Word spread amongst the 4th and 2nd squads that two of the senseless were missing from the 2nd's compound. This was after they confirmed Machi wasn't able to sense their energy either, so, Machi was... for lack of a better word... grounded.
But with today being the very day he was being forced into the pit fights, Xox worried about his anger losing control.
The pit was, at times, a fight to the death, a last chance for criminals of the settlement to live. Other times, it was for guards to prove their strength before joining their district's squad and moving into the compound with other squad members. The enemies varied, no one knew which enemy would be against the pit fighter every time.
This was the very pit Machi Kilgore Harkness was entering today, on the 14th day in Everlastings, with two of his friends missing, and Karma out - still in her sleep.
*
Arriving at the pits, Machi was tossed into the cells and was given the bare minimum - stripped of everything he had. But as the guards tried removing the restraints, they only sunk deeper into his skin and they gave up. He leaned against the wall, hair dropping down before his face, and only in the glimmer of light could he be seen. No one visited him but Silver and Emery assured they'd keep Karma safe. After day two of her being deep asleep, Machi revealed it was his doing. Keeping her in a state of relaxation and sleep to keep her powers in control.
Neither Shale nor Xox could visit, maintaining their position as Captains and therefore, not mingling with Machi on the day of his fight.
*
[DURING THE VOTE THE DAY AFTER THE BALL]
"Are you crazy?" Astra yelled, slamming her hands on the table, and Maria just looked to the other captains. "You lost the vote Maria--"
"I didn't lose the vote." She smiled and Xox wasn't shocked Jin turned sides.
"You gained a vote for the pit," Jin stated, "I am not voting the King--"
"The 10th's representative voted for me. And the 3rd. As I recall they have voting power."
Shale sighed and let out a heavy breath - unmoved by the results. He knew Maria's plan was two-pronged, to attack the King and the kokai and the settlement would only choose who they'd been loyal to for their entire lives. "You're not shocked Shale?" Astra asked.
"Not really." He noticed Machi walking past the room as he spoke. "Hallows would never vote against the King and his words, so you bribed the 10th. And the 3rd's vote doesn't even count, since their leader was exiled and we don't give them voting power."
4-3
Either way, they still lost the pit vote, and King Yuma didn't hope for this outcome. But either way, he expected it.
"But my question is, Maria, why kidnap the kokai's subordinates?" Shale asked. "You want to antagonise him fine. Be my guest but he's got a mysterious power that withstands His Majesty's spiritual pressure." Shale yawned. "And if you think you'll be able to beat Astra and me, then, you're more naive than I thought."
Seeing her face turn red, Silver wondered what antagonising her would do. It didn't help she was already in a pissed-off mood before the meeting began, so, she was curious. What would it gain? But then again she was the vice-captain of a very chaotically strong captain.
"Be happy, I kept the pretty girl away from the cages." Maria smiled. "And the first enemy will surely kill him."
*
Karma woke after feeling the warmth dissipate and Emery smiled as she woke. Finally changing her out of the dress, Karma noticed she was in a white gi and nothing else. "Who changed me?" She asked.
"I did." She assured no one was watching and Karma thanked her.
"Where is everyone?" Emery just gulped and nodded, answering her question without leaving anything out. She didn't deserve it.
"Well... Mira and Rocco have been kidnapped, and have zero clue as to where they are right now, Machi got taken to pit fights and basically, we may see anarchy in a few hours since the captains are split in who they want as their ruler." Watching as she grabbed her sword, Emery was shocked she had some fight left in her after the news she was given, Karma had this passion in her eyes and the second vice-captain didn't even need to be asked twice. "Damaris let's go!" Emery yelled and the trio headed off to the arena.
'I don't have a good feeling about this.'
*
Machi had always known what he had to do. While growing up - don't cause any trouble for your mother and head down, and don't attract attention. Black dragur attacking - figure out a way to defeat him. Arriving back on Earth - defeat the invading dragurs, and weaken Freed.
Today. The pit fights - finish the fight as quickly as possible and find everyone. But today held a second goal as well. Answers. After the fight he was confident he'd win, he was going to demand answers about the name Carbine gave him before they left for Everlastings. Hallows. His father's family name.
Machi needed answers from many people but first - the restraints needed to come off. He felt like he could hold on without for a few fights.
"How did they capture them?"
"Amazing."
Looking out of the caged windows he hadn't bothered looking out of before - he received flashbacks and realised how dead Maria wanted him. For what reason? To prove a point? To prove strength? Her very obvious irritability when it came to people looking down on her? It was an enemy Machi was very familiar with, before he could figure out a way to defeat them, he needed to know how strong they were.
'Good luck kid.' Shale thought as he counted 15 black dragur and 50 blue dragur in the arena. 'You're gonna need it.'
Machi walked out and saw the blues begin running towards him, and it shocked everyone how his eyes kept up. Only using ki, he counted and kept track of everything he saw. He wasn't fighting them, he dodged their every attack as he counted his enemies.
'50... 49 blues." He looked at the blue one who died. '15 blacks-- you're fucking with me!'
His eyes went to the very back, looking at the 5 scaled dragur who seemed to be the ringleader. "He knows of their kind?" Xox asked and everyone watched as he cursed seeing the 5 scaled black dragur. "That's impossible. He can't know!" Maria yelled and Machi gave the captain a death glare.
He needed a saving grace. Desperately. Not because he couldn't handle them, he could if he tried. But the fatigue his body would feel would be horrible and Machi didn't want that. And couldn't afford it right now with everything spiralling out of control.
"And here I thought you could handle yourself." He chuckled at the voice and turned around. Entering the arena, was a familiar face wearing her usual biker-style outfit, holding her sword, ready to fight.
"Finally woke?" Machi teased, but thankful she arrived right then and there. Seeing her nod, Machi took a step back and rolled his sleeves.
"I see why you always want to sleep." Karma yawned and Silver watched Damaris and Emery jump to the balcony.
"How long do you need?" Karma asked as she walked past the Harkness. "2 minutes. Better I come in at full strength than half." Machi chuckled and she raised an eyebrow. He was off. Emotional… even angry.
"What?" Machi groaned and Karma chuckled. "Nothing. Anger isn't a good look on you."
Seeing her run-in with nothing but a sword, Maria just stared.
"That's impossible... she's senseless. She..." Maria stuttered and Luis and Willow wondered how they came to this scenario. The death of Machi was their goal but this... was a miscalculation. Watching as Karma easily sliced down the blue dragurs with nothing but her sword, with zero power emanating from the sword, even Jin was stunned by the sight.
"Tsk." Karma spat out blood and sighed. "No fun." Annoyance riddled in her voice as she was hit back but regained her position despite the damage to her torso. "Only you'd call fighting Dragur's fun." Machi chuckled. Watching the fight, now Machi didn't doubt Karma's ability or the strength of dragurs, but it seemed too easy.
Seeing the dead dragurs on the floor, Maria furrowed her brows and had to place her hope in the big guy in the back.
"Says you, didn't you go against 40 odd of them?" Karma asked.
"That was different." Machi sighed and shook his head. Karma didn't ask or say anything more as one centipede came off and a rush of energy seemingly rushed and exited the Harkness kid. It blew everyone back by the mere… capacity of power he held.
"Levelling up at higher levels is harder, you need more xp." Rocco cursed as they played games on the bus rooftops again. Machi wondered if there was a way... "Imagine you could have the same powers but be at level 1. You'd level up faster wouldn't you?"
Rocco nodded. "But that's impossible to do."
"It's a theory for a reason."
A theory no longer because in this moment Machi decided to - instead of defeating the enemy in one shot - to level up. Only possible because the dragurs here were weak enough to do that for him.