Every One Fight, Page 2

  Chapter Two: Ganging Up

  Fredrick Edyon's crew didn't like what we were doing on campus. To them it stunk of 'hero crap'. Edyon never had the knack for, you know, words. I wanted to plow em all, but Ayani was having none of it. That was frustrating.

  She was really antsy, so I worked it out that Edyon's crew had something on her. I asked, but she wasn't cooperative. By the summer the threat was so real that Naritha wasn't sleeping at all. Edyon lived next door to her, and we were half prepared to sleep over just to be safe. Her newfound empathic talent did not simplify matters.

  Finally we told Edyon we'd meet him and settle things. I was so confused, just what did the son of a starbiter want?

  We had slept over at Naritha's, which was a pleasure since her family was so accepting and kind. Nothing like I understood or had at home. I envied them, and I gotta say I learned a lot from them, too. I felt like family, okay? Simple as that.

  “I'm a KnightsMage.”

  “Yeah, so what? So what if he knows?” I wasn't getting it though, not thinking. My life-long backtitude was curdling my whey, and she knew it, lookin' all incredulous at me like that.

  “I'm KnightsMage Sol, do you hear me? I fight Catalyst with my bare hands and … I need you to think, Masurani!”

  “Excuse me for being all blast plate,” I fired back sarcastically. Unfortunately a comment like that only proves its point.

  I guess I could understand her upset. I was tying my hair into a bow in her single tail, off-center style, almost to be insulting. Guiltily I dropped my hands from my hair which was almost as long back then. I guess I was goading her into staying away from the truth. It made me nervous and a little scared.

  We were quiet for a while, listening to Twee Blowsy berate Gable for spending so many credits again on some late night stream in Naritha's room. Some people never learn. I thought, yeah, but I wasn't going to be one of those.

  “Where's your slinky gear?”

  I never thought about it before, but you didn't deny it, and then you switched … uh, transformed right in front of me at the Sager's. I found out fast that Naritha not only knew, but was fightin' as part of your group already. You were so pretty—so much more than cute—in armor and silk. It was strange, but compelling at the same time.

  “I want you to join as my Second-in-Command.”

  I was stunned again, warm and cold feelings tumbling about inside me. The KnightsMage were a young – well, not gang, but group – and I was impressed by them … the whole thing was tremendously appealing. The idea of fighting for a great cause with an intimate friend, getting vengeance for Pop's death. Harnessing my powers, even … daily life was getting hard when twitching the wrong way could break ordinary materials. I even liked the slinky outfit.

  I had issues about how I looked, but Ayani gets away with murder because she's proper and is loaded with self respect. I envied that too, even when being a clueless rebel got me real cold legs and a scar on my chest. The abuse was Bobby's choice, but he didn't tempt himself. Get me? I know you do, Aaran.

  Thing was, I didn't have an amiable answer for your daughter. “You couldn't ask me if I liked the uniform before now?”

  She looked at me like I'd just skipped Basic Medicine, then turned sheepish. “Um … sorry, I'm new at this.”

  I shook my head, and declined the offer. It struck me as selfish and disingenuous. What kind of leader blunders about like that? Kid on the playground, no cred on the street. I wasn't trusting enough then to risk my neck for so many unknowns. I'd just form my own crew.

  So that's just what I did. Ayani wasn't upset by that, which impressed me even more. If I hadn't been so full of rage, maybe I'd have joined, but my head was too clouded.

  We remained friends, and she even stopped hasslin' me about the Knights for a while. In fact we did go to meet Edyon, but when a few of his gang showed up and he didn't, we new the color he ran. Edyon wasn't popular at Dodge High, anyway. We agreed not to bash their faces in and they agreed to keep their big fat lips shut about everything.

  We ended the school year on a low note, and for a crew all I had to do was open my eyes. Marcy Stanwick, Josie Mayfair, Taylor Greybear, Stanley Drake and Cosy Heidlin. Maybe you don't remember those kids, but they were almost as rough as me, and something as strong.

  Cosy and Marcy were an item, and had shared gifts. Rare trick, that. Gave us an edge against the meaner punks we ran across on Ryglan Street, which we claimed as our own. When you get challenged, either you're going to fight back or let someone else do it.

  The two were deadly cute, dressing to themes that made us stand out. Heart'n'Sunny, we called 'em.

  So adorable it hurt!

  Somebody got to calling us the Jugheads, and since we liked it, we kept it and made it our own.

  Josie was FaerieFire, Taylor “preferred” Sniper, and they called me Nuckles. Something about Numb-headed luck, also referencing the cyborgs I fought. I could by then puncture armored metal with a knife hand, if I wanted. Some of the fights I won with bloody knuckles, but then, I was fighting living weapons.

  That was the first real street rep I earned.

  Near the end of the summer we had a pretty peaceful strip of Angel City to call our own. I was livin' high, but not what I'd call happy. Had no idea what that meant. Ayani decided break the silence, and I was dead sure it was about the KnightsMage again.

  I was still pretty torn up about them, and I had no sense about reaching out to friends about my confusion. If anything got my attention, it was that she cared about me. So, when I started listening, I realized she were warning me about Bobby Shatter.

  Forgive him? What is that supposed to mean?

  “He's hiding in Angel City. He'n his guys were responsible for the death of Terry Maylaw.” I marveled at the hard expression on her pretty face. I knew Ms. Pennyworth only because she taught Archeological Research at Dodge High that year. A wimp, and I'm not sorry to say it. “Remember when Ms. Pennyworth took a sick leave? Shatter was blackmailing her, or at least he was trying to.”

  They'd busted Terry up so bad she'd spent a month in the hospital, just to wind up with cybernetics. Missing fingers or something, I don't recall. Maybe I don't want to. Ms. Maylaw committed suicide shortly after being laid off, that year.

  “So why should I care?”

  Ayani was still irritated with me, but it seemed to go away. “Because he turned in his wish.”

  She knew blasting open the bulkheads with words like that would kick me into gear. Selling your wish for power like that is a turning point you never come back from. Black door, black walls, black soul. She wasn't finished, though:

  “You really do have bulkhead for a skull. He's 3rd Class Elite, Masurani. You can't handle him alone! You'll wind up on your back like she did.”

  “Ayani!” To say I was shocked would've been awfully mild. I'd never seen her scared before. Ayani apologized really sharply, so I let it go. Was it a scare tactic?

  Not according to you “Lady Vanadyl”. Subtlety? Never, and I'd almost forgotten that. It was a year since you'd left for Ansile Colony. The Jugheads were unwittingly protecting your interests, and first thing you did was show me gratitude, which ran pretty deep. I was a little surprised, but mostly angry.

  So you two don't get confused, ladies, you can take it this 'tale' is for you both.

  Aaran, the best way I can describe you is as a beautiful woman in very ordinary way. Plain faced and clear eyed, but stunningly graceful. A Lady. After all this time you finally accomplished something and proved the fact. Your hair is long, yellow-gold where Ayani's is copper-red and short. Ayani has slightly slanted almond eyes while yours are more round and piercing. Like crystal with reflections of valiant light.

  What you, Aaran, said to me was no less scary:

  “The Pink seeks out strong women, just to defile them, destroy all the strength and power they've amassed.”

  Your office was quiet and peaceful, what with the artsy waterfall hung in the wall.
The furniture looked all brown and leathery. I wondered how that felt on bare skin during the summer.

  “Defile? Like, what?” That was a new word to me. You spelled it out and I paled. Being so strong, the concept of rape had not often occurred to me. The way you spoke made me overconscientious of the danger it presented to my friends.

  “Ayani didn't say?”

  “Yeah, but not like that. I don't get it. Terry was a travel agent. How's that power?”

  You smiled that knowing, wholly condescending smile. So much confidence in a suit. Have I ever looked that good? Nah-ah-ah. I won't feed that beast.

  “You're not that daft. Travel between Canor and the Colonies is heavily restricted by the AOC. Terry is extremely well connected, and quite the political turnpike.” I considered this, but what I saw in your eyes wasn't about out-of-doors travel.

  “So … she gets some new fingers? How'd ya figure she gets laid off if she's so important, and then … suicide?”

  “They were never caught.”

  Patience does not run long in your family. I suspect it doesn't even bother to jog.

  “Flakking shards they weren't,” I protested.

  “Wear a target or be a target? It's her choice. She was unattached, always dating, never committing. Very attractive and good with credits. Marriage was never valuable to her … but, she was a good woman. The Pink consists entirely of unpopular loners and angry losers. Outcast and outclassed by the women they desire.”

  You held it up, figuratively, and I swallowed, literally. It was about control, I understood that right away. I can crush cyborgs with my hands.

  “That's scary,” I murmured. 'Lady Vanadyl' understands power that isn't enforced by strength, beauty or measurements. 'Aaran Yyone Coates' has been known to abuse those qualities. You still mystify me.

  “Don't take the Knights too seriously. Here, things aren't what they seem,” you casually remarked, then hooked your gaze into mine again. “My condolences for your loss. Ramble was a dedicated man.”

  “Pop.” Fierce tears assaulted me, and the respect I received stilled my aching heart. I just looked at you, aware that I'd always wanted my own Mom to say that. How had you known? Was the anger I felt toward him the consequence of her words and actions? I was a fool, really. You had wisdom and me, just guilt. It wasn't fun being young at that time.

  "We were friends at Dodge. He was sharp with statistics. Nobody get statistics … He was the hardest working guy I knew. I want to help you, not the Alliance."

  There's this thing with you I've never understood. How do you look so blasted young and still have kids? Ayani is my age, but you and I were squires together. I guess that's one of your gifts. Must be. Either that or it's something else. One of these days I'm going to make you tell me all about it.

  The Catalyst was backing Bobby Shatter and his screws, buoying them with powers they'd probably not have otherwise found. I was pissed. The idea that everybody gets a Wish, and they traded theirs for that kind of power? Why, because of a little doubt and hard work?

  I know a wish isn't a kneel-and-receive deal. I've learned you don't get what you want, you get what you need. I was perfectly ready to admit that I wasn't ready to turn my crew over and join the battlefront, yet. That was the little bit of lucidity I had.

  You and Ayani wanted me alive for the cause, her for the team. You wanted to crush the Pink pin, code and ID and I liked it, so that's what we set out to do. The Jugheads and your KnightsMage worked together admirably. Saying that means we were a fearsome team, almost unbeatable.

  When they targeted Naritha out of some power-trip arrogance, we wiped the floor with them. They had more powered scrands in tow than we expected, but that didn't seem to bother you. Even when Shatter slipped my defenses and tried to lay his paws on me, you knew it and now he keeps spares in the event we decide to do it again.

  That was the best summer of my life. Debt repaid? You never said a word about it. Never had to, I suppose. Then I met Petulant and began to think it wasn't worth living anymore.