"When they met in the middle of the plains, their blades meeting rang out with the sound as old as civilization itself, the Predator slashing at Nikolai from the side and Nikolai, using his momentum to absorb the force of the Predators greater weight. Still, he could feel the impact all the way up his arm and into his spine and ribs; he vibrated from it. The strength of the creature astounded him. Then he was past the Predator, pushing its blade to the left and avoiding the follow-through by its bladed hand. Stumbled but kept his balance, and with the shorter knife, managed a sideways stab that slid down to the forearm join in the Predators armor, heard the creature cry out, dared not stab deeper or lose the Weapon and his footing he turned to meet the Predators next move."

The Predator whirled around in the thick golden grass, on the sunlit plain, circling Nikolai, trying to get its foot inside of Nikolais and come around to stab him in his left side. Nikolai was standing straight. Up on the balls of his feet like a boxer, body angled so the Predator couldn't get at his torso easily. The Predator, in crouching, had made a mistake, giving up some of its incredible height advantage. "Just like a knife fight in Odessa", Nikolai thought, exulting to have drawn first blood. A think trickle that looked like purple in his altered vision came from the Predators arm. Nikolai laughed. "You want more? I've got more". Battle was joined." Pg. 240-241 chpt. 65