Disclaimer: I do not own anything Twilight. This was written as an original story and converted to a Twilight Fan fiction piece to garner interest in the story. I will release the original version at the end of each book.
Chapter Four
The week before the fight is a busy one. I don't include Edward in a lot of the details, I have no doubt he would want to help, but I also know he would be training for the fight. I find myself acutely aware of the fact that since he is quite confident he will win the fight, he is also training for the mission. Jake is hitting the gym hard as well; both are in top physical shape and ready to battle the devil himself. But first, one must emerge victorious over the other.
Using the vast resources at my disposal as a Black Collar, I use Emily Young's public relations team to build a backstory for whichever fighter emerges victorious. The story is kept vague but compelling, a backwoods Canadian fighter who has defeated all comers in underground clubs from Vancouver to Montreal. He has come to the United States to find fresh competition, and to make a name for himself. He travels with an entourage but he alone is the power behind his victories. I work in spots in the entourage for myself and Garrett; I will worry about disguises later but for now I want to ensure I am not left out of the action.
Emily adds a few rumors to the story, vague whispers of a match where a man was killed by a single punch to the throat. A medical condition that causes the mystery fighter to be unable to feel pain, all delivered with the unique flair that made the Public Relations Director the asset she had proven herself to be over the years. "Sauce for the steak" she calls it with a knowing grin. I don't care; whatever it takes to draw out my prey.
The stories are planted in the seedy underbelly of society. Underground fight clubs across the country all are abuzz with stories of the mystery newcomer. No one had ever actually seen the new fighter but they always assure the person they are telling that they got their information from a very reliable source who had been there and witnessed the amazing fighter for themselves first-hand.
"We are going to have to come up with a name for this legendary fighter eventually." Emily is going over her notes and giving me an update on how well the story is being received and has 'saturated the target audience.' Whatever that means.
I think for a moment and then it hits me… "Just call him X," I say. "It adds to the mystery and a man with no name seems more undefeatable than a fighter named 'Dave' or 'Joe' – don't you think?"
"I like it." Emily is entering notes onto her tablet that no doubt are going out to her various contacts that will begin 'seeding' the new addition to the story. "I think I have an idea for a gimmick to really get the buzz going." She ventures cautiously. "But it could be dangerous."
"What is it?" I ask, my interest piqued at the mention of danger.
"Well most of these fighters go on reputation, so all the fight clubs usually have their favorites. They put up flyers and advertise themselves for upcoming fights as well as to brag about fights they have won. It's a big pissing contest really." She rolls her eyes but gets to the point. "Why not have a big 'X' painted over the ruling champion's face on his flyers and murals to announce our fighter's intention to dethrone the ruling champ? It will be more dangerous because we would be announcing our arrival ahead of time, but it would make it impossible for the reigning champions to ignore our fighter and save face with that kind of public challenge."
"I like it," I say with a nod. "Our prey will not be able to resist such a challenge." I go back to my research and begin creating my own persona. The fight promoter, equally mysterious, no one knows if she is dating the fighter or related to him. Everyone knows she is not to be crossed and has a reputation for getting top dollar for her fighter. I start trying to think of a name for my persona and my thoughts wander to the mythology of the phoenix; a bird that dies in flames and rises from the ashes. But I wasn't the phoenix, not yet. I settled on the name 'Ash'; let them wonder what the meaning is. By the time they had figured it out it would be too late.
Then there is Garrett. He would be a little more difficult to disguise but maybe I wouldn't have to. Ash would need muscle behind her when negotiating deals in this world, and even more muscle when she needed her questions answered or if a fight club owner decided to get cute. He would be known simply as 'King'. No one would know if it was a title or a name but one look at the makeover I had planned for him and they would know not to fuck with Ash's bodyguard. Katrina was too well known a weapon for him to carry with him, so I would have to arrange for something else. I needed to pay a visit to Eleazar and see what he could do.
I head down to the armory and find Eleazar among his weapons. He is putting the finishing touches on a bolt action .308 which is a beauty. He walks over to me; wiping his hands on a rag he greets me warmly. "Bella, so good you come to see Eleazar! What can I do for you today? You need weapon? Something blown up? You name it and Eleazar has tool for the job."
"Just a few questions first, did you craft Katrina for Garrett?" I figure I might as well just ask, there is no way it would be a secret.
"Ah yes, your father commissioned that particular weapon for Eleazar to make. Garrett appreciates master craftsmanship when he sees it, yes?" Eleazar is smiling like a proud father bragging about one of his children. "Modified .50 Caliber Desert Eagle, firing double stacked caseless rounds, able to hold an extended clip and fire full auto with a cyclic rate of 700 rounds per minute. You could cut trees down with a 30 round clip, yes?" I get the impression that Eleazar remembers every weapon he has ever assembled but that this one was like a favorite child or a long lost lover that he reminisces about fondly.
"It is the most beautiful weapon I have ever seen. You truly are a master craftsman, an artist." I am not buttering him up I mean every word. He is the best and right now that is what I need, nothing else will do.
"It truly is a unique piece and that is kind of the problem, I can't let Garrett bring it with us when we go undercover. It would be like Da Vinci trying to keep a low profile while carrying around the Mona Lisa, not going to work. You see my problem?" I look at him expectantly; he has a thoughtful look on his face.
"You need another work of art that is not so well known… Eleazar understands and has just the thing." He walks over to a weathered workbench and lifts an oilcloth to reveal a pristine cherry wood box. He picks it up and brings it over to me and sets it on the table in front of me. "This is Eleazar's finest piece that has never taken life."
I open the box and gasp. Inside is a large handgun that is flat black, sleek in design and intimidating in size. "It's beautiful, what do you call it?" I whisper as I take it from the case and hold it reverently.
"Resheniye" he says softly in Russian.
"That's beautiful. What does it mean?" I ask him.
"The Solution," he answers, no further explanation is needed. This is a weapon that is not pulled to intimidate or to threaten. This is a weapon that solves problems, efficiently and permanently.
"Thank you Eleazar, can you give me a rundown of the features?" I place it back in the case.
"Weapon is built on a heavily modified glock forty frame, firing caseless nine millimeter rounds; it can hold 28 rounds double stacked in her clip and one in chamber. Has a laser sighting under the barrel, she can be set to fire single or three round bursts. Breaks down to 12 parts, constructed from carbon fiber and polycarbonate materials; the only metal piece is the firing pin which is small enough that it will sneak past most metal detectors." He smiles and pats my hand. "Do not worry Bella, she will kill for you, just put her in Garrett's hands and she will sing."
I kiss Eleazar on the cheek and take the box to my room. I will talk to Garrett about it later; I hope he doesn't give me a hard time about it. Garrett is very particular about Katrina; another gun in his life might seem to him like infidelity.
Fight night comes and I find out that Edward is heavily favored to win over Jake. I have a ringside seat, as do Edward's parents. Jake's father is present as well and I notice Vladamir in the back, taking it all in. He is leaning against the wall, blending in like part of the décor.
The fighters enter the ring, Jake has healed up nicely and Dimitri is in his corner. He is ready to give advice and assistance to the man that just a few days ago he was in a brutal battle with in the very same ring. Edward has put on about thirty pounds of solid muscle and looks like he has been chiseled from stone. His face is pure concentration; you would never know these two were friends in real life. Today they were adversaries; today there is no room for friendship.
The bell rings, neither fighter needs an introduction and the fight is on. Jake moves in and lays a powerful combination at Edward's midsection. Edward makes no move to block or dodge the blows and takes them unflinchingly as he drives Jake into the corner by physically shoving him backwards. As Jake tries to catch his footing Edward lays a series of punishing hooks to the left side of his head. The impacts are loud 'thwacks' that come in rapid succession. Jake manages to get out of the corner and away from the punishing onslaught, but the damage is done and he is dazed. His legs are rubbery and he spends the rest of the round trying to avoid Edward.
Edward leaves his opponent alone the rest of the round and returns to his corner at the bell. He takes some water but just observes Dimitri working on Jake trying to get him ready for the next round. The bell rings and they meet in the center of the ring again. Once again Edward allows Jake to hit him with no discernible effect and then unleashes a series of punishing blows on him. He is the epitome of the fictional fighter we have created; savage, brutal and seemingly impervious to pain. Jake is staggered again by another of Edward's haymakers. Instead of finishing him off though he retreats and allows him to recover. What is he doing? Toying with Jake? Allowing him to save face by carrying him a couple of rounds?
The rest of the round goes pretty much the same as the first. But the third round is different. Edward strides out to the middle of the ring and attacks Jake with a ferocity that has the crowd gasping. A couple of combinations and then a savage uppercut that lifts Jake off the mat and puts him flat on his back and it is over. No count is needed; Edward is perfect for the role we require him to play.
After the fight I walk to my room and wait for Edward and Garrett to arrive. I don't wait long before they knock and I show them in. I congratulate Edward on his victory and lay out the role he is to play. He takes it all in and agrees that it is a great cover and a role well suited to him. I send him to Norman and the other white collars for them to get a disguise for him in place.
Once we are alone I turn to Garrett. "I know I have been distant lately, but I want you to know that you are one of the only people I trust. I have made sure that you will be a big piece of this mission but you will need to be disguised. I give him a composite sketch of how Emily and her people have envisioned his makeover. Shaved head with a chinstrap beard that goes to a long pointed goatee; completely disguising his trademark square jaw. He scowls in disgust but sighs and nods, he knows it is necessary.
"One more thing." I point to his jacket where I know Katrina would be hanging in her holster. "Katrina will give you away, she can't come."
"Now wait a minute…." Garrett protests, his hand moving protectively to his prized weapon.
"You know I'm right Garrett, she has to stay. I hope you don't mind but I took the liberty of procuring you a reasonable substitute. Eleazar didn't seem to think you'd mind." I motion to the box on the desk.
He opens the box and his eyes widen. "What does he call her?" he asks me quietly.
"Resheniye" I reply from memory. "It means…"
"The Solution." Garrett finishes my sentence. "I like it. Okay kid, you win." He pulls Katrina from his holster, ejects the clip and opens the slide, popping the round from the chamber. He places the clip, pistol and the single round on my mantle. "I'm going to want her back when we get these guys." He says to me with mock sternness as he pulls "The Solution" from the case, checks that it is loaded and then places it in the empty shoulder holster.
"A perfect fit." I smile at him and open the door. "Start growing your beard out. We make our debut as soon as the last of the details are in place."
"What details?" Garrett looks at me quizzically.
"I have to bring my father up to speed; he is NOT going to like what I have planned next." I sigh and start to shut the door.
"Bring Katrina with you," Garrett chuckles "You might need her. Good night kid, and good luck. I hope you know what you're doing."
I close the door behind him and whisper.
"So do I."
