Merry Christmas to all!

And as a little Christmas present, here is a little teaser to a story I am currently concocting called 'Independent'

Ryker grit his fangs together and immediately placed himself between Takoshi and Summer.
“Boy, you’re being stupid!”
Thwack!
The hit from the hydrowhip hurt. A lot and it actually tore through his vest and shirt but it only pushed him back a single step.
“I’ve been screwed over by corporations too,” he growled, his ears back and tail straightened. “They stole my idea and dared to send me a cease and desist order. My ideas, my IPs, could be dead because of them! I am not going to let some greedy Corpsman kill off another unique idea!”
Oliver scoffed. “Then you really are an Indie.” He lifted his paw. “Summer!”
Thwack!
This time, Ryker didn’t fall back a step even if the whip hurt like hell.
“Idiot!” snapped Takoshi. “You see that percentage on your fucking phone!? That’s your health! If that drops to zero, you’re dead! You die here, you die for real! Don’t throw your life away for me! I’m -”
“Don’t you fucking dare tell me that you’re just some idea!” Ryker shouted, turning to face the samurai. “You’re an idea that was given shape and form. Someone spent a lot of time and effort to make you! Sure people can come up with concepts and designs like crazy. Maybe those with wild imaginations can create thousands well-developed characters and intricate worlds in a single minute but that’s still time and effort used to making you real! I am not going to let anyone’s efforts get abused and turned into a brainless zombie because of some corporate stooge!”
Thwack!
He shut his eyes, tears of pain welling up.
“Get up, Takoshi,” he snarled.
The bear stared at him in surprise. “You -”
Ryker bared his fangs, hackles rising. A fierce fire burned within his eyes, not metaphorically. There was a literal, silver flame that burst from deep within his pupils surging outward and engulfing him like a brilliant, steely corona. “I said, get up!”