Sleepwalker

Proposition

    When Ace reentered the Box, the once curious faces of the Sleepwalkers were hard and serious. No one asked him to sit like they did when he first arrived, and if the scowls coming from the Garcia boys were anything to go by, their leader wasn't the only one bitter about the loss.

    He deftly tossed Rerek's mech card, and Amber caught it without breaking his gaze. Her face remained carefully blank as she compressed it into holographic red code with the push of a button, and she remained stoically impassive as it faded into her burgundy holo-watch.

    "You have my attention," she quipped sharply, "Now start talking."

    Ace folded his arms, choosing to lean against the wall closest to the door. "Your mech fights definitely draw a crowd, and I have to admit it's been fun, but you're going to need try something bigger if you really want to cause the Embassy any lasting damage."

    "What do you know?"

    "Enough to offer you the chance at something greater. I'm on my way to the Pinnacle," at their surprised gasps, he continued, "but I need a team to get there. And you all came highly recommended by someone close to me."

    "Who?" Amber asked with narrow eyes.

   "Doesn't matter. Just know he's someone I care about that's smarter than any of you. I want to take the Embassy down whatever the costs, and I know that you all would agree."

    "What makes you think you know so much about us?" Diego demanded. Ace leveled his gaze on the teen.

    "Diego Garcia, the Embassy's enforcers killed your father nine years ago on your front doorstep for speaking against their administration."

    Ace turned to Phoenix. "Phoenix Garcia, an Undesirable born outside of protocol. The Embassy forced your parents to give you up, and your mother gave you to your cousin's family. You've never met your real parents."

    "How did you—!"

     "—Amber Storm, your brother was just recently sent into the Zones after he got caught for stealing parts for his now confiscated mech."

    The brunette clenched her fists, but Ace ignored her to face their last member, the only not seething in anger.

    "And Cho Tanaka, your father does not approve of the Embassy's methods. Your mission is the same as mine."

    The Sleepwalkers stood in silence for a beat of silence, each of them running over the idea in their own minds. Cho looked up first and nodded.

    "I'm in. I'm tired of just being an inconvenience to the system. It's time to shut it down for good."

    Phoenix and Diego shared a look, holding a silent conversation through the minutest facial expressions.

       "We're in too," Diego stated.

   Amber paused. "How do you expect to get us through the Zones?"

     "The Zones are the Embassy's games, their arenas. I don't lose. Your brother went in alone, and that's why he failed. As a team, we have a higher chance of making it out alive. This is your chance to avenge Jay and retrieve what was stolen from him, Amber. Take it."

    She looked back at her team, searching their eyes for a sign. Cho gave her a thin-lipped smile, and Phoenix nodded. But when she looked back, Amber could only see emptiness in Ace's eyes. He held no emotion, even as he dangled the chance for vengeance in front of her.

     "Can you promise my team's safety?"

  "No," he replied immediately, "but I can promise to do everything in my power to tilt the chances in your favor."

      That seemed to be the right answer as she held a hand out to him. "Then it's a deal, Ace Raven. We'll help you."

    Ace took the hand, and Amber jerked him close and whispered in his ear, "And if this is a trick, I won't need a mech to kill you."

"If I didn't care about your little pirate crew, I wouldn't be talking to you," he whispered back, "But don't worry. I don't have time for tricks." He leaned away and shook her hand. "It's a deal. Next stop, the Zones."
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A/N: Phew! 8k word count reached! Here's to hoping Sleepwalker qualifies for Round 2!

Hope you enjoyed this chap! Don't forget to leave a vote and comment to let me know what you think! Thanks for reading!