“Hey Mei, I paid my rent today.”
“Yeah, Jerell? How much was it this month”
“Well, about 2250 credeks.”
Mei lobbed a wrench onto her beige shoulder and white tank top. “Seriously? That’s 450 more than last month, you’re already paying a huge scam! My meal this morning cost 10 credites! That’s 22500 meals with 10 credites in a credek!”
Jerell sighed as he walked down the grated catwalk in his sleek, gray bodysuit. “The owner’s looking to capitalize on the influx of shiny rich recruits thinking they can compete in the arena. At least I got some pay increase.”
“Oh hell, is that because of the Ancho war?”
“Yup.” Jerell rested against the railguard. “Buncha new nobles from the Iron Confederation of Scheundastein, all of them born by profiting off the war like its free real estate. They think they have what it takes to either manage pilots or become a gladiator.”
“How the hell can they come in thinking they’re hotshots by making money from the sidelines of a war?” Mei rolled her amber eyes and blew a gum bubble. “Watching happily as their armies slug the Bragenmalaz Stellar Council, literal scum.”
“They bet on the right corporations and now they think they’re geniuses.”
“Whatever shiny rich kid is in the arena today, I hope you beat their face in.”
“Well, I’m looking to score big today here in Sparta-Star-5, hopefully pay off my contract and finally move outta the corps-e district.”
Jerell bounced off the railing and the two moved to an overlooking booth, past a metallic sliding door of glass while quieting to a whisper.
“You installed that gautai las-blast cannon, right?”
“Yeah, I got that monster in. No idea how, but I did it. Let me tell you my ear is still ringing from the testfire.”
Jerell grinned as he walked to a locker and applied a glossy lotion to his black skin. “They won’t know what hit them. By the end of the day, I can pay outta my contract and move out.”
Mei hovered a credekard to a vending machine and knocked a button, a soda tumbled from it. With a swing of her short, violet hair, she cracked it open to a lit foamy spill.
“I have no clue how you got your hands on that thing, let alone how I found room to put it on. Pretty lucky it just fitted in nicely.” Mei rested against the vending machine and sipped the bubbly beverage. “You’re going to have to make do without some armor, the short-strike cluster missiles, and your heavier lasers, but I don’t think it’s going to matter much with the sheer power that cannon unleashes.”
Jerell chuckled as he put on cybernetic gloves with metallic grooves. “That’s what I like to hear! To answer your question, remember four weeks ago when I took a trip to Garus IV?”
“That’s what you found in that dead world!?” Mei’s eyes gleamed. “Take me with you next time. More relics, more fun! Your mech will be the most powerful machine in the light-mech circuit!”
“Shh, I know our booth is soundproof, but we can’t be too careful. Never too careful.” Jerell nervously surveyed the walkways with the only people being in the distance. “I found a promising spot in the northwest continent, I’ll rent a roller-loader again.”
There was a star in Mei’s eye as she gave a thumbs up. “Hell yeah!”
“I like what you said though, the most powerful gladius in the arena… maybe of all time.” Jerell grinned yet a spring of doubt sprouted from those words, one that led him to subconsciously scratch his short, black hair.
This is my big shot… Jerell thought. I can’t mess this up…
The two of them stared at each other, giggling at the prospects. Jerell tried to suppress his intrusive thoughts, but despite his efforts, a twitch surged through his finger. Jerell zipped up his jacket with decorated badges and sponsors.
“But for now, your debut.” Mei said. “Finally one of the bigger leagues.”
“Yup. Yup, yup, yup.” Jerell grabbed his sleek, curvy helmet and walked onto the catwalk. “I’m thinking of a lot of things but I’m going to punch some noble’s teeth in.”
“Good luck!” Mei waved from the booth and turned on a console with a three-dimensional holovision screen. “Give ‘em hell!”
“We’re going to be golden after this, golden like my fingernails.” Jerell smiled as he opened the raising, metallic-glass (metiglask) cockpit of his gladius mech. There was a seat with a vast array of controls and a small chamber equal to a very tight apartment room, complete with a small restroom.
I really hope I wont mess this up somehow, especially for the sponsors…
“It smells like old sausage in here—oh, I forgot about that.” Jerell sat down and ate the jerky sausage on the armrest of his seat. “Ah… tastes like victory.” He then flipped two switches.
The cockpit window closed as the gladius turned on with a hum. The lights inside blinked to life and the catwalk moved out of the way. The gigantic war machine, classed as a light mech, whirred to life as its systems activated.
The mech’s computer systems spoke as the machine intertwined with Jerell’s helmet, connecting to him with its signal. “IntraNet initiated.”
Information was exchanged between Jerell and the machine, his vision and the cockpit window itself were augmented with an interface of data. It told him a variety of information, from the status of his weapons to data about his targets and his own mech. The weight of the mech itself became an extension of his body as he gripped the control sticks.
“DataGrid active, StratoNet connected, all systems operational.”
A glance at the weapon’s chart and Jerell chuckled at the las-blast cannon. “Oh I can’t wait to use you, my sweet ticket.” Jerell’s brows raised. “Oh, I still have 5 small lasers… but I wonder, how toasty it’s going to get in here?”
Mei appeared on a screen, “I was able to shove a Durcell coolant system so it shouldn’t stay hot based on that monstrosity’s cycle time.”
Each step of the gladius rumbled with thundering steps as its feet exploded forth dust, its movements hummed and slightly creaked in its tankish controls. It was on the slower and heavy side of light mechs with its short, hunched, and weighty polygonal form. It was relatively stocky and well armored for its size.
It’s time to shine!…
… I hope…
The walk to the arena stadium was paved with roaring crowds on the sides of the street within the shining cityscape as virtual confetti rained from the sky and sunlight rose over the horizon. Jerell laughed, despite the creeping thoughts.
I can’t wait to show them all what I’m packing!
… Please work…
The crowd was unaware of the weapon, the las-blast cannon appeared as a cosmetically altered large laser. It was a sleek barrel with several, bright layers of curvy, metiglask lenses.
“Mei, I am so damn excited it hurts.” Jerell’s fingers twitched as a convulsion echoed in his eyelid.
Mei smirked. “Hold that excitement for our winnings.”
Jerell parked himself in the arena of the Tazklazen Jungle stadium as shield-protected crowds cheered high up the sidelines. A thousand fleeting thoughts of excitement and anxiety flew in his mind. Enormous banners flew high on the walls from many interstellar nations within the realm of Stratospace as well as the richest interstellar conglomerates. The arena was a hilly and mountainous jungle biome complete with an array of plants, rivers, and watering holes. A loud intercom blared throughout the stadium and through the transmission receiver on the gladius.
“Welcome one and all mech fans to the first East Sparta-Star Slugfest Circuit match of the year! I am your host, Grace-Chase Stallins. We got ourselves a light match today and it’s looking fresh from the farm with a ton of shiny, new mechs and new pilots ready to make a name for themselves in the bigger leagues. There are some aged contestants and rising stars though so it’s looking to be a grinder down there so let’s get this match started!”
The crowd roared as a heavy horn sounded. Electronic metal music blasted with weighty drums and discordant harmony.
Here we go… here we go! I can do it!
“Time to make my name and be a big shot!”
The gladius thumped into a narrow valley as its weight sunk into the torn grass and soaked mud. The low valley snaked through the mountain range as the sound of distant weapons echoed in. It was the pitches of laser fire, the storm of particle cannons, the rattling of machine guns, the thunderous reckoning of light ballistic cannons, and the whistles of missile fire.
A lake and a fight! Jerell thought. I will crush them! I have to!
As Jerell approached a lake, there were two mechs fighting each other. Sensors indicated one mech as a “skimmer,” it was quick on its skinny legs. It beckoned with its predominant, cubed, belly-nose lined with a mass of sleek, lensed, medium and small laser weapons. With its armor already damaged, Jerell smiled at the opportunity. He aimed at it and pressed a trigger.
“Holy sh—”
Hell was unleashed. The red, thin jet streams of the small lasers, yet mighty compared to lesser warmachines, were nothing to the power of the las-blast cannon. It sent a warped, roaring shot that zipped through the air. The shot was a gleaming, azure projectile that deafeningly echoed as it collided to the skimmer’s torso in a flash. The shining projectile exploded vibrantly into the enemy with a flashy chain reaction of lesser combustions. The skimmer stumbled over as its engine ruptured, light rays bleeded through its broken armor and innards. By then, the pilot had already ejected, its pod flew into the ramparts.
“Now that was a big shot! Hell yes! Pay day!” Jerell raised a fist as he ignored the warning alarms of the gladius. “Mei, the seat’s warm now.”
“It’s that hot still!? Well… it should cool by the time it’s ready again.” Said Mei.
“Whoa!” Grace-Chase shot up as she slammed her hand on the table. “What on earth was that! We have our first contestant out of the match by… Jerell Dara. A first to this circuit who is sporting some bizarre firepower in that gladius. The crowd is silent and I don’t blame them considering whatever in the blazes was that! In all my years of commentating, I have seen nothing like it!”
Regardless, the battle did not stop even if the crowd did. Jerell turned his gladius’ torso to the weaponless side, using it as a shield to protect his precious cannon. The opponent opened a transmission from his damaged razor mech, they had a clean shave, white skin, blonde hair, and green eyes.
“By my family’s name, die y-you poor whelp!” The fear and sweat on his face was palpable as he unleashed a barrage of machine gun fire from its hand and short-strike missiles from its large, armored, circular missile pod. “Go back to your gutter where you belong!”
Jerell grinned maliciously at the noble’s reaction, ignoring the rumble of missile fire bombarding his side. The armor and stability of the gladius held firm even as they were shaved off by the popping flurries. The collective crowd watched intently upon his gladius, waiting for another strike.
“I ain’t going down by a ‘family name’, nobley nugget! I’m going to make you belong in the gutter!”
“Payday! Payday! Payday!” Mei cheered with balled fists and stars in her eyes.
“Here it comes!” Jerell cackled as he swung his torso back and targeted the noble’s razor mech. “Ready noble gutter boy!?”
The las-blast cannon let loose a blaze of glory as it rippled through the air and demolished the razor’s armor with a violent storm. The mechanical gore of ripped wires and burnt metal laid bare. Its arm and side torso were blown apart, flying away as debris and fiery shrapnel but yet it still stood.
“My seat’s warm again.” Jerell wiggled his cozy butt.
“Shut up about your seat!” Mei yelled. “It’s payday!”
The silence broke and the crowd roared at the beautiful display of destruction.
“Whatever firepower Jerell has is no joke, let alone his aiming!” Grace-Chase yelled. “That weapon demolished the skimmer and is on the verge of destroying the razor! Where in Stratospace did he get that!?”
The gladius and razor circled each other as Jerell guarded himself with his side torso. Each volley the razor unleashed was meaningless, the noble pilot continued to yell in fear in his hopeless situation.
Jerell sniffed loudly. “You smell that, noble!? That’s the oily gravy leakin’ from your wrecked mech! Kicked right from your warmongering asses!”
“Gruagh! T-the hells?!” The noble pilot screamed. “That’s disgusting!”
The cannon fully cycled to fire and Jerell unleashed another volley. It screamed into the razor and exploded with a bright flash and plumes of smoke. It erupted brighter than the skimmer as electrical bolts bursted and dispersed.
“Whoa, hoh, hoh! Look at those bright lightrays! That razor almost went critical! Mark another one for Jerell and his amazing weapon! By the end of this match, he is no doubt going to chalk up some more under his name!”
“I’m going for it.” Jerell smirked.
Though Jerell became a high priority target, the other contestants could not match his weapon and skills. Every encounter, he gained the upper hand by surprising his foes in close quarters combat. By the end, Jerell was the only one left standing with 5 mechs under his name and a side torso beaten to a scrappy pulp. Happiness of payday filled his mind but the slow, encroaching, and insidious feeling of never being able to match his own abilities again had sunk. Jerell wondered if his splash was a mistake, not only will the nobles likely come after him but also other pilots.
The victory high resulting from the match lasted almost the rest of the day as he tuned out the rest of the world and the media, all until he decided to vent to Mei.
“… so yeah, that’s what I’ve been feeling in the back of my head, Mei.” Jerell sipped his beer as he sat on the couch in his apartment. The light of orange dusk entered through the parted blinds.
“Yeah, yeah.” Mei nodded. “I hear you.”
Mei swallowed a bite before taking a moment to gather her thoughts. Jerell watched with anticipation, almost losing his breath as she stayed silent. A sip and a cough, Mei glanced at him.
“No one expects anyone to keep a constant streak of 5 points each match, that’s absurd! Even with a gods forsakenly rare weapon like that.” Mei chomped on a cheeseburger, yet it unhindered her speech. “Kav-Mao made a splash like that 12 years ago with a Strato-Restoration era assault laser, but not on the same level as you.”
“W-what do you mean?”
“It’s because you can aim and shake around that damage like it’s nobody’s business, lotta people can’t get that well together and not throw up.” She swallowed. “You worked to get into that kinda arena through hell and high water. You are a really good pilot and you can do it again.”
“But really, can I? It doesn’t feel like it.”
Mei sighed. “Feelings can lie to reality. Don’t fool yourself thinking you can’t.” She sipped her drink. “But the point is, everyone has their episodes of good matches and bad. Like last year, Martin Mannos had amazingly great matches where he dominated the battlefield but others where he was snuffed out with no marks to his name.”
A moment of silence led to Jerell digesting her thoughts, then came a chuckle from his lips.
“Heh, thanks.” Jerell lifted his head. “Don’t get burger bits on my couch.”
Mei waved off his remark as she bit a potato straw. “About people coming after you outside the match, remember the Spartan-Guard service will keep you safe. The Spartan Union likes to keep their contestants alive and healthy.” Mei leaned in. “I’ve read stories on the StratoNet about how freaky extensive they can be to protect their most popular attractions. Tip them off and they’ll be on it.” Mei bit a chunk off her burger.
“Well,” Jerell sat back comfy on his couch, “Just gotta make sure we’re not followed offworld. Pass the sauce?”
Mei tossed a sauce packet to Jerell. “So relax, we got a cool 4 million, with a quarter, credeks.”
Jerell froze as he sipped his drink, the straw fell out of his mouth. “After the corporate share!? Did they increase the rewards recently and told no one!? Maybe some random donor!? The previous arenas we fought in paid nowhere near this much!”
Mei wickedly grinned. “Hehe, I know right!? I can’t believe this much for the lowest end east city circuit! Seems like you hit that hard of a splash and got some good tips. I can repair your mech from scrap several times over without insurance or Spartan coverage!”
“I can afford to pay off the gladius.” Jerell’s realization sparked in his eyes as he stared agaped. “Yup, I’m outta this contract, trash that couch or whatever. Thank the gods we got this gig away from the corps-e matches.”
“Early retirement?” Mei chuckled.
“Hell no, I’m going bigger. We’re going to the championship”
“Like a true mechcat. Good, because we’re still going to Garus IV.”
“First, we party.” Jerell fist bumped Mei.
Zelastar 