Chapter 11

Ground Control Stable, Montenegro,
Solaris City, Solaris VII,
Freedom Theater, Lyran Alliance,
December 18, 3067

The Chameleons were warm and ready when Jeremy came to the hangar. Kilroy, Jenny, and Amber had been waiting for him, and Amber was already in her cooling vest. Determination gushed out from her eyes, illuminating her expressionless face. Jeremy heard stories about her piloting skill. She was almost as skillful as Mac behind the cockpit. Jeremy had seen how Mac fought, and he had an idea how good Amber was.

However, Amber's uncladded body parts took the most of Jeremy's attention. She had a taut and well-trained body. He could see muscles hiding under her yellowish skin. Her maroon hair dangled on her naked shoulder, and her upper left arm was decorated with a tattoo of Chinese characters.

"Alright, I set up your mechs to freeze at 50-percent damage," Kilroy briefed Jeremy and Amber, giving Jeremy a playful wink. "This time it's real. No one gets an advantage. This is a mock combat, but it's live ammunition you're firing. Be gentle with head shots."

"Thanks, Kilroy," Amber replied shortly, then walked to one of the Chameleons.

"Remember what I said about her," Jenny commented as Jeremy followed Amber with his eyes. "She might be planning a retaliation for Mac. If you think she's acting funny, quit the combat. I'll grill her ass."

"Jenny, nothing is gonna happen," Jeremy donned his cooling vest. "Please, I can handle this."

Without waiting for Jenny's reply, Jeremy climbed his Chameleon. He strapped himself on the chair and tucked his engagement photo on his HUD, something that became a pre-fight ritual for him. As Amber walked out of the hangar, Jeremy looked at the blonde girl on the photo for some time, remembering the good days where he sank his face in the girl's lush hair. He could still smell her shampoo.

"Alright, Jeremy," Amber spoke through the speaker. "The Factory arena is different than any bloodpits you've fought on. There are a lot of obstacles that you can use for hiding, but if you don't watch where you're going, you can get stuck and make yourself vulnerable. The temperature is hotter than normal, so watch out for overheating. And sometimes you'll see aces. They are trickier to deal with..."

"Why are you helping me?" Jeremy interjected while taking his position in front of Amber. "We barely know each other, and others had put me in Mac's place. Shouldn't you resent me instead?"

"I don't like to see Mac being replaced by you, but I know how to pay my dues," Amber replied. "I have never said thank you for saving my life, so regard this as my appreciation. Why? Are you scared that I may take revenge?"

Jeremy felt his ears burning. Jenny almost made him believe that Amber was on a vengeance trail. As a matter of fact, Jeremy should've known better. Amber's dossier showed that she had high moral standard. So far she showed admirable resistance toward the mafia's offer. He felt ashamed of himself, and started to feel suspicious about Jenny's attitude. Everybody hated Mac, but why should Jenny have a grudge against Amber?

"I appreciate it," Jeremy said while turning his weapons on. "So we're even after this fight?"

"If that's the way you want it, then it's fine by me," Amber replied. "Are you ready?"

"Ready when you are," Jeremy grinned as his thumb grazed the trigger. "Eat this!"

The rattling sound of Jeremy's machine guns echoed through the plain. Amber's Chameleon staggered a bit, more surprised than hurt. The bullets ricocheted on its left torso. Jeremy followed up with his medium lasers, but Amber deftly made a small jump and landed on Jeremy's blind spot. Before Jeremy could react, Amber's small lasers turned his torso armor into glowing smelter.

Damn, this chick is good, Jeremy winced. He realized that Amber held herself back. She could've seriously hurt him from his blind spot, but instead she just slapped him with small lasers as an answer to Jeremy's cheap shot. Jeremy quickly grew respect for her, and he showed it by raising his arm and walking backward. "That was a cheap shot, and I apologize," he said. "Let's start again."

"Don't apologize," Amber replied while jogging in circle. "You need some dirty tricks in the arena. Just be mindful that some aces may have antidotes for your tricks."

Once again Jeremy felt his face reddened. Everything Amber did was venerable so far, which was contrast to her realationship with a Solaris scum. He took a deep breath, regained composure, and focused on Amber's movement. "Alright, here we go," he said, warning Amber before he made his move. "Take this."

Jeremy fired his large laser, expecting Amber to dodge it. She lurched to the right, letting the beam flew past her head. Jeremy quickly reversed directions and shot his medium lasers. One strand busted Amber squarely on the chest. Amber tried to shake it off, but the loss of mass put her Chameleon out of balance. She skidded and flung her arms to prevent her mech from crashing.

I got you now, Jeremy lined up his crosshair, but Amber twisted and fired her large laser. Jeremy wasn't quick enough to evade it. The bright red beam grazed his left shoulder. Molten metal splattered onto the hangar wall, and Jeremy yanked his joystick backward. His Chameleon jerked behind, swiveling wildly to get a clear shot at Amber. But Amber had left her position, jumping out of Jeremy's line of fire.

"That's a grade-A Solaris movement," Jeremy gave her a nod. "Where did you learn that stuff?"

"Here and there," Amber replied, stabilizing her mech as she touched down. "I was a Styk Commonality paramilitary before Solaris. Styk army combined Liao's and Davion's best moves and created their own formula. And of course Mac lent me some of his fancy maneuvers."

"Why are you seeing Mac?" Jeremy got nosy. "You don't look like someone that shares his principles."

"That's none of your business!" Amber's voice became sour as she launched a vicious attack. Her medium lasers drilled two caves on Jeremy's armor, and her bullets ricocheted on his plexiglass. Jeremy didn't expect that attack, and he reflexively crossed his arm on his face. Amber followed up with her small lasers that cored the scar on Jeremy's left shoulder. His armor sizzled and dribbled, and his HUD flashed a warning. One more shot like that and Jeremy could lose his medium lasers.

Stall her! Stall her! Jeremy's mind raced to find a solution to Amber's assault. He hit his jump jets, just as Amber shot her large laser. The timing couldn't be better. Amber's laser sailed harmlessly underneath his legs. Jeremy answered with his own large laser. The red beam slammed into Amber's waist. The armor glowed in red as Amber staggered. Jeremy fired his medium lasers, but Amber used her own jets to dodge the attack.

"You seem to care a lot for Ground Control stable," Jeremy forced his mech to backpedal. "Mac supported this stable financially, but destroyed its morale in the process. His attitude created an uncomfortable atmosphere for everybody, especially Kilroy. Don't tell me you don't see it, so color me curious: why did you date him?"

Amber landed and took a fighting position, but restrained her mech from launching another assault. "It just happened," she said. Her tone turned much softer. "We met, he liked me, I hated him, but he persisted. We slept together, I still hated him, and he didn't have much respect for me either, but we were great together. Although there's not enough stuff to maintain romance, we give each other plenty in bed. Satisfied?"

"You know," Jeremy decided to tell Amber the truth, "Stan, Jenny and I raided Bertoli Mafia to find you. We mentioned Mac's name to a thug, and he led us straight to you."

Amber didn't reply. She burst into the open and fired half of her arsenal. Jeremy cringed but he was not fast enough. Amber's large laser burnt a slab of armor on his center torso, and her machine guns punched pockmarks at the molten armor. As Jeremy reeled, she blasted the rest of her weapons, turning Jeremy's front armor into overheated mush.

Jeremy teetered under the assault, and watched in panic as his damage level crept toward shut down condition. He knew Kilroy set up the Chameleon to shut down at 50-percent damage, and even if he had a full-blown Chameleon, he wouldn't cheat Amber. He fired his weapons without a hard lock at Amber, just trying to ward her off, risking overheating in the process. Heat spiked past half the shut down threshold, and the waste heat started making him sweat.

"What about you?" unexpectedly Amber spoke. "What are you doing here?"

"I want to be Solaris Grand Champion. This is what I want to be."

"Yeah, right, I dont' buy that. A rich boy like you will not leave your land, your money, your comfort back home, to start a new life as a prizefighter. Don't insult my intelligence, Jeremy. I told you my skeleton in the closet. You owe me yours."

Jeremy knew he couldn't possibly escape from Amber's inquiry. He could find another lie, but he didn't want to do it to Amber. He looked at his engagement photo, reclining in his command seat as painful memory washed away his desire to fight. "There's a girl. A magnificent girl. The most beautiful girl I've ever met. Evee, that's her name. Evangeline Ridinghood. We were set to get married last year, but a Solaris jock stole her from me. A smug, pompous, pain-in-the-ass mechwarrior, just like Mac."

"And he's a decorated mechathlete, I suppose," Amber added.

"Champion in 2 divisions, runner up in the other two," Jeremy grunted. "The only thing he hasn't won is the Grand Championship. That's what I'm here for. I have to be the Grand Champion of Solaris, so I can get Evee back. I'm gonna prove it to her that I'm better than that bastard she ran away with. Satisfied?"

"So she ran away with a bastard," Amber quipped, "and you're still trying to get back with her?"

"What is that supposed to mean?" Jeremy grimaced. "How dare you judge me!"

"I don't mean to tell you how to live your life," Amber positioned her Chameleon in the center of the field. "But sometimes a second pair of eyes is what you need to get you back on track. You're sweet, you're hot, and you have a great future. Your ex should've felt lucky to be chosen by you. But she chose another man with big Solaris winnings. I don't see how your ex is a good match for you. If she can't appreciate you for what you are, maybe it's time to forget her."

Just like Amber a minute ago, Jeremy didn't answer. True, Amber was screwed up. Jeremy didn't know where to begin if he had to comment about Amber's life. But for a screw-up, she gave a very good advice. Amber's suggestion hit a nerve. Evee hurt him and lied to him; why was he still obsessed about her? Why would he chase a shallow girl that got blinded by trophies? Did he have some dignity left? Amber was right. Maybe he should forget Evee and try to find somebody that loved him for who he was, not what he did at Solaris.

Jeremy turned his Chameleon to put Amber's in his crosshair. He raised his arms to singe Amber's mech, but she was one second faster. Her entire arsenal peppered Jeremy's center torso. Acrid smoke seeped into the cockpit, and klaxon blared into his ears. Before Jeremy could react, his Chameleon went into shut down sequence.

"Aw, crap!" Jeremy grunted.

"You can't afford to lose focus in The Tower," Amber's voice rang loud and clear. "You've got to keep moving, especially against Mac. He's an excellent shooter, so if you freeze, you're done."

"I know," Jeremy sighed in defeat. "I got distracted."

"Hey, you started it," Amber snorted.

"I did, and I am sorry," Jeremy replied. "I would love to have another session with you. You are a more advanced mechwarrior than I am, and I'd greatly appreciate it if you will share some of your skills with me. Of course, it'll be on your time schedule."

"I'll check with Kilroy when the Chameleons will be good for practice again," Amber replied. "I will not bring up personal stuff again if you do the same. This time, it'll be strictly business."

"Sure," Jeremy opened the hatch, letting the cooler air seep inside, then climbed down the Chameleon. He gave Amber a quick nod, then left the field.

Jenny tried to catch up with him, but Jeremy shot a stern look, signaling her that he had enough for today. He knew what Jenny was going to say, and he didn't want to hear it. He didn't want to blow off his chance at Marik Tower with some silly distractions. Today's mock combat showed opened his eyes about focus and determination, and he had a long way to go.