Path to Becoming the Greatest Space Mercenary-Chapter 73 Preparing

"Avery, are you sure agreeing to that was a good idea?" Kasandra asked as they made their way back to their ship.

Instead of going to the import market as they had initially planned, the two of them were heading directly back to the Dauntless to figure out their next more.

"I don’t know, but I felt like it would have been a mistake to decline. If it had been anyone else, I could have just brushed them off, but not with Ezra, and certainly not with the way he made the challenge public." Avery responded with a sigh.

He had ultimately agreed to Ezra’s terms and accepted a competition to see which one of them was the better mercenary. Then whichever one of them lost would end up as the other’s subordinate.

Avery could tell that his opponent was completely serious, but also not looking down on him. It had been a proposal between equals. Which had only made Avery even more inclined to accept.

’They really are alike, though Ezra probably a bit more polite than his uncle.’

Had it been Urs, that man might have just randomly attacked Avery on the streets or in space without really explaining anything. Just like their first meeting.

So, in some ways, it was a relief that Ezra had not been quite as aggressive.

’Still, I’ve got to figure out which ones to choose.’ Avery thought while glancing at his terminal.

Other than ship to ship combat, Ezra had given Avery a list of other skills a mercenary should possess and was supposed to choose two more for them to compete in.

These ranged from things like shooting, to general knowledge about laws pertaining to mercenaries.

Naturally, combat ability was the most important aspect of the job, so Ezra had stressed that he needed to pick at least one more battle related challenge.

Of course, Avery hardly believed he would have any chance against someone that had been a mercenary far longer than him when it came to anything pertaining to information. Urs had taught him a lot, but it was really just a crash course on the most important stuff. What they had mostly done was training.

’Except the only thing I’m confident I have a chance of winning is when we fight in our vessels. In the other areas, I don’t think I can easily make up for my lack of experience.’

As Avery continued to ruminate on his match with Ezra that was scheduled for two weeks from now, he and Kasandra made it back to the Dauntless.

"Okay, I’ve pulled it up."

In the Dauntless’ cockpit, Kasandra accessed the ship’s main computer and displayed the data their sensors had saved during the battle with the energy lifeforms.

If Avery wanted to best Ezra, then he needed to prepare. And the best way to do so was to figure out how his fellow mercenary and student of Urs fought.

During the incident, he had watched what Ezra could do for a bit, but that was a far cry from a detailed analysis.

Fortunately, he had managed to gather a good deal of information on his opponent’s ship since they had been fighting together. Though, the same was likely true for Ezra.

’At the very least, I was using the missile pods and the EMP blaster the Alliance Police had loaned me at the time. So, he shouldn’t have exact data on my plasma launchers and auto turret even if he knows about them.’

With Kasandra’s help, Avery brainstormed strategies to combat Ezra’s craft while also figuring out which of the other events to pick.

In the end, there were only really two options Avery had any shot at.

During his training with Urs, the primary focus had been on learning how to fire personal laser weaponry, practical combat, and battles between ships.

That meant that these were the categories Avery planned to challenge Ezra to.

"He learned from Urs just the same as you. And he’s had more time to practice and gain real experience. The Dauntless is probably a bit better than the vessel he’s flying, so its higher specs can make up for any difference in skill, but you’re going to need an edge in the other two competitions as well. I hate to say it, but I don’t think you could beat him in a fair fight or test of marksmanship. Honestly, I’m pretty sure someone like him would trounce me as well." Kasandra said, admitting how much of a disadvantage Avery was at.

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"Well, we’ve got two weeks to train and come up with something. I survived the hell that Urs put me through, so I know that I can put up a good fight at least. He came at me like a real monster, and I had to learn to act fast or get pummeled." Avery said, a distant look in his eyes as he remembered some of his earlier sessions with his mentor.

Urs was faster and stronger than him, and that still held true. A lot of successful mercenaries purchased bionic and cybernetic enhancements for their bodies, but Avery had not really had time to do so yet. He had trained hard, but he was only a normal human.

"Kasandra, could you reserve some training rooms for us to use at the Mercenary Association. I need to practice with my laser pistol and probably pick up some other weapons to use. Also, contact your brother. I want the two of you to fight me in mock battles."

"Avery, I don’t know if I can-."

Kasandra trailed off before she could finish telling Avery she did not want to hurt him. When she saw the determined glint in his eyes, she knew that she would have to abandon any reservations in order to help him. Even if that meant thoroughly thrashing him alongside her brother in practice duels.

Once the two of them had things arranged for the next two weeks, Avery began searching his terminal for equipment that might give him the edge he needed.

"Ah, this might work."