Stalemate

"Stalemate" by Basil Wells is a science fiction story that takes place around the 1950s, using a special kind of war to show the problems of fighting and conflict; to avoid big wars, nations choose fighters to have controlled battles. The story really looks into what these fighters go through in their minds, like what they think about being honorable, wanting to be somebody important, and if it's okay to hurt others. Gram Treb and Harl Neilson are the main characters. They're fighting on Earth Satellite One, and as they fight to stay alive, they realize how hard their situation is and what their actions mean. Treb is hurt and remembers sad moments, so he starts to think their fight is pointless and wants everything to be peaceful; meanwhile, Neilson is trying to win because he loves someone and wants to be recognized and have a good life. As they continue fighting, they start wondering if winning is really worth it and if they could be friends, even though they are supposed to be enemies, which makes them question what honor and being human really mean.