“Bob asked if we want to have a scrimmage,” Caroline told Marvin as they walked their headless mech down the hall towards the storage area. “He said we could put up a good fight against Rustica. What do you say?”
A scrimmage against Bob? That would be interesting. Sure, he was nowhere near as good as Sparrow, but he was still one of the best teams in the megacity considering he’d made Mecha Realm.
“With no kill conditions?” Marvin asked.
“I’m sure we could ask for kill conditions.”
Marvin frowned. If he wanted to prepare for the season, he’d need to take off the training wheels. Instead of relying on the opponent not to kill him, he had to know when to forfeit.
However, the memories of Sparrow’s second kill condition promptly resurfaced and he felt a chill go down his spine.
“I’ll think about it,” he said.
They reached the storages, a row of garage-like divots in the wall. Caroline opened their respective storage unit, revealing a dark and cramped rectangular space, and walked the mech inside.
Then she said the words that Marvin had been dreading to hear.
“When we go back, we should split up. Hit as many teams as possible.”
Marvin gulped. “Why?”
“We are kind of hosting this,” Caroline said. “I mean, we sent out the ad.”
Maybe that could be lenient; Bob and Sienna had done so much of the preparations that they were practically the hosts.
“But also, we should look for suspects,” Caroline continued. “And it’s good to talk to your opponents. We could learn some ways to beat them.”
That first part was fair. If Ishaan was right and the Manhunters weren’t involved, the killer could be any one of those teams.
But the second point made Marvin frown. “Is that necessary?” he asked.
The gate to the storage slid closed, and Caroline turned to him. “If we wanna win Mecha Realm, we’re gonna have to beat mechs way above our pay grade. Most of which we’ll be fighting for the first time.”
Marvin was simultaneously impressed and unnerved by Caroline’s ambition. How did she manage to aim so high? Was it ignorance, or was she truly that confident in her team?
“What do we ask them?” Marvin asked.
“Just talk to them,” Caroline said. “Try to find information that we can use against them.” She cringed, probably realizing how open-ended that sounded. “I mean, like, stuff that’ll trip them up during a fight.”
That still seemed a little unethical, but Marvin understood the reasoning. If a pilot was afraid of fire, he could try flaring his thrusters in their face, etcetera.
“How about you take Eleanor and I’ll take Carlos,” Caroline said. “Then we’ll swap.”
Those two and Sienna were likely the best pilots at this event. Although Marvin didn’t look forward to dealing with Eleanor’s arrogance, he figured he could learn a thing or two.
He nodded. The two of them headed down the hall and back into the stands.
-----
The event was surprisingly successful. There were dozens of pilots and other teammates milling about and others gathered in little cliques. The noise level was healthy—not too quiet, not too loud. However, there were a select few pilots who isolated themselves, either hyper-focused on the arena, or simply scrolling through their tablets.
That included Eleanor. She lounged on a couch near the wall, evidently having gotten bored of the sparring.
Marvin froze when he was about twenty feet away from her. What was the point of this again? Figure out if she’d killed him? How was Marvin supposed to coax that information out of her?
Aside from that, did he really need to play mind games to beat her in Mecha Realm? She’d gotten fourth place, but there was no way she was that good.
Maybe I should join Caroline. She’s gonna need all the support she can get.
“You want something?” Eleanor called.
Marvin jumped. She was looking right at him. Had he been staring, and if so, how could she even tell? He was a robot for crying out loud.
Marvin considered shaking his head and fleeing the scene, but that would make him look even weirder. He’d already entered the abyss and there was no backing out. Hopelessness and fear combined to give him a boost of adrenaline, and he walked forward.
“You’re Eleanor Hall, right?” he asked.
Immortal Ignition’s pilot scoffed and rolled her eyes. “Call me Ella, please,” she replied. “I told Kit before Mecha Realm but his alzheimer’s ass forgot.”
Marvin was appalled. Kit was a legend! How could she say such an insult so casually?
“Anyways, what’s up?” Ella asked. “Do you want an autograph?”
Only if you can forge your mentor’s signature.
“No, I just had a question,” Marvin replied. As he said that, he racked his mind for potential conversation starters.
“Wait, you’re that one girl’s apprentice, right?” Ella asked. “Caroline?”
Marvin ripped himself away from his thoughts, relieved. “Yeah.”
Ella nodded approvingly. “Is she new to mech-fighting?”
“I mean, this is her first year as an official pilot,” Marvin said.
“Huh.” Ella sounded unexpectedly impressed. Impressed at how Marvin had fared against Sparrow.
Maybe I was too quick to judge her. He hadn’t been able to gauge Ella’s skill from her sparring session, as that had been a lot more instructive, where neither pilot was going above 70%.
“By the way, what’s your name?” Ella asked.
“Mar- Steve.”
Ella stared at him for a moment, and he was scared she had figured out what his first syllable led to. Fortunately, she just patted the vacant couch cushion next to her. “Do you want to sit, Steve?”
Marvin blushed, realizing how awkward he must have looked standing over Ella. He hurriedly took a seat as far from her as possible.
“So, Caroline,” Ella said. “Who’s her mentor?”
“She’s self taught,” Marvin replied. He wasn’t going to give away his own teacher for obvious reasons.
“Yeah right,” Ella said. “What’s she teaching you?”
Why so curious? Marvin wondered. “Stances,” he replied. “Um, Yormstance.”
Ella tilted her head. “But she used Bladestance against Sparrow. Very blatantly, by the way—tell her next time to switch it up a bit.”
Marvin frowned. He liked to think that he’d put his own spin on Bladestance since last year.
“Anyways, does that mean Caroline prefers Yormstance? Or does she just want you to do something different?”
Marvin started to see what she was up to. She had the same plan as him to figure out her opponents.
Might as well talk about myself.
“She prefers Bladestance, but we’re both trying to learn Yormstance.”
“But why Yormstance? I’d actually recommend Mak Ti—I mean with how your blades stick out of your arms wouldn’t it be more natural? I have these drill hands and Mak Ti works great.”
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
“We tried that,” Marvin replied. Indeed, Saberstar had tried the boxing stance for its first few duels. “The blades are too long.”
“Oh boo hoo.” Ella smiled. “You gotta adapt, man. Of course it’s not gonna work one-to-one.”
Marvin wasn’t sure if she was trying to sabotage him, as that smile seemed genuine enough.
“You should try Bladestance,” Marvin said. “You could trip up a lot of people.”
“Tried already,” Ella said. “It was fun but too much work.”
“And you’re telling me to adapt?”
Marvin was surprised to hear those words come out of his voice box. An actual witty line? No way.
Ella crossed her arms. “My argument makes way more sense than yours. I’m telling you to use your arm extensions as arm extensions. You’re telling me to use my arm extensions as swords.”
“You’re telling me to think of my swords as fists.”
“They are literally arm extensions, you dumbass.” Before Marvin could feel shattering grief, Ella grinned slightly to let him know that she was joking.
Marvin almost laughed as he replied, “It doesn’t work that way. The proportions are off.”
“That’s why you have to—”
“There’s no point in adapting if I don’t need to.” Marvin almost mentioned how Saberstar had made Mecha Realm using Bladestance, and could probably do it again this year if the competition didn’t change drastically.
“You think you’re good enough as is? You can win Mecha Realm like this?”
Marvin shrugged. “Maybe with enough training.”
She’s gonna bring up Ninth Gen, of course. The greatest mech of all time did in fact use Mak Ti with sword-arms.
And then it hit him: this was the perfect opportunity to segue into Saberstar and his death. Ask Ella what she knew of the conspiracy.
“You ever heard of Grayson Wright?” Ella said. “You know what stance he uses?”
Perfect. “You know, Saberstar used Bladestance.”
Marvin winced immediately after the words left his mouth. That transition had sounded a lot smoother in his head.
Ella sunk into the couch in exasperation. “Jeez, you people just love Saberstar. Guess what, Steve? Saberstar didn’t even make Mecha Realm!”
Marvin’s mouth fell open. You can’t be serious. Had the public been deluded into thinking he had lost his final duel?
“Yeah, I know Marvin had a stroke or whatever,” Ella said, “but honestly he didn’t deserve to win anyways.” She frowned, which made her look a lot more punchable than before. “And what kind of name is Marvin? That’s something you name your mech, not your son.”
Marvin glared at her. First of all, Ella Hall was possibly the worst-sounding combination of words in existence. Second of all, he had beaten Gammagrade fair and square, and the footage was out there for all to see.
“Why didn’t he deserve to win?” Marvin asked, trying to keep his voice steady.
Ella pursed her lips as if she’d been expecting the question. She glanced around the stadium for a moment, then she leaned in. “Isn’t it convenient that Marvin went out right before Mecha Realm? Right after he’s gone on a hot streak of what, twenty wins? Maybe that’s because it was a lot easier to pull the strings in a duel.”
Marvin gaped. Match rigging was among the most heinous crimes in mech-fighting.
“And then,” Ella continued, “he got scared he’d be embarrassed in Mecha Realm, so he faked brain trauma.” She raised her arms. “Just my theory. I know it’s a stretch.”
Yeah, you don’t say. “There hasn’t been corruption in fifty years,” Marvin said.
“Doesn’t mean it can’t happen again.”
“Okay, but then I think sabotage is more likely.”
Ella rolled her eyes. “You’re in Bob’s camp, huh? Look, the Manhunters have been doing some weird stuff lately, there’s no denying that. But why would anyone do something that stupid?”
“Rigging duels is pretty dumb,” Marvin pointed out.
“Not as much as killing your opponent’s pilot!”
Marvin frowned. Was it just him, or did Ella seem a little too defensive just then? But before he could discern any more, someone walking towards him caught his eye. It was Caroline.
“Hey Eleanor,” Caroline said.
“Ella,” the pilot corrected.
Caroline ignored her and turned to Marvin. “Do you have time? Carlos wants to talk with you.”
Marvin nodded, more than glad to leave. He had no idea how that conversation with Ella would have proceeded.
He followed Caroline through the maze of tables towards the fighting grounds. Caroline explained that she needed Marvin’s cyborg “expertise.” Carlos had asked how cyborgs fared when synced to a mech, since he was considering getting a few implants and prosthetic legs. Caroline had admitted she did not know and offered to bring her cyborg apprentice to explain.
The problem was, Marvin had no idea either. Cyborgs were a rare breed these days.
“Just say something that makes sense,” Caroline said as they walked.
Marvin blinked. “Like what?”
“Maybe the connection isn’t as strong or something.”
“Okay.”
Carlos was still by the edge of the pit, sitting in his wheelchair. He had tan skin and dark hair that fell to his shoulders. Although he was in his thirties, his movements were sluggish as he adjusted himself to face Marvin and Caroline.
Marvin felt a pang of sympathy. Here was one of the greatest pilots of all time, struggling to turn his head. Carlos had been paralyzed since last year due to a disease, and yet, while not making the top ten, had still performed exceptionally at Mecha Realm.
To think I have it rough.
Carlos gave a tired smile. “Nice to meet you, Steve.”
Marvin nodded. “Nice to meet you.” He glanced at Caroline, then turned back to Carlos and said, “The connection isn’t as strong. If you were wondering.”
What in the autism was that?!
Welp, it was too late. Fortunately, Carlos just nodded and slumped in his wheelchair, tapping the armrest thoughtfully.
“How so?” he asked at length.
“It’s kinda foggy,” Marvin replied. “Less responsive. And your brain isn’t as… decisive, I guess.” The Everlancer’s pilot nodded slowly, and Marvin quickly added, “That’s just for me, though, and I’m pretty much all bot. It’d be better for you.”
“But you have a brain implant, no?” Carlos asked.
Marvin nodded.
“That’s the killer right there,” Carlos said. “I’m gonna need one too if I want to get out of this thing.” He tapped his wheelchair.
“Oh.”
If Carlos got that implant, he’d likely plummet in the rankings. No pilot wanted to have a twilight like that, especially this one. The Everlancer came into the scene with a bang, and needed to go out with one.
“Time to retire, don’t you think?” a voice suddenly called. Marvin and Caroline spun round. A young man with jet black hair and a blue and green pilots’ jacket was walking towards them. Carlos sighed quietly.
“You two new?” the newcomer asked.
Caroline nodded cautiously. Marvin felt an unnaturally severe fight or flight reaction—he suddenly really wanted to punch this guy in the face.
“Who’s the pilot?” the pilot asked.
Caroline glanced at Marvin, then Carlos. “I am.”
The pilot smirked. “Real impressive. Survived a grand total of thirty seconds against Sparrow.”
It was way more than thirty! Marvin thought angrily.
But before anyone could protest, the pilot strode away, jacket flapping behind him. He had a certain bounce in his step as if he lost weight with every insult he spat out.
“George Jang,” Carlos mumbled. “Don’t mind him. What were we talking about?”
“The implant,” Caroline said.
“Right.” Carlos’ gaze fell.
What if he does retire? Marvin wondered. Twentieth place and thirty kills in Mecha Realm is a pretty good stat to end on.
Marvin immediately felt cruel for thinking that. Grayson Wright was fifty and he was still going strong. Carlos had at least five more years in him.
“It might be different for everyone,” Caroline said. “And you can still take out the implant right?”
“Yeah, with an extra 500,000 dollars.” Carlos laughed. “Sorry. I don’t have any right to be complaining about money.” He regarded Marvin. “Thank you for the insight. I’ll think about it.” Then, to Caroline, he said, “I can tell you one thing—you can count on dueling this old cripple next month.”
Marvin widened his eyes, unsure if he’d heard correctly. He was going to duel The Everlancer?!
“Caroline—” Marvin started.
“Sorry, yeah,” Caroline cut in. “It’s gonna be one of our first fights of the season. Carlos and I set it up earlier.”
“And… you expect to win?”
“Wouldn’t it be cool if we did?”
This is going to be a disaster. Caroline might be good at making connections, but she had no idea how to navigate the season—no unranked team set up matches this soon.
“Plus, it’ll be early. We won’t have much to lose,” Caroline said.
Marvin sighed; he would help her make a fight schedule later. Now, he could only try to learn something out of his duel with The Everlancer.
“When is this?” he asked.
“3-4,” Caroline said.
Alright, at least it’s not at the very start of the season. There were a number of weeks to turn his fear into excitement, if that was even possible.
“Hey, your mentor might surprise us, Steve,” Carlos said. “I saw what she did against Sparrow.”
Which was nothing special. I dodged and ran until Sparrow caught up and destroyed me.
Still, hearing that made him feel a little better. If he couldn’t beat The Everlancer, he could at least make a show out of it. Gain a few fans for Caroline.
The conversation dwindled after that, and Caroline and Marvin moved on to other pilots. Caroline seemed to be okay with Marvin forgoing the split up strategy, which was a relief. Not only did it spare him the awkwardness, but it also allowed him to reign in Caroline before she said something too extreme.
In the end, Marvin left Rustica’s arena having made a few new second-hand acquaintances. That was, he only knew them through Caroline, as she did most of the talking. But those were a few more opponents he was more familiar with, and a few more teams cleared of suspicion.