out side by side and: accompanied by Japanese war drums: crossed the boiling sea  into the
center of the squared circle.    Butterfly's gesture plunged the arena into a murmuring silence
again.
       The first round was mostly an exhibition.
       The fighters demonstrated brisk series of quick strikes and covers: precise exchanges of
attacks and defenses: sharp kicks: flexible dodges and graceful turns.   Commander John showed:
that his perfectly sculpted body was not just for decoration: and he could not only stand up to
this duel with honor: but could even win it  - especially when  he managed to knee Alia hard in
the stomach just before the gong struck: so that she remained sitting on the floor for a while.
       I remembered my recent conversation with Andrea.  I looked at her and she looked back at
me with a smile.
       "Could she lose?" I asked her as we decorated the cakes with berries.
       "That's up to him."
       "How?"
       "He might surprise her with his cruelty. Alia has a soft spot for gentle men."