The rocket zipped forward and hit the warhead just as I dropped straight down over the edge of the roof.
My metal feet hit the first fire escape.
And tore through it.
I hadn’t factored in the weight of my machine, but of course, the fire escape wasn’t strong to support me. I mashed down through the flimsy fire escapes as—
CRACK-BOOM!
The warhead detonated and the upper portion of the building vanished in a fireball.
I fell down through what was left of the fire escapes, bashing through the metal cages while watching my score continue to soar.
I could see the fire spreading inside the building from the roof down. I could feel the blast wave scythe through the structure, blowing out windows and disintegrating the mechs trapped inside. It was a glorious sight to behold!
Eventually, I hit ground with a thud, the fall having cost me a quarter of the sand from my hourglass. Still, I was alive, and so I sprinted back and looked at my handiwork.
The building was swaying like a drunk. It was slowly collapsing on top of itself as a result of the warhead explosion. A mini-mushroom cloud rose up into the sky and then—
Whole sections of the upper portion of the building broke apart, the top floors pancaking, bringing the entire, massive structure to the ground.
Some of the mechs had already been turned to dust by the explosion, but others flung themselves out of windows. I watched them hit the ground and burst into flames as the numbers on my score continued to soar.
I was now over five-hundred-thousand points!
I was the leader by a wide margin.
My arms came up into the air, and I stood there, tasting the dust and smoke as the building fell down before me, dancing back and forth pounding my mech fists on my turret like some kind of robotic King Kong.
Green lights flashed on my visor this time.
The hourglass disappeared.
The lights came back on.
I wiped my sweaty brow and caught sight of Jennings off to my right.
He was just standing there, and then he gave me a gentle clap.
Then he ambled over and unlocked me from the mech. I fell into his arms almost immediately, the strain from running on the treadmill having taken a toll on my body. He propped me up, and I moved across the dais to see shadowy people standing at the back of the room. The others I’d competed against were there, along with the mech operators. Simeon, Baila, and all the others along with Vidmark himself.
I waited for them to acknowledge me, to throw up their hands and cheer. Instead, all I got was a faint smile from Vidmark. “Well played,” he said, and that was it. He motioned to the other operators, and everyone else left the room, even Jennings. I collapsed on the dais, sweaty, stinking of ammonia, trying to run through everything that had just happened.
21
Eventually, I rose and exited the training room. Dexter was waiting outside, grinning. “Brother, you brung the noise back there!” Dexter said, giving me a man hug.
“You heard?”
“Everyone’s heard,” he said, handing me a pair of neural glasses. I donned the glasses and saw several notices about the status of the tryouts and how I’d achieved a record high score. They misspelled my last name (spelling it “Days” instead of “Deus”), but it was all good.
“You’re a rock star,” Dexter said, taking the glasses back. “You know whose score you beat?”
“Yeah, the person who got four-hundred and forty thousand.”
“Yeah, you beat that,” Dexter said with a sly grin. “But you also beat Simeon’s high score from before.” He threw a mock jab at me. “That dude is the ‘GOAT,’ the greatest of all time, and you beat his score by more than fifty-thousand points!”
“It was pure luck,” I replied, blushing.
“Luck my ass,” Dexter shot back. “I heard how you improvised and took down that building on your last life. That was mad skillage all the way.”
I had no idea what would come next, so Dexter and I exited the building. I got looks from passersby, including a few high-fives from several geeky guys who were also wearing glasses. “So, what happens next?” I asked Dexter.
“You gotta get your training on, Danny. You’ve only give five days before you take on the big boys for real.”
I followed his line of sight out and down the gravel walkway that ran between the Darth Vader buildings. Simeon was there along with Baila, the two Asian girls, and the two black guys.
“Look at the way they’re mad-dogging us,” Dexter said. “You think we should go and give ‘em a beat down?”
I looked at Dexter, and while he was on the tallish side, he had the same kind of wispy frame that I did. “They’d probably kick our asses in two seconds,” I said.
“Yep. You’re right,” Dexter quickly replied. “But that doesn’t stop us from staring at them really hard.”
We shuttled down the walkway and Simeon, and the others didn’t move. My pulse quickened when Baila smiled. “That was really something,” she said, her voice as smooth as churned butter. “We were all watching back there. You should be really proud of yourself.”
I blushed. “I was just trying to stay alive.”
“That’s kinda our motto,” she said with the kind of smile that could melt an iceberg. “I’m Baila by the way.”
“I know,” I replied and quickly caught myself. “Um, what I meant is, I assumed that was your name,” I sputtered, trying not to sound like a stalker as Dexter whispered, “real slick, ace.”
Baila smiled uneasily and gestured to the two Asian girls. “That’s Ren and Sato.”
“Sato means ‘sugar’ in Japanese,” one of the black guys said with a smirk. “But she definitely ain’t sweet,” the other guy added. They laughed and bumped fists and then—
WHACK!
Ren grabbed one of the black guy’s hands and pulled him back so tightly I was worried she’d snap his wrist. The other black guy made a move to help, and Sato grabbed both of his wrists and held him back. Then Sato looked in my direction and smiled. “Sugar can kill,” Sato said. “Just ask a diabetic,” Ren added, whacking the first black guy in the face. The two girls released the dudes and smacked palms in an elaborate fashion.
The black guy with the hair dyed platinum blond rubbed his wrist and glanced at me. He bore a striking resemblance to the other one, and I could tell they were brothers now. “I’m Dru by the way,” he said. “And I’m Billy,” the other one said.
“They’re brothers if you hadn’t guessed,” Baila offered. She lastly turned to Simeon, laying a hand on his wrist. “And this is my … well, this is Simeon.”
Simeon didn’t raise a hand or smile. He just shot me a very nasty look. “This is Dexter,” I said, gesturing to Dexter, “and I’m—”
“We’ve already established what your name is,” Simeon shot back. “Remember? The first time we saw you? When you were trespassing in the mech room?”
“I got lost,” I lied.
“Uh huh,” Simeon said as Dru and Billy approached and circled me. “Where’d you learn those moves?” Dru asked. “Ain’t many who can lose two lives and cash in on the last one. I mean, me and Billy only lost one, but still…”
“Prison,” I replied.
Dru and Billy snorted. “You were in prison?”
I nodded. “For what?” Billy asked. “Knocking over a candy store?”
“I worked for Buddha Blades,” I answered, holding my chin up, giving no ground. I watched my words sink in and saw recognition in their eyes. Everyone knew who Buddha Blades was.
“Bullshit,” Billy said.
“It’s the truth,” I replied. “I was taken down by a scud named Alpha Timbo and accused of stealing from the resistance and the government.”
“Timbo, huh?” Dru said, pursing his lips. “I heard of that dude. Folks said he was one of the nastiest bugs around. Mad respect if you messed with him and lived to tell about it.”
“Ancient hi
story if true,” Simeon said. “You might’ve passed the first two stages of testing, but now you’ve got to stand tall before the man.”
“Who’s the man?” I asked innocently enough because honestly, I had no idea who it was. Dru and Billy snickered, and the Sato’s hands went to her face as if I’d just asked something indefensible.
“I am,” Simeon said. “We all are,” he continued, gesturing to the others. “You ready to take us on?”
“Sure am,” I said.
“You sound pretty confident for a newbie.”
“I beat your high score, didn’t I?”
Dru and Billy cackled and bumped fists again as Simeon’s cheeks splotched scarlet. Then he smiled, but there was no levity in it. “Simulations don’t mean shit. Real life is what makes or breaks someone. You’d know that better than anyone, right? I mean, you’re the one that busted that hoversurf, aren’t you?”
My face fell, and Simeon’s smile widened. “Yeah, that’s you isn’t it? Killed one friend and turned the other one, what’s her name? Jezzy? Into a gimp? Yeah, we’ve seen her alright, hobbling around the campus on that kickstand of hers.”
“Shut up,” I said, clenching my fists.
“Truth hurt, Deus? Fact is, Stoneburner was better than you’ll ever be and now that he’s out, we don’t need another operator. Especially one that murders his friends.”
I swung at Simeon who blocked my blow and then we were locked up and on the ground. Simeon spat at me, and I pulled back a fist before hands grabbed me. In a flash, Billy had wrenched me away and tossed me to the ground. I torqued myself up and adopted a defensive posture as Simeon was held back by the others as Dexter shadowed me.
“I’m gonna kick your ass!” I shouted.
Simeon dusted himself off. “We’ll see you out on the gauntlet, bitch.”
Dru and Billy whispered something to Simeon who laughed and nodded. Simeon held up five fingers to signify five days. That’s how long I had to prepare to battle the dirtballs. Simeon and the operators turned and left, with Baila smiling and whispering “good luck,” before following after them.
Dexter and I stood there, as still as statues for several seconds. “That’s gonna be a funny story Baila and I tell the kids when we get older,” I quipped.
I turned to Dexter who was silent. “Okay, so overall, how’d you think I handled it?” I asked.
“You were doing really well until you started talking.”
“You think Simeon was pissed?”
“Absolutely,” Dexter replied, smacking me on the shoulder.
“You think I can beat him?”
“Absolutely not,” Dexter replied.
My stomach lurched. “Thanks for the confidence boost, man.”
“I meant not now, bruh. You can’t beat him and the others right now. That’s what training’s for.”
22
I found Jezzy back in the Mech Recovery Room, straining to push a bin on wheels that was overflowing with machine parts. I grabbed the edge of the bin and helped her push it down toward the fabrication shop.
“So, I guess you heard,” I said, straining against the load.
“Nope,” she replied, keeping her eyes straight ahead.
“I got the high score during the second part of training.”
“Good for you.”
“Don’t you know what that means?”
“Don’t you know that I don’t care?” she fired back.
“It means I passed the first two parts of the training. You should’ve seen me with the mech. I swear it was like old times when you and me and—”
“Stop it,” she said, cutting me off. “Don’t you get it? I don’t care about any of that.”
“But I can do this, Jezzy. I can get on the team and then you can come with me and—”
“To do what?” she asked.
“To navigate. I fly and you guide, just like we did before.”
“Are you insane?”
“Who knows more about operating those mechs than we do?” I asked.
“Um, the other operators.”
“Besides them.”
“All the people who’ve actually operated a mech in real life before.”
“Besides them.”
“Almost everyone in here, but you and me,” she answered.
“Okay, I’m gonna be honest here, Jezz. You’re kinda killing my buzz.”
“I swear you’re like one of those old-time scratch records, Danny,” she said, shaking her head. “Same thing, over and over. I keep telling you, I can’t do any of that anymore, and besides, I don’t want to.”
“You want to stay in here?” I asked.
“What’s wrong with in here?”
“It’s not what’s best for you,” I said.
“I remember the last time you convinced me to do something that you thought was best for me,” she replied, her eyes falling to her prosthetic limb.
“I’m sorry about that,” I said.
“So sorry that you’ve never even asked me what it feels like?”
“I didn’t do that because I was too embarrassed to ask, okay? I take full responsibility. I’m the one that did that to you.”
“I can still feel it,” she said, ignoring me, a wistful smile on her face. “My leg, I mean. I guess that’s the weirdest thing. You reach out your hand, expecting it to be there and it’s just … gone. I don’t … I can’t go through that again, Danny.”
I have lived long enough to realize sometimes, maybe most of the time, the best thing you can do in a difficult situation is keep your big, fat trap shut. Jezzy was down in the dumps and I didn’t want to make things worse, so I clammed up and laid a hand on her shoulder. She sighed, then began pushing the bin again as I helped without uttering another word.
* * *
Thirty minutes later, I’d finished helping Jezzy and was taking a break when Richter waved at me. “You got some fellas that were looking for you,” he said. “Jennings and a few others. They wanted to talk to you about the next stage of the testing.”
“I kicked some serious butt, Mister Richter,” I said, beaming. He nodded and I continued. “Do you know what’s going to happen next?”
“You’ll have to square off against the others,” he said.
“Any words of wisdom?”
He looked like he wanted to talk, but then his demeanor changed. He shook his head. “Not a one. Just … good luck.”
I turned to leave and then looked back at Richter. “Is the worst over, sir?” I asked.
Richter’s gaze found mine. “Come again?”
“When I was little, I used to be able to tell when it was going to snow. I mean, somehow I’d just walk outside and close my eyes and I could feel it. There was like this … electricity in the air.”
“Are you feeling that now?” Richter asked.
“Sort of.”
“So, what do you want me to say?”
“I guess … I want someone to tell me that everything’s gonna be okay,” I answered.
Richter’s jaw locked. “Remember the things I told you I don’t do?” I nodded and he added, “well, I also don’t do hugs, weepy scenes, or politically correct bullshit.”
“That’s, like, six things,” I replied.
“That’s right. And there’s a reason why I’m not warm and fuzzy. When the aliens came it burst the bubble, the lie that tomorrow was gonna be better than today. The truth is, there are no more guarantees, no more happily-ever-afters, kid,” Richter said. “The sooner you recognize that the better off you’ll be.”
* * *
After my discussion with Richter, who was a regular Mister Sunshine, I found Jennings and one of his assistants, a tall, pony-tailed woman named Mary Worth, in the hangar later that afternoon. They informed me that I was to report to the Mech Hangar, the black metal garage that physically contained the many mechs I’d earlier seen, in one hour. At that point, I’d be shown to the mech that had been selected for me to operate during the third portion
of the training. Once I was comfortable in the machine, I’d be given several days of intensive training so that I’d be ready to face off against the other operators.
I asked about the actual fighting, what Jennings called “The Harrowing,” and was told the combat would likely take place outside The Hermitage, in a nearby portion of Anacostia, a small city that had been destroyed during the alien invasion and recently repurposed for mech training. I immediately thought back on the trucks I’d seen transporting the mechs through The Hermitage’s front gate and realized it must have been for training purposes.
Later that day, I was escorted into the Mech Hangar and walked between the massive machines. I hadn’t thought it before, but the place seemed … too high-tech and the machines too immaculate, too, I don’t know … sterile. Don’t get me wrong, the mechs were seriously cool looking, but they didn’t have much of a personality. Jennings was rattling off information about the sophisticated gear that controlled the machines, how they’d been built by several fabrications teams with Vidmark’s input, etc., but I wasn’t really listening. I was thinking more about that mech I’d seen back in the Mech Recovery Room, the rusted one that I’d seen propped in the corner next to the parts.
“Can I choose my own?” I blurted out.
Jennings looked to his assistants, then back to me. “You – excuse me?”
“Let’s say I had another mech that I was interested in. Could I use it instead of these ones?”
Jennings laughed. “Is that a joke?”
I shook my head, and Jennings’s face fell. “Why the hell would you want to use another one?”
I scrunched my nose. “Cause these ones just aren’t doing it for me.”
Jennings mouthed my words silently, then he said, “You do know that you’re going up against the other operators in five days, right?”
I nodded, and he sighed. “Whatever floats your boat, kid. If you want to get your ass kicked in another machine, God bless.”
An hour later, I was rooting through the bins at the back of the Mech Recovery Room, and it hit me that I was the stupidest person ever to walk the face of the Earth. I had absolutely no idea how to construct a mech. Sure I knew about the inner workings of machines like hoversurfs and could basically operate anything with an engine in it, but I wasn’t a designer or an engineer. I went down to the fabrication room, and luckily, the men and women working there had heard about my score and seemed happy to see me. I told them what I was thinking about and they took pity on me and said they’d help.
NEW WORLD DISORDER: MECH COMMAND BOOK 1 Page 13