Sledge

When he finally made it to the big arenas, he didn’t disappoint. For twenty years, he fought anyone and everyone, never losing a match. He was human, and time was catching up. His last several matches had been against low-level opponents. Word was he had lost a step. I heard his reputation was being protected until Cutter was ready.

The ordinary people loved Sledge, but the smart money, big Imperial money, was bet against him. The Emperor himself had groomed Cutter. The stage was set. Tomorrow would be remembered as the day the great Sledge fell.

"So, my dear young lady. Why would you be with Cutter one minute and me the next? Sex with prize fighters? It doesn’t seem to fit you."

"I came to tell you something."

"What?"

I hesitated for a moment, and then spoke.

"Cutter’s afraid of you. He acts cocky, but down deep inside, he’s scared. I could feel it."

"What else?"

"The Emperor has promised him a huge reward if he beats you. He bragged about how rich he will be."

"I need more than that."

"Cutter has an injury to his left shoulder. You can circle to his left and avoid his good side."

Sledge looked at me intently.

"Who are you? Why would you have sex with Cutter and then come tell me all this? That doesn’t make any sense. No sense at all. Do you want something? Money? What?"

"No, I don’t need money."

"What do you want?"

"I want you to win."

Sledge glanced at the blue liquid.

"It’s going to take more than what you have told me. Much more. I need…"

"You don’t need that. You don’t need that junk. You don’t need to cheat. You’re the greatest fighter of all times. You’re Sledge! No one can ever beat you. Never! Not ever. You’ll show them. You’re the real champion."

Sledge was watching me as I spoke. He turned his head to the side as if he saw something. His intense brown eyes were on me, looking and peering into me. Suddenly his expression changed. He rose from his chair.

"Wait a second… Hold on..…"

Sledge stood me up and pulled to the center of the room, into the full light, to look at my face, my hair, my eyes. He actually put his hands on me. He touched me. I felt him.

"Tell me, girl. Tell me truly. Who are you?"

I looked straight into his eyes.

"I’m…"

The door burst open and Hunter came in.

"Get on your clothes, the Emperor comes! Young lady, it’s time for you to leave."

"But I need to talk to Sledge."

"There’s no time! You must leave now!"

Sledge wouldn’t take his eyes off me. He saw something, something I couldn’t hide.

Hunter held my arm, but not as firm.

"This is no place for you."

I walked with Hunter to door, my eyes never leaving Sledge, his eyes never leaving me.

"Tomorrow, after you win. I’ll come back."

Sledge said nothing. Hunter closed the door behind us, and walked me down the hall.

I made Hunter stop.

"He has a vial of AndrosMaxium. He can’t use that. He’ll be dis…"

"No one tells Sledge what to do. Not me, not you, no one."

The halls filled with the noise of approaching guards. The Emperor was coming. No doubt to be sure Sledge was ready for the final act in his little play. The Emperor so loved to stage these grand spectacles.

"You must leave now!"

I ran down a narrow alley, away from the buildings where the fighters lived. I ran past the huge, empty coliseum, in the dark, through the night.

Soon I was back home, safe in my huge house. I took a long shower. I was drying my hair when my mother came to my room.

"It’s late.