Nessie stepped up onto the wooden plank footpath from the dusty street, the thud of her heeled shoes the sound of a woman on a mission. A steambike sped past behind her, stirring up a cloud of dust. Nessie paused to brush the dust from her new ocean blue taffeta dress, and then continued her confident stride along the main street of Deaston, looking for something to amuse her for the afternoon.
"Ma'am." Mr. George, the local jeweller, bobbed his head at Nessie Jenkins as she walked past.
"Good afternoon," replied Nessie, not slowing her allegro pace. She had nowhere to go and no jobs to do, but she detested walking without purpose. There was also Mr. George's reputation. He enjoyed talking about the jewellery he made, and Nessie did not want to be trapped listening to one of his lectures. She continued striding past the hardware store.
No one sat outside on the benches; the heat had sent people inside. The heat did not bother her like some. Besides, she could not stand staying inside the house any longer. Her parents had kept her busy for the last week with accounting, writing campaign speeches and cooking. She had not been able to leave the house … until today. Her mum had retired to her bedroom to sleep off a headache. Nessie took the chance without a second thought and slipped out to go for a walk. It was that or pack her bags and run away. Boredom would do that. Deaston, a small mining colony on the moon S'yra, did not have enough entertainment for Nessie's liking.
Nessie looked ahead down the straight road with wooden two- and three-story shops on either side. It would take fifteen minutes to walk the length of the street, and she was going to enjoy the dusty walk in the sunshine.
A flash of light caught in her peripheral vision. The word 'mecha' burned in her mind.
Nessie stopped.
Her skirt swished around her legs, caught in the forward motion. Could it really be?
She spun on her black heels and took three steps back to the hardware store and stepped up to the electronic poster board on the shop's wooden wall.
The poster buzzed and the image blurred.
"Piece of cheap …" Nessie thumped the screen with her gloved hand. It morphed between two images, her father's face with his cheesy Mayor-of-the-town grin and a big metal insect.
"Come on." She hit it again. Her pulse increased as she waited.
The image morphed and rippled with an electric buzz before remaining stable.
"Yes!" Nessie smiled.
"Mighty Mechas Meet in a Mesh of Mega Metal!" She scanned the poster, excitement concentrating within her chest.
One Night Only
14th March 7pm
"That's tonight!" Nessie could not believe she hadn't heard anything about the mecha fight tonight. She loved a good battle performance, especially when it came to mechas. A circus of metal, mayhem and fights stirred the blood in her veins and made her feel alive. No wonder my parents kept me in the house for the past week. They did not want her to be a mechanic; it was not becoming of a lady. They'd managed to convince her to stay at Deaston, which meant no one here could teach her the trade. She read anything and everything about mechas, telling herself one day she would find the inner courage to leave.
Arena Aggression unleashed in new models
Nessie held her breath.
New Models
Sally Spider, Cate Crab and Beli Beetle
Come and see them fight each other
Nessie resisted the urge to squeal in excitement. Finally, something to do in this town. She stared at the images, trying to glean more about each mecha.
Sally Spider.
Eight slender strong legs extended out from a secure rounded body. The metal shone deep silver and circular joints meant each leg could bend individually. Nessie peered closer.
Sally Spider stood solid in the centre of the ring. She glanced at the other two models, Cate Crab and Beli Beetle, but they hadn't captured her curiosity like Sally Spider. Besides, a metal carapace restricted movement and wouldn't be able to fight well. But the spider, now that had some seriously sexy designing behind it. Her hand rested against her neck as she stared at the image. A new heat flared inside of her. "Look at her legs."
"Yeah, they ain't half bad."
Nessie turned to see a woman wearing blue worn overalls with a white t-shirt underneath, one strap undone swinging near her chest, dark hair escaping from a black cap. She balanced a 20kg bag of flour on her shoulder.
"Half bad? They are an engineering miracle," said Nessie. She'd spent hours reading up on the construction of mechas, much to her mother's disapproval. While her mum did needlework in the evening, Nessie read about the mechas and how they were constructed. She planned to learn mechanical engineering one way or another.
"Yep, they are. And their joints can rotate."
"I thought so." Nessie puffed with confidence from what she had managed to learn from simply looking at a photo. "How do you know this?"
"I'm the Operator." The out-of-towner smiled and heaved the bag into a different position on her shoulder.
"Really?" The chance to see a mecha caused Nessie's head to spin pleasantly.
"I can show you the ins and outs of her."
Words evaporated in Nessie's breathless excitement at the chance to touch a mecha. Pull yourself together.
"I've got some time now. I'll give you a ride to the arena."
"Yes … yes ... that would be lovely," said Nessie, regaining her composure and remembering her manners she held out her hand. "I'm Nessie."
"Joy." They shook hands. "Pleased ta meet ya."
Nessie felt her knees weaken from the strength that pulsed from Joy's hand into her own.
"Likewise." Nessie looked into Joy's grey eyes which shone back a world of metal and oil, a world that Nessie knew she wanted to be a part of.
"My steambike is just over here."
"Bike?" If things kept improving this quickly, Nessie just knew she would be a melted mess on the floor.
Joy walked over to the steambike made from recycled parts. Slinging the bag of flour over the back of the steambike as if it only weighed a few kilos, Joy strapped it down.
Nessie's face flushed with heat. She took out a handkerchief and patted down her forehead.
"You be careful there, Ms. Jenkins," said Mr. George as he came out of his jewellery shop.
Nessie placed the lace handkerchief back in her ocean blue bag, the one specially made to match her new outfit.
"You know what these circus people are like." His eyes narrowed. "Come inside. I have some ice lemonade to help you cool down. Then I can drive you home in my steamcar. It's air conditioned, you know."
Nessie had no interest in Mr. George's warning, especially right now when she was about to do something out of the ordinary.
"You've got no reason to concern yourself, Mr. George. Good day." With her usual air of confidence, Nessie strode over to the steambike. She could barely keep herself contained and acting like a respectable lady. But ladies didn't ride bikes. Thank goodness. This was her first ride on a bike and she planned to enjoy every second.
"Let's go," she said to Joy. Not caring that she wasn't dressed for the ride, she hitched up her skirts, swung her leg over the bike, and then tucked the extra material under her legs out of the way of the engine.
"You're keen," said Joy, wearing goggles that made her eyes look larger. She sat in front of Nessie and revved the bike.
"You've got me excited," answered Nessie.
"That's good to know." Joy reached for Nessie's hands and put them around her waist. "Hold on."
The bike took off with a jerk. The screams of delight Nessie had been holding in burst out from her mouth as the hot wind pushed into her face. Nessie clung to Joy's strong body. She leaned into Joy as they turned off the main street, leaving Deaston in their dusty wake.
*~*~*
Joy slowed down and drove the bike into the roped off area where the Mecha Arena was being built. Men and women worked frantically to construct the arena walls before tonight's performance. She wove between men and women carrying metal panels for the wall.
Nessie tightened her grip around her waist and muffled a scream. The temptation too much, Joy steered the bike around imaginary people just to feel Nessie clench at her body and hear her scream.
Joy drove to the back of the arena.
"You move well with the bike," said Joy. She choked the engine, kicked down the stand down with her boot and slipped off the goggles. A line of dirt marked the shape of the goggles on her face.
Nessie let out a sigh, her breath caressing Joy's skin, resulting in fresh shivers slipping down her spine. Joy paused, enjoying the sensation. Get a grip. She swung her leg over the front of the bike to avoid hitting Nessie and stood up.
"I want to do that again," said Nessie, her words breathless as if she'd been exhilarated by the motion of the bike and had tipped over the edge into orgasmic bliss.
"That can be arranged."
"Excellent." Nessie somehow gracefully swung her leg over the bike without revealing her undergarments and went to stand, but stumbled, pleasantly dizzy from the ride.
Joy caught Nessie. "Here, lean on me." She put her arm around Nessie's slender waist. "Take it slow."
"I don't know what's come over me." Nessie leaned on Joy.
Joy felt static electricity spark between them as it travelled through her body, down her back, then down her legs, pooling at her feet.
"I think I'm alright now," said Nessie. But she didn't push away.
Joy held Nessie. "Take your time." Joy inhaled and captured a hint of Nessie's scent: pomegranates. I could hold you like this all night.
"Well," Nessie breathed out hard as if trying to gain composure. "I believe you have something to show me."
Joy let go. Nessie brushed down her skirt and patted her blonde hair, making sure that everything was in perfect alignment. Joy didn't bother with how she looked. She was used to being covered in dirt, oil and grease. She wouldn't have it any other way.
"Do you think you are ready?" teased Joy.
Nessie muffled a squeal of delight and nodded her head.
"This way." Joy walked towards the garage.
"Oi! Where's that flour?" yelled an oversized man. His large belly stretched the yellow, greasy fabric of the t-shirt he wore.
Joy turned around. "On my bike, right here."
"Well bring it ov'r 'ere if ya want to be fed." He spat in the ground, and then walked off. "Be quick about it."
Joy groaned and walked back to the steambike. "I'd better deliver the flour first."
"You don't have to," said Nessie. "He can wait."
"Yeah, but he's the cook and do ya know how difficult he can make life for me around here?" Joy untied the ropes around the bag of flour. "He could refuse to cook tonight, blame me, and then everyone here will want to skin me alive."
"I can help," offered Nessie.
"I'm fine. Go inside the garage, out of the sun, and wait for me there. I won't be long." Joy slung the bag on her shoulder and walked off. Her job always seemed to get in the way of her efforts to connect with people, at least the sort of people she wanted to connect with. Joy hurried. She wanted to get back to Nessie before she had to start preparing for the fight.
*~*~*
Nessie watched Joy walk away, disappearing into the crowd of workers. She is amazing. Nessie turned and looked at the oversized garage. The dark, hundred meter high opening looked like it could swallow her. She shaded her eyes with her hand. A rusty-looking sign above read: "Sally Spider."
A shiver went down Nessie's spine as she entered the spider's lair. Her insides were a rolling mess of excitement and anticipation.
Nessie slowed her pace as her eyes adjusted to the dim lighting. There were spanners, containers of oil, dirty rags, nuts and bolts, screws and gears lying around on a side bench. Nessie resisted the urge to clean up and kept walking, her heart dictating a fast beat that she used all her self-control not to walk in time to.
Nessie ducked under some hanging chains that disappeared up into the dark ceiling. Empty pulleys hung down, waiting for the work to begin.
The air, stuffy and dry, made her breath short and quick, and the coolness sucked at her body heat. The only sounds were her shoes clicking on the concrete and the creaking of metal from the outside wind as it plummeted into the man-made construction. She stepped gracefully over a large oil spill that looked as if some machine had come to a ghastly fate while hanging from the ceiling.
An orange glow from burning oil lamps cast soft light around the back of the garage, metallic orange reflections causing Nessie to gasp at the mechanical beauty.
"Amazing." She stopped and looked at Sally Spider. "Wow."
Her eight legs, thin but strong, extended out from a round centred body. Each had two pivot points. An engineering breakthrough and she was looking at the design in the flesh, about to see how it worked, instead of discovering this in the magazines she subscribed too.
Nessie exhaled, expelling a lungful of air, and whistled. She stepped up to the closest leg, took off her glove, reached up as far as she could just below the first metal joint and ran her hand down the metal leg. Slowly. Her fingers glided over the smooth surface, sending shivers through her body.
Near the bottom of the leg, she could see compartments that had been built to hold what she assumed to be different weapons to use during the fights in the arena. She leaned in for a closer look, wondering what was concealed inside. Snipping shearers, or a long saw, or a metal hammer. She wanted to see this beauty in action. Maybe some sort of venom to rust tight an opponent.
The legs ended in a streamlined point that would pack a nasty punch in a fight and could do some serious damage to a metal object. She traced the intricate design of a filigree pattern that had been designed into the metal.
Nessie looked at the body of the mecha. The spherical shape consisted of netted metal crisscrossed for added protection. Nessie couldn't see in through the fine mesh. I bet this is for 360 degrees sight, just like a true spider. She ran her hand over the new material. It felt inviting.
"So what do ya think?" asked Joy coming up behind Nessie.
Nessie jumped from the sound of Joy's voice. She'd been consumed by Sally's genius design and hadn't heard Joy's approach.
"You seem to be getting to know her," said Joy. She stood opposite Nessie. "Want to look inside?"
"Yes, please," said Nessie breathlessly.
Joy walked around to the back and pressed a button. The metal crisscrossed door slid to the side. "It's going to be a tight fit for two."
"I don't mind," said Nessie. She was getting inside Sally Spider, and she didn't mind being so close to Joy either. Nessie wanted to know more about Joy, just as much as she wanted to know more about Sally Spider.
"After you," said Joy.
Nessie lifted her skirt, revealing more of her black stockings than was acceptable in public and put one foot on the bottom edge of the door. She let go of her skirt, took hold of the door and hoisted herself in.
"Take a seat." Joy remained outside.
"The driver's seat?"
"Yeah, of course."
Overstimulated with excitement, Nessie just managed to keep herself from hyperventilating as she sat down in the soft leather. The seat seemed to respond to her body and mould to her shape, giving her maximum support.
"What do you think?" Joy squeezed into the tight space. The door slid closed with a hydraulic sigh. The console lit up with soft glowing blue lights.
Nessie stared out, seeing the garage clearly despite the low light.
"Pretty cool, uh?" Joy rested on the back of the seat, her oily scent adding to the head spin Nessie was already experiencing.
"Here. Let's wake her up." Joy leaned over Nessie's shoulder and punched in a sequence of coded symbols into the console. Sally shivered into life.
"Amazing." Nessie breathed out. She put her hands on the edge of the console, feeling the vibrations of Sally. The hum of her engine and the pulses of electricity transferred into Nessie and she wanted more.
"And she's only warming up," said Joy. "You should see her in action."
"I can't wait." Nessie felt Joy's breath on the side of her cheek. "Can you show me?"
"Tonight," said Joy. "We're under strict instructions not to take the mechas out. We don't want to ruin the initial suspense when they enter the arena."
"You have with me."
"Yeah, but you look like you're about to blow a fuse or two, so I think tonight you'll be plenty excited later."
"Please? Just a little something?" pressed Nessie. "A walk out in the arena, or let's go back down the main street." The excitement concentrated inside of her, heating her up and fuelling her hunger for these giant machines.
"Okay. I'll show you one more thing," Joy stretched in front of Nessie. Their shoulders pressed together in the confined space. Joy moved the lever changing the gears and flicked a few switches.
Nessie held her breath, not wanting to further stimulate her senses. But she caught a hint of strawberries in Joy's hair, and her heart skipped a beat.
"Hold on," warned Joy as she gripped the back of the driver's seat.
Sally began to move. The centre body where the women sat shifted backwards. Nessie grabbed the armrests.
"I should've made you strap in," said Joy, concern wrinkled on her forehead.
"No way." Nessie smiled. Her cheeks flushed. She gasped as the front two legs lifted effortlessly and bent to a strike position.
"So what would she do next?" asked Nessie.
"There's a few options. Ya gonna have to wait until tonight."
"I won't last that long."
"Yeah, ya will." Joy reached over and moved the levers. Sally returned to her resting position.
"Wow," exclaimed Nessie. "Is this your work?"
"Sort of." Joy locked down the console.
The lights faded inside the body of the spider, dampening Nessie's excitement. I want this to go on forever. She exhaled, trying to settle herself. "Well, what parts are yours?"
"I designed the legs."
"The rotating joints?"
Joy nodded.
Nessie whistled in amazement, even though that wasn't the sort of thing a lady would do. "Have you patented the design?"
"In the process." Joy fussed around the controls, making sure everything was in order.
"Tell me more. How did you overcome the friction? Does it over-lubricate? What if …"
Joy placed her finger on Nessie's lips, silencing her. "You're the only one over-lubricating here."
Nessie swallowed hard, trying to ignore the fire burning inside of her from Joy's touch. This woman knew her passions way too well for a stranger. Nessie struggled to keep herself behaving as a lady should.
Joy removed her finger from Nessie's lips. "I'll tell you more later. For now, I need to start getting ready for tonight. This is Sally's first fight in the arena, and I need to do a thorough systems diagnosis before the fights."
"I can help." Nessie found it hard to form the words. Her lips tingled from Joy's touch and buzzed with the extra energy.
"That would be great, but I don't need any help."
"Sure you do." Nessie persisted. She wasn't used to people telling her she couldn't do something. She did not always get her own way, but she usually did get what she wanted.
"I said no. I have my own routine that I do myself. Call it superstitious or crazy, but I do it alone before a match."
"But aren't the fights rigged?"
The stern stare Joy gave Nessie caused her mouth to clamp shut. "No, they aren't rigged. I have my routine to begin, and you will have to go and amuse yourself." Joy opened the door and fume-tainted air flowed in. Joy jumped down from the compartment, giving Nessie no option but to follow.
Nessie ignored Joy's offer to help her down and landed steady without even showing her legs. "Can I come here after the match?"
Joy's face softened. "I would like that. But only after the match. I have some serious work to do, and I can't be distracted."
"I understand." Nessie brushed down her skirt, straightening the material and, on the spur of the moment, leaned forward and kissed Joy on the lips, hard and fast. "Thank you for showing me Sally. It was brilliant."
Joy looked stunned. Her cheeks burned deep red.
"I will see you tonight." Nessie walked away, brushing her fingers along Sally's legs as she went.
*~*~*
She kissed me. Joy couldn't believe it. That's one confident woman. She rolled her tongue over her lips, catching a hint of Nessie's saltiness and a hint of her cherry-flavoured lip balm. How am I meant to concentrate now?
She watched Nessie walk outside. Could I really have a relationship with her? Joy wanted to go down that path – at least try. But she also knew that her lifestyle with the mechas meant she moved around space from moon to moon, occasionally stopping at a planet. Her life was on a ship. She might own the design of Sally, but her debt with the Mecha Arena Pty Ltd meant that she would be working for them for the rest of her life. That was the price she paid to be able to have the chance to be a mecha Operator. That she didn't regret. She'd enjoyed the last five years travelling around and seeing the sights, Operating the mechas and coming up with the design for Sally Spider, but it was at the cost of a personal relationship that caused disappointment to stir.
Best put her out of my mind. Joy went over to the side bench and began searching through the mess, looking for her adjustable electric spanner, an oil container, and a multi-head screwdriver—the basic tools she would need for the final diagnostics. She slipped them into their correct pouches in her belt, the one she had made herself out of discarded leather pieces.
"Right, first things first." She forced the image of Nessie's swinging backside leaving the garage out of her mind with the promise to revisit that thought later after the fight. Joy inhaled the oil-scented air, allowing the gaseous fumes to enter deep into her lungs, and then slowly exhaled. Joy took another two breaths like this, bringing the mental list to the forefront of her mind. There was no room for error. Not tonight. Not for Sally's first fight. She has to win. We have to win. Sally was untried in the arena, and a win tonight would mean future winnings that would make a dent in her debt.
Joy entered the inside body of the Spider and began running a systems diagnostics. First, she made sure the weapons folded and unfolded from the hidden compartments in the legs without any problems. She wanted Cate Crab and Beli Beetle to be well and truly damaged tonight to show just how much more powerful her designing could be and to get one over their Operators. Then she moved onto the electronics, making sure it was running at optimal levels.
The diagnostics finished without any problems. Joy wiped down the inside, keeping everything free of oil. A hint of pomegranate made her pause, but she quickly pushed the thought of Nessie back into the depths of her mind.
"Well Sally girl, I hope you are ready to win tonight," said Joy as she patted the console. She jumped out and closed the door.
"Fat chance of that," said a voice.
Joy's nerves sparked shivers along her spine. She stepped away from Sally. She knew that voice very well. Too well.
"Sally's got no chance against my girl." Kris stood with her hands folded over her chest, leaning back against the bench. She wore leather pants, a wrench-style shirt and a brown leather corset decorated with buckles and chains. "With rotating leg joints like that, Sally's going to end up a body that's only fit for a scrap heap."
"Getting nervous about losing, are ya?" Joy stood tall.
"Not even close."
"Shouldn't ya be getting ready ya-self?" Joy didn't like being interrupted during this process. Kris would know this. A hot anger flowed in Joy's blood, and she struggled to keep herself calm. These pre-games were part of the fight.
"Oh, I'm ready baby, more than you could ever imagine." Kris walked up to Joy and they faced off, glaring at each other, ready to start a physical fight.
"Come on girls, put away your claws." Jim walked into the garage. The owner of the mecha circus came towards them, causing the women step away from each other. He stood tall over the two women.
"I hope you've come to tell Joy she's to throw the fight tonight," said Kris.
"Maybe I'm here to tell you to throw the fight," answered Jim, his hands on his wide hips.
Kris gasped. "You wouldn't."
Jim laughed at her discomfort.
Joy pressed her lips together; now was not the time to argue. Besides, she wanted to give Sally one last rubdown to make sure she was shining for her debut, but Jim and Kris were slowing her down.
"You girls can be so much fun," said Jim. He spat on the ground.
"Glad ya enjoying yourself," said Joy. "I've got work to finish if you want Sally to make a good first impression."
"I want you to throw the fight," said Jim abruptly.
Joy spun around and looked at him. "No."
Kris smirked at the news. "Oh, this day is getting better and better."
"Yes," said Jim.
"But that's stupid. Why would you …"
"Don't call me stupid. You do what you are told. I own Sally, and I own enough of you that if you want to Operate her in the future, you will lose tonight."
Joy's mouth dried. She tried to process what Jim was saying. This was ridiculous. Stupid. Nuts. She wanted to go out and show off her groundbreaking design, and she had someone in the crowd that would admire her work, and now … now … to throw the fight. The news punched her hard in the gut and a twisting pain rose up towards her throat. "I can't."
"You can. You have before; it's no different this time."
'"ut it's Sally's first time out. We want her to win." Joy's blood pressure flowed around her body with a fierce force. Besides, she'd told Nessie the fights weren't fixed, and her lie sat heavy in her stomach.
'You will do what I say." His words edged with authority.
"No. Why would ya do this? After all the time taken to get her built. This is the time for Sally to shine." She clenched her fists tight, the ends of her short nails digging into her skin.
"Listen sweetheart, its business. Don't lose your cool over it." Jim stepped forward, trying to intimidate Joy.
Joy wasn't about to back down. She'd argued with him before. "I haven't lost my cool."
"You'll be out on your own. I'll take your money and keep Sally for myself." He smiled, his blackened gums a disgusting sight. "I'm sure Kris will take the chance to Operate Sally."
"I sure will," said Kris. "Just tell me what to do and consider it done."
Joy glared at them both, knowing she didn't have a choice. Not when they put it that way. I might lose this argument, but don't think I'm going to roll over and lose for you. She had done that in the past: it was the game, it got her paid, and she needed the money. Still did, but she wasn't about to abandon her mecha. She wanted to keep Sally Spider at all costs. "Fine then. On your head."
"My head isn't going anywhere, and it will be on yours if you don't lose." He pointed a finger at her. "You got it."
"Yeah boss, I got it." She kept her posture straight, her chin high, and looked him square in the eyes. Bastard. He probably owes someone big some money and they are leaning on him.
"Please win, Joy. I so want to be able to Operate Sally. I'm sure we will make such a scene in the arena," smirked Kris.
Joy ignored her. I'll deal with you later.
"I'll be watching." Jim paused to make his intentions clear to Joy. His stare was enough to send shivers down most people or make them wet themselves. Not Joy. But she also knew when not to mess with him.
He turned to Kris, whose smile faded quickly. "And you better put up a decent fight, otherwise you'll be out on your arse as well."
Kris's eyes widened. "Yes boss, you can count on me," she squeaked.
Jim grunted. "Make sure of it." He turned and left.
"Well, that was pleasant." Joy tried to make light of what had just happened despite her ever-increasing anger.
"More pleasant for me," Kris smiled. But the confident edge she'd had before was gone. "I win tonight."
"Yeah, but ya have to make it look convincing, and ya ain't up for that."
"We will see about that." Kris stormed off, kicking a metal container on the way out and sending it clanking back towards Joy. It hit the wall, rolled and then rocked to a standstill.
I'm glad they're gone. Joy felt as rattled like the metal container. She had lost the clear head she normally had when completing the last check. Plus, she had sworn to Nessie that the fights weren't fixed. Now she felt like a liar, and she was trying to live a more honest life now that she had her dream mecha to drive.
Honesty and the mecha business didn't really meld together.
No way am I losing this fight. Jim was known to have rubbed a few other mecha owners the wrong way. Joy could only guess they had something on him, or he owed them money. Didn't matter. Her dream of winning the first fight with Sally was about to crash and burn. She had to think of an alternative.
Joy picked up a rag and began to wipe down Sally's body as gently as if she were alive and not a machine. Do I throw the fight or not? Each time she thought about losing, her stomach twisted tighter as if a screw was being driven deep within her. Lose? Win? It was the only thing she could think about as she finished polishing Sally's metal.
*~*~*
Nessie's blood stirred as she paused at the front of Sally's garage in the last part of the shaded concrete. This is what I've longed for. New freedom flowed through her body, making her feel alive. She strode off to see what other novel things she could discover. So far, she had done just fine. She had seen her first mecha, sat inside, and met a woman who made her senses flourish. Nessie feel like each step she took was on the air rather than in the red dusty dirt that clouded upwards, coating her new dress.
Normally, she would think about what to do next and how long it would take, but not today. It was time I did things differently.
Sunlight kissed her face as she met this new world of bustling people running around carrying parts of machines, or panels for the arena wall, or an over-sized mallet to hammer in metal tent pegs for the few marquees that were being set up near the entrance. The smell, dust with a hint of grease, stirred her to almost breathlessness.
The swell of activity extended in front of her, and she stepped into the chaos of productivity and allowed the natural flow of moving people to direct her.
"Hey, watch it," said a man walking by with a thick metal pole on his shoulder.
"Sorry," said Nessie politely as she stepped back out of the way. The man ignored her, not slowing down. He continued on his path, making people get out of his way.
"Ow." Something sharp poked into her back. Nessie turned to see glass eyes reflecting a grey storm cloud. She held her breath. A sharp metal beak pointed at her face. She expected to be pecked any minute. The human-sized mecha didn't move. Nessie relaxed and stepped closer to look at the mecha shaped like an emu.
"Aren't you a clever-looking bird?" The emu blinked, its eyelids making a metal click as they rolled closed and then opened almost as quickly as a human blink.
"Who is controlling you?" Nessie looked closely at the emu.
The emu tilted its head at Nessie. She reached out her hand to pat its head. "I am pleased to meet you."
The bird shrieked, causing Nessie to jump. Its small metal wings expanded out. Unable to fly, it turned and ran away, long metal legs moving smooth and effortlessly.
"Incredible." Nessie watched the emu. I've got some catching up to do with my research. I must find who is Operating the bird.
A sharp tug at the edge of her skirt caused Nessie to look down. A mini mecha puppy looked up at her with big silver eyes, the material of her skirt in its mouth. He wagged his tail.
"Aren't you a cutie?" She leaned down and tried to retrieve her skirt from its mouth. It growled, a metal grumble that came from its belly. Nessie laughed. "You are so real."
Maybe they are controlled remotely? Or have some internal intelligence? The questions were building, and she was no closer to finding any answers, just more questions and no one to ask. She could wait and ask Joy later, but Nessie didn't think she could wait that long.
The puppy whined, not getting the attention it wanted, and then dropped her skirt and ran away.
"Hey, come back." She followed the mecha puppy, but lost sight as it weaved between people, tents and other mechas.
So many mechas. Nessie's mind whirled like cogs processing the designs and constructions of the smaller mechas. Without realising, she had almost circled back to Sally's garage, but she was now further away from the entrance. Garages extended around the back of the arena. Signs above the garages: Cate Carapace and Beli Beetle caught her attention.
I have to check out the competition. She walked into the closest garage.
Cate Carapace stood sleeping like an oversized beetle. No way would it have the agility to win. It's too heavy. She looked into the small window at the front. The metal looked cheaper compared to Sally's exterior. There was no way the Operator could see out clearly.
"Thinking that she won't be able to see well?" asked someone from behind.
"Well, yes." Nessie turned to see an older woman staring at her.
"Don't be fooled. Cate can hold her own in the ring." Kris stood, wiping her grease-blackened hands on a dirty piece of cloth.
"But can she win?" Nessie was already biased towards Sally; that's who she would bet on even though she didn't gamble. It wasn't lady-like.
"Naturally."
"I don't believe you."
"You shouldn't be in here. We ain't open to the public yet."
"I came with Joy."
She stepped towards Nessie, her eyes narrowed. "Did you?"
"Yes." Nessie wasn't going to back down or stop looking around. She'd waited too many years to finally have the chance to see a mecha. She wasn't about to let a snaky woman push her away. "Tell me, why does Cate have good vision when clearly the metal used to construct the torso of the beetle is not as good as Sally's?"
"You've seen Sally?"
"Of course." Nessie puffed her chest proudly.
Kris made a disapproving sound, stepped around Nessie, and pulled down the door to enter the crab. "Look for yourself."
Nessie didn't need to be invited twice. She went inside. Her eyes widened at the sight. Maybe she could win? Her heart sunk a little. She wanted one particular mecha to win tonight, no matter what: Sally Spider, Operated by Joy.
"Now you know. Sally's not so unbeatable."
The series of screens inside meant the Operator would have an excellent vision around the crab, an advantage in a fight for sure.
"What other secrets has Cate got?" asked Nessie.
"Can't be giving too much away, now can I?" said Kris. "But I will give you another hint. Bet on Cate tonight. You'll win for sure."
"Of course, you are going to say that, aren't you? You're her Operator." Nessie kept looking at the console trying to work out what secrets were there, probably in plain sight, but she didn't know quite enough of the inner workings of mechas, only what she read in books, and that was turning to be rather limited and much more out-of-date than she would've thought.
"Not necessarily," Kris said. She was outside by the door, keeping a watchful eye on Nessie. "Consider it a helpful tip from a friend. You never know what's going to happen in a fight."
"Unless they are rigged," said Nessie. She had wanted to believe Joy that the fights weren't, but too much had been documented in the news over the years for her to dismiss the fixing of fights.
"Course not. But if you think they might be, then you should place a bet on Cate here. She won't let you down."
"I don't place bets," answered Nessie tightly. She leant forward to inspect the controls overhead.
"Look at you, sweet as honey, all innocent. No wonder Joy took you in."
"What?" Nessie didn't like the way this woman was talking.
"You can't trust everything Joy tells you," said Kris.
"You're just jealous," Nessie answered. Her instincts had always been right about people. Joy seemed an all right sort of gal, someone she wanted to know more about.
"Nothing to be jealous of, especially when I know that I'm going to be the one holding the trophy tonight and cashing in a check. You want to make sure that you choose the winning side."
I have. But a little doubt crept into her mind. Sally will win.
"Come on. Time you left," said Kris abruptly.
I must be close to something. Nessie paused, looking upwards, straining her neck. But the dim light inside made it hard to see the detail needed to spy a gadget. "Just a minute."
"You've had a minute too long. Out. Or I'll come in and get you out, and I won't be gentle on you." Kris jerked her head as if reminding Nessie the direction she should be going in.
"Okay, okay." Nessie smiled politely to Kris. "Thank you for allowing me to look around."
"Out." Kris glared at Nessie.
Nessie stepped down from the inside the crab's body, nearly colliding with Kris. "I'll be on my way then."
"Make sure of that." Kris folded her arms over her chest. "I'll walk you out."
"No need." Nessie had been hoping to at least walk around Cate first, but that was no longer an option as Kris grabbed her arm and practically dragged her out of the garage.
"Stay out." She pushed Nessie out into the sunlight.
Nessie stumbled forward, her feet scrambling to find purchase on the dirt. Just when she thought that she was definitely going down, something grabbed her skirt from behind and pulled her backward. It was enough to change her momentum, and she wobbled upright back on her feet.
"Thank you …" Nessie turned to see the glass eyes of the mecha emu staring at her. It screeched, flapped its stunted metal wings and then ran off. With enough curiosity still coursing around her veins, Nessie followed, this time determined to find out who was controlling the bird. But she struggled to keep up, and when she slowed, a rusty sign caught her eye. Beli Beetle.
Her investigative nature kicked in once more.
Nessie slipped to the side and stepped into the shadows of Beli's garage to keep out of plain sight of the men and women working near the entrance. Her attire made her look suspiciously out of place, but she managed to walk right up to Beli without anyone noticing her.
Long feelers with sharp ends extended forward from Beli's head. They hung in the air with a slight bend, radiating strength. Six legs extended along the torso of the beetle, three on each side, just keeping Beli's large belly off the ground. The short legs had only one pivot point and the joints weren't the rotatable sort like Sally's. Beli wouldn't be able to move fast. I still think the spider will win.
Nessie knocked on the metal exoskeleton. A hollow sound echoed around her. Strong. Very strong.
"Oi," yelled a young man. "You ain't suppose to be 'ere."
Nessie turned to see a young man swinging a wrecking bar. She wasn't about to hang around and see if she could convince him otherwise. Joy seemed to have made some rather special allowances showing her Sally Spider.
"Get out of 'ere." He thumped the wrecking bar into his hand and then repeated the motion.
Nessie ran. She didn't want to meet this man. She burst out into the sunlight, giggling. I've never had so much fun in my life.
*~*~*
Joy turned off the cold water from the communal shower. She had to hurry to get ready on time. Her mind swirled like the brownish water disappearing down the drain. She couldn't make up her mind whether or not to follow Jim's instructions. She'd never disobeyed him before. But she hadn't been Operating Sally Spider before.
After a quick rub dry, she slipped on a frilled cream dress over her worn brown tights and secured a brown corset around her waist. Her overalls were fine when she was doing the grease work, but during the fight and when relaxing she wanted something that breathed and was tailored to her body. Something more feminine.
Joy sat down and pulled on her brown leather knee-high boots and laced them. She brushed them down with her damp towel, giving them a modest shine. Her dark hair was twisted up into a loose bun. A wisp of hair hung down along the side of her long face, giving her a natural carefree look. A look that was far from how she felt inside.
"In one hour's time, the Mecha Mesh will begin. Get ya bets on quick. Don't leave it too late." The speaker crackled.
Joy cursed herself for being so slow and for getting herself in a knot over whether or not to win the fight. I have to lose tonight. There's no choice. She sped her preparations to make sure she made it back to prime Sally before the fight. Under her instructions, she had a few lackeys who would be there making sure that no one went near Sally once she had finished her last check. They would be cleaning up the garage, sweeping it out and organising the tools. It was about all she could allow them to do since she hated anyone touching Sally without her being there. She'd never been so protective of a mecha she'd Operated before, but then they hadn't been made of her own design, based on ideas she'd spent years dreaming about. She bundled up her dirty clothes and ran back to Sally's garage.
"Cutting a bit close Joy," said Oren. "We've been waiting for ya."
"Here." She handed her dirty clothes to a young boy standing nearby looking like he had too much free time on his hands. He wrinkled his nose, turned and ran off to get them cleaned.
"Is she primed?" Joy went into automatic mode. Clean, wearing fresh clothes, she felt confident. Plus, she had made up her mind about the fight. Throw it. It didn't sit well with her, but she'd been in this business long enough to know that this was how things went here. If she didn't do what Jim told her, her reputation would be scrap metal and the only job she would be fit for would be a washer-woman. She didn't want that to happen.
"Was about to start."
"You know to wait for me." Annoyance edged her voice. She walked up to Sally and inserted the charging line.
"Yes, ma'am." He bobbed his head in apology and went over to the wall ready to start the flow of electricity.
"Start her up," yelled Joy. The line clicked in place. It hummed, a loud, electrical sound as the juice flowed into Sally's body. It was the kick start needed to get the big machine moving.
Joy stepped away from Sally and looked around the garage to check things were in order. She might leave the place a mess, but it didn't mean that she liked it. She preferred to put her energy into the machine.
"Oi, you, shut the garage door." She pointed to a girl standing doing nothing. The girl ran to the front and used the chains and pulley to lower the garage door.
"Ya should've done that already." Joy didn't want people staring at them while they got Sally started.
"Jim says thirty minutes and remember ya head," said Oren.
Yeah, I bet he does. She nodded her head in acknowledgement.
"She's juiced up," yelled a woman watching the gauge.
"Good, switch her off." Joy walked to Sally as the lackeys ran to switch off the flow of electricity and pulled out the line. This part needed to be timed perfectly. If she got Sally ready too soon, they would be waiting in the wings wasting electricity.
Joy stepped inside. "Ready the back door." She closed the door and settled into her seat. For a moment, she felt the shape of Nessie's body in the seat before the material remoulded around her. At least Nessie will be watching. Joy couldn't imagine Nessie missing out on the chance to see a Mecha fight. A buzz went through her body knowing Nessie was out there to see her. Sally, more to the point, but Sally was part of her and to Joy it was the same thing.
Joy put the communicator in her ear. It buzzed as it connected in with the system. Jim was arguing with one of the Operators of the pre-show performance.
Nothing unusual there. Joy tuned out the noise.
"Hope you're ready for your big loss, Joy." Joy ignored Kris as she flicked through the start-up sequence. The time for talking was over. She had a job to do.
Blue lights on the console flickered on and glowed in the dark space. Joy looked out and someone gave her the thumbs up. "Let's go Sally."
*~*~*
Spectators lined up at the entrance to purchase their tickets. People from surrounding moons arrived frequently. Ship lights lined the horizon as they powered down from the flight. The numbers swelled. Past the garages were a series of tents where the workers had set up their makeshift homes for the night.
Children ran and screamed in amazement at the miniature mechas walking around the marquee. Nessie had managed to find out that they weren't Operated and had some sort of internal intelligence, but the man she'd asked hadn't been very helpful, more concerned she bought his wares.
Nessie chewed on a Dagwood Dog, her tastebuds delighting in the salty, fatty flavour. She walked casually through the marquee, ignoring the shouting of the sideshow people who were trying to get people to come and play. She knew the games were definitely rigged.
She dabbed her mouth with her lacy handkerchief to remove any ketchup. The stick, licked clean, was dumped in a rubbish bin and she continued walking.
"Place ya bets here," yelled a man standing on a forty-four gallon drum. "Bets here, ladies and gentlemen."
Nessie paused. Over the last few hours, she hadn't been able to keep thinking there was no way that Sally could lose tonight. It was a sure bet. But I never gamble.
"Come and place ya bet, quickly now. The main fight starts in fifteen."
"One hundred on Cate," yelled one man.
"Right you are." He took the money and handed back a small piece of paper. "Good luck."
"Twenty on Cate," yelled a woman. "No, make it fifty."
The atmosphere swept over Nessie, making her part of the increasing excitement as another person stepped up to make a bet. She couldn't ignore the temptation anymore. There wasn't the time for her to stand and ponder whether or not this was the right thing to do or not. What would be the wise amount? No time for that either. She walked up to the man.
"Do you take money cards or cash only?" asked Nessie.
"Both," he answered.
Nessie reached into her handbag and pulled out her card. "All on Sally," she said firmly as she handed over the card. Her entire savings. She'd been keeping it hoping that one day it would be enough to buy a ticket out of here and go and study or get an apprentice. But she'd always been too scared. Today, her confidence rocketed. She was ready to take a risk. Her blood pulsed in time with the energy of the building crowd.
The man took her card, swiped it through his ticket machine. He raised his eyebrow.
"The odds aren't great for the newbie." He looked at her. "Maybe try Beli, or Cate? Or you could try the old machines. One of them could win tonight too, ya know."
"No. I want it all on Sally."
"Ya sure?" The man asked.
"I've never been more sure in my life."
He typed on the ticket machine and a piece of paper scrolled out printed with the transaction. "Don't lose this." He handed the paper and card back to her.
"Of course." She put them her purse, snapped it shut, and walked off feeling like for the first time in her life she was taking control.
*~*~*
Joy moved the spider up a gear. She turned the driving stick to move Sally around in a circle, using all of her eight legs to make the 180 degree turn. The lackeys ran out of the way, pressing themselves up against the wall to give her the room needed. Sally's legs might be thin, but they would easily kill a person if they got in the way.
Sally's vibrations retuned Joy's body and together they pulsed excitedly with anticipation with what was to come. Joy went into the next gear and moved Sally forward through the back door and out into the makeshift tunnel that would come out into the arena.
"Two minutes," warned Jim.
"Perfect." Joy slowed Sally's movements a little so that she could use the momentum to walk through the door rather than having to stop and then start again. It was going to be a long night, and she wanted to keep the energy stored in Sally for the fight with Cate. "Come on, baby. Let's give them a show to remember."
*~*~*
Nessie couldn't wait to see how Sally Spider performed in the arena tonight. She felt a connection to the mecha because she'd been lucky enough to sit inside it. She'd missed the first few fights after placing her bet and getting a ticket, and then finding the correct numbered gate for her seating area. At least the first few fights were with the older mechas; she only wanted to see the new models fighting.
Nessie went up the stairs into the arena and spied a single seat near the front of the railing. Lucky. She caught a few stares she walked down to the front—her ocean blue dress wasn't appropriate for a night out in the arena, but she hadn't had time to change. She'd rung her mother and left a message with the maid that she was coming home soon and not to worry. It was fortunate her mother was still laid up with a migraine and her father was busy with the re-election campaigns.
"Excuse me? Is that seat taken?" she asked at the end of the row.
"You want it love, you take it," answered a man.
"I will. Excuse me." She pushed past the man and then a couple, missing their toes, before coming to the free seat. She sat down on the hard plastic surface and looked out. She had a clear view of the arena, both entry points and the over-sized screen. Perfect.
"They can't have made the spider's legs so thin. They can't have. It's not technically possible." She heard a man nearby say. She clamped her jaw together to stop herself from interjecting. It was better not to correct people. Besides, it wasn't that long ago she had been in awe of those legs. She still was. It was those beautiful legs with two rotating joints that she hoped would give Sally an advantage. She had put money on it.
The puppy and emu were entertaining the crowd by chasing each other in the arena. From what Nessie could tell, the emu was winning because it kept pinching the puppy's tail. She laughed at their clowning behaviour and kept squirming in her seat, wanting the real fighting to begin. She was so close to the action, she reckoned that she would be able to see the sparks coming off the metal as they fought. Nessie pressed her lips together to stop herself from squealing and pinched her arm to make sure this wasn't a dream. Her eyes glued to the large doors, she waited impatiently for them to be opened.
"Welcome ladies and gentleman." Nessie sat up straight in her seat.
"For the first time tonight, welcome Sally Spider." The crowd roared, the people around her jumping up, yelling and screaming, and she did too, forgetting to behave like a lady. A few boos and hissing sounds mingled with the cheers. "Welcome the spider from her web. Her first time in the arena. Will she have enough venom to win?"
Sally crawled out into the dusty arena. Nessie couldn't see Joy inside. The front leg raised as if waving and the crowd's volume increased. Those legs are amazing. Then Sally reared back and moved her front legs, ready to strike. A wave of gasps rolled around the spectators. She looks beautiful.
Nessie's hands hurt from clapping so much.
"Aaaand Cate Crab for her second fight this year." Cate crab-walked out from the opposite door. Nessie's hands stilled. She didn't want to cheer for the Crab, even if it was only in good sportsmanship. Instead, caught in the moment, she hissed, even though people around her cheered. Cate's front claws clipped together fast and hard, razor insides capable of cutting and crushing other mechas.
"Watch out for those claws."
Nessie's stomach churned as she saw the raw power of Cate. She began to doubt the bet she had placed. It's too late, just enjoy this. But it wasn't easy as the partly-digested Dagwood Dog threatened to emerge from her stomach.
She placed her gloved hand to cover her mouth and made herself look at Sally who was turning around, baring the striking pose to the other side of the arena. The sight of the sexy spider eased her stomach. She could tell by the graceful movements Joy handled Sally well. Joy. Nessie glanced over at the crab scurrying across the arena. It was powerful. It would be a close fight.
"Aaaand finally, for her second appearance, Beli Beetle."
Again the crowd cheered and Nessie booed as the beetle scuttled out. It was much lower to the ground than the other two mechas, and she was sure that it wouldn't stand a chance.
The three mechas moved around the arena, snapping at each other and posing for the audience. Sally stopped in front of Nessie, waved her front leg, and then moved on, leaving Nessie wondering if Joy had seen her or not. She hoped so.
Slowly they left the arena, returning through the blackness of the doors they had entered. "Buuut first, we have some entertainment. Some oldies, but you love them."
She plonked back down in the seat, almost exhausted from yelling while the old mechas paraded around.
Sweat glistened on her skin and a fine layer of dust dampened the color of her dress, but Nessie felt more alive than ever. She was busting for the fight with Sally and Cate to start. Bring it on, ladies. Bring it on.
*~*~*
Joy exited from the arena feeling exhilarated. She went down back through the tunnel to wait in the garage until the call for the fight with Beli.
Sally had moved well, but the front legs were a little slow, and Joy wanted to have a look at the electrics. She had the time; it would be a bit tricky now that Sally was fully started and couldn't be turned off and restarted without overheating the electronics.
"Good work, ladies," said Jim, his voice cracking into her ear through the communicator system.
"You nearly stepped on me, Joy," said Daisy, Beli's Operator.
"Not my fault your mecha is so close to the ground," answered Joy.
"Yeah well, you don't want to do any damage before the fight, so watch it," said Daisy.
"Worried about losing?" Joy navigated Sally back into the garage and turned her around so she was ready to simply scurry out when it was time for the big fight.
"Not as much as you should be."
"Hey, I follow instructions, just like you do." The reminder didn't sit well with Joy. She had a fight with Daisy first; that one she could win, but it was the fight she had to lose against Kris that caused the bile to rise in her stomach. That was the main fight of the night. The fight everyone remembered.
She wrenched the communicator from her ear, no longer wanting to hear their chatter. I will do as I'm told, but I won't like it. Joy moved the communicator over the electronics, right in the position that would send feedback through it and give them a brief earache. "Idiots."
Joy got down from Sally. "Get the electrics testing unit. Quick."
"Here, ma'am." Oren handed her a small electric device. "I thought Sally looked great out there."
"Let's see if we can get her working a bit better for the fight. We've got a performance to put on." Great wasn't good enough. If she was going to lose, then she wanted Sally's impression on people to be better than great. Spectacular was what she wanted. Or amazing.
The test didn't show anything. Even though Joy tried different options, the results were the same. Everything was optimal.
"You're up soon, ma'am. Daisy is wanting your guts for garters and hasn't shut up about you nearly squashing her," said Oren.
"Yeah well, that's what happens to beetles," answered Joy. She wriggled out from underneath the main body and stood up, her cream dress skirt now spotted with patches of grime.
"She'll be alright. She's a beauty and that's all because of you."
"I want it to be perfect." She wiped her hands on a cloth he held out.
"Not in this business. That's what you tell me." He held out a bottle of water for her.
She resisted the urge to hit him and took the bottle. "Yeah, but ya don't have to tell me back."
"Sorry, ma'am."
"Have we been given the go ahead?"
"In five."
"Right." She drank half the water and handed the bottle back. Joy wanted to get out and get fighting. Get the fight over with Beli Beetle so she could be one step closer to giving Kris a little scare. Kris might have to win, but I have a few tricks to rock her world.
Joy got back into the Operating seat, strapped herself in and got ready. Not long now. She put the communicator back in her ear.
"Start walking out, Joy," said Jim.
Joy moved Sally forward. Tons of metal vibrated power and strength with each step and thundered into Joy's muscles as if the two of them were joined.
"Let's make this one quick, shall we?" Joy said.
"In your freakin' dreams," answered Daisy.
The gate opened slowly, letting in the bright lights of the arena. Sally scurried out. Joy was ready. "Oh, I'm not dreaming today, so you better wake up."
The two mecha insects faced off in the centre.
Joy swiped her front legs forward and cut off Beli's feelers.
"Oi, leave my machine in one piece."
"Afraid of a little fight, are we?" Joy scurried to the side to avoid the beetle's charge. It smashed into the wall behind them, causing the crowd above to scream and the rest of the audience to holler with excitement.
"Bring it on, Daisy. Bring it on. This one's mine."
"Only because I say so. Stop doing so much damage to Beli," yelled Jim.
His voice caused Joy's blood to boil. No pleasing him. "Can't help it."
"You can. Now win without giving me a large reconstruction debt."
"Sure thing, boss," said Joy. She was going to enjoy this fight and the next. Repairs were to be expected. If she had to put up with a fixed fight, then she was going to have some fun and flex Sally's ability.
Sally and Beli faced off against each other again. "Ready, Daisy?"
Joy went forward to finish off the beetle.
*~*~*
After enduring a series of fights between old mechas, Nessie hadn't lost any of her enthusiasm for wanting to see Sally in action. And Joy too. If anything, she was almost bursting for Sally to come back out into the arena.
Nessie had every faith Joy would win, as represented by the piece of paper in her purse.
Come on. It must be time now. Nessie had watched as Sally Spider crushed Beli Beetle. The fight had only been a starter, and she wanted the main meal. She fidgeted in her seat.
"Come on," yelled the man next to her. The mecha emu had come out on the stage again, but this time it was met with booing and rude comments that made Nessie's ears burn. A few empty cans had been hurled at the mecha. Security had come out in force, but that hadn't made a difference. People wanted the fight. Now.
"Bring out the real machines," yelled a woman nearby.
Nessie leant forward and gripped the metal railing. She agreed with them.
"Bring out Sally," she screamed with a force that she hadn't even known existed inside of her. Realizing she'd just behaved like a lout, she went to apologise, but no one paid her any attention and were chanting Sally's name.
"Sally, Sally, Sally." On the offbeat some yelled "Cate." The emu hissed and flapped his wings, looking rather lost in the arena and then ran out. People cheered. The real fight was about to start.
"For the main fight of the night."
Nessie could barely hear the voice through the speaker. Her ears were ringing from all the noise of people shouting around her.
"Sally Spider."
Nessie held her breath as Sally scurried into the arena. She looked fresh. Beli barely scratched her. Cate won't get much of a chance either. She tightened her grip on the railing, steadying herself as Sally marched past. Nessie blew a kiss to Sally and Joy. Good luck, ladies.
Sally paused in front of her, moved her front leg in a wave-like movement. Nessie blew another kiss, this one for Joy only.
"Win," she yelled. Her word lost in the multitude of voices around her. "Win," she yelled again.
Sally continued moving around the edge of the circle, revving the crowd into a frenzy of excitement. There was plenty of anticipation pulsing through Nessie as she leaned back for a moment to catch her breath. The thought of Joy, a woman who got to be with the mechas all the time, was exhilarating. All the things she wished to do. But there was something else. Ever since she'd put her arms around Joy's waist on the steambike an internal circuit had been completed, and she was drawn to Joy in a deep unexplainable way. For the first time, she knew that while she was ecstatic about the fight, she couldn't wait to see Joy again and kiss her again—plus a few other things, but they would have to wait until much later. That was, if Joy had the same attraction to her.
"Sally!" Nessie jumped up to get a better view as the Crab rushed into the ring, snapping its front claws. A knot formed in Nessie's stomach like a piece of metal had thudded into her.
The big screen flashed between images of the mechas and the crowd, but everyone was watching the arena and the mechas instead of the screens. Flares had been lit on the other side of the arena, banners were waved high, and the security, with their blue and red lights flashing on their helmets, rushed to put a dampener on things and settle down the crowd's energy.
"Fight, fight, fight."
Sally and Cate kept moving around the ring. Nessie held her breath. They faced off each other in the centre.
"Winner takes all."
Calmness shivered through the crowd as they waited to see who would start. Who would inflict the first damage? The crowd watched closely, not wanting to miss one second of the real-time performance.
Nessie's hand moved to her throat and she kept the other on the railing to stop herself from falling over. She felt as if she was about to burst from the excitement palpitating through her body.
In a flash, it started. It was so quick Nessie missed it even though she was looking straight at the mechas. She gasped as she watched the aftermath. Sally fell sideways from a single blow. The mechas moved fast now that the real fighting had begun. Nessie blinked. Cate now stood over Sally, a leg in one of her claws. She was ready to clamp down.
"No! No! No!" Nessie screamed. Those beautiful legs.
Cate's claws closed. Sally's severed leg tumbled to the ground, sparking electricity from the cords poking out. Nessie screamed, long and hard, the sound ripping out of her throat as if she'd been the one whose leg had been severed.
Cate picked up another of Sally's legs.
"Nooooo!" Nessie yelled, her blood rushing from her head and collecting in her toes, leaving her lightheaded. She couldn't take much more of this. She swayed on her feet.
"Ya all right, Miss?" asked the man next to her. He didn't wait for an answer before turning back to the delight in the centre of the arena.
Nessie nodded. Swayed. I will not … She fell backwards into her seat as if she simply had to sit down right there and then.
*~*~*
"Told you this would be easy."
Kris's voice irritated Joy. "I'm only losing on instruction. You wouldn't beat me in a real fight."
"Yeah right, you keep telling yourself that," said Kris.
Cate's other claw clamped closed and severed another leg. Joy cursed.
"Language," said Jim.
Joy repeated the swear words a few more times as she pulled at levers and pressed buttons, trying to get out from under the Crab. But she just couldn't get enough power. It didn't help that she had now lost two legs and leaked electricity.
"Come on baby, not like this." She said to Sally. Not like this. You did so much better in the practice sessions. She tried to flip Sally back on her feet, but Cate pushed her back down to the ground.
Kris laughed.
Joy's eyes flooded with hot water. Come on. Just one punch.
The hydraulics inside Sally strained against the weight of the Crab. Just a little more.
"I don't think next time Jim will have to tell you to lose a fight. I don't think you have it in you to win," said Kris.
Joy mumbled obscenities at Kris while trying to concentrate on holding the lever in place to prevent Sally from powering down. Sally shook under the strain.
"Don't break your machine now." Kris moved Cate's claws to pick up another leg. She was enjoying snipping off the spider's legs way too much.
Joy put her weight behind the lever while she moved the legs, sending them in a chaotic wave. It stopped any more legs from being cut off—for the moment.
Kris made the claw slam down on Sally's body, the movement almost knocking the breath out of Joy, tossing her around in the seat like a sideshow ride out of control. Her head crashed into the console as the responses built into the chair struggled to keep up with the rapid and unexpected movement. A sharp pain exploded in her head and a warmth trickled down the side of her face. She lost the purchase on the lever. The hydraulics began to power down.
No, you don't. She pushed forward to reach the lever before too much power was lost.
"Good work, Joy. Now let Kris finish things," said Jim. The words fired into her ear through the communicator. A fire flared inside of her. No!
This wasn't why she had been working so hard for all these years. She hadn't sacrificed relationships or being close to her family to be taken advantage of when she had put her own sweat and tears into Sally Spider. She wasn't about to roll over and be squashed. She deserved to win. Sally Spider deserved to win.
Come on baby, let's show them who is the real winner here. She pressed the driving stick forward and tried to jump Sally back on her feet. But Kris was ready and pushed her back down.
"I'm not letting you go anywhere. So stop wasting power and take the loss on the chin." Kris's words fuelled the change of heart in Joy. She wasn't about to turn her chin for Kris or for Jim. She'd take the consequences later, but now she wasn't going to lose without fighting. Really fighting.
Cate's claws scrapped down the back of Sally, sending sparks into the air and the crowd into a screaming frenzy. Joy's hand, slipping with sweat, struggled to keep purchase on the lever. A claw slammed down on the exoskeleton of the Spider's back, sending heavy shockwaves through Joy. She lost her grip and her head spun from the previous injury. Bile rose to her mouth, and for a moment she closed her eyes.
"Good girl," said Kris.
The wave of nausea passed. Joy swallowed a mouthful of bile. She opened her eyes to see Kris moving Cate around to urge the crowd on.
Joy wasted no time. She wacked the lever up, pressed hard on the throttle, and pushed forward. Get up. She willed Sally to do what she wanted. Please, get up.
Sally's body shook violently with the strain and lack of power needed to stand up. Joy's body vibrated too, but she kept the throttle on and didn't take her hand off the lever.
Cate began to turn back around.
"Now!" Joy screamed. Sally lunged upwards with only six legs. She struggled to keep her balance.
"Yes!" Joy flicked through the levers and switches like a mad woman righting the Spider's balance so more of the weight was at the front, which meant that she wouldn't be able to do her strike pose. But she had something else in mind.
"You're making this worse for yourself," said Kris, raising Cate's claws.
"What are you doing?" yelled Jim.
"Winning." Joy smiled to herself. "I've got a little surprise for you both."
A series of razors moved out of the six remaining legs. Then Joy made Sally move around in a circle, getting faster and faster. "You've all heard of a spinning spider. The Golden Orb."
Joy moved Sally forward. Razors sharp enough to cut metal moved out from each leg, one after the other as Sally spun around. Joy began to feel dizzy and her head throbbed, but she kept her Spider on course.
Spinning towards Cate.
One claw dropped to the ground and then the other spun away as the razors shaved their way towards the body of the crab.
*~*~*
Air fanned around Nessie's face. Hot air, tainted with exhaust fumes and dust. The inside of her nostrils burned. Her awareness pulled away from the darkness, slowly. "What happened?"
A man fanned his hat over her face. "You missed the best fight."
Nessie groaned. She felt like she'd been steamrolled and her head had been fogged with steam. Then she remembered. Sally on the ground. Her legs being snipped off.
"Sally?" She sat forward. Her stomach contracted and she swallowed hard.
The man whistled. "Now that is some mecha beauty. I'm going to back that one in the future. A spider winning? Who ever thought that a spider would beat a crab?"
"She won?" Nessie asked, her hand on her head and her eyes squinted closed against the throb in her mind.
"Won?" The man let out a loud whoop. "She more than bloody won! Take a look." He helped Nessie to stand.
Nessie sighed in relief as she saw Joy standing on top of Sally waving to the crowd. Cate Crab was a gutted mess. Kris kicked at the broken metal parts of Cate lying in the dirt.
"Joy." Nessie smiled. She did it. Then she fainted once more, this time missing the seat behind her.
*~*~*
"Easy now." A nurse rushed over to Nessie's side to help her sit up. "Ya had a nasty fall."
Nessie groaned as the throb in her head set in like a winter's storm. She groaned again as she flopped back into the pillows. The tent was a small first aid area, and Nessie lay on the only bed. The floor was a dusty tarpaulin and a simple gas lamp hung from the ceiling. There was some light outside still creeping in through the cracks, but it was edged with red in the last light of the day.
"I'm OK," said Nessie, her breath short from the exertion.
"I'm sure ya are, but ya better stay here for a bit. I don't want ya to be brought back on a stretcher." She waved her finger at Nessie in warning.
"No, no. Of course, no." Nessie moved trying to find a more comfortable position. Sally had won. Which meant that she had winnings to collect, and Joy was expecting her to turn up. Joy. She had to go and see Joy. She swung her legs over the side of the bed.
"No, you don't."
"Excuse me, but I have a very important date with a young woman, and I don't want to keep her waiting," said Nessie. The spin of the world slowed as she paused at the edge of the bed. The nurse tut-tutted at Nessie, but didn't stop her from getting up.
Nessie's back ached, making it difficult to move. But she didn't let that stop her. She wanted to see Joy, but first the winnings. She'd feel much more comfortable with the money back in her purse.
Nessie brushed down her skirt, making sure that it hung neatly. "Thank you, ma'am."
"Ya better take it easy, girl. Don't wanna see ya back 'ere." She glared at Nessie.
Nessie simply nodded her head in acknowledgment and walked out.
*~*~*
"You're done. Finished. I own you now," Jim yelled. He paced angrily back and forth near where a damaged Sally Spider was parked in the garage. "What were you thinking?"
Joy kept her mouth closed. She wasn't about to say anything. She'd never seen Jim this angry. She expected him to rant a little, but not this eruption of anger.
"No, don't tell me." He ran his hands though this dark hair. "I don't want to know what goes on in that crazy head of yours."
Joy kept standing, her shoulders back, but the more Jim spoke the more her stomach knotted. Done for. Her debt was beyond ridiculous now, at least at a level based on what she earned couldn't be paid back in two lifetimes. She glanced over at Sally. But worth it.
Jim slammed his hand down into the side of the wall. Then he shook his hand furiously. "I sure as hell own Sally. You're never going to Operate another Mecha."
"No." The realisation hit Joy hard in the stomach, and she doubled over slightly. "I have to be able to drive."
"Yeah well, you had simple instructions, and that was to lose."
"It's only a one fight. You know that Sally's career is better off if she wins the main fight." Heat burned behind her eyes. She'd been riding the cloud of elation after winning the fight, but now she'd crashed. I did the right thing.
"One fight?!" He turned and glared at her. "You just had to lose one fight."
"Did you owe someone a favor? Got into debt?" Joy spat back. Jim's face reddened. It was as if he'd become a lava flow, and she could see the steam coming out of his ears, nose and mouth. "Sally's just as much my mecha as yours. She's my design."
The veins on Jim's neck stood out. His cheeks puffed out as if full of hot air and were about to burst. He stepped towards Joy, lifting his hand. "How dare you …"
"What is going on in here?" Nessie asked, her voice firm and sharp. She walked up and stood between Jim and Joy.
"Get out of my way," said Jim.
Nessie raised her eyebrow and refused to move. She held up the wrecking bar she'd picked up when walking into the garage. Jim didn't come any closer.
"Now what seems to be the issue here? I thought Sally fought beautifully."
"Nothing that concerns you, lady. Now beat it." Jim puffed. His stale breath caused Nessie to wrinkle her nose.
Nessie held up the wrecking bar. "Oh, I'm not going anywhere until this is sorted out."
"Jim wanted me to lose the fight, but I didn't. Now he's claiming two life debts," said Joy, grateful that Nessie was here, but unsure how she could really help. Dressed in a long dress, tight waist, she didn't look like someone who could win a fight—even holding a wrecking bar.
"You tried to fix the fight?" asked Nessie.
"I ordered it. I can do that. I'm the boss." Jim took a step closer to her.
"Oh no." Nessie moved the bar backwards as if getting ready to take a swipe at him. It was enough to make him hesitate. "Don't come any closer. Trust me. I want to hit you, so stand there and let's sort this out like civilized people."
Jim spat on the ground.
Nessie gave him a stern look. "You will do well to remember I want to hit you." She kept the wrecking bar raised.
Workers had come to look, but they kept their distance, watching and waiting. Joy hated that they were witnessing this. But now I guess I'm one of them. Her eyes welled with hot tears at the thought. Don't cry. She took a deep breath. Jim had stopped threatening her and she could handle herself in a fight, but she wasn't sure how things would go if she had to keep an eye out for Nessie. She broadened her stance and flexed her hands by the side of her body.
"Right, tell me Mr. Jim," said Nessie. "How much does Joy owe you."
"A lot. Too much to pay in a lifetime." He spat and glared at both women.
"How much?" Nessie repeated, keeping her face nonplussed at his disgusting habits. "Keep in mind that if it's two life debts that you've been ripping her off and others around here, and well I'm sure I can get someone into look at your accounts." She let the bar fall into her hand.
Jim swallowed hard. "It's none of your business."
Joy's skin prickled and she flexed her hands once more. Just one punch.
"No, it is," said Nessie.
"If you can't do business with the men, then you should get out."
"Well now, I met an interesting person outside. Now what was his name? Oh, that's right. Mr. Jenkins."
Jim's eyes widened.
"He is waiting outside for you, but if you are much longer he will be coming in, and you know how little he likes to talk."
"Yeah, right."
"He told me a thing or two which I find rather interesting. First was the debt you have with him. Second, that you've not paid your workers for some time."
"So what? They owe me," he growled. Sweat beaded on his forehead.
"These are your options. Take the money I give you, then go out and clear your debt with Mr. Jenkins. I've spoken to him, and I know the amount. But this will clear the debt you have with Joy, and I will now own half of your business."
Joy couldn't believe it. Nessie could be my boss?
"Ya dreaming, sweetheart."
"Or you wait in here for Mr. Jenkins."
Jim laughed. "I'm not scared of you."
"Mr. Jenkins is ready for you," called out Nessie. She stepped back, pulling Joy with her.
"Where is the mole?" Footsteps thudded on the concrete floor.
"I didn't mean it. I'll take the money," said Jim to Nessie.
"Too late." Nessie looked at him. "You had appropriate time to accept the offer. You made your choice clear."
"A man can change his mind."
"There you are, old chap," said Mr. Jenkins. "We have some talking to do." His men grabbed Jim before he could run away.
"No, no, I've got your money," said Jim as he struggled against being held. "That bitch took it from me."
"That bitch is my daughter," said Mr. Jenkins as he folded his arms over his chest.
Joy gasped. Daughter?
"Sorry, I … I … I didn't mean …"
"Take him away. I don't want my daughter to witness this." The men dragged Jim away.
"Please go easy on him Father," said Nessie.
"After the threats he gave you, I will make sure he gets what he deserves."
"And you will sort out the paperwork tonight."
"Your mother isn't going to like this."
"I can afford to do it myself. Besides, mother doesn't know that you've been gambling again or the sort of people you've been keeping company with. It's not what you want to be talked about right before the election." Nessie smiled sweetly at her father.
Mr. Jenkins groaned. "Don't go doing anything else until I've sorted this out." He strode off.
Joy stared after him. Her mouth open wide. "What … was … how?"
Nessie laughed and dropped the wrecking bar on the ground. "Close your mouth or you'll end up catching flies."
"Was that really your father?"
"Yes. With his help, I can afford to buy this Mecha Circus thanks to me putting a bet on Sally winning and you actually winning." She put her hands on her hips. "I can't believe you thought about losing. Do you know how much money I would've lost?"
Joy took a deep breath. "I'm glad I didn't lose then."
"So am I. Now thanks to you, I have my own money."
"Really?" Joy didn't want to get excited too soon. She'd already crashed from the elation of winning and didn't want a second crash within a few hours.
"Yes. For certain."
"Oi. Get outta here," Joy grumbled to the lackeys hanging around. They didn't stay to be asked twice and hurried away.
Joy stepped in close to Nessie and looked into her brown eyes. They were like the perfect pools of rich oil. She ran her hands up the bare skin of Nessie's arms, feeling her skin come alive with bumps.
"Thank you." Joy leaned in and softly kissed Nessie, finally getting a full taste of her salty pomegranate flavour. She pulled Nessie into her and felt her relax into the embrace.
"Excuse me," a boy stammered.
Joy glared over at the boy, ready to give him one angry lecture for the interruption.
The boy looked down to the ground. "Mr. Jenkins … I mean, your father wants to speak to you, Nessie."
"Tell him I'm coming," said Nessie.
The boy hurried away.
"Can't you stay?" asked Joy. Now the fight was over, her debt gone, she had a chance to get to know Nessie some more. The Mecha outfit would probably be leaving tomorrow. She wanted more time with Nessie.
"I'm a businesswoman now," said Nessie, stepping away. "Don't worry. You'll see me again."
"Promise?"
"Yes." Nessie's eyelashes fluttered, transferring the same movement to Joy's heart. "But I don't need to promise."
"But you'll be gone soon."
Nessie put her finger on Joy's lips. Joy's pulse thundered.
"I've got paperwork to sort out. If all goes well, we leave tomorrow," said Nessie.
Joy moved Nessie's finger away from her lips. "We? Tomorra?"
Nessie smiled. Patted down her dress. "I'm coming out on the circuit. It's part of the deal with my father."
"You're sure?"
"I've never been more sure." Nessie smiled.
"Good. I look forward to seeing you later," said Joy.
"Me too."
*~*~*
Nessie dropped her suitcases in the hallway next to the door of the parlor. It was time to say goodbye to her mother. Her father had done an excellent job at getting the paperwork done quickly, and they were leaving today. There wasn't any point staying longer. The Mechas could be fixed during space travel to the next moon. Not much fighting could be done tonight on account of damage that the Mechas had received the previous night. Delaying the departure meant losing money, and Nessie was determined to show that she would run a Mecha Circus with profit and honesty.
Kris had stormed off when she learned that Nessie was her new boss, but Joy assured her that Kris would settle down. She was a great Operator and worth keeping. Nessie's stomach twisted. I have a lot to learn. Not for the first time since deciding on this journey, she wondered if this was the right thing to do. It's not going to be easy. But at least she had Joy by her side, and that would make all the difference. Simply thinking of Joy eased the tightness in her stomach. She entered the sitting room.
"I don't know why your father has agreed to this," said Mrs. Jenkins. She picked up a cup of tea and took a sip, her little pinkie standing upright. "You should be staying here."
"It's time I left." She stood in a short ruffled light green dress of mid-thigh length, her waist emphasised with a black lacy corset and her legs protected with black tights and knee-high boots.
"Joy seems a lovely lady. She can stay here with you. I will enjoy the extra company."
Nessie sighed. "I have to make my own way."
"No, you don't."
"I'll be back mother." Nessie meant it.
She'd finally found the courage to go out and explore the world, and she wasn't going to delay this any longer. There was also Joy and potential relationship. Joy. There was plenty of exploring to be done. There was so much more to come, and a ripple of excitement fluttered low in her abdomen. I can't wait.
"You better." Her mother sobbed and dabbed her eyes with her lace handkerchief. "You better."
"Of course, I will." She rushed over and hugged her mother.
"You better write to me, not just send videos on the communicator." Mrs. Jenkins sobbed. "Every day, otherwise I'll send your father to come and get you."
"Yes mother, I'll be sure to write. I'll be back before you know it."
Mrs. Jenkins burst into tears.
"I've got to go. They're waiting for me." She was now the new part-owner of the Mecha Arena Pty Ltd, along with the secret investor—her father. Jim had been kicked off the moon as soon as the contracts had been signed last night. He wasn't about to bother her or Joy anytime soon since he was on his way to prison. Her father had made sure of that.
"Go, go." Mrs. Jenkins sobbed. Nessie gave her mother one last hug and then left as tears escaped from her eyes. "I'll be back before you know it."
Her mother waved her handkerchief and tried to smile. Nessie closed the parlor door and picked up her suitcases, one in each hand. She could hear her mother crying loudly. For a moment, a stab of guilt hit her. No, I have to do this. She walked out the front door.
Joy waved at her at the end of the garden gate. Nessie smiled back.
"Here, let me help you with them." Joy rushed forward and took the cases. "What have you got in here?" She strained under the weight.
"Just a few things."
"Your entire bedroom?"
"Of course not. A few important things for the trip."
"You won't be needing much." Joy winked at her.
"Really Joy, not here in public," said Nessie. They tied the suitcases to the steambike.
"Are ya sure about this?" asked Joy.
"Never been more certain in my life." Nessie kissed Joy.
Joy blushed. "Come on then, let's get this journey started."