M A K A Y L A



I ignored Artella's orders and drifted away from the Crypt in the streets of 48. I had enough of men commanding my movements for one lifetime.

I tied my hair higher over my head and let the fusion pistols gleam off my hips. I caught my reflection in the sleek metal of shop doors or window panes that weren't covered in dirt. Blood ran down my cheek and smeared my neck. My eyes seemed darker with the black eyeliner and the hood that I pulled over my head.

The image couldn't be more stark. If I had run into myself as the Emperor's daughter I would have had the same reaction I had to Scorpion–

I shook myself away from the thought as quickly as I could. If I saw those eyes I saw another set. And if I saw that I saw more... Too much.

The air smelled thickly of night vendors selling smoked meat and other illegal substances as I walked. Half were on the Division's pay roll and recognised the streak of red on my combat skin. The rest eyed me briefly and with little interest. I was another survivor in an outer sector now. The thought should have pleased me.

I wasn't sure of my direction I only knew that distance and time might put some of me back together again. These streets were nothing if not a good place to lose yourself.

Yet why did the distance from her have to hurt with each step? Each dragging second?

I couldn't even find it in me to face her like this. I'd sooner face the most brutal fighters in Merridian than have that conversation. Let myself be open and honest again when so much had been dishonest and broken in the last few days. All I could see was that knowing smile and the sharp look in the eyes of a politician that played a game with a smile and a dagger.

The more I turned it over in my mind the more I wanted the same thing.

Justice. Revenge. A point being made clearly.

That wasn't what I did... I wasn't Scorpion. I didn't exact my power on people that had done wrong by me–but maybe I could.

I stopped by a wide fountain made of scrap metal and strange sculptures. The water glowed back lit with blue lights. I played with a blade between my fingers as I stared at the rushing jets of water. I vaguely knew the sun would rise soon. But sleep wasn't what demanded my thoughts.

It was the thought of how smugly the Empress was sitting on her throne while the relationship Scorpion and I had strained against the gravity of her actions. It wasn't painful because I knew she would attempt it–it was painful because Alex let it.

I sighed into the bubble of the water and watched the reflection of the metal in my hands.

Don't do it. Going after her will do nothing but ensure the war she wants so desperately. Unless that isn't what she wants at all. Maybe she just knows it will break our ties to each other completely if I do it. It will allow the power union to be made all the more easily. I snorted at myself growing more incredulous I even considered it at all.

"Was the joke that good?" A female voice asked the other side of the fountain.

I flinched and tilted my head seeing the distorted shape of her through the water. Then I sheathed the blade and set my hands against the metal rim.

"Not particularly." I answered, unconcerned with engaging further.

The shape through the water said nothing at that. It was then that a thin stream of dawn light broke through the skyscrapers and hit the water sharply bouncing it across the jets. I stared like it was a strange turn of a dream. Not much seemed real these days.

"I've always liked fountains too..." She mused in the same even timbre. The blur changed shape as if to lean against the other side.

"Verde is more impressive." I said without thinking about it. But surely many from the outer sectors would know of it. That place was a garden of Eden in the middle of smoke and metal.

She chuckled regardless. The sound was slightly older than my own, lower but smooth.

"So why sit here staring at scrap metal? Go see something better." She answered, like everything was as simple as acting on impulse.

"Maybe there's nothing wrong with scrap metal once in a while." I hedged, propping my cheek against my hand as more sunlight caught the crystalline jets of water and made it more beautiful. The shape before the water stood and moved around it. I was marginally curious and caught sight of a woman in a simple jacket with reddish hair. Her voice matched her appearance, marginally older.

I eyed her as she stopped a few metres away.

"I should warn you–if you're attempting to harvest my organs or recruit me into your gang I will not come quietly." I muttered.

This made her roll her eyes and prop her forearms against the metal edge as I did. Her dark blue eyes caught the light.

"I'm just here for conversation with a stranger and to enjoy the fountain." She answered, watching the light as it reached higher peaks of water that shot above us. "–Besides you look like you can use that gun."

I snorted. You have no idea how right you are. But I decided on a safe answer.

"You've got to be the first person in this city I've met with such little ambition."

"I haven't got a lot of that lately." She answered distantly.

"You make it sound like a bad thing. It sounds nice appreciating what's in front of you." I murmured, tracing the sparkling drops of water that cascaded back into the basin below. There were few fusion crafts in the sky. A beautifully peaceful bit of respite before life started up again in the city and I was sharing it with a complete stranger.

She tilted her head at me.

"So, you think less is more?" She asked calmly.

I shrugged and eyed her. "I've had a lifetime of more and it only gets you so far. More tends to get in the way of the people you want in your life. More tends to demand things from you. Less may not fulfil you the same way... but it would make everything so god damn simple." I sighed, shaking my head. I suddenly realised myself and turned away. "Sorry that was heavy–"

"I needed to hear it." She answered with a far away look. I frowned at the strange mix of thoughts that passed over her.

"Sure..." I muttered.

She caught my gaze and relaxed again. "Ignore me. I've had a long week."

A chuckle bubbled from my lips. "I can agree with you. I shot someone and was cheated on. Now I'm thinking of going after the bitch myself."

A stark look of shock passed over her briefly before she controlled it and settled on disbelief. She flexed her hand on the metal and shook her head, "Will that really help you?"

"God no. But it might make me feel better." I retorted, looking past the water to the towers of glass and metal beyond. The silence settled between us once more. Only the distant hum of fusion crafts and the early morning sounded. If she had wanted something from me I am sure she would have acted already... Perhaps some people in this city just wanted solitude among strangers too.

"I can't judge you. I'm fairly familiar with revenge." She said suddenly.

I raised an eyebrow and scanned her nondescript jacket that did in fact conceal weapons underneath. It didn't startle me. Not anymore.

"And did it help..?" I asked, watching the strands of red that fell past her face. Hell. She may well be an assassin for all I knew. The outer sectors were full of mysteries.

"It took away my anger towards them. But not the consequences." She answered vaguely.

I was disappointed. I wanted to categorically know that revenge was paid in full when acted on. That emotions ceased or persisted. This answer was grey and shadowed. It was not black or white.

"I was hoping for more than that." I admitted in a low voice, "–the woman I want that revenge on tried to take something... important from me."

She stilled and looked me over for a while. It was strange to allow an unfamiliar face such access but it was also very liberating. There were no consequences to showing your weakness in front of someone with no ties to your life. They would have no part in it so there was nothing to lose.

"It's a double edged sword. Not a clean cut. Revenge gives and takes from you. You've got to figure out if the exchange is worth it." She paused and I met her eyes, "That woman... did she succeed in taking it from you?"

The world seemed to still around me at the question. Despite the foreign voice, it felt immensely personal. It seemed to cut right to the centre of me with its intensity. So much so, that I had to break her gaze and focus on the skies above.

"She didn't take it." I mumbled, tracing the metal at my fingers, "I just have no idea what to do about it. Trust is everything."

"Don't chase it."

I flinched and raised an eyebrow at her. She pressed her fist against the fountain and shook her head. "If that woman was desperate enough to try–she's not worth returning the favour. You'll only lose yourself more."

I laughed humourless. "Says the one that spoke of familiarity with revenge–"

"Do I sound satisfied with it?" She asked me slowly.

I met her dark blue again. I had blue eyes but I don't think they ever burned like that. They were passionate and familiar. It couldn't–

"I don't know... I don't know you–"

"It doesn't matter. I'm telling you. Revenge didn't satisfy me. Not once. What you do with that information is up to you."

I raised my brows. That was a lot more than black and white, that was full spectrum.

"Where are you from–to be getting that sort of insight?" I pressed.

"The outer sectors." She drawled. "Where are you from?"

I rolled my eyes. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

"I think I would." She murmured, watching the sun rise through the buildings, "–you don't sound like a liar."

I stood up at that with a frown. "Alright let's not pretend you know the first thing about me." I stated more irritated now. She raised her hands in surrender.

"You're right. I'm just a stranger talking to another stranger–"

"You're quite armed for a stranger." I quipped, scanning her legs and the expensive weapons on them. She buried her hands in her pockets and my eyes narrowed. "Did Proximo send you?"

She laughed, "Who?"

I sighed and pushed a hand through my hair. I was losing my mind. Besides she was barely out of the med bay.

"Forget it. Long week..." I muttered half hearted.

She pushed off the edge slowly.

"I understand that and I hope you get the answers you need." She told me watching the side of my face, "If you do look for revenge... you should figure out if it is worth the cost. Maybe I'll take your advice and see how true less is more really is in this city."

I was about to find an answer for the profound words this woman had sprung on me but she turned abruptly before I could think of the response. I stared in mild confusion as she disappeared beyond the other side of the fountain once more like a mirage.

Had I just hallucinated the whole conversation? Sleep deprivation could do much worse to a person... and Merridian had many strange people in it.

I needed to check on Artella. Then I needed to ask him for a favour.

I wanted to believe those words. That revenge would only take from me. But when I looked deep into my mind and confronted that image all I could see was the bare skin of her back and her legs pressed against Alex. Her hands roaming freely and her mouth beside her ear. There was no point hiding from it. I would always see that.

But I would see it less if she wasn't breathing.

I caught my reflection in the water again. Dark eyes. Bright blue. They used to be so full of innocence with no red on my hands. But those kinds of people didn't change things. Only women of action and consequence changed their future. I would do this right. I would do this with the most lethal contractor alive and maybe Merridian wouldn't be such a shit hole place if it lost another royal.