M A K A Y L A



We stared at the map for what seemed like hours. The room was dark around us and no other bodies dared to fill the room as Velron mapped out the hideous red spots where pipelines, dispersal towers and other devices were located in the city. He gave models, designs and ideas of what to look for. It only filled me with more nausea.

I had never attended these meetings to discuss such things. I was a pretty object floating around Sector 1 until he tired of me and set up my execution–

"Makayla?"

I ripped my eyes off the floating image on the wide table and met Proximo's cold gaze.

"I said you should find Scorpion. I will secure this dear man and then I have my own business to attend to." He finished, lurking over Velron as he slid his hands away from the hologram slowly. Sudden moves around Proximo never did end well.

I nodded half heartedly catching Velron's steady gaze. His green eyes seemed closer to the ocean in colour over the hologram. They seemed fearful.

I gave him a weak smile of reassurance I couldn't guarantee with Proximo in his care. But he had promised different accommodation than a cell. I had to hope that meant better treatment than a prisoner too.

I turned my back on them both. My thoughts swirled with the implication that my father–or his predecessors–installed kill switches in every sector if they ever lost control. Was anyone capable of possessing a soul anymore? Was collateral damage a given... I ran my finger against the edge of a blade on my forearm. Considering my existence in 1.

My ignorance was hardly an excuse. Just because I attended the mindless events and sipped all the champagne flutes offered didn't make my hands clean. My father had been a monster under the same roof. I didn't need this information to know as much. I paused before the elevator pondering it all. Truly I did want to go to Alex and share the burden. But her body was healing. She did not need the city's problems yet again on her shoulders...

I stepped into the glass box and hit the craft bay instead.

A few guards stopped the lift between floors and chatted easily, hardly regarding me as they held their holos and took comms. Life in the Division went on. But so few knew what it took to hold it all in place.

I needed a god damn drink.

The doors pinged open and a number of armed men stepped out discussing a trade routes and credit charges. I avoided eye contact with engineers and techies. With anyone. I danced under a woman who swung a long armed cleaner for craft wind shields.

Then found a discreet looking fusion craft. Not much armour. No weapons. Perfect.

I was steps from the door when a red haired engineer poked her head up from a nearby craft and shouted over at me. I froze and sighed through my nose.

"Hey! Do you have clearance for that?" She demanded, throwing down a wrench and bringing up a holo screen with a frown. But when she got closer and I turned to face her she stopped in her tracks.

"Look, I'm–"I began.

"Makayla Xavier." She finished in shock. "Yeah–no need, I know who you are."

I relaxed and nodded. "I just need to get out for... A while. I'll bring it back in one piece." I added with a small smirk.

She shook her head and swallowed. "I'm sure you can use cruise control but that's–I wouldn't fair too well if Scorpion knew I'd let you go alone."

I sighed and rolled my head back. "What would it take for this to be the exception? Scorpion–I cannot disturb her tonight." I said slowly bringing my head back down. The engineer was very uncomfortable and smudged a line of black from her gloves to her cheek as she thought it over.

I nudged the fusion pistol on my hip.

"I know how to use this." I added.

She shook her head then looked around behind her. "Where do you need to go?" I noticed the intricate tattoo that wound up her arm under the gloves and rolled sleeves.

"Somewhere with alcohol." I deadpanned.

Humour briefly lit her eyes. They were a similar blue to my own.

"Kuzo's is practically owned by our people so I can escort you there–" She raised a hand to my protest, "–it's either this princess or I bring Scorpion's personal guard along for the ride and there is no way in hell she doesn't hear about that."

I grumbled, running a finger along the blade on my arm again. She didn't miss the move and raised an eyebrow. "Fine." I muttered, turning quickly back to the craft.

I threw myself into the plush dark seat and already activated the thrusters. The engineer took the passenger side and buckled in cautiously. I cut her a look before smirking.

"Forgive me for not trusting a Sector 1-born to fly anything but her mouth."

I scoffed and smirked ahead as the roof hatch opened high above us.

"Forgive me for not wishing to spend a solitary moment with a grease monkey."

She crossed her arms, "Just because I work with machines–work hard labor–does not mean–"

"You have a line of said machinery on your face." I stated, glancing as she fought the urge to say something back. Finally the urge won over and she sighed wiping at her cheeks with the top of her wrist.

"We have bars here you know." She said finally as we exited the rooftop and the craft navigated to open traffic lanes in the sky. I was fiddling with the screen to determine the nearest bar in this Sector that wasn't extravagant.

"I don't want to be around a lot of people." I murmured.

She glanced sidelong at me. "Kuzo's probably isn't the best idea in that case."

"I know." I said easily, "I never planned on going."

She glared beside me and checked her own weapon at her hip. "I can see the stories about you being true now." She muttered.

That caught my attention and I grinned at her as she turned to stare ahead. "So my reputation proceeds me?"

"Oh you could say that." She cut me a look that said nothing complimentary. I laughed and leant back in the chair as the craft hummed faster and closed in on the coordinates I had input.

"It can't have all been bad." I probed, glancing out the window as fusion crafts floated between us in lines.

"You try to get yourself killed a lot." She quipped.

"I think you'll find I can handle myself a little better now." I retorted nonchalant. I didn't need her opinion of me to be high. I just needed her to keep her mouth shut about tonight. She tried to hide a smile but the amusement was in her eyes.

"Can I ask you one thing?"

"Why not." I muttered, knowing this would be an inside joke.

"Did you really stand between a gunfight of Division agents and rebels and not expect to get shot?"

I glared ahead now and debated dumping her outside at the nearest opportunity. She waited for my answer that didn't come. But that insufferable amusement was still present.

"Okay I didn't mean to offend–"

"You know what. I think we'll head somewhere different after all." I announced, returning to the glass screen and typing in a set of very specific coordinates. I had just about had it with the underestimation bullshit. After everything I had been through to get here–screw it.

"Where to your Highness?" She drawled with a smile still firmly in place.

"The Crypt." I finished, throwing my feet on the dash.

Her smile disappeared and I gave her a sweet smile that promised anything but.

Let's see exactly how far training with the most lethal woman in Merridian would get me. Let's see how far from Sector 1 I truly was now.





* * * * *



It was dimly lit and packed as usual. Alex had told me enough of the fighting pits to keep me away before... But now I was curious. Curious to see how far my newly acquired skills could get me with enough motivation.

The red haired engineer grabbed my shoulder and tugged me back before I could head closer to the fighting ring below. I raised an eyebrow over my shoulder.

"Don't think you're getting involved with any of them in there!" She shouted over the thumping electro-bass.

"You and every other agent seem to think I'm rather useless–I'd like to demonstrate otherwise!" I shot back, ripping my arm away only to have her grab my wrist. I fought the urge not to twist her arm into a lock.

She drew nearer and glared. "I'm not about to have my job jeopardised because princess wants to play brawler tonight." She hissed.

"There's nothing to play–" I ripped my arm away with more strength than she anticipated, "–and there's nothing stopping you from leaving."

I didn't give her a chance to respond as I turned and waded through the crowds quickly. Credit bars were high in the air and drinks were in fists. A cheer would erupt. Curses would fly. I pulled my hood low over my face and tucked my hands into the front pockets.

When I finally reached the bookie he cast me a quick once over.

"Next odds 5 to 1 kid, you won't find better on Jackal tonight–"

"I want in."

He nodded and pushed a credit receiver towards me. I shook my head.

"I want in on the next fight!" I clarified louder.

He shrugged and pulled a cigar from his lips to blow smoke over his shoulder. A holopad was in his hand in the next second with corrections being made.

"Name?" He grunted.

"Alex." I smirked.

He nodded in half interest and swiped a number of times before dropping it back down.

"You make the first you get into the pot–you knock out you get nothin yeah?" He yelled over the music. I dropped him a nod and he waved me behind the desk to the door with an armed guard. The man stepped aside and the door slid open.

As soon as the door closed behind me, I breathed. The music became a muffled beat against the walls. I stepped into a small changing room. Though I had no specific guise to wear. I shrugged off my hoodie and left only the skin tight combat top below. The dark long sleeves concealed all but my hands. I undid my weapon holster and threw it into the nearest locker scanning it with my palm. I took a seat and stared at my hands.

A few scars now lined them. Scars that never would have graced them if I had not met the Underworld's Queen. I noticed a pack of hand wraps on the bench then. The noise outside the room was building–clearly the fight wouldn't be long now. I pulled the dark cloth out and started methodically wrapping between my knuckles, under and over.

A booming voice shouted something over the mic. Another cheer came muffled through the walls. God knew where that engineer was now. I just hoped she had the sense to disappear and leave Division agents out of it. I checked the intricate plait running down my back and tucked in a few loose blonde strands.

I heard a louder roar and knew the time was coming near. The sound of the door sliding open and heavy boot steps made me rise.

"Let's go." The armed guard grunted in my direction.

I shrugged off the bench and followed him closely. No red or black colours–at least he wasn't one of ours. The door opened and the music slapped me. A deep thump, bodies moving to the beat, others claiming their winnings and more importantly–the fighting pit that loomed ahead.

The announcer continued to rile the crowds for the next gamble but I tuned it out. A path was made for me so I could drop into the concrete pit below. The crowds clawed at the railings and held their credit bars in anticipation.

Another body dropped and my eyes froze on the red haired mechanic as she rolled her neck and glared across at me.

"What are you doing?!" I demanded, while the voices roared.

"Stopping you from getting me killed by Scorpion!" She snapped as the beat increased around us. A voice called out and the redhead dropped into a guard. My focus snapped into place like a coil. She approached me quickly, seemingly to end this fast–

I spun past her jab and let my elbow carry my weight into her side. Her tricep caught half the force and her ribs the rest. She hissed and sent a knee to my stomach. I palmed it to the side before throwing a front kick into her hard. She staggered back but retained her footing and spat to the side.

"Who the fuck–did you train with–"

I dodged a wild swing and jabbed quickly into her abs tiring her quickly. The crowd got animated. I felt the flick of alcohol across the pit.

"I learnt on the job." I quipped. Remembering Proximo's nonchalant words.

She sprinted forward without warning and took me clear off my feet. We hit the stone hard and my vision spun a moment. She threw fists and elbows down on me. But I knew the way to escape such a threat too. I let my forearms take the hits until she dipped low enough, then I smashed the top of my head into her jaw.

The blood left her nose quickly and I kicked her off me.

"Get out grease monkey, I didn't come here to punish you tonight." I told her, flexing my fingers beneath the wraps.

She shook her head on the floor. "You don't get it–if it's not me it's one of them–", to which the crowd started roaring at the lack of fight, "–they won't fight fair you'll see too late–"

A bottle smashed near my feet and I knew I had to finish it soon.

"Submit or get out." I growled, jutting a thumb off.

The look she gave me knew. She wasn't prepared to endure this–she wasn't prepared for how I fought either. She was deluded into thinking I needed saving. Everyone thought I needed saving. My fists clenched tightly as the anger ran hot through my blood. But the engineer raised her hand high indicating a submittal.

The crown groaned and called out in contempt. She climbed the metal rungs out of the pit as the announcer fired off another long lined buildup–they did not need to wait long.

A heavy thump to my left got my full attention. A pale skinned man with a vicious tattoo running down the bridge of his nose and neck leered at me. The cheering started again. There was no sign of the engineer anymore.

"Easiest money I ever made!" He grinned through pointed teeth. I stared unimpressed with his enhancements.

"A shame it would still do nothing for that face." I smiled.

He spat between us and rolled his neck waiting on the announcer to finish his explosive speech. The moment his voice stopped over the music, he lunged at me.

I made myself light and quick. Avoiding vicious swings and kicks to the body. I rarely took the counter opportunities. My priority was to wear out that lethal energy first. I caught one of his arms when the hook was too obvious and swung my leg around to meet his unprotected stomach. He coughed before snarling and bending forward to either bite my arm or use his skull–neither connected.

I was already dodging back three steps. Move fast, stay clear. Punish the misses.

The crowd loved it. Snarled and snapped at every hit and draw of blood as I danced between this untrained hooligan with too much ego and growing desperation. But it is the desperate that are most dangerous.

When he knew it was going the wrong way he slipped his fingers under his sleeve and slowly drew a dagger with a bloody grin. A man called out above and the fighter seemed to only enjoy it more. I rolled my eyes at his small blade before snapping my body to the side, locking his outstretched arm and breaking it.

His scream pierced high above the rest. The blade clattered to the ground. I kicked him hard off his feet disgusted and the crowd fell quiet for a moment.

Before a new explosion of cheering surrounding me and chanted various names. I kicked the dagger aside and and paced the small space as men pulled his crippled form from the pit. It was then I noticed more holopads and eyes on me above. I kept my eyes on the blood stained stone and not to the wondering shadows above.

"Double the action for double the winnings!" The commentator roared above me. I didn't put much thought into his words. But I did not expect that to translate to the two fighters that dropped before me now with matching glares.

They were tall, but not muscular. They will be fast. I sized them up quickly deciding on weaknesses and strengths. The announcer shouted and the game begun again. The two men did not bother to hide their weapons as they each slipped spiked knuckle dusters on. I sighed through my teeth and decided on pure speed over calm.

I rushed the first with a side kick to make him dodge into my waiting hook. He took the blow hard as his complexion would indicate. His friend or brother growled rushing to land a blow first and making him sloppy. I grabbed the first man, using him as a shield to let the blow sink into his friend's body. He screamed as the spiked fist went into his back and blood splashed once more.

They thought these weapons would give them an advantage. They had been wrong. The next few minutes consisted of one dislocation, a shattered jaw and another begging for submission.

Murmurs ran around the room now in shock and consideration as I paced angrily below. How many fools would it take for them to see what I was capable of now? Did that engineer see how I was no longer that girl from Sector 1? Did the other agents scanning me over and smirking see?

As the night went on and the bodies fell I had started to earn a reputation. The holo screens around the Crypt replayed the action. They had my face on them. I smirked as the last fighter fell and I raised my eyes to the cheers. The announcer wanted more. The crowd wanted more. But I could feel the aches and pains of my fights slowly seeping into me. I drew out of the pit and was clapped on the back and had a drink pressed into my hand as I made my way through the people I had made money for.

I downed the contents in the glass and dropped it uncaring. The man at the desk shook his head at me with a wide grin.

"You got stuff kid. Fuck knows where you learnt it." He cackled, scanning his credit bar over mine and transferring whatever winnings I had made. "Don't you be a stranger now, Alex. Anytime you want in I got you a place, eh?"

I chuckled at the borrowed name they all would never know who owned. I tipped him a nod and heading through to the changing room. The guard now smirked at me as I passed through the door. The feeling felt so damn good. To be known for something other than ball gowns and the upper class. To have earned something close to respect among these strangers.

The door opened again as I strapped my guns to my hip and threw the hoodie back over my head.

"You! You were incredible in there!" A new male voice called.

I frowned and dropped my hood back over my face. "Do I know you?"

He pushed his short black hair back. "Fuck no. But I know people, the right people." He said, flashing his colours a bit more prominently on his arms. I shook my head suddenly realising what I had so clearly missed. Division 52 colours. I almost laughed.

"That's not necessary–"

"Look, there's no getting around this–" he pointed his holoscreen at me and I witnessed a video of me dodging two swings and ending two fighters in seconds, "–hey, I already sent it. He is always interested in good fighters and I think I can get you on his good side."

I wiped some blood off my face, still in a half daze from the fights.

"Who do you mean he." I mumbled, shedding my finger wraps.

The Division agent grinned widely and leant against a locker. "Second in command. Proximo himself–"

My head snapped up. "Oh shit."

His grin faded and confusion replaced as my heart did double time. I grabbed his holoscreen off him and his frown increased. "What? It's an encrypted feed–"

"An encrypted feed to who?" I demanded, scanning the senders list and seeing far too many ID codes flash by.

"Relax it's the inner circle feed. Only top tier ranks–"

I tossed his screen onto the bench and sunk down onto it with a groan.

"Let me guess. Scorpion is on that list." I whispered.

"What's the problem?" He asked with his own building anxiety.

I flicked my eyes up to him. "Just go."

He palmed his screen unsure, before giving me a curt nod and turning on his heel. I turned to the locker and slowly pulled out my wrist comm. Sure enough. There were missed comms. A lot of them. Mostly from one person in particular.

It rung again in my hand suddenly and I stared in shock.

I tapped the accept and a low voice came into my ear like a brewing storm.

"Tell me, Makayla." She spoke slowly. Dangerously calm. "Why am I seeing videos of a fighter called Alex, tearing herself a new name in the Crypt when you are here in our base of operations?" She couldn't keep the growl out her voice.

Shit. Shit. Crap. Shit.

"It wasn't my first plan–"

"Here." She interrupted without any room for argument. "Now."