Chapter 42 A Lesson in Humility

Aria opened her mouth, but Sierra wasn’t finished.

“So, Miss Genius, if you’re so perfect, why are you even here? Go pilot already and leave us all alone if you’re so far ahead of us! Because I’m not letting you mess this up for me. I’m serious about this, and your showing up and raising the bar is making it impossible for us to keep up. On top of that, you trying to snatch my partner! And I’m not going to let you have him!”

“If you brought me out here to throw a tantrum, you’re wasting both our time, Sierra. Just say what you need to say.”

“Alright then.”

She snapped her fingers, and a burly guy stepped out from the shadows behind one of the sheds. His face was unfamiliar, likely someone she’d recruited from another class. His grin showed he was more than ready to roughen someone up.

Sierra continued, her voice lowering.

“I’ve arranged a little lesson in humility for you, so maybe you’ll think twice before showing off and ruining things for the rest of us.”

The guy took another step toward Aria, blocking her way out, his smirk growing wider.

"Nothing personal,” he said with a shrug, his voice low.

“Just helping out a friend. Maybe that’ll teach you to play nice. Sierra here just wants to make sure you understand your place, Hale. We don’t like it when newcomers act like they’re top dog.”

Aria burst out laughing, "Haha, oh wow! This is fun, very good! Sierra, I already thought you were interesting after seeing you try to go toe-to-toe with VR mutants, but this? You’re really going for it, huh? Getting a guy to rough me up like we’re in some cheap action flick?”

 She wiped a fake tear from her eye, her grin wide and sharp.

 “I gotta say, I think I like you even more now!”

"Alright then, big boy! You came here to show me my place, right? Go on - show me what you’ve got!” 

She pointed to her cheek, giving it a solid tap with her finger.

 “Here, I’ll give you a free shot. Just one. Right here.” 

She leaned in closer, taunting him, "Don’t be shy. Give it your best shot! I want to see if you hit as hard as you talk.”

The man hesitated, glancing at Sierra. Aria laughed even louder, catching the flicker of doubt between them.

“Oh, come on! Don't chicken out now!” she taunted, “I mean, really, you’re gonna back down just because I’m actually ready for you? What, were you expecting me to cry and beg? You’re the big hero Sierra hired to ‘put me in my place,’ right? So show me what you’ve got!”

The man turned to Sierra, scratching the back of his head.

 "Whoa, hold up - is she crazy or something? You better transfer me those credits now, girl. I’m not putting myself on the line for nothing here! Look, I don’t run a charity - I need credits, now."

Sierra scoffed, crossing her arms.

 "What, you think I’m that dumb? You’d ditch me the moment I transfer it over! No way, we had a deal. You do it, then you get paid. Simple as that!" She glared at him, practically daring him to walk away.

The man let out a frustrated grunt, clearly unhappy. He turned back toward Aria, muttering under his breath, "You better pay for making this so difficult.”

Aria threw her head back, letting out another laugh that echoed through the alley.

 "Oh, what’s this?" she taunted, "Already arguing? Conflict in paradise, huh? So much for ‘putting me in my place’! I thought you two had it all figured out! What happened to that bold plan of showing me what I deserve? Come on - you talked a big game, so let’s see you back it up! Don't be scared, you got a free shot!"

The man stepped in closer, his eyes narrowing as he leaned down, speaking low so only Aria could hear. 

"Listen, I don’t know what your game is here, but let me be clear - I’m not some joke, alright? I’ll finish this in one hit, I don’t mess around with dragging things out. I’m here for the credits, not for a grudge. Like I said, nothing personal, just hard times.”

Before he could continue, Sierra’s voice cut through, her tone sharp and impatient.

 "Stop mumbling and just roughen her up already! We don’t have all day! Someone could walk by any second!"

Aria looked up at him with an exaggerated pout. 

"Aww, what a noble guy," she taunted, her grin widening.

 "He’s so concerned about my well-being! Just here for the credits, nothing personal and all that - how sweet!" She tilted her head, tapping her cheek with her finger in a playful dare.

 "Alright, big guy, let’s get on with it, then. As promised, you get a free shot. Right here," she tapped her cheek again, sticking her tongue against it for intensity. 

"But don’t waste it - make it count.”

 "You're crazy, you know that? But whatever, if you want this, I’ll make it quick," he muttered, reloading his fists.

He wasn’t just some thug - he was one of the academy’s top students in hand-to-hand combat, known for the power he packed into each punch. With a powerful swing, his knuckles connected with Aria’s cheek, snapping her head to the side as a streak of blood appeared on her face. Aria's eyes stayed sharp, barely blinking, as the impact registered. 

Sierra’s face twisted in shock, and she shouted, “Hey, idiot! I said rough her up, not bloody her up! You're going too far! I just wanted you to push her around so she would know her place, not to leave her bruised and bloody!”

The man staggered back, clutching his hand and staring in disbelief. 

“Stupid! That’s my blood on her face!” he shouted, shaking out his bruised hand.

 “What the hell? It felt like I just punched a concrete wall!”

Aria slowly turned her head back toward him wiping the blood from her cheek with her thumb, giving him a wicked smile.

 “Aw, poor guy,” she taunted, voice low and mocking.

 “All that muscle and you couldn’t even make me flinch? Good sir, may I have another? I didn't quite feel the first one.”

The man’s anger boiled over as the pain in his fists fueled his frustration. His knuckles were throbbing, but he didn’t care. Without a moment’s hesitation, he swung again, aiming for the other side of Aria’s face. But the result was the same - he felt the sting in his hand, the sharp pain that shot through his knuckles, and yet, Aria didn’t flinch. Her expression barely wavered as she stared him down, unfazed.

She wiped a small trickle of blood from her cheek and then smiled.

 “Aw, poor man. Look at those knuckles of yours. You got hurt. You should go check them out, they might be broken,” she teased, her voice mocking.

The man’s rage erupted.

 “Shut up, you crazy bitch! What the hell is going on here?”

Frustrated and out of options, the man turned to Sierra. 

“Sierra! Pay up, I’m outta here! I’m not messing around with her anymore. I had it with this shit.”

Sierra, standing there, still in shock, hesitated for a moment. Her face was pale, and her lips quivered.

 “What? Pay up? No! You didn’t do anything! That wasn’t the deal!”

Without warning, he marched up to Sierra and slapped her hard across the face. Sierra staggered, falling to the ground, her cheek red from the force of the slap. The man stood over her, shaking with fury.