JINX AND THE DREADNOUGHT

Jinx made a note to herself as she ventured deeper and deeper into the pitch-black caverns with Rhott - the next time to ever get so down in the fissures, remember to bring a jacket.

The cave tunnel was cold, some subtle wind breeze coming from somewhere giving her shivers. Rhott at times could her Jinx' breathing, and thus took the measure of comfort in knowing at, to some measure, the Baron-kin did know some fear.

But Jinx was just a bit chilly, and nothing more. Even though both were in a cavern, both could still hear very dim sounds, probably from above, in that creepy mine-prison Jinx never visited, in behest of her father. Besides, prisons aren't ever nice, anyways. Sister was a big proof of that, probably that place changed her, softened her up for that cancerous Cupcake to move in for the kill.

"We are close, Baron-kin.", Rhott suddenly said.

"About time!", Jinx exclaimed. "Was starting to wonder if we were really going to the Dread guy or to Freljörd..."

Rhott said nothing as both walked ahead, and Jinx could notice the walls and roof of the cave tunnel slowly going away. The tunnel was at it's edge, allowing access to a dimly lit rocky chamber ahead, the ground one of dirt and rock with some puddles of something that was clearly anything but water, where Jinx could see some movement amongst the edges of the poorly lit spotlights. She didn't have to look far to notice where the spotlights came from, being from the large, thick iron walls to the right, clearly the 'backdoor' entrance to the prison. Or perhaps it was the bulwark to keep this Dreadnought guy from breaking out. Clearly the prison people meant business with this guy.

That was good for Jinx. She meant business with him, too, and then the prison people. And then business with anyone else stupid enough to try crossing her way.

Right before her and Rhott, the huge rat Twitch seemed to be finishing mounting up a circle of glow sticks, no doubt to put up a spotlight for Jinx to step in. As he looked at both Jinx and Rhott, he waved and let out a cynical grin, backing away into the darkness.

"The Mighty One beckons.", Rhott said, signaling Jinx to step into the circle.

"What, no advice as to how to talk with this guy?", Jinx asked, in sarcasm, after a second of silence.

"As if you'd ever follow any advice, Baron-kin...", Rhott answered, coldly. "And it'd be amusing, I admit, seeing your words getting you killed."

"At least she would die on her terms, Rhott. Your silence only confirms your fate."

The voice, thundering and commanding, beneath what was apparently a breathing mask, caught Jinx' attention. It came from near one of the light cones, as some metal steps were heard as well. But it didn't enter the light cone, only an apparent left, too pale hand visible. And apparently a fatone , but not as fat as Vi's with those metal punchers.

'Guess it's him...', the Cleggor said, while Jinx stepped into the glow stick circle.

"The one named Jinx.", the Dreadnought said. "You don't look like much..."

"You're the urchin guy, right?", Jinx asked, pointing at the hand. "At least, think that's your name."

Rhott stared at her in a 'called it' expression.

"...the mere fact you would ask me my name undaunted speaks volumes of what was rumored of you, to be so insane or insolent. That an apparently frail girl happens to have the spine I expected of most whom follow me...", the Dreadnought replied, coldly. "For that alone, I'll indulge you. I am Urgot."

"Most of the guys up there think you're just religion nutjob rambling. So did I, I admit...", Jinx said, a second later.

"And regardless you've chosen to attempt and reach me, while all others deny and will keep denying, until I stand before them.", Urgot replied. "But I tell you now - I'm no god, no being to be worshipped or followed or pampered. I'm far greater."

"Well, you're so great, why don't you get a bit forward, lemme see ya?", Jinx asked. "Unless you're one of those shy types?", she shrugged.

In the back, Rhott lightly smirked at the Baron-kin's insolence.

"Or perhaps because I do have, as well, an affinity for theatrics.", Urgot answered, after a while. "I've indulged you, Jinx. So indulge me, if only for presentation."

"Oh, like a puppet show, you mean?", Jinx asked, shrugging and smirk. "I like those. Go ahead.", she nodded.

Rhott in the back slowly shook her head. That Jinx was making it too easy to ensure her own doom.

It was a while before the Dreadnought started again.

"I said that I'm greater than a god, Jinx.", Urgot started. "That's because I'm an idea. And ideas, concepts, everything starts with a single word. So the same applies to life. And that word, the word that defines life... is pain."

Jinx raised her eyebrow a bit, her expression now frozen. That was indeed unexpected.

"Indeed, your reaction is as the same as all others.", Urgot continued. "Understandable. For none are supposed to like pain. As conceptualized by Nature, we are all driven to do our most to avoid it."

Jinx look was one of concern, now.

"And yet, to wonder...", the Dreadnought contemplated. "If we cannot bear and even detest pain, how come pregnant mothers must bear it as they conceive their children? How come do our muscles ache by bearing burdens beyond what they can, before they become stronger? How come must we bear the pain of falling before we learn to get back up and stand, the pain of burns before valuing the strength and peril of fire? How come must we endure loss to appreciate what we still have? If pain is so undesirable, why is it then still a part, or even the base, of life?"

Jinx' eyes darted for a moment as she shrugged. If anything, the Dreadnought brought up a good point.

"Such is the riddle.", Urgot continued. "One which a man, a headsman, attempted to find an answer as the pain befell him. Until there was no more pain. Just the transformation."

Metal steps, more like thumps were heard as well as... machinery?

"The transformation is what gave him the answer to the riddle. What he had to pass and endure, and then became something greater. It's when he learned..."

Then, he moved forward into the cone of light, giving Jinx the sight that paralyzed her, her eyes widening, jaw dropping, as well as all those around her, emotions mixed of dread, awe, shock, intimidation.

Especially given how smaller she looked next to him.

She took a step backwards. She now could clearly see why the Chem-Barons, even Silco, were scared of that one.

But 'scared' was an understatement, really.

"Pain is the catalyst for growth.", Urgot stated.

Urgot, the Dreadnought, was practically man and machine in one, a large, pale and bald fat man, with arms that were clearly muscled and had seen better days, his face covered by a gas mask of an unique design, with tubes descending dowards across his exposed, half-naked torso - given his neck and shoulders were covered by a thick black collar of sorts and upper belly, where they converged to a large, ironclad base which was supported by a central pivot, from which six thick spider-like legs, also covered by thick iron plates with some of the front 'knee' joints looking like cannons of an unique design, shotguns, maybe, underneath the plates.

And, as if the intimidating spider-like design of this half-man, half machine type, that made him stand almost three times Jinx' height and about ten times as thick as her, wasn't enough, the Dreadnought also happened to sport some sort of heavy machine gun, even larger than Pow-Pow and Fishbones combined, where his whole right arm was supposed to be, the shoulder covered by a thick metal plate, like a pauldron, as well.

Jinx remained frozen at all that sight, right before her.

Enormous, terrifying, intimidating.

'So this is why I was...', the Silco whispered, awed as well, while the Mylo and the Cleggor were quiet.

'Run.', the Vander said, firmly. 'Turn away, run and don't look back!'

"Whoa...", she whimpered, in a too serious a tone, lips trembling, before she them raised her arms and then clasped her hands together, her face expression changing. "THAT'S IT!", she shouted in a definitely approving tone, and then let out a cackle of triumph.

Her laughter echoed across that cavernous chamber, one which made even Rhott look at the Loose Cannon with a worried look, as did the other followers, dumbstruck, shocked, awed. Normally any other would behold the Mighty One and feel either fear, or reverence, or intimidation.

But the problem was just that. Normally. Something Jinx wasn't, and she thus raised her arms towards the Dreadnought, smiling wide.

"It's you!", she said, amazed, coming closer, looking, inspecting, amazed at every detail of the large sized war machine, like a child would with a toy of her dreams. "Wow! That's it, say no more, it's you! Whoa, definitely you, Dread guy!", she clapped her hands. "Whoa! Wow! Wow, the guys who made you, they... Whoa! Wow, whoa! All this, wow, they really outdid... Whoa. And they just lock you away down here, how dumbass is that!? Because...", she let out a long whistle.

Urgot himself remained silent for a moment, his dark eyes darting for a moment, not even knowing how to absorb that... reaction, if one could call it that.

"It's clear, then... that you are prepared to... continue...", he said, dumbstruck.

"Oh-ho, I am, your bet your ass I-", Jinx started, backing off, before she realized something. "O-okay, just hold a bit there, I remembered, there's this one who's been doubting me all day long and he's gotta get his. Just a second, I'll be quick."

She then turned to a direction, and stuck her tongue out to mid-air, blowing it loudly for about five seconds.

The Mylo who was getting the tongue stucked out took it, impassively. She was lucky for once, so what?

Jinx then took a deep breath, relieved. "Now, we can go on.", she said, returning to the Dreadnought. "Let's talk business."

"You dare to presume to address the Mighty One as you would a Chem-Baron?", Rhott scoffed, walking towards her.

"Hey, you guys called.", Jinx replied. "You read my credentials, so you know what I can do."

"Indeed...", Urgot said, after a while. "Mildly impressive, though creative, the Mouth you sent to me being a proof. What is relevant, however, is how strong you are. For here, your strength is why you live."

Jinx waited for a moment and shrugged. "Okay.", she said, as she suddenly and unexpectedly turned to Rhott and punched her over four times, Rhott with her guard down and feeling the blows, as Jinx then caught Rhott and threw her to the left side, where Rhott flew a bit before she fell to the dirty ground, close to Urgot.

Rhott had to take a second to recover her senses and realize what just happened, as Jinx simply stood there, with a cynical face.

The rush of anger immediately took hold of Rhott as she got on her feet and rushed Jinx, the iron nails at the ready. Rhott attempted striking with the nails in a forward lunge, but Jinx dodged it too fast, leaving a visible neon purple trail, and then bumped into Rhott to get her off balance, as Jinx punched the bald one's face again. Rhott attempted to fight Jinx, first with a jab, which the slim girl dodged, and then a follow-up hook with the nails on which Jinx was faster and kicked Rhott back.

Rhott groaned in pain and anger and attempted another combination at Jinx, with a jab with the iron nails, which Jinx dodged, then a hook with the normal hand that Jinx blocked, and lastly an attempted uppercut with the nails, that Jinx pulled back in time. As Rhott tried following up, with a hook using her human hand, Jinx blocked it with her right forearm and readily delivered a flurry of quick jabs, up to five, at Rhott's face, before she let out a scream, her purple eyes shining higher, and then she let out a hook that puched Rhott backwards, making her lose balance and fall to the ground.

As Jinx was breathing, standing still and walking a bit back, with a smile, Rhott got back on her feet, livid.

For Rhott, this was unbelievable - a girl, apparently no more sturdier than an infant and which seemed reliant on guns, was besting her right there, in front of the very Dreadnought himself.

For Jinx, this was just another night at the playhouse, with that machine Vi liked so much.

Rhott screamed, charging at Jinx, whom rolled her eyes, as Rhott attempted a feign with a jab with the iron nails, which Jinx dodged, but then Rhott threw herself at Jinx, both falling to the ground, displacing some glow sticks, as Rhott attempted pinning the Loose Cannon, but Rhott's head was too close to Jinx, and thus the Loose Cannon headbutted her, Rhott getting dizzy as Jinx took the initiative and pushed her away, rapidly getting back to her feet as Rhott tried getting up... only to hear a click sound, and a gun, a sidearm pointed at her, the wielder's eyes glowing a brighter purple to be visible at the cavern and ventilating, which caused some awe in the spectators of that deep, dark chamber.

"Interesting..."

The voice got Jinx' attention, she looking at the source, coming from a new figure which emerged from the shadows, close to the Dreadnought, clearly a shirtless male one in black pants, wearing a large black coat with a hood on his head. He also happened to wear, beneath the hood, some sort of crude iron mask covering his eyes, leaving exposed only his thin, clearly adult, chin and mouth.

Right besides him was Twitch. "I told you she was something different.", he said, in apparent joy.

"Such abilities from these chemicals, and the trail...", the man started, in an almost croaked voice. "You wouldn't happen to know someone named Singed, would you?"

"The Doc?", Jinx asked. "What's he to ya?"

"Oh, let's just say I can recognize a masterwork when I see one.", the man said. "And so minimal a physical alteration... He still outdoes himself. To think what more you could be, if-"

"One thing at a time, Ampare.", Urgot cut him. "One thing at a time."

Jinx' eyes darted between both the Dreadnought and this 'Ampare' fellow as she then holstered the gun back and stepped back a bit.

Rhott got on her feet, staring at the Loose Cannon whom was playing all the innocent, and raised her hand with the iron nails, pointing at Jinx while baring her teeth.

Jinx tilted her head. "He asked...", she said, gesturing to the Dreadnought.

"Amusing, I admit.", Urgot said. "Such a strength, underneath such an apparent... frailty. But then, Nature at times can be deceptive, as you demonstrated. Nevertheless, anyone can make a demonstration. There's still a long way to further showing your strength, Jinx, before you can be one with us."

"One with you?", Jinx asked, eyes darting to Ampare for a while. "Wait a minute, I said I'm here for business, looking for you to scare off the Baron guys. Just that, I thought you read it!"

"I would plan more with the Chem-Barons and their ilk than merely scaring them.", Urgot replied. "Assuming, clearly, you would ensure my release.", his gaze darted a bit to the iron walls of the Dredge.

"Course I'm gonna.", Jinx replied, rolling her eyes.

"And yet, you would not remain by our side?", the Dreadnought asked. "Even as we'd bring what you dream the most?"

Jinx frowned a bit. "You don't look the type to give fluffy bombs...", she said.

"I mean the Undercity, freed at last.", Urgot replied. "Freed and then reborn in the flames of anarchy, where we answer to and are barred by none. Not petty gangs. Not crime lords. And certainly not cushy Barons. A new order, instead... An order where we have what we take, not what's given to us. Chaos."

Jinx shrugged. "Ideology's on you.", she said. "I got my own stuff going on, I just want some people off my ass."

The Dreadnought gazed at Jinx for a second. "Such short-termed sights...", he said. "But you do have a focus. Perhaps some time may pass, some more trials to come, before you realize what you truly want. And we may deliver, when the time comes."

Jinx frowned a bit at that.

"For now, however, the immediate suits us.", Urgot said. "Provide the release, Jinx, and none will dare touch you."

"Deal's a deal, then.", Jinx said, turning around to leave. "Get'em ready by when-"

"But one is to go with you.", Urgot interrupted.

"Wait, what?", Jinx quickly turned around again, surprised, noticing Urgot merely staring at her. "Uh, you should've known already, you saw it, I'm more of a solo-."

"You may need one with knowledge of the Dredge.", Urgot said. "This is my, our liberation we are treating with."

Jinx stared at him as she rolled her eyes. "Of course.", she shook. "The catch."

"Only one, Mighty Dreadnought?", Rhott asked, glancing at Jinx, shrugging at her. "We cannot rely something of such magnitude just on her and another."

"Would you volunteer then, Rhotty?", Twitch asked, snickering in irony.

Urgot glanced for a while at Twitch, making the man-sized hunched rat fade away his snicker at an instant. "Perhaps you would partake.", he said, eyes fixed at Twitch. "The chance to prove your strength so within your reach..."

"What!?", Jinx asked, caught off-guard as was Twitch, almost stunned.

"Mighty One, you would...!", Rhott started, upset and feeling almost betrayed.

"I don't think Twitch is prepared either, Mightiest.", Ampare said, in the meantime.

"As I was not.", Urgot replied. "Nature decides our time, and his would be upon him sooner or later, Ampare. Who am I to deny it so?"

"I would prove myself then, Great Dreadnought!", Rhott stated, staring in anger at the man-sized rat.

Urgot turned, both in torso and legs, completely facing Rhott, eyes deadlocked in a way that totally stripped her of defiance. "Would you, now?", he asked, a tone perhaps too calm for what was apparently being mentioned.

Rhott, while maintaining her posture, did feel her heart race, small snippets of fear being made visible.

Jinx herself, while watching the scene and knowing how tight the Dreadnought did keep his leash on those guys, still wasn't believing that.

Having to work with that thing? Else, no deal!? She came close to nearly protesting.

'Of course the rat, who told you to hit the baldy?', the Mylo annoyed.

'You need him, Jinx.', the Silco reminded.

'You don't need him, run away and forget this!', the Vander pressed, and Jinx groaned.

'It's cold in here...', the Cleggor said.

'Twenty to one he'll stab you or leave you-'

"Shut up, everyone!", Jinx said again, making an effort to resist, but then she noticed she said it in an audible level.

Thus she's got Rhott's attention. As well as Ampare and Twitch. And Urgot.

All staring at her, almost as if all knew something was off in her.

If they only knew...

"Rat it is, then!", she broke the silence, shaking her head. "But whatever's up there, he's on his own ass. Or tail, whatever.", she added, on a condition tone, as all of them beheld her, silently. "Strength's why you all live and all that, right?"

Urgot faced Jinx for a moment, though now with some looks of suspicion. "As it should have ever been...", he said, then turning towards Twitch and Ampare. "Prepare, Twitch. Our hour is nigh."

Twitch snickered, although imperceptibly nervous. "I will, I will.", he said, as he and Ampare walked back to the dark.

And then did Urgot as he walked back to the darkness which was his home for as long as he's been there, leaving only Jinx and Rhott at the bare light, staring at each other, the Loose Cannon realizing the pale bald one was struggling to recover, as that one also retreated to the darkness.

Jinx remained there, taking a deep breath, at the glow stick circle for a while, humming one of her childhood songs, as the body once warm from most of the action started recalling her of how chilly that place was.

'That rat man had better not drag it...', she thought.