Chapter 10

Ground Control Stable, Montenegro,
Solaris City, Solaris VII,
Freedom Theater, Lyran Alliance,
December 17, 3067

Mac's departure from Ground Control stable created mixed reactions. Kilroy and Jenny accepted the fact with absolute bliss. Mickey and Stan were pretty much apathetic about it. Amber, who had been discharged from the hospital, didn't really appreciate the firing. She wasn't taking Mac's side; she was more worried about the future of the stable. So far, most of the money came from Mac's winning prize.

Jeremy didn't know how to react. On one side he was glad Mac left the stable. Mac's attitude was destructive for stable's morale, and his departure would accelerate Jeremy's own ambition: to win Grand Championship. On the other hand he had the same opinion with Amber regarding the stable's future. A drastic change might actually hurt the stable.

Major Tom called for general meeting to discuss the current events. Everybody had been speculating about the sabotage which led to Amber's kidnapping. It was time to clear up the matter.

"VEST confirmed that the Apocalypse was indeed sabotaged," Kilroy reported. "Initially I blamed myself for missing it on the final checkup before Jeremy went to battle, but after seeing it in detail, I didn't feel so bad. It was a very smart work, and I can surmise that the culprit had extensive training in battlemech technology."

"This guy was a professional working for the mafia," Stan added. "Amber caught him red-handed when he was doing his job. That's probably the reason why he kidnapped Amber, although…" he paused briefly, choosing his next words carefully. "I don't understand why he didn't kill Amber instead."

"Blackmailing?" Jenny stated. "All evidence points to Mac. I think Mac hired the gremlin to hurt Jeremy. Then maybe the gremlin tried to blackmail Mac using Amber. Why… only heaven can tell."

"Good thing he's done," Kilroy blurted. "You may think Mac is the backbone behind Ground Control. But his attitude is poisonous to the stable's health. It's like cancer that eats you from within."

"Don't forget that this cancer has been keeping you alive," Amber grumbled. "His winning prize is what you have been eating for so long. So don't badmouth him yet. You don't know what the future brings without Mac."

"Where was he when you were in danger, Amber?" Jenny tuned in. "Did he do anything to get you out of harm? No, he didn't do squat. Why are you still defending him?"

"I'm not defending him," Amber scoffed. "I don't know what he did to me, and honestly, I don't really care. But I know for a fact that he supports the Ground Control. Our supplies come from his fundings. Our salaries partially come from his winning reward. It's a bit disturbing for me that you forget about that fact."

"We'll be okay without Mac," Mickey stated. "We have Jeremy."

"Now don't count anything on me yet," Jeremy replied tactfully. "I have been here only for months. A road to the championship is long and hard. Either you have to have a big support, or you have to be really... really... good. Mac does have a big support. I don't, so it'll take a while before I can achieve Mac's level."

"How do you know so much about Solaris?" Jenny asked.

"I am a big fan of Solaris games," Jeremy sighed, recalling his past as a Solaris-crazed teen. "I read the biographies of Solaris aces. I watched a lot of games. I studied the tactics and maneuvers of Solaris legends. I had been here in spirit long before I was here in reality, if you know what I mean."

"And that justifies you becoming a Solaris mechwarrior, I reckon," Stan sneered.

"No!" Jeremy retorted. He didn't know why Stan made such a big deal about him being a Solaris mechwarrior. Perhaps it was time he told everybody about his real motivation. Perhaps the story about a devious ex-Solaris mechwarrior stealing his fiancee would garner Stan's sympathy. But in the end he restrained himself. Nobody needed to know about Evee and their ill-fated betrothal. "I'm here because this is what I want. I'm here because this is what I'm good at."

"Well, now is the time to prove it," suddenly Major Tom came gliding on his wheelchair. "This just came in. Jeremy and Mac have been invited to fight a wild-card match at The Factory. The Solaris Gaming Commission is impressed with Jeremy's performance. If he's in top three, he'll be eligible for heavyweight championship."

"What! That's great!" Kilroy jumped. "See? We don't need Mac!"

"Before you go there," Jeremy interjected, "it's too early to put me in Mac's position. I've never been in a major game before. Let's not put too much hope in this development, and let me work it out."

"Don't be too modest," Amber said. "You work hard and you deserve it. If you need a sparring partner, I'm available."

"You're not completely healthy," Major Tom quickly snapped. "Don't put too much pressure on you body yet."

"I'm fine," Amber replied. "And I'm bored. Come on, give me something to do besides resting."

"Alright," Jeremy agreed. "Is tomorrow OK? We can take the Chameleons for a mock combat."

"Tomorrow's fine," Amber nodded. "I'll be right here."

"Good then," Major Tom turned to Jeremy. "You need all help you can get, because one thing's certain: Mac's going to come to you, all guns blazing. As for the rest," he concluded. "Let's keep our eyes open for any suspicious behavior. We don't want it to happen again."

As everybody left, Jenny caught up with Jeremy. "So?" she lightheartedly asked. "How does it feel to be a big timer?"

"For God sake, Jenny," Jeremy cringed. "I'm not a big timer yet. I will have to prove it that I belong there with the big boys. I even have to prove that I can beat Amber tomorrow. After Mac left, she is the most skillful mechwarrior around, isn't she?"

Jenny's face quickly turned sour. "Be careful hanging out with her. She was Mac's girlfriend, and maybe she still is. The mafia might have had their eyes on you through her."

Jeremy was taken aback by the drastic change in Jenny's tone. "You don't trust her, do you?"

Jenny gave him an intense stare. "She sleeps with a dirty mechwarrior. Do you think she's not corrupted by Mac's extravagant lifestyle?"

"I don't know," Jeremy squinted. "She seemed like a cool mechwarrior. Geez, Jenny, relax a bit!"

"Hey, we like you, OK?" Jenny replied. "We all like you. We don't want you to get hurt by Mac, Amber, or the mafia. We don't want you to be Mac either. There are a lot of easy ways to get money and fame, but it will not grant you respect and satisfaction."

"Look, I had money," Jeremy stated. "I had fame. I had everything you can only dream of. I left them all behind because I want to be a Solaris Grand Champion. So don't you worry about me getting seduced by the mafia. I appreciate your concern, but I can take care of myself."

Jenny looked at Jeremy for some time, trying to decide if she wanted to continue arguing or let it go. In the end she decided to trust Jeremy. "Alright, I trust you. But still, I don't like this sparring idea. Who knows what's in her mind."

"I'll be alright," Jeremy said assuringly. "I survived a match with half of my arsenal malfunctioned. Surely I can handle Amber in a mock combat."

Hangar66, Montenegro,
Solaris City, Solaris VII,
Freedom Theater, Lyran Alliance,
December 17, 3067

Losing a job was not a real concern for Mac. Ground Control stable was just a formality. Independent mechjocks were usually ganged-up on in the arenas, because more often than not they were rookies. The absence of a stable was similar to put a big bullseye in the front of the mech. However, with his reputation, it shouldn't be too hard for Mac to find another stable. If nothing else, he could always find a job outside Solaris. Mercenary units like Rasalhague Raiders or Vigilante Guard would be glad to hire him. Getting fired by the Ground Control wasn't worth drinking.

Losing his place to Jeremy Stewart, on the other hand, was a very big deal.

The periphery kid came to Ground Control and took everything like a storm. He beat Mac in his audition, although Mac admitted it was partly his mistake. He underestimated Jeremy. Then Jeremy stole everybody's attention using his cutesy face. Then he survived weapon malfunction. Then he saved Amber, which ultimately brought Major Tom and Stan to the decision.

Screw it! Mac thought as he chugged the remaining liquor in his glass. Losing Amber to Jeremy was the hardest blow he received. Not that he loved her or anything, but she was his trophy. Mac was the best sex she had ever had. She sobbingly confessed to him after Mac screwed her brain out all night long. But Jeremy planted the image of a knight in white horse in her mind. Women were never satisfied by sex alone. They wanted affection, conversation, understanding, and a million other crap they demanded from their men. Amber had never been that kind of woman, but she had never met Jeremy before.

Damn Jeremy! Damn him all to hell!

Three men came and sat next to him. One of them was a little fat guy that Mac recognized as one of the Bertoli Mafia family members. The big ugly guy next to him must have been his bodyguard. Mac had never seen the other one, although he could guess his intention was.

"That hillbilly kid turns your world upside down, doesn't he?" the fat guy croaked curtly. "I've never seen you this bitter before."

"What the hell do you want?" Mac snapped, ignoring the sarcastic humor. "You want me dead? Then just finish it right here, right now. Otherwise, leave me alone."

"This is Mr. Omar," instead, the fat guy pointed to the man Mac didn't familiar with. "He owned a stable before, but some Davion assholes destroyed it."

"The Wildcats, yeah," Mac flashed a small smile. "I've heard about that stable. You should've been very careful playing with Lyrans or FedSuns. They are full of trickeries, and they'll use them to take what matters to you. You know, typical rich feudal people."

"The bottom line, is, Mr. Storm," Omar grimaced, swallowing Mac's insult, "I'd like to get back into it again. I need good mechwarriors. You seem to be a good candidate for my resurrected stable."

"You fight under Omar's new banner, and you'll get yourself a ticket to Marik Tower," the fat mafia guy added. "Sixty percent of your winning goes to Omar, the rest is mine."

"You bloodsucking frakker," Mac hissed. "You take advantage of people."

"Take advantage of you? Are you blind or stupid?" the mafia guy cackled. "You have a chance to kill that hillbilly kid, a chance you won't get if you step into Marik Tower as an independent mechwarrior. I can arrange an 'easy' fight for you if you agree to my term."

In a normal situation, Mac would spit on the mafia offer. Money was one of few things that kept him fighting in Solaris arenas. But his desire to kill Jeremy had overcome his common sense. "I'll do it this once," he replied. "I will kill Jeremy Stewart, and I'll make you rich because of that. Afterwards, I want renegotiation."

"You should've been in Solaris Gaming Commission," Omar smiled. "Your negotiation skill will take you far beyond everything you can imagine."

"No thanks," Mac got up and left his table. "I just want Jeremy Stewart dead."