Phase woke up with the sounds of birds and a car alarm. A normal city morning. As he sat up he grunted feeling the bandages tug. His chest and face were aching and he coughed into his hand sharply. Shivering he swung his legs over the side of his bed.
He rubbed his eyes slowly and tried to understand what happened. His head was throbbing and he couldn’t remember much. At least not yet. Groaning again he took a deep breath and got to his feet. He wobbled slightly and then grabbed something to keep himself steady.
He stumbled a bit and then walked toward the bathroom. Getting out of his clothes he started the water. Looking at himself in the mirror. His bruises were healing but they still showed and that was unusual. He must have taken a lot of damage in the fight.
Getting into the shower the hot water against his skin felt stung but soothed. Closing his eyes, he let out a sigh and just stood still. He could clean himself later. Twenty minutes later he walked out with a towel around his waist. Balling up his clothes he kept them under his arm and walked back to his room.
In the process he almost walked into Feint who didn’t seem to be all that awake. Though when she looked at him and realized he was there, she quickly hugged him tightly. “You’re awake. Good.”
He hugged her back and then raised his eyebrow slightly. “Yeah. What happened to me?”
“You don’t remember?”
“It’s fuzzy.” He winced again and then look at her. “What happened yesterday?”
“Yesterday? Phase its been almost three days.”
He blinked staring at her, “Almost a week? You’re serious?”
“You were hurt bad.”
He rubbed his eyes again. “I know that much.”
She backed off slightly and ran her fingers against his chest feeling the bruises. Her fingers went to his face and then frowned. “You’re healing slower than normal.”
“He hit hard. If I was a normal person I’d probably be dead.”
“Think he under estimated you?”
“I think he was feeling me out.”
“I’m going to my room, get something clean on. How’s Yumi?”
“Recovered and complaining,” she looked at him sternly. “Take it easy Phase. Please.”
He tried to smile, “I will.”
Dragging himself toward his room he closed the door and tossed the towel away. Going through the drawer first he got underwear and socks. Then he went to the closet and instead found the dog. It looked at him and he looked back.
Neither was doing anything. So he grabbed a shirt and jeans and put them on. The dog walked out of the closest and padded toward the bed. She watched him as he got dressed it titled its head to the side.
“What do you want girl?” He had figured out and confirmed the dog was a girl.
The dog continued to stare at him and he didn’t respond at first. Putting on a fresh jacket he then kneeled down and she stood her ground. Reaching out he held his hand above her nose. She sniffed it slowly and then licked his fingers. Running his fingers through her fur he smiled.
Taking his hand back the she looked at him, tail wagging slightly. Leaving his room, with the dog in tow, he came back into the living room. Darren was at the couch but there was another computer abandoned on the coffee table.
“Feint?”
Darren glanced up for a moment. “She’s up there.”
Following his gaze to the upper den he nodded. Glancing at the dog for a moment he went forward and jumped to the banister. Climbing over he heard her speaking, almost shouting.
“I’m going to the fight.”
“Have you seen yourself?”
“Yes, I look great for my age. Thanks for noticing.”
“Yu are you trying to get yourself killed?”
“I won’t die.”
“Your arm is barely healed.”
“It’s been three days. That’s long enough.”
“Not when your life is on the line.”
“You that worried about me too Shadeow?”
“Yes I am. I’m not gonna let you go kill yourself Yu.”
“None of us are.” Phase said climbing over the railing. “What fight?”
Shade glanced back at him, “Her fight with the Vanguard. It’s tonight and she’s planning on going anyway.”
“I’m fine.”
Phase reached over and grabbed her arm at the shoulder and squeezed rough. She stiffened, her eyes widening and yanking her arm away. She was silent, her teeth digging into her lip hard.
“That’s not fine.”
“Fuck you.”
“We both just got our asses kicked. We’re both not at 100%. Do you really think you can fight someone for your life in this condition?”
She stared into his eyes. “Yes.”
“You’re a stubborn piece of shit.”
“It’s part of my charm Shadeow.”
Feint stroked her chin, “We can tie you down.”
She glared at the three of them. “Don’t you dare. We need information on the Vanguard. Darren has their shit on the Royals but we have nothing on the Vanguard. We don’t know any of their plans. All we can do is keep pissing them off. This is the closest we’ve ever gotten to them and I’m not going to fuck this up because pretty boy Knight kicked my ass!”
They were silent, glancing back and forth between each other. Yumi’s chest was rising and falling, her breath coming in huffs. She started to fold her arms but her shoulder throbbed.
“We go with you.” Shade told her. “At the very least I’m going with you.”
“What?”
“I’ll be in the crowd and if things go to hell I’m going to save your ass. I don’t care what opportunities we lose. I’m not losing you.”
“Aw Shade you actually care.”
“Shut up.”
She laughed then but Phase nodded at Shade. “I’ll be around the area too. I should be better by then.”
Yumi scowled pointing at him, “No way. You’re weaker than I am right now.”
“If you can manage so can I.”
“You’re both so stubborn,” Feint rubbed her face.
He just gave her a look and she laughed again. “Shade will watch from the arena. Phase will do perimeter. I will do her thing on security. If things get really bad we’ll have a way out for you.”
Yumi smiled, “Thanks. All of you.”
“Don’t thank us yet.” Phase walked to the banister and leaned against it. Yumi came over and did the same, bumping her good shoulder against his. They stared back down into the living room and the dog looked up at them her tail wagging.
“You okay?” she asked.
“For the most part. Just that was close. Closer than I’ve been.”
“Had us all scared.”
“Had me scared.”
She touched his hand and squeezed it. “I had your back. Just like you’ve had mine always. We got through it together. We’ve gotten through worse. Nothing is going to keep us down or take us out. Not while we’re all here.”
He laughed, “Exactly.”
They all walked down the circle stairs and spread out along the living room. Feint went back to her computer and started typing. Something titled ‘Secret Project’ was minimized as she opened up a new window. Yumi walked around and glanced over her shoulder. A black screen with green words that were rapidly filling the screen. She caught a few words.
“Camera A. Arena. 7th street. Gateway access. Routing codes. What is all this?”
“One sec,” Feint was silent for the next five minutes and Yumi had to force herself not to speak as they watched her work. “Done. I have control over all of the video and audio feeds of that arena. I’ll have my eyes and an ears on you. But more importantly I’ll know what Rook says and does while you’re there.”
“You’re doing all that from here?” Shade asked.
“Please. This is nothing for someone as good as Feint,” Darren chuckled. “By the way Feint check out what I just sent you.”
“Feint’s the best. No offense Darren,” Phase beamed at her and then at everyone else. “We have the plan for tonight. No screw ups.”
Walking down the long hallway of the arena Yumi grunted and tried to ignore her arm. It was throbbing but had gotten time to heal and it was at least a happy medium. She took a left and a right and then went to an office. Knocking on it twice she waited before it was opened for her. She glanced at the guards, both of them armed with automatic guns.
Rook was at the desk going through papers and a laptop at his side. He didn’t seem happy. A ring tone went off and he glanced at it. He picked it up and immediately went into a growl.
“This better not be bad news. For fucks sake are you kidding me? You’re kidding me right. Fix that shit or I’ll come down and fix you!” Hanging up he threw the phone against the wall.
“Doin alright there boss?” Yumi asked.
“Fuckin great. Just fuckin great. Can’t rely on none of these fools.” Slamming his hands down onto the desk he stood. There was another knock on the door. Both Yumi and Rook looked at it. Rook nodded and one of his guys opened the door.
Some guy stumbled inside. He looked flustered and looked at Rook.
“What? What the fuck is it?”
“Boss. We’ve got a bit of trouble.”
“I swear to God. What the fuck is it this time?”
“One of the fighters ODed on Enhance. Dead.”
“For fucks sake.” Rook moved and he was a blur. Faster than anything. Faster than Luce. Just a raw blur. He was in front the messenger and Yumi only saw one punch. But apparently the man had been struck four times and his neck was broken. Rubbing his knuckles he scowled. “Didn’t need more bad news.”
Yumi kept her gaze on Rook. She did not know he had Enhance. Or super speed. Rook looked over at Yumi and shook his head.
“Now we got a problem. Odd number of fighters. I don’t want to do a free for all. Lose money that way.”
“No other guys on hand?”
“Not that I can wait. I got a guy. I got an idea. Shit this is good.”
He got his phone and dialed before putting it to his ear. “Hey? Yeah I got a job for you. A second chance. If you win tonight then maybe we can work out another deal for you.”
Hanging up he turned toward her. “How do you feel about pairing up with a fighter? Doing a 2 on 2.”
She looked at him surprised. Never thought that could happen. At the same time that could take some of the stress off her. She thought about it for a moment then nodded. “Yeah. I can carry some dead weight fighter in this.”
“Ha. That’s what I like to hear. That’s why you’re a money maker.”
“Get Big Mac in here. I need him to get to our buyers and tell them there’s a change in plans.”
“I free to go?”
“Yeah yeah. Go get ready. You’ll be on in twenty. Your partner will be here in ten. At least he better be.”
She turned and saluted toward the guards. One opened the door for her and she was in the hallway. Change of plans. She started down the hallway and toward the locker room. The only thing she ever stored here was her bag with her mask ad that was because Feint recommended it.
“Smells like sad sex in here,” She shoved her bag into her usual bag and sat down hanging for a bit massaging her arm. She heard a locker slam shut and opened an eye watching a shape walk past. But she blinked quickly and snorted, “You again?”
The boy turned to face her and then glared. “This must be his idea of a joke.”
“Didn’t I fight you already? Something bandit?” Yumi asked.
He shoved past her. “Beggers and choosers. Hurry the fuck up.”
The pair of them walked into the cage arena and heard the cheering crowd. “There’s a change of plans ladies and gentleman! Instead of the usual one on one matches we’ll be having a two on two! Not only that but one of the former reigning champions will be returning! Can he get some redemption?”
The crowd cheered and Yumi raised her arms and winced, but milked it for all she could. The Rogue Bandit however just walked in and stared ahead at their opponents. Two women. Both shorter than Yumi but one looked like she did nothing but hit the gym. Daily. Like nothing else existed but gains.
The other one looked the opposite. Like the words gym and exercise never occurred to her before. Like if there were such thing as a human boulder, she would be it. She glanced out into the crowd and though she didn’t linger she did catch the barest glimpse of Shade. She nodded and then glanced toward her partner.
“So, what’s our gameplan?”
He glanced at her and then shook his head. “You take tubby. I’ll fight muscles.”
Even she had to pause at that, “That’s it?”
“That’s it.”
“Begin!”
Just like that he vanished. He was above the women and slammed his fist into the back of her neck. His fist bounced off her muscles like steel and he winced. Glancing at him she turned around grabbed him by the skull and then threw him into the wall of the arena.
Wincing he got back to his feet slowly. Just in time because the woman was standing over him her hands raised in a double fist. She slammed down but only hit the matt as he vanished putting distance between them.
Yumi on the other hand was running backwards as the boulder of a woman ran after her. Yumi got to the bars and then flipped climbing upward and the woman slammed into it. The entire arena shook under the impact. She dropped on her shoulders but the woman grabbed her ankle and spun around throwing her into the matt.
She looked up and punched and kicked at her arm. The woman grunted under the onslaught and Yumi slithered away. Crawling back, she winced as her arm flared up in pain. Gritting her teeth, she ignored it and sprinted back at her. She jumped and kicked the woman in the neck to no avail. Shoving her bad arm against her shoulder she flipped over her and stumbled past.
“What the hell are you made of lady?” She felt a new presence behind her and glanced over her shoulder for a moment. “Nice of you to pop in. Any bright ideas? Cause I’m on the market.”
“Can’t you do anything other than run your mouth?”
“I beat you without any other powers,” she winked.
He scowled and vanished again. Appearing above the muscled woman he started throwing punch after punch at her head. Each blow hurt on contact and after the fifth he felt something crack in his hand. The woman reached at him and vanished in front of her readying a kick. But she moved faster than he saw coming and wrapped her arms around him tightly. She started to squeeze and the pressure was on. He almost screamed under the pressure, his eyes bulging.
Tilting his head back he shut his eyes and felt something crack again. Screaming and focusing on that pain he vanished again. Stumbling backwards he fell onto his back writhing. He started to get to his feet when a shadow loomed over him.
The fat one had jumped and was now falling through the air ready to crush him. Yumi dashed forward and then slid low to the ground. She kicked him out of the path and slid after him. The woman hit into the matt and arena shook like an earthquake.
Both of them rolled into the bars of the arena groaning. The muscled woman sped forward and slammed her arms down. Yumi once again kicked him away and then raised her arms to catch the fist. The huge impact nearly broke her arm again and she screamed going down to her knee. It threatened to give but like always she ignored it and kept going.
Annoyed the woman brought her fist up and slammed it down against her arm. The doubled weight almost crippled and she shouted in pain. Almost blacking out from it she faltered her vision hazing. And then the pressure was gone. The guy was on his knees besides her panting and they were on the opposite side of the arena. He started to stand when the round woman slammed into him. He shouted as he flew backwards his back hitting the bars with a loud thud.
Landing hard he coughed and his blood spilled onto the floor for a moment. Holding his chest, he coughed again falling onto his side. The arena shook as the muscled woman got to her feet and sprinted at him, “You’ll pay for that you little shit.”
Her fists were clenched tightly and they were raw. Almost like the skin had been burned off. She charged forward right at the guy. She looked at her hands shocked but didn’t dwell on it. Yumi looked at him before she got up. “Dammit man. Saving my life and shit.”
She started running and got in her path. She braced herself, gritting her teeth and raising both her hands. The woman slammed into her and Yumi caught both her fist. The pain was instant to the point where all she felt was numbness. She skidded backwards and screamed at her pushing back as hard as she could.
Then she did something that surprised even her. She pushed her back. Eyes wide, surprise on both ends of the struggle. But that surprise turned into horror as the woman began to scream. She screamed, shrieked really, as she tried to get out of Yumi’s grip.
Yumi didn’t know what happened and let go trying to put distance between them. The woman stumbled backwards, landing on her back. Her hands were bright red and bleeding down her arms. Yumi winced and looked at her hands. They were burning red and smoking but she wasn’t feeling any pain from them.
The smell of cooking meat filled her nose and she hacked on it. Her hand shook and she was hyperventilating trying to calm down but the panic was setting in. Her partner had gotten to his feet and was doing his best to absorb what was happening in front of him. Spitting out more blood he ran to her side and forced her to be still. He then vanished and they appeared on the other side of the ring.
“Calm down. Breathe. Breathe!”
She took deep breaths of non charred air and then shivered. Taking another deep breath, she stared at him. The glow in her hands faded away slowly and returned to their regular brown. “What. What the fuck?”
“Apparently you can do more than run your mouth.”
She looked at him and then looked at the fat woman, who looked terrified. The muscled woman was still screaming her head off. “Only one way out of this. Can you still fight?”
“Maybe. I don’t think they can.”
“Sit tight then. I’ll handle it.” He told her and vanished. He appeared over the muscled woman. Glaring he grabbed her around the throat. “Gonna have to shut you up.” They vanished together and then reappeared above the fat one. Rotating them around so that she was falling first he pushed her down and slammed her into the other to try and crush them underneath.
The fat one shouted before the two weights collided. With a crunch and a thud, he stood on the pair of them and then bent down. Grabbing her again he crouched and then vanished again. Appearing above her again he dropped her. There was another loud crunch from the drop and he stared down at them. He did it one more time and the crunch was meatier and wet.
He turned toward the referee and coughed, spitting onto the matt again. Staring at his blood for a moment he glared. “Call it. Or do I need to drop them again?”
“No need for that. The winner is clear! Let’s hear it for the champions of the evening!”
There was an eruption of cheering from the crowd and he looked at Yumi. It took her a moment but she raised her hands and the crowd got even louder. That brought back the pain in her arm but it was still numb thankfully. She wasn’t sure if that was good or bad.
Rogue scowled, “They don’t care who wins or loses. As long as they get to see some good blood sport.”
“And I guess we gave them a show?”
“Pretty much.”
“Right. Thanks by the way. I owe you.”
“You saved my life. I returned the favor.” He walked toward the arena stairs and Rook was there with a huge smile on his face.
“See! This is what I’m talking about! Reliable people! Shit the money you two just made me on bets alone.” He laughed then clapped the guy on the back. “Come on. Let’s go talk about getting you set up again.”
They disappeared down the corridor but she went to the locker room. Getting her bag and avoiding her arm entirely she walked outside in a very slow controlled way. Once she was outside in the cold she let out a whimper. She was in so much pain everywhere. Especially her arm.
“Good job in there Yu.”
Shade and Phase were leaning against the walls of the arena, both in their street clothes. They walked over to her quickly and she whimpered again. She wrapped his arm around her waist and she leaned into him. “Thanks. Though it was the other guy. He saved my ass.”
Shade looked at her hands. “Looks like you’ve been holding out on us. You okay.”
“I wish. I’m doing shit I didn’t even know I could do. And definitely not.”
Phase took her non-hurt hand and squeezed it, “What happened?”
“I think she set one of her opponents’ fist on fire. At least something like that. Yu’s hands were glowing red and the other woman’s hands were burned. I’m almost positive about that.”
“Whatever you say. I’m just glad I made it through that while handicapped.”
Phase shook his head. “So, Feint’s on a mission. At least she and Darren have figured something out.”
“The hell? They couldn’t have told us?”
“You were busy. They told me and I gave her the go ahead.”
Shade glanced at him, “Did she say where?”
“No. Just that she wanted to be back when we got back.”
“Then let’s head back and hope we meet her.”
The Harlequin Library 