The Gauntlet

Chapter 13 - Ready or Not

Codi had gotten used the emotional rollercoaster that was her life. This wasn't the first time she'd been slammed into the dirt and had to pick herself up again. For a few days the cloud of impotent futility had persisted, over the weeks since the tournament her spirits had been buoyed again by the new training regimen. Being able to watch herself in action had given her a whole new slew of things to work on.

Vasco urged them into using the suits to their full potential. All of Brax-Delta's combatants seemed hamstrung by the same problem: they couldn't quite believe what they were capable of doing. A lot of it, Codi discovered, was about suspending disbelief.

So on they worked, fighting and learning. After their defeat in the tournament the group relented under pressure from Vasco and began using the R.E.M.T devices again, though not as intensively. Every third day they would brave the negative effects of the rigs.

Outside in the Brax-Delta arena, Codi watched from her perch atop one of the pillars as Max and Lita practiced their full combat sparring.

"She's not using the suit," Lucas commented from below her.

Watching more closely, Codi nodded her agreement. Lita still seemed tentative about utilising the exoskeleton to its full potential. The things opened up whole new bizarre styles of fighting, melding the martial arts with the ability to leap a dozen feet high, virtually run up walls and lift weights at least triple what they would normally manage. Lita was reluctant to trust her new abilities.

Meeting in midair, the pair exchanged blows several meters up. Codi winced as the Lita was thrown head over heels by a punishing kick to the stomach. Without being anchored to the ground Max had no way to stop himself flying backwards just as far, but while he hit the ground in a controlled crouch, his opponent slammed into it and rolled several more feet before she came to a halt. Max didn't follow up his advantage, instead striding over and helping his team mate up. As they began walking over Codi pushed off and dropped from the top of the pillar – a height of four meters – and landed in a crouch, straightening up as the pair reached them.

"Well, that went well," Lita muttered.

"You still need to buck up a little," Codi replied. "Don't just wear the suit, use it."

"I know, I know, I know." She removed the head-brace and shook her hair free. "It's just difficult."

"We've only got three more days of training left. Then we're off to the Mayhems and we've got to be ready."

Lita shot her a fiery look but said nothing more on the matter.

"Simmer, Codi," Max said. "We all know that."

"Assuming we can get there," Lazlo put in.

"I told you my dad said yes. If the ship can't handle it…well there's nothing we can do about it."

Glancing at the outside arena's timing screen, Codi saw that it was almost ten o'clock, curfew time for the academy. Making a circular motion with one finger she inclined her head towards the exit. "Alright, looks like that's us for today."

She led the way back towards the academy, walking slowly despite the exoskeleton. They'd discovered that attempting to do things at a normal pace while wearing the suits had proven a very effective method of training control.

Codi reached to press the door release, but before she could the retracting plate of metal slid back, revealing Vasco standing with a grin plastered on his face. She c****d her head quizzically to one side.

"What are you looking so happy about?"

"Ladies and gentlemen," Vasco announced with uncharacteristic glee. "We have our transportation."

"My dad?"

"His ship might just be a pleasure yacht, but it's top of the line," he continued. "The engineer team just completed their analysis. Tomorrow they'll retrofit the cargo bay and barring any mishaps we'll be good to go. There's nothing stopping us: we're going to the Gauntlet."

Codi literally jumped for joy. In doing so she momentarily forgot about the exoskeleton and ended up shooting a dozen feet into the air before adjusting to land back among the group. She straightened up sheepishly to a chorus of good-natured laughter.

"Couldn't have put it better myself," Lucas chuckled. She grinned and gave him a playful shove that sent him tumbling.

*

Two days later the group assembled, ready to board the ship that would carry them to the Gauntlet and whatever awaited them there.

The formidable vault door was already open when they arrived, and she could see Vasco's silhouette inside the room, doing something to one of the casket cases. The machines had been removed from their standing positions placed in frames lying down, each frame sporting two handles at one end so they could be maneuvered. Each exoskeleton was held aloft by a mag-generator and hooked up to a barrel-shaped portable power unit. Spears of blue light penetrated the power unit casings, bathing the room in an eerie electric glow.

"You all set?" he said without looking round.

"We're ready," Codi answered for the others.

"Then everybody, grab your suits and let's get this show on the road."

Looking to the others, Codi motioned with her head towards the suits before darting over to her casket. She gazed down at the perfect surface of her armour, at the printed white letters 'C. JAMES' that shone on the left side of the breast plate. A feeling like a million tiny fireworks cracked in her stomach and she allowed herself a shudder. This was really about to happen. She gripped the handles at the foot of the casket and rotated it to face the door.

"Alright then," Vasco said, stepping out into the corridor. "Looks like we're not getting out of this."

They set off through the halls again, Vasco leading the way. Codi's heart began beating faster with excitement. She felt that same rush that accompanied winding up her tutors in school, breaking rules and getting into fights. For the longest time she felt certain to amount to nothing, but here she was, ready to prove to everyone and everything that she could be more than just a violent, struggling orphan.

As she walked through the corridor, however, she thought of Vasco. Sure there'd been a rough start, but she got over it and now she…respected him. It wasn't a word she used or a concept she felt often, but for him she'd tried to put her volcanic temper in a box and learn. For him, and for Barrow, wherever he was.

Stepping out into the expanse of the arena she blinked as a fat raindrop smacked her in the eye. First one, then uncountable thousands followed as the group emerged into a battering rainstorm. The rain clattered harmlessly off the transparent casing of the exoskeleton and the protective sheath around the power generator. Codi laughed through the rivulets of water running down her hair and face and blew raindrops from the tip of her nose.

"Enjoying yourself?" Lita grunted having moved up alongside her. She shoved her drenched black hair out of her eyes with one hand and scowled.

"Lighten up," Codi replied. "It's only a bit of water."

"I don't like the rain. Makes my hair go all stringy and knotted." Seeing Codi's smirk, her scowl deepened. "What?"

"Nothing, nothing. It's just…well I never really pay much attention to how I look."

"A teenage girl who doesn't care how she looks?" Lita said.

"Never had the time."

"I guess you spent too much of it getting into mischief."

Codi looked at her companion, but found the other girl smiling back at her. She shrugged and nodded. "You could say that. And here, well I don't think looks are all that important. Then again, I don't have eyes for anybody in the team." She grinned.

"Excuse me?"

"Well, I'm no expert, but you do seem to notice whenever Max walks into the room."

"Hey-,"

"Oh, yeah, I have powers of observation." Codi's grin broadened upon seeing Lita squirm. "You're always fiddling with your hair when he's around, trying to catch his eye, taking his side. And you don't like to hit him when you're sparring."

Lita elbowed her lightly. "Give it a rest."

"Just as well he's not too sharp," she chuckled. "Or he'd be onto you in a heartbeat." Then something else occurred to her. "Oh, and just think, you'll get a whole day cooped up on a ship with him!"

"Oh, shut up." Lita scuffed one foot against the ground. "It's not like there's not going to be time at the Gauntlet for any of that."

"I'm sure you'll manage." Codi winked. Then they reached the rear exit of the academy and further conversation was halted as Vasco stepped forward. He rattled out a code on the panel beside the small rectangular door then gripped the handle. A clunk sounded and the door swung open, revealing the street that passed between the bulk of the academy and the nearest warehouse. A cumbersome hauler waited for them, its rear compartment gaping invitingly, the hum of its engine just audible beneath the rainfall. Then a figure emerged from the dark, sodden but cheerful.

"Mr. Barrow!" Codi exclaimed.

"All aboard!" her old disciplinarian declared, making a sweeping gesture toward the ramp leading up into the rear compartment. "By my understanding we've got a flight to catch." Codi needed no second bidding. Eagerly she led the way up the ramp, pushing her gear along in front of her.

Once the others made their way in to join her they all looked back down the ramp to where Vasco stood. He gave them a thumbs-up signal.

"I'm afraid this hulk only has two seats up front," he informed them. "So sit tight. The port's not far." He disappeared from sight and a moment later the cargo lorry's ramp rose, sealing them inside. A row of lights long the ceiling, however, ensured they didn't have to spend the short ride in darkness. Codi felt the gentle swings as the vehicle made a handful of turns, but barely twenty minutes later they lurched to a halt. The ramp lowered with an electrical buzz and the Gauntlet team gratefully piled out.

Codi gazed at the building like a child in a toy store. The immense domed bulk of the port rose like a metal hill in the middle of a clearing in the urban forest, its exterior studded with blinking white lights. As she watched a ship came descending from orbit, its underside still glowing a lurid orange, engines blazing in the night as it manoeuvred. Eventually it sank into one of the landing bays out of sight.

"Well, there she is," Vasco said. "Kantha Port."

"It's big," Lazlo commented.

"Wait till you see the one on Earth." Vasco flashed a smile and continued on. The group joined the flow of people into the tunnel-like archway that was the space-port's main entrance. The interior walls were a brass colour, illuminated by rows of tubular lighting built into the ceiling. When they reached the ticket gates Vasco handed them their boarding passes. Just as they were about to set off again, though, Codi noticed that one member of the group didn't receive a pass.

"Mr. Barrow?" She let go of the exoskeleton, letting it hover on its own.

"Sorry, Codi."

"You're not coming?"

"I guess I'll just have to settle for watching on the tele-screens." He smiled. "Besides, space travel makes me queasy."

"But I…" Codi floundered for the words. It didn't seem fair. "You should be there too."

Barrow shook his head. "No, it's you who deserves to be there, Codi."

She bit her lip, struggled with self-consciousness for a moment, then stepped forward and hugged him. "Thanks for everything."

He returned the embrace. "Good luck, kid. Do us proud."

"I promise."

"Now go on." He stepped back motioned to the ticket gates. "Don't want to keep your ship waiting."

Codi nodded, feeling her eyes beginning to well up. Taking a steadying breath she wrenched her gaze away and gripped the handles of the exoskeleton frame again.

They followed Vasco through the ticket gates where a surly, shabbily dressed attendant ticked off their boarding cards before allowing them passage. Then they were inside the port itself, where the flow of life remained constant. People bustled from bay to bay, some boarding commercial liners, others freighters, and a few joined Codi and her companions on their way to the private ship bays. Winding through a handful of corridors they turned into a large open space marked ‘Bay 27-Alpha.' Inside that space sat their transportation.

Codi let her eyes wander over the space ship in amazement. Even though this model was just a small private vessel it still filled her with exhilaration knowing it would be taking her across the stars within the next few hours. Its sleek, oblong hull almost glowed, the silver outer plating burnished and shining in the light. Two wings protruded like giant blades from either side of the hull and she could see the lowered boarding ramp at the ship's rear.

"Nice ride," she murmured to Max out of the corner of her mouth.

He said nothing but gave her an awkward smile. Then a bawling, jovial voice came ripping through the hanger.

"Ah-ha! So this motley crew is Kantha's finest, eh?" it boomed. Codi turned to see a man who she could only assume was Max's father striding towards them. He stood even taller than Max, clad in a long jacket of deep purple. Thinning, iron-coloured hair was combed into a neat crop on the dome of his head and he examined them through an antique monocle. A cane swung lazily from his left hand.

"Mr. Lannigan." Vasco said, extending a hand.

"Yes, I suppose I am!" Max's father shook the proffered hand heartily. "Good to see you again, Mr. Vasco. I can't say I envy the job you have, but I'm happy to give you a helping hand along the way." He looked over the group quickly. "I can't wait to see the five of you mix it up in a few days. Especially you, Max, m' boy!"

"Thank you for helping us," Lita said.

"Oh, think nothing of it. You should have seen young Max's face when he came slinking into my study. He looked like an ashamed dog. I couldn't have told him no." Mr. Lannigan clapped his son across the back with a grin. Codi couldn't help but smile at the display. Max's dad seemed to fit the ‘eccentric billionaire' label in every way. She caught Lucas's eye and the burly twin raised both eyebrows, as if to say: ‘didn't see that coming.'

"Right then," Mr. Lannigan chuckled. "From what I hear we don't want to be lingering around this place for too much longer. All aboard the Jabberwocky!"

"The what?" Codi whispered to Max as they followed.

He simply shook his head. "Don't even ask."

Walking up the boarding ramp, Codi stared around the ships interior as Max's father continued talking.

"The main living space is in the front end," he declared. "However, as we've got an unexpected passenger list not everyone will be enjoying all the comforts of home. I'm afraid you'll all be sleeping in the cargo compartment. Plenty of blankets and pillows to spare mind, just not sleeping space. It'll be bumpy-,"

"It'll do fine," Vasco cut him off. "Thank you again."

"Well then, Max, come get yourself settled up front while I get the old girl warmed up."

"Err…" Max hesitated. "Dad, if it's okay, I think I'll stay back here with the others."

Mr. Lannigan considered this for a moment, the grinned again. "As you wish, m' boy. I'll be up front if you need anything. Get settled in folks and enjoy your stay. We have a twenty two hour trip to Earth."