How did it end up this way? James asked himself. Where did I go wrong to end up piloting a Frame in an illegal Frame-fighting ring?

  If this had been a movie, James would surely have been rewarded with a flashback chronicling every mistake he’d made since coming here. Starting with coming here. That might be the big one.

  But if I hadn’t come to the Academy, I wouldn’t have met Suki, James thought. Since meeting his girlfriend was the highlight of his life so far, James couldn’t wish for a do-over of that event.

  Fine, bring on the flash-back then.

  At least that would delay the start of the fight. But the universe stubbornly refused to provide a montage for him. He was going to have to enter the ring.

  Just as he’d practised, all of twenty minutes ago, he carefully stomped into his entry bay. Ahead of him, two massive steel doors stood. When they opened, he was supposed to step into the ring as if he knew what he was doing. The voice of the announcer rang out.

  Ladies and gentlemen, gamblers and thrill-seekers, welcome to the main event! The engines are hot, the pilots are ready, and the arena is about to EXPLODE! Three titans of the underground circuit enter—only ONE will stand victorious! Let’s meet our contenders!

  First up, from the molten depths of destruction, a Frame forged in hellfire and wielded like a demon’s blade—give it up for Inferno Reaver! This war machine doesn’t just fight, it scorches everything in its path! Can the others survive the heat?

  James was really glad that no one would be able to see his face. The doors opened, he took a step forward and… everything started fading to black.

  Now I get the montage?

  There was no montage. James didn’t even have time to stumble before the world rushed back in full colour. Only… his Frame was missing.

  Then it was back, in a ghostly, see-through way. James moved, and the Frame moved with him—not in the janky, pernickety way of technology trying to interpret what he wanted, but exactly. Better, even, than how he moved himself. He looked down and saw that his sword was glowing green again.

  Maybe I won’t be as embarrassed as I thought I would be.

  James stepped into the ring, moving much more easily now. He raised his arms and triggered the flamethrowers with a thought. Some of the crowd actually cheered.

  But don’t let that fire fool you, because up next is proof that beauty and brutality go hand in hand! With a heart full of love and a payload full of PAIN, it’s Lovely Princess Flower Heart Collidescope! Don’t be fooled by the sparkles—this princess is here to SHATTER her competition!

  Matsuri strode out into the ring, waving at the crowd. James had seen her in a Frame before, briefly, but even then, he’d noticed how good Matsuri was at piloting a Frame. That had been in a Frame home-built by her club. Seeing her in Junko’s top-of-the-line military hardware was something else entirely.

  Lovely Princess—James wasn’t going to give it the full name—was sleek and graceful, almost looking delicate against the heavily armoured Frame he was piloting. James remembered someone saying that it was designed for long-distance sniping; fast and agile to get into position and to dodge any return fire. Junko hadn’t bought it with the rifle, of course, and the long-distance weapon would have been impractical in this close-in fight.

  Matsuri had found a Frame-sized katana and was using that as her primary weapon. She drew it now and moved through a few forms. James gulped, and his hopes went back down to a wish that he not embarrass himself. He might be able to move the Frame as if it were his body, but he couldn’t move his body like that.

  And finally, the wild card, the menace, the one that turns every battle into a body count—Bikini Death Toll! Flashy, deadly, and absolutely UNHINGED, this Frame brings destruction with style! Will tonight’s fight add another name to its toll?

  The Frame that came out this time was painted in a garish mismatch of colours, all of them neon. It was festooned with blinking LEDs, bright enough to be seen under the stadium lighting. Instead of the flat, practical plates of armour that most Frames used, or the elegant curves of the Lovely Princess, this Frame was covered in an excess of glittery chromed armour in impractical configurations.

  Almost all that James knew about frames was from magazines, but even he knew that a sculpted bullhead, complete with horns, was not a serious attempt at protection. The numerous spikes covering the Frame’s arms and legs seemed like they’d get in the way of any attack that the Frame tried to make.

  Bikini Death Toll entered and waved at the crowd. It didn’t try any marital maneuvers, content with the reaction its unique looks provoked. It played a pre-recorded clip through its external speakers, loud enough to be heard over the crowd.

  “It was me!”

  The announcer kept talking over the renewed cheers of the crowd.

  Three Frames. One battle. NO MERCY! Let’s get this carnage started—ENGAGE!!

  Just like that, they had started. James started running toward Bikini Death Toll. His logic was that they wanted Matsuri to win, so if he was going to manage any good moves, they were going to have to be against the gaudy Frame. It played another audio clip.

  “Oh? You’re approaching me?”

  James didn’t get the reference. He charged in, but just before he closed, he unleashed a wave of fire with a thought.

  Flamethrowers, James had been told, weren’t as terrifying a weapon against Frames as they were against people. Suki had explained during her training session that Frames were pretty much fireproof. They were subject to overheating, though, so flamethrowers weren’t a terrible weapon. And they were nothing if not easy to hit with.

  Frames had superconducting elements as part of their internal structure, which efficiently transported the heat away from vital areas, like the cockpit. Consequently, while Frames did have vulnerable spots to a flame attack, they were different for each Frame and needed to be identified by an expert flame user. James wasn’t one of those, so Suki’s advice had been to just let the flames wash all over the target.

  So that was what James did. He didn’t get too close because he didn’t want the backwash of the flames to affect him. This also meant that he could keep his distance from Bikini Death Toll, which looked like a brawler.

  The announcer seemed to love it, at least.

  Oh! Bikini Death Toll just got BAPTISED IN FIRE! Inferno Reaver brings the heat! But hold on—is this the end or just the start of the show? You can never count out—BIKINI DEATH TOLL!!

  James had been expecting the opposing Frame to charge through the flames. He would have run screaming, but the other guy was a professional fighter. He had to be made of sterner stuff. Despite that, James was unprepared for the sheer speed at which the other Frame charged forward.

  Crouching low to the ground, Bikini Death Toll leapt forward like an Olympic Sprinter. Or, James realised at the last minute as the Frame crashed into him, a charging bull. Those horns weren’t for show after all.

  There it goes! The Bikini Rush! It isn’t easy to get a Frame airborne, but Death Toll manages it with ease!

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  James barely heard the announcer; he was too distracted by the crash and sudden jolt from the impact. Bikini Death Toll’s horns hadn’t penetrated his armour—he thought—but they had caught him. He couldn’t seem to pull himself free.

  Airborne? he thought, the words finally getting through. I’m not airborne, I’m—

  Then the world went topsy-turvy, and he was. Bikini Death Toll must have considerable brute power under all that chrome.

  If he’d been controlling the Frame normally, he would have been reduced to flailing wildly. As it was, he managed to bring his limbs in and hit the ground rolling. He even managed to get halfway to his feet.

  But the Lovely Princess isn’t going to be left out! Someone is going to PAY for ignoring her!

  James ducked reflexively at the words. Dazed as he was, he felt that he was a sitting duck for decapitation with that katana. But it was Bikini Death Toll that Matsuri was attacking. Her blade swept down, aiming for the Frame’s flashy, chrome-plated neck, only to be intercepted by a heavily bulked-up arm.

  Oh! Bikini Death Toll refuses to hand its head to the Lovely Princess! It just will not die today!

  She might not have taken its head, but she’d taken a good chunk out of its arm. She took a step back and sliced in from another angle, but Bikini Death Toll was ready for her now, and had plenty of gaudy armour to sacrifice to her sword.

  James got to his feet. He had his own sword. It wasn’t as deadly-looking as Matsuri’s, but he could hold it in one hand and still use a flamethrower.

  Time to go all out, he thought, and charged.

  How Matsuri saw him coming from behind, he didn’t know. She might have heard him, but James couldn’t believe that anyone could hear anything over the roar of the crowd, the yelling of the announcer and the crash of weapons on armour.

  Oh, and Bikini Death Toll playing a clip that just said “Weakling! Weakling!” over and over.

  However she did it, she spun away at the last minute, just before he triggered his flamethrower. It was all James could do to keep tracking her with his off-hand, catching her partially in a burst of fire. His main focus was on Bikini Death Toll, which… exploded.

  The LEDs that remained on the surface of Bikini Death Toll started to strobe, and then a much brighter light shone out. Then the speakers blared out “Bikini Flash!” in a different voice, and then everything whited out.

  There was a sound too. The outside microphones cut out, but James felt the jolt of it run through both him and the entire Frame. Then…

  I know what this is, James thought, I’m airborne again.

  The feeling was unmistakable. James crashed down on his back, blinded and stunned. The outside mics cut in again.

  —twice in one bout! He’s GOT to feel that!

  Should I move? James wondered. He could… he thought. He still couldn’t see, although something was coming back. He thought he could make out shapes in the swirling colours. Mind you, he didn’t know how he was seeing. That might affect how long it took to come back.

  There was a crash nearby and a scream from the announcer.

  Is Death Toll out of tricks? Will this be the end!?

  James groaned. There was a bright light behind him. He pushed himself off the ground and turned around.

  He could make out two shadowy figures fighting. He couldn’t tell them apart, but one of them seemed to be shooting fireworks out of its chest. That had to be Bikini Death Toll. The other Frame was batting the bright balls of light out of the way.

  As James’s sight returned, the bigger Frame started to look… lopsided. Struck by a thought, James looked towards where the crash had come from. There was an object there. It took some squinting, but he managed to identify it as Bikini Death Toll’s arm.

  Yeah, that sword’s no joke.

  With only one arm, Death Toll’s defeat was only a matter of time. If James didn’t want to face Matsuri alone, he would have to get moving. Blinking furiously to try and clear his vision, he managed to find his sword where he’d dropped it.

  Just let me get one hit in, he asked… someone? A god? The Jade Warrior? Himself? He didn’t know. One hit, so I can look Midoriko-sensei in the eye.

  This time, the angle was wrong for him to sneak up on them. The two Frames parted warily as he approached. Bikini Death Toll was the more damaged, by far, but the Lovely Princess was not untouched. Some of her armour panels were dented. It didn’t look like anything serious.

  I should go for Matsuri, right? James thought. If Death Toll falls without her getting damaged, I don’t stand a chance. If I were a real competitor, that’s what I’d do.

  Before he could decide, Bikini Death Toll played a new clip.

  “I don't let anyone swagger over me!” it blared. Then it charged at James.

  Timing was going to be everything for this. The wisdom of James’s kenjutsu sensei rang in his ears. “Just cut!” he heard Midoriko’s voice, slightly exasperated, say.

  Anticipating another flash bang, James closed his eyes and swung.

  There was another flash. He could feel it, just as he could feel the resistance of his sword cutting into the other Frame. There was another crash, and he was jolted violently, but this time he stayed on his feet.

  “Bikini Death Toll is unable to continue!” The announcer screamed. James opened his eyes. The other Frame had fallen to the ground in front of him after its torso had been caved in from his blow.

  James heard Midoriko-sensei’s voice again.

  “Just don’t get cut.”

  James dived to the side. He heard Matsuri’s sword pass by overhead, the massive dai-dai-katana cutting through the air with a scream. Matsuri might know that he was in here, but she wasn’t going easy on him. James kept rolling, keenly aware that she wasn’t going to stop. Blow after blow rained down on the arena floor, missing him by inches.

  Amazing agility from Inferno Reaver, but how long can he stand against the wrath of Princess Flower Heart?

  There was the briefest of pauses as a lucky roll put Matsuri out of position. James quickly tried to rise. He got as far as on his knees before he was forced to parry another strike.

  Matsuri hadn’t had any kenjutsu training, and it showed. Even a novice like James could see it. Of course, the brutally sharp chunk of metal that he was carrying wasn’t a katana, either. Nevertheless, he managed to batter her sword to the side and gain enough space to finish standing.

  He’s on his feet again, folks! What a comeback! He’s—

  Matsuri didn’t let herself be stopped there, though. Rather than coming back from the same angle, she let her sword be shoved aside and then kept it moving in the same direction. Twisting it around in a full circle, she exposed her back to James for a moment too brief to take advantage of.

  Belatedly, James realised that the power of her Frame, the speed of her maneuver and the leverage of her Frame’s arms added to the nine-foot length of the sword, meant that its tip was moving with ungodly speed and force. This wasn’t something he could parry, and it was too late to dodge.

  James didn’t feel the impact. There was a… discontinuity, and then the Frame’s cockpit was around him once more. It was lying on its back, and there were pockmarks on the armoured glass. Somehow, James knew that they came from the fragments of his shattered sword. The announcer's voice came through the cockpit speakers.

  And the winner is Lovely Princess Flower Heart Collidescope!

  James didn’t get out of the cockpit until the Frame had been winched onto a low-slung truck and dragged back into the mechanical bay. He responded to outside queries, letting them know that he was all right, but he didn’t feel like moving. Nothing hurt, but it felt like every part of him had been broken and then put back together again.

  Contestants were responsible for their own repairs, so once they’d established that medical attention was not required, they left him to take care of himself. Suki had already left for her fight, so he was alone in the bay.

  He suddenly realised that this team probably had mechanics. Since they were nowhere to be found, Kana and Harue had probably dealt with them. He hoped they were okay.

  Suddenly, Harue’s face was plastered to the cockpit window.

  “You coming out, or what?” she asked.

  James sighed. He triggered the cockpit release and climbed out of the still-prone Frame.

  “I thought you were upstairs, watching?” he said.

  “I was, I came down to get you. You missed a whole fight! They’ll be starting the third round soon, and Suki will be in the one after that. You don’t want to miss that, do you?”

  James didn’t, but more because he was worried about his girlfriend than because of any interest in the results.

  “Fine,” he said. “Can I get out of this costume now?”

  “Sure thing!” Harue assured him. “The job’s done, and pretty well too, I might add. Makes me think there is something to this prophesied warrior thing after all.”

  James frowned. “I lost, though. I’d have thought the prophesied warrior would have won.”

  “You weren’t prophesied to win at underground Frame fights,” Harue said. “And if you had won, I’d be yelling at you. Losing was the plan, remember?”

  Once James had gotten changed, Harue led him back to the viewing lounge. She seemed to know her way around much better now, avoiding the guards by taking him through some disused corridors.

  “Why have guards if they have these unsecured corridors?” he asked.

  “They were secure,” Harue giggled. “Or locked, at least.”

  When they got to the lounge, Kana and Elidor were waiting for him.

  “Ah, the prodigal returns,” Elidor said expansively. “We got you a bucket of popcorn.”

  “Thanks,” James told the terrorist-funding oligarch dragon. He pushed the part of him that wanted to scream down very deep.

  “Kuzahana-chan told me about your little caper,” Elidor said. “Was that really your first time in a Frame?”

  “Yeah,” James said. “It was… something.”

  “You did well. I think you might have had a chance if it had been anyone other than the Lovely Princess. She is quite a fighter, is she not?”

  James nodded his reluctant agreement.

  Elidor smiled. There was a glint in his eye that James didn’t like. “Kana-nee told me that she was your classmate. I look forward to meeting her when this is all resolved.”

  “I’m sure she’d like that,” James said woodenly. He was suddenly certain that Elidor’s interest was not a sporting one. Was he funding some sort of mercenary Frame unit? Was he scouting James for that as well?

  Before he could ask any of the questions that he really shouldn’t, there was a blare of horns from the stadium.

  “Ah,” Elidor said. “The next round is about to begin.”