Rebel 2

by Riker Kane

“I wasn’t planning on killing him.”

  “It doesn’t matter. You gave me your word, Shaw. He was released on the condition you settle your differences in the Sanctum.”

  “Hudson never got that chance. Same with Sammy. Both of them were beaten within an inch of their lives and the man responsible for it is walking around with a suit so pristine you’d think he fell from the fucking clouds.”

  “Oliver will get what’s coming to him—”

  “Is that right? Because you’ve been in Santa Fe a lot longer than I have and you haven’t made shit for progress.”

  Pitt put his hands on his hips and sighed a deep breath in an attempt to maintain his composure.

  “I’m not gonna pretend I know what you’re going through,” Pitt said. “But Santa Fe is my town. I live here. So don’t think for a second I don’t care. I’m trying to do what’s right for the people. My job’s damn hard when the ones who swore to protect and serve are just as corrupt as the criminals I’m trying to catch. But I’m on the right side, Max. You remember that.”

  Max scoffed and walked away from the bars. “You live here. I don’t. You’ve got no excuse not to put Oliver away.”

  “If you’d calm down for a second, I’d tell you exactly what’s going on. You ready to listen?”

  Max didn’t say anything as he took a seat next to Zigzag.

  “Everything that happened finally brought Oliver out of hiding. It’s the first time we have him on record as the fourth member of the Gears of Destruction. He doesn’t trust Venom to run things now, so he’s decided to handle everything himself.”

  “I’m glad all it took was a few people nearly dying for it to happen.”

  “Don’t let what happened to them be in vain. With Osiris out in the open, I can investigate him. The Disciples have their hands in everything. The evidence is piling up. It won’t be long until the DA has enough charges to lock him up.”

  “And just how much longer will that take?”

  “You have to give it time, Max.”

  “Time…” Max got up from his seat and walked back over to Pitt. “While the evidence is mounting, he’s mounting a defense to make sure he gets out of this.”

  “A man like Oliver can’t keep his suit clean forever. But there’s a way for both of us to get what we want.”

  “And how’s that?”

  “Do what you were supposed to do in the first place. Settle your business in the Sanctum. That’s the only way you’ll get your hands on him without ending up back in a cell. I can’t promise you I can get you out if this happens again.”

  Max sighed a deep breath through his nose. He stared at the ground, the image of Hudson broken still in his thoughts. He knew what he had to do.

  “Fine,” Max said. “I’ll talk to Osiris. I’ll set the match up—”

  “No, no, no. You think I trust you after the stunt you just pulled? The wheels are already in motion to do this properly.”

  “And what exactly is properly?”

  Pitt punched the digital keypad next to the cell and the bars slowly slid open. He shoved Max’s ACE into his arms and looked him right in the eye.

  “Just do as you’re told.”

  Chapter 30

  Proxy eyed the security guards surrounding her. “Twelve… Thirteen… Fourteen… Fifteen. If I didn’t know what you did in here the other day, I’d think having this many guards with us would be a little excessive. You never like to keep things simple, Max.”

  “Things stopped being simple ever since we got here,” Max replied. “Don’t worry. Everything’ll be all right.”

  “I trust you but that doesn’t mean I’m comfortable.”

  Max walked through the inner corridors of Club Reincarnation with Zigzag and Proxy by his side. The group was surrounded by an entourage of guards large enough to draw the attention of all the patrons. The undeniable buzz in the air was palpable.

  Max kept his focus, ignoring the tension attempting to gnaw away at his insides.

  “You should think about getting your coat fixed before the next battle,” Proxy said. “The back is a little burned up.”

  “I don’t mind a bit of singed leather. Gives the coat a little character.”

  “You can ditch the coat altogether… But then you wouldn’t be the Rebel.”

  “The Rebel won’t be around for much longer in the Sanctum. Just one more battle if things go as planned.”

  The group moved to a set of ebony doors at the end of a long hallway where more guards were waiting. The doors were pushed open and Max stepped into the room.

  A few windows let in some of the lights from the neon billboards shining outside. Dim fluorescent bulbs illuminated a long mahogany table. Flanked by club security, Osiris sat rigidly at the center of it. Venom, Slug and Lotto stood a few paces away from him. Each one of them glared at Max as he took a seat in front of Osiris.

  Even with all of the guards and tension growing between the groups, the room was silent enough for Max to hear himself breathing. He locked his eyes on Osiris.

  “The only reason I’m not dropping you where you stand is because we’re surrounded,” Max said.

  Osiris smirked. “I admire your bravado. And to think… All it took was to beat one of your friends into submission.” He put his hand up. “Save whatever angry retort is on the tip of your tongue. We have business to settle. Let’s not waste any time.”

  The man in the white suit slicked his hair back over his head then picked up the digital tablet in front of him. He swiped through it nonchalantly with his finger.

  “The officials running the Vicious Sanctum are in agreement with the shareholders of Club Reincarnation. All of the major brokers have given their approval. An officially sanctioned battle in the Sanctum between you and I has their full support. The only thing that you need to do is present your signature.”

  Osiris dropped the tablet down.

  “But the stakes of our battle aren’t simply a matter of your vengeance and me attempting to quash it. I think we can make it more interesting.”

  “I don’t give a damn about interesting.”

  “It’s clear you care only about winning. But our battle is about more than credits or even pride. We can agree on that.”

  “What are you getting at?”

  “A proposal. To finally settle this matter once and for all. All you have to do is tell me what you want.”

  Max looked around the room. The guards remained silent. The GODs watched him closely.

  “What is he up to?”

  Max didn’t find the answers he was looking for but figured he had no choice but to play along.

  “The stakes,” Osiris said. “Name them.”

  Max sighed a deep breath through his nose. “I would have settled for just sending you to a regenerator in the worst way possible. But I can see what kind of harm you and the Gears have caused.”

  “I won’t stop being who I am simply because I lose a battle.”

  “I know. And that’s not my responsibility. I only came to Santa Fe to look out for my friends. That hasn’t changed… I beat you, you leave me and my friends alone. The debt Sammy owes is gone. We go back to New Austin and you don’t even watch us leave.”

  Osiris leaned back in his seat, his fingertips pressed against each other. “Fair terms. I expected as much from a man of your prestige. But if you’re allowed those stakes, we fight on my terms.”

  “I don’t care what you wanna fight for.”

  “You battle all of us. Lotto. Slug. Venom. Me. You can bring the android with you. You versus the GODs.”

  “Max…” Proxy’s voice was soft.

  Max turned around and gave her a nod to reassure her. She swallowed anxiously but didn’t protest.

  “Three towers,” Osiris said. “Drones and attack droids. Let’s give the people a spectacle, shall we?”

  “It doesn’t matter what you put in the Sanctum. I’ll beat you.”

  “Then if you’re so confident, you’ll agre
e to my stakes.” Osiris’s devious smirk made it obvious he was up to something. Max remained steadfast, staring at the man across from him without blinking.

  “I beat you, Rebel, you work for me. You fight in the Sanctum when I want you to fight. You work personal security for me. You become a Disciple for a minimum of five years.”

  “He doesn’t deserve that opportunity,” Venom remarked. “People work to earn their spots.”

  “Indeed. But he’s already proven he’s a man of his word. The credits we’ll earn from subsequent bouts in the Sanctum will offset any animosity between us, I can assure you.”

  Osiris picked the digital tablet and began scribbling upon it with his index finger.

  “Those are my terms,” he said. “All you need to do is put your thumbprint down to agree to them.”

  He placed the tablet down then pushed it in front of Max. Max glanced at the text explaining the parameters of everything Osiris had just said.

  “Stuck in the Sanctum… Fighting here for the next five years while Osiris makes money off me…”

  “What’s it going to be?” Osiris said.

  Max clenched his jaw and pressed his thumb down on the touchscreen. Osiris grinned in amusement as he took the tablet and placed his own thumbprint on it.

  “The contract is signed. The brokers, owners and officials will review it. The Vicious Sanctum will be prepared for our battle this weekend. I suggest you make final preparations. I can assure you the GODs will be ready for you.”

  Max got up from his seat. “You already signed your contract when you put your hands on Hudson. This just makes sure everybody else will be there to see me fulfill it.”

  Max turned around and walked out of the room with the same escort who brought him in. It wasn’t until he was back out on the streets when the guards finally left him alone.

  “All right,” Proxy said. “It looks like the battle is set. We’ve got a few days until the weekend. I’ll start loading up the files and start reviewing the abilities I saw. I’ll try to see if I can find anything on Osiris.”

  “I recommend the usual protocol prior to going into a significant battle,” Zigzag said. “Upgrade your abilities and perhaps improve your armor. I would also recommend speaking to Sabrina about another stimulant. The boost could be crucial to your victory.”

  “We’ve got some time to prepare,” Max said. “No need to worry. We’ll get everything done.”

  Despite the stakes, Max was able to smile with an enthusiasm he hadn’t felt in a long time. But it wasn’t enough to remove the worry on Proxy’s face he saw back inside of the club.

  “You sure about this?” Proxy said. “You gotta beat all four of them and who knows what else in the Sanctum. You’ll be stuck here for five years if you don’t win…”

  Max put a hand on her shoulder. “I’ve already been in Santa Fe longer than I expected to be. I don’t plan on staying here for much longer. After this weekend, everything will be settled. Now… I say we get prepped. Let’s make sure the GODs won’t know what hit ‘em.”

  Chapter 31

  The view of the gloomy clouds from Max’s hotel suite became more familiar to him than he expected it to be.

  “I appreciate you taking the time to speak to me. You must be making significant preparations considering the magnitude of your upcoming bout in the Sanctum.”

  “I have a lot of things to do,” Max sighed. “But I’ll have enough time for everything. What do you want, Irving?”

  He turned toward the older man standing a few meters away from. Irving straightened his tie and put his hands behind his back. Max wondered why every broker he met always made it a point to try and seem magnanimous but kept it to himself.

  “Promotions for your bout have begun,” he said. “The Rebel and the android versus the Gears of Destruction. With so many combatants on the grid, it will be quite the spectacle.”

  “Nothing will change what I plan on doing. Every single of ‘em played a part in me coming to Santa Fe. I’ll take care of ‘em.”

  “I have no doubt you will.”

  Max looked the broker up and down and shrugged. “I think everything is out in the open now. I doubt you’re up to anything. Or maybe I’m being naive.”

  Irving laughed softly. “I can assure you, I have no ill intentions. Everybody involved with this battle, from the owners to the officials to the brokers, is protecting their investment. You’ll get to the battle safe and sound. Reincarnation security is following every single step you’re making, whether or not you realize it.”

  “That’s Reincarnation security, huh? And I thought it was just the police watching me closely…”

  “Perhaps it’s both…” Irving smirked. “In any case, there’s something I wanted to speak to you about.”

  Max shook his head, his attention taken by the cloudy day outside. “This should be interesting…”

  “I’m well aware you have personal motivations against all of them. It’s not uncommon for people to settle their differences in the Sanctum. It’s something that’s been done in combat since ancient times. However, there was always a prize on the line.”

  “Credits,” Max scoffed. “It’s always about the creds. What is it, Irving? You wanna pay me to take a dive? The last time someone tried that, it ended up messy for ‘em.”

  “I will be placing a bet on you. A broker would be foolish to not take the odds against you. But the credits are simply an added bonus.”

  Irving walked over to the window Max was staring through, the heels of his loafers clicking against the floor. The broker sighed a soft breath through his nose.

  “I’m a millionaire,” he said. “You know you have too many credits when you can spend them on things you don’t need. It’s necessary in a place like this. Corrupt cops. Loot flooding the streets. Santa Fe is crumbling from the inside and nobody can even see it. Some would ask me with all of my credits, why I don’t bother leaving this city entirely. Perhaps buy a ticket to Mars.”

  “That’s good advice.”

  “For others. Not for me. I’ve lived in Santa Fe all my life. I sold supplementers on the street when I was younger just to have somewhere to lay down when the rain came. I struggled until I eventually managed to make enough to gamble at the Sanctum. This city made me. And now it’s becoming undone.”

  Max looked up at Irving and noticed how focused his eyes were. Whatever he was thinking, it had all of Irving’s attention.

  “Why are you telling me this?” Max asked.

  “Because I want you to realize how much is at stake. It’s no secret the GODs and their Disciples control the Cobalt District. They’re attempting to do the same with the rest of Santa Fe. If you defeat them, perhaps it will inspire others to stand up to them.”

  “If anybody should be standing up to them, maybe the cops should.”

  The corner of Irving’s lips twitched into a smirk. “That’s exactly who I was hoping you would inspire.”

  Max got up from his seat and put a hand on Irving’s shoulder. “I don’t know what difference it’ll make to everybody else. But I plan on beating Osiris in the worst way. That’s the only thing I can guarantee.”

  “You have no idea what exactly that will mean to some watching… Rebel.”

  Irving gave him a nod before turning around and walking toward the exit. The door clicked closed and the hotel suite fell silent once again.

  “Strange…”

  Max thought about it for a moment before picking up his AllDevice and putting it to his ear.

  “Max?”

  “It’s time to get ready. You busy?”

  “You know where to find me.”

  ~ ~ ~

  “Proxy is busy scouting my last few battles. She’s sorting through the abilities to see if there’s anything I should be carrying with me. Zigzag is watching over Hudson. He’s recovered but the hospital wants to make sure there aren’t any complications before they release him.”

  “That’s a relief.” Sabrin
a sighed a deep breath and leaned back on her couch. Max sat next to her, staring at the digital frame where photos of Sabrina’s family rotated through. “What took you so long to get here?”

  “I had a visitor. A broker from Reincarnation.”

  “What business does he have with you? Probably had some ulterior motive like all brokers do.”

  The conversation still fresh in his mind, Max thought about it for a moment then shrugged. “If I had to guess, I figure he’s got the same investment as every other broker. But he mentioned something else. Told me how important this battle is. How high the stakes are…”

  Sabrina laughed. “I don’t think you need a reminder of that.”

  “Definitely not.”

  “You didn’t come here to sit around and waste time. Let’s go see how your Regulator’s doing.”

  Max followed Sabrina into her garage. The chemical compounds and electrical components scattered around on the workbench made her garage look more like a scientist’s lab.

  Sabrina grabbed a syringe and measured the beakers where the fluids were waiting.

  “Have you thought about what you want?”

  “Four opponents… I think I’ll need the energy.”

  “Safe bet.”

  Sabrina filled the syringe with the blue liquid and held the needle to his neck. She smiled softly, her eyes locked on his as she dug it into the Regulator.

  Max grimaced slightly from the prick. The sharp pain was replaced by a rush of indescribable energy flowing through his veins. He closed his eyes and sighed a deep breath to relax.

  But it wasn’t the stimulant doing its job that had his mind racing. There was something else weighing down on him and he knew Sabrina wouldn’t be excited to hear it.

  She packed the needle away and fiddled with the control module on the device holding all of the stimulants. “I was messing around with some of the formulas. The effects will kick in a lot faster than usual. Shouldn’t be more than a few minutes now.”

  “That should help.”

  “I don’t see how. The battle isn’t scheduled for a few days anyway. Your body has to metabolize it before you get another boost.”