by Riker Kane
The man suddenly pulled a switchblade and thrust it. Max quickly parried it, hammering his forearm and knocking the knife away. He followed up with an uppercut, cracking the thug on the jaw and sending him reeling back.
“Max!” Proxy yelled out as the other three thugs converged.
Hudson rushed forward to fight one of them off while the other two collapsed on top of Max. The crowd in the bar gasped at the sudden brawl breaking out.
“I will assist you—”
“No!” Max shouted to Zigzag, stopping the android in her tracks. “Stay back.”
Max struggled underneath the two men as they got on top of him.
“Shit…”
He quickly turned his ACE on. The heat from the silicone prongs digging into his skin warmed up. The two thugs reared back with their knives but just before they could stab, a Mammoth Blast knocked them back.
Max got up to his feet and rushed over to help Hudson but something like a tidal wave knocked him over completely.
“Stay down! Don’t move!”
He struggled for only a second before realizing just how much of the Rose Garden’s security was on top of him. They locked his hands behind his arms then picked him back up to his feet. A dozen guards had him surrounded, one of them reaching down to deactivate the ACE on Max’s wrist.
“Don’t try anything,” the guard said.
Max watched as more guards cuffed Hudson and the Disciples who’d attacked him. The crowd watched as Max was escorted out. Proxy, Zigzag and Sabrina stood among them, undeniable concern on all of their faces.
“So much for a quiet night out,” Max sighed.
Chapter 20
Max pressed his forehead against the carbon steel bar, his eyes closed as he listened to the hum of the blue lights above him. Behind him, Hudson sprawled out on his seat and stared blankly at the ceiling.
The two had been silent ever since they were taken into their cell. With no chance of breaking out, there were no guards to keep a watch on them.
But it was only a short while before Max heard footsteps approaching. A few swipes on the digital pad and the bars clicked open. Max raised his head up to see Detective Pitt standing there with his hands in the pockets of his coat.
“You’re free to go,” the older man said.
“Thanks.” Max turned around. “Let’s go, Hudson.”
Hudson crawled up from his seat and Max followed after him.
“Hold on a second,” Pitt said. “I need to talk to you first.”
Max and Hudson turned to one another. They both knew getting out of their cell wouldn’t be so simple but they also knew there was no choice.
“Wait for me outside,” Max said.
Hudson gave him a nod before exiting down the hall. Pitt led Max down the other way into a smaller room. There wasn’t much inside of it outside of a wooden table and a few chairs on each side. Even the walls were barren, with only a few blue lights hanging from the ceiling to make sure they weren’t in complete darkness.
“Take a seat,” Pitt said.
Max followed his instructions, leaning back in his chair while he watched the detective pace back and forth in front of him. He took off his suit jacket then set it down on the chair.
“I looked up your file,” Pitt said. “Apparently, this isn’t the first time you’ve been arrested for inciting a brawl. You were apprehended after discharging your ACE in a club back in New Austin.”
“I only discharged my ACE because I was provoked. Same with tonight. It’s not against the law to defend myself.”
“That’s right. Discharging your ACE outside of a battle is a first-level felony in Santa Fe… unless you’re defending yourself.”
Max shrugged. “Then what’s the problem? Those guys started it with me. I had to protect myself.”
Pitt took a seat. The detective’s blank stare was the same he gave Max back in his hotel suite.
“You’re drawing too much attention to yourself,” Pitt said. “There are hundreds of Disciples all over the Cobalt District. And considering you’re spending time around the GODs, they’re beginning to realize you’re digging into their cut.”
“That’s what that punk said to me. He was mad about me getting in good with Venom. Said I didn’t deserve to make as many creds as I’m about to.”
“How close are you?”
“Close. I win this next battle, I’ll have Venom’s trust for sure.”
“Are you sure about that? Because if you’re not, tonight’s incident at the Rose Garden won’t be the last. Vick has no problem with a foot soldier taking you out. It means you’re not strong enough.”
Max leaned forward across the table. “I’m not gonna let some random Disciple take me down. Not when I’m this close. I win this next battle, Venom will know where my allegiance lies.”
Pitt sat up straight. The blank stare in his eyes would’ve made most men uncomfortable.
“When I told my superiors you were a part of the investigation to take down the Gears, they allowed me to release you,” he said. “But Vick paid the right people to make sure you got out, too. If certain people ask you why you weren’t detained for longer, it’s because Vick got you out. Understood?”
“Can’t make it look like I got a detective on my side… Got it.” Max held his hands out. “Am I free to go?”
Pitt gave him a nod and Max popped up from his seat. Pitt reached into his coat and pulled out the ACE they’d stripped from Max.
“You’re gonna need this.”
Max clipped the ACE back onto his left forearm and sighed. “Didn’t think I’d ever miss this feeling…”
~ ~ ~
“This might sting a little bit…” Sabrina pressed the plunger and emptied the syringe of the red fluid.
Max kept one eye open, a slight grimace of pain on his face before the burn subsided. The warmth of the fluid ran through his veins as Sabrina pulled the needle out.
“Should kick in before the battle tomorrow.” Sabrina tucked her needles away while Max ran his fingers over the Regulator.
Proxy and Zigzag stood calmly off to the side of the garage. Max was somewhat relieved to see his Operator was no longer as worried as she appeared the last time he saw her.
After spending a late night in jail, Max woke later in the morning to begin preparations for the coming battle.
Proxy had a digital tablet in her hands, holding it up to Max.
“I did some research,” she said. “It’s an online marketplace. You can get abilities from anywhere in the vicinity without actually having to go there.”
“How does it work?”
“It’s simple. You just link your ACE to my tablet. The marketplace reads the information to make sure it’s registered properly. You sort through the list of abilities. Pick one you want and the credits are transferred.”
“Sounds simple enough.”
“Transferring everything is simple. Picking the right abilities is the tricky part.”
“Let’s see what I’m working with here…”
Mammoth Blast III
Short-range concussive energy blast with tremendous force
Energy drain: High
Energy Shield III
A heavy barrier that protects from energy projectiles and melee attacks. Drains energy upon absorption.
Energy drain: High
Recovery I
Heal minor wounds and injuries
Energy drain: Medium
Fiery Arrow III
Long-range piercing explosive energy arrow. Causes burning damage to opponent’s HP.
Energy drain: High
PASSIVE ABILITIES
High Jump II
Increase jumping height and distance by 50%
Speed Boost III
Movement speed is increased by 75%
Max sorted through the list of abilities he’d grown accustomed to. Considering they’d all served him well so far, there wasn’t much reason to change. He looked down at his balance and saw there was more th
an enough to make considerable upgrades.
Credits: 215,548
“Now all I’ve gotta do is figure out what I need…”
“The barrier seems to be working well for you,” Proxy said. “Recovery seems kind of redundant since you already have damage mitigation. Expanding beyond Fiery Arrow and Mammoth Blast will give you a better offensive arsenal. You won’t have to rely on your hands as much.”
“My hands are always reliable… Recommendations?”
“Your blast is intended for close range. Breaks armor. Gets you out of sticky situations.”
“You have no idea…” Thoughts of the Rose Garden made him chuckle.
“Fiery Arrow is an all-or-nothing move. It’s long-range but all of your opponents see it coming. Mid-range, you need to be accurate. You’ve done that so far but maybe another burst ability would work well with it.”
“I’m so used to it, I can’t imagine what it’s like using anything else…”
“If I can make a suggestion,” Zigzag said. “Consider your next opposition. If you only use these abilities for one battle, it will be worth it if you are victorious.”
Max nodded in agreement as he scanned through the list on Proxy’s tablet. “I’ve got the credits to spare. Nightblade looks fast. Focuses on melee combat with that sword of his. Need something to combat it if I have to… And I think I just found it…”
Plasma Edge III
A one-meter long energy blade. Causes poison damage to opponent’s HP.
Energy drain: Medium
Credits: 30,000
“Pricey… But I think I can get by with it for a few battles if I have to…”
Max selected the new ability and dropped Recovery from his list.
“How about Emeril?” Sabrina asked.
“Emeril is a street fighter. From what I can tell, he plays it straight. Nothing fancy. No gimmicks. He’ll bring an honest fight.”
“You have two abilities for up close,” Proxy said. “Mammoth Blast might be something you can use at medium range in a pinch.”
“I don’t think I’ll be able to land an arrow on him though. Maybe something more explosive…” Max scanned through the abilities before narrowing it down to three.
Laser Boomerang III
Three energy discs that fire forward and return. Explosion damage on impact.
Energy drain: Medium
Credits: 20,000
Power Sparks III
A steady stream of electrical energy. Causes electric damage to opponent’s HP.
Energy drain: Low
Credits: 17,000
Inferno Grenade IV
Arcing explosives with a massive explosion radius. Causes fire damage to opponent’s HP.
Energy drain: High
Credits: 25,000
Max had a choice between abilities with enough variation to make him stop and consider.
“I’ve got enough credits for all of these. Shame I don’t have room for all of ‘em…”
“Just go with your gut,” Proxy said. “I’m sure you can make anything work.”
“Plasma Edge… Mammoth Blast… I might as well go for it…” Max selected Inferno Grenade and watched the credits drain from his balance. “I can upgrade my passives, too.”
He began scrolling through the list of abilities before taking another look at his credits. “On second thought… I shouldn’t be spending everything I’ve got on this damn thing…”
“I think you’re overdoing it,” Proxy said. “But overdoing it is better than being underprepared.”
Max lowered his ACE down. The next battle loomed but there was no tension twisting his stomach or weight on his shoulders. He was ready to step back into the Sanctum and settle his business.
“We’ve still got the rest of the day,” Proxy said. “Where’s Hudson at?”
“He decided to pay a visit to Sammy and see how he’s progressing,” Max said.
“It’s a shame we didn’t get to finish our celebration last night.”
“We’ll have another chance to celebrate after tonight.”
“If I might make another suggestion,” Zigzag chimed in. “I have confidence in your ability to secure victory but it would be wise to maintain your focus.”
“She’s right,” Sabrina said. “You can’t let up now. Word on the street is people are coming from the Sharp District to check this thing out. You’re starting to make a name for yourself.”
Max secured his ACE around his arm then rolled his sleeve down. “Don’t care about making a name for myself. But if it’ll help, I say you bet every credit you got on Zigzag and me.”
He gave Sabrina a wink. The brunette smiled with all of the confidence in the world.
There was nothing more Max could do to prepare. Emeril and Nightblade were waiting in the Vicious Sanctum.
Chapter 21
Mammoth Blast III
Short-range concussive energy blast with tremendous force
Energy drain: High
Energy Shield III
A heavy barrier that protects from energy projectiles and melee attacks. Drains energy upon absorption.
Energy drain: High
Plasma Edge III
A one-meter long energy blade. Causes poison damage to opponent’s HP.
Energy drain: Medium
Inferno Grenade IV
Arcing explosives with a massive explosion radius. Causes fire damage to opponent’s HP.
Energy drain: High
PASSIVE ABILITIES
High Jump II
Increase jumping height and distance by 50%
Speed Boost III
Movement speed is increased by 75%
“New abilities,” Hudson said. “There’s something oddly satisfying about seeing them change.”
“That’s how ACEs were designed,” Max said. “A little more power and you feel an adrenaline boost. You keep going and suddenly you can’t separate yourself from the machine.”
The two sat inside of the locker room leading into the sanctum. The walls vibrated with noise from the crowd deep inside the arena.
Max steadied his breathing, staying as calm as he could to avoid letting his adrenaline get the best of him.
“Sammy’s doing better,” Hudson said. “Can’t talk but his eyes are open.”
“That’s good to hear…”
Hudson got up from his seat. He put a hand on Max’s shoulder. The rim of Hudson’s ballcap over his eyes wasn’t enough to mask how glazed over they were getting.
“I know how much you’re pushing yourself,” Hudson said. “Messing around with the Disciples. I—”
“Hey.” Max popped up from his seat and smiled. “You don’t have to say thanks. You don’t have to say sorry. I win this battle, I’m in good with Venom and I find out who’s responsible for all of this. We’re all good.”
Hudson swallowed to clear his throat. A smile replaced the solemn look in his eyes and the growing anxiety in the room was nowhere to be found.
“I’ll be waiting for you.” Hudson gave Max one last nod before leaving.
Max walked over to Zigzag. The android stood calmly, her brown eyes staring at the entrance into the Sanctum. She held her vibrating blade by her side. The glistening steel was sharp enough to cut through the thickest metals with a single slice. The pink aura glowing around it only made it more formidable. The same pink energy pulsed along her armor and in her eye sockets.
“Nightblade doesn’t use an ACE,” Max said. “He’s got a blade just like you. Might not be able to sneak up behind him.”
“I have been trained in all forms of melee combat,” Zigzag said. “Every sword style on record has been loaded into my memory drive. If he wishes to engage me with his sword, it will certainly end poorly for him.”
Max already had all the confidence in the world in her but the smile she had only added to it.
“When you talk like that, I’m actually excited about stepping into the Sanctum.”
“Excit
ement. I envy the anticipation of victory.”
“That’s what I like to hear.” He patted her on the arm and stepped through the entrance leading into the arena.
The glowing red neon lights lit a path toward the steel grid. The noise from the audience began to grow louder. The floors and walls began to shake.
Electronic synths softly played in the background. Max examined the steel columns and walls spread through the arena. Two of the towers were activated, the mechanical turrets aimed ominously at the ground.
“How are you feeling?” Proxy’s voice came over Max’s earpiece.
He looked up at the Operator in the booth above him then glanced down at his stats on his ACE.
HP: 115%
Energy: 115%
“Reading a 15-percent HP boost,” he said. “Don’t feel any worse off.”
“Looks like Sabrina’s Regulator is doing its job. Remember, Max. Just because you can take a few more hits doesn’t mean you should be looking for ‘em.”
“You know I don’t get hit without hitting ‘em back.”
“Ladies and gentlemen!” The announcer’s voice was met with cheers.
The shining lights above were too bright to look straight up at but Max could make out the hundreds gathered, filling the Vicious Sanctum to near-capacity.
“Tonight, the Vicious Sanctum presents a special two-on-two battle! Our first competitors… They’ve been making a name for themselves and now they’re looking to cause more havoc… Give it up for Max and the android… Zigzag!”
The crowd clapped in appreciation though Max was more curious as to the announcement.
“They gave Zigzag top billing,” Max said. “That’s never happened before.”
“What’s wrong?” Proxy said. “Jealous?”
He looked at the android and saw her coy smile. “You are attempting to keep a low profile,” Zigzag said. “Perhaps it is for the best.”
Max’s laugh was drowned out by the thundering drums pounding through the speakers.