Circus Escape

by Lilliana Rose

  "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."