Chapter 16 Robot Fight Arena

 The closer they got to Scrap City, the faster the beeping became. 

“The signal is stronger now. We’re close, very close.” Sable muttered, his eyes glued to the screen.

Reed craned his neck to peer over Sable’s shoulder.

 “Where exactly is this thing leading us, Doc? Don’t tell me it’s another dark, creepy lab.”

Sable didn’t look up. 

“Unlikely. The signal is moving… but within a confined area. We’ll know soon enough.”

Mia glanced at the map.

 “Scrap City’s crawling with mercs and lowlifes. If this place smells profit, someone will make it difficult for us.”

Dune gripped the wheel tightly, her eyes looking at main gates of Scrap City.

 “Let them try. This city’s full of gangs, thugs and other scumbags but we’ve got bigger claws.”

The buggy came to a stop near the center of the city. The tracker’s screen flashed with increased intensity, and Sable pointed down a narrow alley.

 “There. That way.”

Following his lead, the group navigated the maze of Scrap City on foot. The beeping quickened with every step, leading them past rickety bridges, towering heaps of scrap metal, and suspicious gazes from the locals. Finally, the tracker brought them to the Scrap City Coliseum.

Reed let out a low whistle. 

“Boo-yeah, Doc! I knew you liked robot fights! You led us straight to the fight arena.”

Sable checked the tracker again, grunting.

 “Fool! The signal is coming from inside. The device is here. There will be no fun here! We go in, grab the thing and go!”

Dune crossed her arms, eyeing the coliseum’s massive gates.

 “Of course, just go in, take it and leave. And you think the gang leaders just hands it to us if we ask nicely? This place is run by Capone gang, he basically owns half of the city. In this place, nothing’s ever easy. So, what’s the plan? Sneak in, blow it up, and try not to get killed?”

 “Before we do anything reckless, we need to get closer. The tracker can pinpoint the exact location, but we need eyes on what we’re dealing with.”

Reed, with a grin that could rival a kid in a candy shop, pumped a fist into the air.

 “Hell yeah! You mean we get to watch a robot match? I’ll get us tickets!”

“Wait, Reed—!” Mia started, but before anyone could stop him, he bolted down the alley toward the coliseum’s ticket booth, weaving through the crowd with the agility of a pickpocket chasing a mark.

Mia let out an exaggerated groan and slapped a hand to her face. 

“Reed, I swear, sometimes I think your brain is made of scrap metal. Why are you like this?”

Dune, surprisingly, chuckled.

 “Actually… it’s not the worst idea. A ticket gets us inside, no sneaking, no trouble—at least not right away. Let’s see where this goes.”

The group followed Reed into the coliseum. The interior was a patchwork of rusted scaffolding and massive screens showing replays of the carnage. The roar of the crowd was deafening, a sound of cheers, jeers, and metallic screeches from the combatants below.

The arena was a sunken pit of twisted metal, strewn with the remnants of previous matches. As the group found their seats, the announcer’s booming voice echoed through the air.

“Ladies and gentlemen, scrapheads of all ages, welcome to witness todays fight! In this corner, the reigning champion, undefeated, unmatched, the destroyer of dreams—Titanus Rex!”

The crowd erupted into cheers as the champion, a massive, gleaming robot, stomped into the arena. Standing nearly two stories tall, its frame rusted and scared, and its red optics glowed like twin suns of doom.

“And in the other corner,” the announcer continued, “the scrappy underdog, built from nothing but hopes, dreams, and garbage—Junker Joe! He is back for more punishment, folks! Place your bets because the match is about to start!”

The challenger emerged, a ramshackle creation of mismatched parts held together by sheer willpower and a questionable understanding of engineering.

Reed was bouncing in his seat like a little kid overdose with sugar.

 “Oh, this is gonna be good! Go Junker Joe! Show that overcompensating tin can who’s boss!”

The match began with a deafening roar as Titanus Rex charged forward, its massive fist reloading. Junker Joe put up a fight, but the champion’s raw power was unmatched. Within moments, the underdog was reduced to a pile of smoldering metal shards.

Reed pumped his fist.

 “Whoa! Did you see that? That was insane!”

Dune jested, "Sorry, I blinked. I think I missed the whole match."

"Nothing to be surprised, that's a mech not a robot. That pile of scrap had no chance at winning." Mia added. 

While Reed was busy cheering, Sable edged closer to the arena’s fence, his eyes fixed on the tracker in his hands. The signal was moving but very close. 

Sable looked toward Titanus Rex.

 “The signal. The device we’re looking for—it’s inside that robot. The champion.”

After confirming the tracker’s signal, the group exited the coliseum and gathered in a quieter alley. Sable glanced down at the device in his hand.

 “We need to get our hands on that mech—or whatever you want to call it. We need to take it apart and find the device. I’m willing to bet they used it as a core component or something to patch that monstrosity together.”

Reed’s eyes lit up like a child with a shiny new toy.

 “Oh! Oh! I’ve got an idea! How about we enter the competition? We’ll build our own robot, enter the ring, and beat the champion! Once we turn Titanus Rex into a pile of scrap, they’ll toss it in the junkyard, and we can grab it then. Easy!”

Sable shouted at him, “That’s the dumbest idea I’ve heard since I met you all!”

But before he could continue, Dune interrupted with a sharp grin.

 “Actually, it’s a great idea, Reed. If we take it down legitimately, we won’t risk upsetting the local gangs or triggering some massive retaliation. Imagine if we tried to raid the place or sneak in and steal it. That would be the real dumb plan. This way, we keep the heat off our backs. And I really don’t want my bounty going up any more than it already has.”

Sable opened his mouth to protest further but froze mid-thought when a figure stepped out from the corner ahead, flanked by two imposing soldiers. The man wore a sleek coat that screamed wealth and power in a place like Scrap City.

“Well, well, Professor! Fancy seeing you here. And what might you be up to in a place like this? I thought you were supposed to be hunting for something precious. Or perhaps you’ve already found it?”

Sable’s face twisted into a mask of anxiety as he took a slow step back.

 “I—I don’t know what you’re talking about, Henry. I told you before, I wasn’t the one who stole the data. I have nothing to do with it. Just... just enjoying the show... yes! The robot fight, a bit of fun.”

Henry chuckled, the sound dripping with mockery. 

“Oh, of course, of course. Not you. I believe you. Just checking in, that’s all. But I must say…” He glanced at the group around Sable. 

“Quite the hired muscle you’ve got. Isn’t that a bit much for a humble scientist just trying to have a bit of fun in the coliseum?”

Sable stammered, “It’s—uh—it’s just for my safety. You know how it is. Savages on every corner. Can’t be too careful these days.”

Henry smirked and turned his gaze toward the team, his tone laced with feigned admiration.

 “Ah, I see. Yes, that must be it. But isn’t it overkill? Let’s see… Dune Vega, infamous mercenary, known for her… destructive tendencies. Hawk, the sharpshooter with a reputation sharp enough to cut steel. And the big guy… don’t recognize him, but he’s clearly no pushover.”

Sable fumbled for a response, but Dune stepped forward.

 “And what does Skytech’s little errand boy want with our client, huh? Let me remind you, pal, this is Scrap City. There are no laws here. You and your tech-town goons aren’t in your ivory towers anymore. Push your luck, and I’ll personally make sure you leave with a few extra holes. Sound good?”

Henry raised his hands in mock surrender, his smirk unflinching.

 “Oh, my, my. So scary. No need to get violent. Just saying hi to our dear Professor, that’s all.”

He turned back to Sable, his demeanor shifting to something colder. 

“But, Professor, if you think you’ve fooled the Boss, you’re not as bright as you think you are. There will be consequences. Just a little food for a thought. Keep it in mind.”

With that, Henry and his guards strode off.

Reed broke the silence first. 

“Did you hear that? He complimented me. He seemed nice.”

"Yeah, nice as wiping your but with sandpaper." Mia added.

Reed blinked at Mia, tilting his head in genuine confusion. 

"Wait… you’ve actually tried wiping with sandpaper? Why would you do that? That sounds… really painful."

Mia stared at him, utterly dumbfounded. 

"Reed, you absolute moron. It’s a figure of speech!"

Reed frowned, scratching his head.

 "Oh… right. Yeah, of course! Totally knew that. Just, uh… checking, you know? Making sure you weren’t… uh… in a bad place or anything."

Mia groaned, throwing her hands up. 

"Why are you like this?"

Reed grinned, unfazed. 

"Born this way, baby. Can’t help being awesome."

 Dune interrupted. 

“Let’s move. We’ve got a robot to build and a champion to scrap. And by the looks of it we are running out of time. Skytech is on the move.”