Title:           Laser Tag
Author:          -IceMan-
Pastebin link:   http://pastebin.com/gXM69peG
First Edit:      Thursday 23rd of June 2016 01:38:44 PM CDT
Last Edit:       Last edit on: Thursday 30th of June 2016 12:26:12 AM CDT

Laser Tag
By IceMan/IcyNudibranch

Author's note: Written for AskChubbyDiamond fanfiction contest, June 2014. Winner, Honorable Mention.

Hello, welcome to Mars Warriors Laser Tag Arena, how may I help you?
The acne-covered, bucktooth teenagers monotone speech didnt do much to help Diamond Tiaras enthusiasm for this little outing.
Yeah, were gonna need two   Silver Spoon began.
One! Diamond cut her off. One ticket.
Shut up. We need two tickets for three games.
Alright, thatll be $15.99. Silver Spoon pulled a $20 bill out of her wallet and set it on the counter, then took the four bills and a penny she received as change.
Just head through the door over there, next round starts in five minutes, the cashier said.
Thanks! Silver replied. Cmon, Diamond.
They walked through the cheap, space-themed fabric covered metal door into a blacklit waiting room, which turned red, blue, and white spirals on the carpet, made of the same material as the door, eerie crimson, azure, and radioactive greenish. The sign on one wall said Briefing Room. A couple mesh vests hung on a rack and some futuristic, curved guns sat on a shelf. The room had a faint odor of inexpensive plastic and a bit of musky sweat. I cant believe you talked me into this, Diamond said.
I cant believe youve never played laser tag before. Itll be fun! Silver Spoon replied.
Fine, whatever you say....
Another employee walked over. Her glow-in-the-dark nametag read Glow Worm, but, otherwise, her features were undeterminable. Alright, another games about to start in a few minutes, so well get you two suited up. She looked at Diamond for a second. We might need a larger vest for you.
In the darkness, Diamonds flushed red cheeks couldnt be seen. No, I think I can fit into a regular sized one, thank you very much, she said.
Well, well see if that one fits, otherwise, Ill get a larger one out, Glow Worm said, getting two vests from the rack. Silver Spoon snapped the buckles together on her vest and cinched it tight. Meanwhile, Diamond struggled to fit hers over her stomach.
Uh, little help? she asked.
Did you loosen up all the buckles? the employee said.
Yeah, Diamond grunted, still trying to pull the vest closed.
Oh, dear. Well, uh, Ill get you one of the bigger vests. Dont want to break that one. She took the vest from Diamond, who folded her arms across her chest and frowned.
I told you this was a bad idea, she said to Silver Spoon.
Oh, boo hoo. The vest didnt fit. Who cares? Thats not part of the game, she replied, but Diamond remained in a huff. Glow Worm returned with a larger vest.
See if that fits you, she said. It fit Diamond perfectly, with a bit of tightening. Glow Worm then handed them their weapons.
Alright, games about to start. Do you girls know the rules? Diamond shook her head. Alright, then. Youre gonna get a laser gun. Your vest has blue or red glow-in-the-dark tags on it so you can be identified. Body shots to the arms and legs disable you or other players for thirty seconds. You cant shoot, but you cant be shot at either. Your vest will vibrate and the lighted tags on the side will turn off when you get hit. Youve got three lives, so if youre shot three times, your gun and vest will deactivate and youre dead. You wont hear any sound when you fire and your lights will turn off permanently. So, your goal is to kill all the enemy players before all of your teammates get killed. Simple as that. Oh, and no tripping, hitting, other roughhousing in there. We dont want people getting hurt. Got it? Both Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon nodded. Good.
Glow Worm looked at her watch. Alright, game should end right about now. Youre gonna be on Blue Team, so leave through that door. She pointed to a door with a blue lighted sign over it at one end of the room, which suddenly opened up. Five rowdy looking boys walked out if it. Two turned in their guns and took off their vests and handed it to another employee who entered the waiting room, while the other three sat down on one of the benches. The door on the other end, which had a red sign over it, opened up and five other players walked.
Did you see how I got that guy? one of them said. I was, like, PTCHOO! And then he was like ACH! and then you blew up that other guy and it was awesome.
Yeah, that was so cool! Whos ready for round two? another said.
I am. Whens the next round? the third said. A similar conversation was occurring at the Blue Teams end of the room, except a bit less boisterously. Diamond and Silver walked over to their teams side.
Oh great, weve got two girls on our Team, one of the Blue Team members said. And not even athletic ones. Nope, weve got tubby and nerdy over here. Might as well just forfeit this match. We couldnt beat the Red Team last time, how are we gonna beat them now?
Shut up, Straight Shot, a second said. Weve gotta work together if were gonna win the next match. He turned to the two girls. Just ignore him. He doesnt seem to get that this is just a game in the end. Nice to win, but not worth getting all mad over. The names Sweeper, you guys?
Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, the latter said. Nice to meet you.
Alright, arena is ready and the match will begin as soon as you all enter, Glow Worm said.
Looks like its time to rock, said Sweeper. Have fun, you two.
Diamond Tiara trudged behind Silver Spoon into another blacklit room with the same cheesy space carpet and wall material as the waiting area, but now with big blocks and walls with holes in them for laser guns to be put through making up various hallways and rooms. It was filled with thick fog from a machine somewhere in the room. The male players on the Blue Team ran off and found bits of cover to hide behind, holding their guns straight up towards the ceiling and peaking around, looking for the red tags on enemy vests. Diamond followed her friend to a thin column and squeezed behind it.
Diamond, we cant both fit here. Go to that wall over there. Looks like theres a spot where you can poke your gun out, and youll be protected, Silver said. Diamond trundled over there and obeyed the instructions.
Alright, the match is going to start . . . now! Glow Worm said over the loudspeaker.
Diamond could hear rustling and thumping, but saw no one in the dark. Then: POW! Vrrrrm. Someone had been hit. She looked to her right and saw Silver Spoon was gone, then back to the little hole in her cover and saw a body with Red tags. She wrapped her finger around the trigger of her laser gun and pulled. PEW PEW! PEW PEW! It emitted a clich sci-fi gun sound effect. POW! The enemy paused then ran off. The Diamond blinked. I got him! she said, then her vest buzzed.
No, I got you, tubby, her new foe said.
Oh, youll pay for that! Diamond tried to shoot him back, but found her gun disabled, just as Glow Worm had told her. She turned and fled as fast as her fat legs would carry her down the hallway, firing blindly behind her when she could and hitting no one. She could see a thin figure at bend in the hall, but she couldnt slow down enough to stop from running into her.
Oof!
Hey! Watch where youre  oh, hi, Diamond. Having fun?
You left me!
Yeah, so? I had to find people to shoot, Silver Spoon said. Ive got three kills, havent died once. You?
One. And one. Then Diamonds vest rumbled again.
Gotcha again, tubby! her adversary called out. Diamond growled and whirled around. Silver Spoon stuck her gun out from behind her and fired back, hitting the Red Team assailant.
Ah, shit! he yelled, and ran off.
Thanks for the assist, Silver said, spinning her weapon her finger around like a Western gunslinger.
Uh, sure, Diamond replied.
Its a fun tactic to use your friends whove been shot as cover, cause their invincible for just long enough for you to shoot back. Guess I shouldve stayed with you and showed you the  Move! Another Red Team player was sneaking up behind Diamond again. Silver readied her weapon and laid down fire while Diamond ran back. Got him! Silver cried, running back with her friend, now leaning against a wall with her hands on her knees and panting heavily after doing the most exercise shed done this year. More laser fire rang around a corner, and a Blue Team member sprinted towards Diamond and Silver, stopping near them.
Oh, hey, how you guys doing? he asked. Both Diamond and Silver recognized his voice as Sweepers.
Pretty good, Silver said. Ive got five kills and no deaths. Diamonds got a kill and two.
Jeeze, Ive got zero kills and two deaths. You guys are doing pretty well. I think weve already killed off one of the Red Team guys; saw someone with no lights heading towards their side.
We should move, Silver said. Theyve found us around here twice and theyll probably find us again.
Right, Sweeper said. The trio headed down the hallway, and turned right into a central, open area with a large pillar in the middle.
I think I hear someone coming, Diamond said.
Shush up then! Silver hissed. Lets ambush them. Get behind that wall over there. Diamond followed the order and hid behind it, poking her gun above the furry piece of cover.
I heard someone in there! an unrecognizable voice said. Footsteps followed.
Now! Silver shouted. Diamond popped out of her hiding spot and shot the first Red enemy, deactivating his vest. Sweeper got the second. They ran off into another hallway, one crying, God dammit, they killed me!
Good job, uh, Diamond Tiara, was it? Sweeper said. Nice kill.
Thanks, Diamond replied.
Found you again, fatso! someone yelled out behind her. Diamond whipped around and pulled her trigger. What! No!
Youre dead, pal, Diamond said to her repeated foe. Get out of the arena.
Heh, you should look at your vest. Guess you couldnt feel the rumble through your potbelly. The tabs were still lit.
You missed, Diamond said. Ive got one life left.
Make it count, Sweeper said. Lets go finish this. They can only have one person  
Right here, motherfuckers! POW! Sweepers vest vibrated and the lights shut off.
Well, shit, he said.
No! Hold on! Diamond shouted, holding him back before he ran off to the exit. Diamond stuck her gun under his armpit and fired. POW! Gotcha, ya Red idiot! All she heard from her opponent was a malevolent growl as he dashed off.
Nice trick, Sweeper said as Diamond released her grip.
Learned it from Silver, she replied, who she turned to. Cmon, we need to chase that guy.
Uh . . . right! Silver affirmed. They ran over to the hallway where the Red had escaped.
Should we split up or stick together? Silver asked.
I dont know. You know this game better than me.
Its your choice. Youre the one who was so gung ho about chasing this guy.
I wanna win.
No, youre not! their adversary said, running out behind them and rapidly firing his weapon, the cheesy sound effect echoing off the nearly-empty arena.
Get down! Diamond shouted. They ducked behind the wall surrounding the central area.
Come out little pigs! Big bad wolfy wont hurt ya! Diamond fired off a shot. It missed him. Ha! Cant even aim.
Oh shut up! Diamond retaliated, firing another couple shots in the direction of the enemys voice.
Silver Spoon looked out. Hes gone.
No, Im not! he shouted, rounding the corner of wall closest to Silver. He aimed his laser and fired. Silvers vest vibrated and the lights flicked off. Gotcha, bitch! He ran off again.
Urgh, Silver groaned. What an annoyance.
We should head back to that plaza area. Theres more cover, Diamond suggested.
Whatever you say. Youre the boss now, Silver said with a chuckle. They headed back into the central area and took cover.
Hes coming down that hallway, Diamond whispered, just loud enough for Silver to hear and pointing to the entrance to the left of her. I can hear his footsteps. Get ready.
The Red attacker sprinted into the central area. Wherere they now? he muttered. Diamond popped up and fired. A miss. There you are! He sprinted around her cover and pinned her against a wall, then pulled his gun out and shot her point blank in the stomach. Diamonds vest vibrated, then went still. The lights dimmed and didnt come back. Ha, now youre dead.
POW! Vrrrrrrm.
Now you are, Silver said.
What! No! His tabs werent lighting back up.
And thats game! Glow Worm shouted over the loudspeaker. Everyone back to the Briefing Room. Next round starts in two minutes.
The Red Team player threw his gun on the ground, then realized that he still needed it and stormed off towards his exit.
Well, was that fun? Silver asked Diamond.
I mean, well, uh . . . yeah. That was fun.
Ready for round two?
You know it.
