Apex Arena - Battle A2: Marion "Cobra" Cobretti vs. Jack Bauer

[Culwych1]

Introduction

In 1950, physicist Enrico Fermi famously asked, "Where the f&&k is everyone?" That question led to what is now known as the Fermi Paradox, pondering why humanity has never encountered intelligent life despite the vastness of the universe. But when first contact finally happened, humanity wished the answer had been "nowhere."

The aliens arrived with technology and powers beyond comprehension, annihilating Earth’s defences. Yet, despite their godlike abilities, humanity's defiance intrigued them. Instead of total destruction, the aliens devised a twisted experiment to understand humanity’s unique will to survive.

They chose Earth's 32 fiercest warriors from across time and space, placing them in The Apex Arena—a constantly shifting battleground where only the strongest survive. The prize? The salvation of Earth and a place of honour in the alien archives. 4 groups, 8 fighters in each. Who would stand, and who would fall?

Each warrior stands alone, unaware of their competition, fighting not just for glory, but for the very future of humanity. The Apex Arena has opened its gates. The battle for survival begins now.

---

Battle 2: Group A – Marion Cobra Coretti vs. Jack Bauer

The Apex Arena twisted once more, summoning its next challenge: a towering office building, abandoned but eerily intact, a sprawling labyrinth of dark hallways, stairwells, and floors upon floors of cubicles and executive suites. Broken computers flickered in dark corners, and office chairs lay toppled over, as though whatever happened here had ended in a rush. Dust coated every surface, but it wasn’t the building's stillness that made it dangerous—it was the hidden weapons strewn throughout the structure, just waiting to be found.

Marion "Cobra" Cobretti appeared at the back entrance, his face a mask of determination. The legendary LAPD officer had seen it all, from brutal street violence to gunfights that tore through the city like wildfires, but this was something else entirely. His boots crunched softly on the cracked linoleum as he took his first step inside, his eyes already scanning for any hint of movement. The office building stretched ahead of him like a dark maze, with stairs leading both up and down, and every floor offering potential hiding spots—or traps. He didn’t know who his opponent was, but Cobra’s gut told him it didn’t matter. He was here to survive.

Across the building, at the front entrance, Jack Bauer stepped inside. His grip instinctively tightened, though there was no weapon in his hand—yet. A former federal agent, Bauer was no stranger to hostile environments. This one, however, was different from the terrorist-laden zones he was used to. The silence was oppressive, and the air was thick with dust and tension. Somewhere, weapons were scattered around this building—guns, knives, explosives. Jack knew he had to move fast, find what he could, and neutralize his opponent before they got the drop on him. His tactical mind was already processing the structure: staircases, elevators, hallways, each offering opportunities for ambush or retreat.

The office building’s architecture itself was designed to confuse. Narrow corridors twisted back on themselves, while every stairwell led to new and dangerous levels. There were vast open spaces where cubicle walls had been knocked down, offering little cover, and enclosed meeting rooms where someone could hide in silence, just waiting to strike.

Somewhere on the third floor, a handgun lay forgotten on a secretary’s desk, while beneath a toppled filing cabinet on the second floor, a serrated combat knife glinted in the faint light. On the basement level, a locked supply closet held something far deadlier—a tactical shotgun—but getting there would be a risk. Bauer had been trained to use the environment to his advantage, and Cobra’s entire life had been a war on crime. Both men were experts in urban combat.

Cobra silently moved through the back corridors, every step cautious but purposeful. His eyes scanned doorways and shadows, his instincts tuned to detect danger long before it struck. A glimpse of a fire axe behind a shattered glass case caught his attention. He wrenched it free with a sharp crack, the heavy weight of it reassuring in his hands. It wasn’t ideal, but it was a start.

Meanwhile, Bauer made his way up the stairs, sticking close to the walls, his senses heightened. He paused briefly near the second-floor landing, hearing the faintest echo of movement—Cobra, somewhere below. Bauer crouched low, inching forward toward the broken glass doors of a meeting room, where a handgun rested on the edge of the table. But as he reached for it, the floor creaked loudly beneath his weight, the sound echoing like a gunshot in the stillness.

Cobra’s head snapped toward the noise. His eyes narrowed as he gripped the axe tighter, his body low as he moved toward the stairwell. He didn’t know who he was up against, but the sound was enough to pinpoint a location. He climbed the stairs slowly, methodically, knowing that his opponent could be armed.

Bauer, hearing movement now, darted forward, seizing the handgun and sliding back into the shadows of a nearby conference room. His heartbeat remained steady, his training kicking in. This was a game of cat and mouse, and both men were hunters.

The building itself seemed to come alive with each step they took. Flickering lights above buzzed inconsistently, casting long, warped shadows down the hallways. Desks and office partitions created barriers but also bottlenecks, making every corner a potential trap.

On the floor above, an old vending machine stood toppled over, and beneath its fallen form, a set of brass knuckles gleamed, untouched. Farther down, the remnants of an IT department’s scattered cables and broken monitors created a nest of hazards.

Cobra moved like a ghost through the dark hallways, his grip firm on the axe as he moved closer to Bauer’s position. He could hear the man’s faint breathing from the conference room, and his every instinct screamed for a cautious approach. Bauer had a gun, but Cobra had dealt with worse. He continued his silent ascent, ready to strike.

Bauer held his breath, the weight of the handgun solid in his hand. He had no idea where Cobra was, but he knew the sound of approaching footsteps meant his opponent was nearby. The office building felt claustrophobic, the narrow corridors and low lighting trapping both men in a dangerous dance of death.

Cobra reached the landing, his eyes flicking over the room where Bauer had disappeared. He edged closer, the axe in his hand a lethal promise. Bauer, crouched low behind the meeting table, waited. He could feel the tension in the air, a wire pulled so tight it was ready to snap.

Both men prepared for the inevitable clash, every muscle coiled, every breath shallow. Weapons within reach, they were moments from coming face to face.

The next battle of Apex Arena begins!

[Callisto]

Learn More About
Marion "Cobra" Cobretti
Read more about Marion "Cobra" Cobretti at Wikipedia
Official Site: Warner Bros. Pictures Links: Wikipedia

Jack Bauer
Read more about Jack Bauer at Wikipedia
Official Site: FOX Links: Wikipedia-Jack Bauer Jack Bauer BBC-Jack Bauer

[leroypowell3]

I think Cobra might take this.

[Culwych1]

17 hours ago, leroypowell3 said:

I think Cobra might take this.

I'm going to take inspiration from your and @DSkillz admissions re. F&F and admit that I've never actually seen 24. But Bauer kept coming up in lists of action characters when I was researching contestants, so kept him in. He's got some pretty impressive skills it seems against terrorists, but whether that'd stack against Cobra or not...

 

[leroypowell3]

5 hours ago, Culwych1 said:

I'm going to take inspiration from your and @DSkillz admissions re. F&F and admit that I've never actually seen 24. But Bauer kept coming up in lists of action characters when I was researching contestants, so kept him in. He's got some pretty impressive skills it seems against terrorists, but whether that'd stack against Cobra or not...

 

He's tenacious as a mug but he would be on the low end of live action heroes.

You better go watch you some 24. That was the bomb show.

[JohnnyChany]

Agree with Leroy, I don't think Bauer can hang here.

[Boratz]

24 is probably one of my all time favorite shows, and Jack is one of my all time favorite fictional characters. With that said, I said Cobra probably takes this.

Cobra being a Sly Stallone character has that 80s/90s action hero persona going on. 

 

Jack's action I'm 24 was a little more grounded and not as Over the Top (a Stallone move reference)

[DSkillz]

Another very good and suspense-filled Apex Arena chapter, Culwych. 

As for the match, it's been awhile since I've seen any part of Cobra, but I remember the titular characters being quite tenacious and skilled. I've also seen a few episodes of 24, and while Bauer's definitely had moments of his own, I think Cobra slightly outmatches him. 

[Callisto]

Match Final Results

Member Ratings:
5.00 - JohnnyChany
4.50 - Yazmal
5.00 - Boratz
4.60 - DSkillz

FPA Calculation:
4 Total Votes cast
19.10 Total Combined Score
19.10 / 4 = 4.78 Final Rating on the match

MATCH SCORE
Marion "Cobra" Cobretti: 4
Jack Bauer: 2