Station 2-14: Chapter Seven
Voss learns what they're dealing with
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Chapter Seven: Voss
The photographer sets up the shot with expert precision, ignoring the waiting contestants as he finds the best light. Ley stands with her competitors, her eyes passing over each of them, judging her opponents. While Voss watches it all from the corner of the room with Tessa by his side.
‘They're all so... Young,’ says Tessa. ‘Why is there only five of them?’ Voss shrugs.
‘Nobody's got TK anymore. Well, not enough for a big show.’
‘And then there's Ley.’
‘Yeah…’ The photographer moves her to the centre of the group, positioning her arms so that her eight bands are clear. ‘And then there’s Ley…’
After considering the arrangement, he moves a young boy, Ellis, into the middle and shifts Ley to his side. Ley looks awkward as she stands with her arms slightly raised out in front of her where the photographer had set them until he snaps at her to put them down.
Ley looks to them across the room, her eyes flaring wide, silently begging for help. Voss simply gives her an enthusiastic thumbs up.
The shoot begins and a round of flashes explodes around them just as Pangere arrives with the sponsors for the other contestants in her wake. Men and women that Voss has never met except for the man by Pangere’s side: Derek.
Voss knew him very well.
It had been a long time since they’d seen one another but it’s hard to forget a fellow trainer from the first games. Their lives had gone in wildly different directions. Derek’s player had won and he rose to the top of the food chain. While Voss was on a direct line to Fernleigh’s Pub. It made him want to be sick watching him follow Pangere around now like a bad stench from expensive cologne.
‘Why is he here?’ Asks Tessa.
‘Yes, it seems that Dodgy Derek has returned. Looks like he's sponsoring Ellis - the other shining star of the tournament.’ The Photographer waves them over and sets them up for the group photo.
‘Which one's he?’
‘The one in the centre.’ The photographer moves Derek into the group so that he's behind Ellis, pushing Ley further aside while Pangere glides into place behind her.
‘Can't we go?’ Sighs Tessa. ‘We're useless standing here.’
‘Nah, this is where we learn what we're dealing with. Look at them.’ He points to Jax on the edge. ‘He’s the tallest in the group because he’s just survived a growth spurt. But he’s going to cry when he loses.’ He continues on and points to Ellah next to him, who stands with her feet firm on the ground refusing to budge as her opponents are arranged around her. ‘She’s going for knock out.’
Voss points to the boy on the the other end, Faber. ‘Even at a distance you can see his hands twitching to a silent rhythm. He’s a dancer, not a fighter and…’ he points to Ellis in the centre. ‘He’s already in the middle. Ready to sign your limited edition poster - don’t worry he’ll personalise it just for you.’
‘And how is any of that going to help?’
‘Just hope we don't verse him first.’
Voss follows Pangere and Ley onto the roof of Avery’s building where a party of the Station’s finest awaits. The elite are scattered around the infinity pool like fireflies, the dying light of the setting sun shining off their jewels and gowns. They decline food with a wave of the hand but snatch glasses of champagne from a servers’ passing tray. All of them waiting for something to start.
For the entertainment to begin.
Avery’s arrival ripples through their conversations, but she takes the attention with a gracious smile. Camera flashes explode again as Pangere guides Ley inside, while Voss and Tessa meander behind them.
‘I always think I look strange in photographs,’ says Pangere. ‘But you're a natural, Ley.’
‘Thanks,’ says Ley.
‘How is your mum settling in?’
‘She's good. Thanks again for —’ Pangere holds up a hand, silencing her.
‘Please, stop. It's really nothing. I'm glad that she's okay.’ She wraps an arm around Ley, guiding her away from the cameras. ‘Come, they're going to announce the first fight soon and I want you to meet some of my friends — they've come all the way from the mainland.’ They leave Voss and Tessa behind them in their growing shadows.
‘So…’ Says Voss, ‘Drink?’
‘Absolutely.’ They turn towards the bar and walk straight into Jin, Tessa’s ex.
‘Shit,’ breathes Voss.
‘Hello Tess,’ he says, with a picture-perfect smile that money can’t buy. Voss should have known that Jin would come back to the Games, especially with Derek around. Derek rarely made an appearance without his winning student. But if Voss is surprised to see him, Tessa is devastated.
‘Jin?’ Says Tessa, ‘What are you doing here?’
‘I’m training Ellis.’ He points to Ellis at the other side of the room where he stands practicing his skills by juggling glasses of champagne with his mind. A small crowd starts to gather, marvelling that he doesn’t spill a single drop.
‘Well, doesn't he look like the life of the party,’ says Voss, hoping for a laugh. But they barely notice that he’s there.
‘It's good to see you,’ says Jin.
‘You too.’
‘I’ll get us some drinks,’ says Voss, leaving them alone. He drains one glass dry before asking for two more. Ley slinks up to him, glaring at the rest of the party like it might jump out and attack her.
‘This party sucks,’ she says.
‘Yeah, but the drinks are good.’ He says, as his order arrives.
‘Can I have some?’
‘No can do, kid. If I give you some and Pangere sees, I don't get any. So, you know, every man for themselves and all that.’ Using her TK, Ley takes it from him anyway. Voss snatches it back.
‘I’m serious. But don't worry, I will have some for the both of us. Okay?’ Voss pats her on the head like a baffled puppy and it suddenly dawns on him that he doesn’t know how to act around children. Let alone teenagers. Ley shifts to his side, pretending that nothing happened, when she spies Tessa talking to Jin.
‘Is that—?’ She starts.
‘Yes,’ says Voss with a sigh. ‘The great and gorgeous Jin is here tonight.’
‘He won the Games that Tessa was in, right?’
‘Rigged it more like.’
‘He cheated? But I saw that fight, she choked. She lost.’
‘Tess doesn't lose.’
‘So, what happened?’ He knows he shouldn’t but he can’t help himself.
‘Someone found a tape of Tessa and Jin... how do I put it —’
‘Fighting?’
‘Not exactly... But Tessa was blamed for it. Jin's team argued that she made the tape on purpose to try and ruin his perfect reputation and get him eliminated. But T knew nothing about it. Anyway, news spread and soon the footage was everywhere and... well, Tessa couldn't handle it. She cut a deal. She had to choke in the final but it had to look real. Then the tape just disappeared.’
‘So why is she talking to him? Someone hurts you, you turn your back on them.’
‘It's more complicated than that when you love someone.’
‘But — ’ But Voss shuts her up as he sees Tessa walking over to join them.
‘Forget it. And hey, let's not say anything to Tessa, okay? Just leave it alone.’
‘So, apparently,’ says Tessa, taking a glass from Voss. ‘Jin has already been training Ellis for six months.’
‘How long did you say we'd been training?’
‘…Seven.’
‘Seconds, months - it's all the same, right?’ Across the room, Ellis makes the champagne jump between glasses to the delight of his small audience.
‘Seems like a bit of a twat, if you ask me,’ says Voss. ‘If I had TK I would make it fall all over him.’ Without missing a beat, Ley makes Ellis miss and he sends champagne all over Jin and the woman next to him. Voss cackles with laughter as Ellis tries to tell Jin it wasn’t his fault but he brushes it off with an effortless smile.
‘Pretty clever.’ They turn and find Derek leering behind them. ‘But I'd be careful what else these two teach you, Ley. Especially this one.’ He points to Tessa. ‘We've seen some of Tessa's nasty tricks. Not all of them should be copied.’
‘Shut up, Derek,’ says Voss, stepping in front of him to block him from view but Tessa can’t ignore it.
‘What the hell is that supposed to mean?’ Says Tessa.
‘Don’t pretend like we all don't know, Tess,’ he says, taking Voss’ glass. ‘Like we all haven't seen the tape. None of us have forgotten.’
‘You know what —’ Pangere taps a glass that rings out across the rooftop, grabbing everyone's attention.
‘Pay attention now,’ sneers Derek. ‘They're going to announce the first match.’
‘You're an ass,’ says Tessa.
‘Sshh,’ he says putting a finger to his lips, delighting in watching Tessa’s fury burn. Slowly everyone turns towards Pangere who stands on a small dais at the front with a large screen behind her.
‘Welcome, everyone to the 10th annual Games for our beloved Station. This year proves to be our best yet. We’re celebrating an incredible milestone. Ten years of watching our youngest and brightest navigate the arena. Ten years of celebrating champions and nurturing those less fortunate to succeed. I’m particularly proud of this year’s contestants as I welcome Ley as my sponsored player and welcome back my dear Tessa. Some here may remember that she was one of best contestants in the first games. A shining star. And what a great sign of things to come to see two great women in the one team, led by yours truly of course…’ Voss can’t help but scoff as the crowd erupts into applause. Another perfect example of Pangere working the game on a different level. Complimenting two people to draw attention to herself. He can feel Tessa stiffen next to him. Those who hadn’t realised that she was in the room were suddenly looking her way, whispering amongst themselves. He places a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
‘Forget about them,’ he says quietly. ‘Just remember why we’re here. Soon we can leave all this behind.’ Voss had no plans of leaving the Station, he’d worked too hard to abandon everything but he knew that Tessa would leave in a heartbeat if she could.
Pangere raises a hand and the crowd falls quiet once more.
‘This evening is a time to come together and celebrate the Station before we have our first match tomorrow. So, without further ado, let’s see who will be competing. As with every first round, these matches are drawn at random.’ The names of the competitors appear on the screen behind Pangere, each name flashing for less than a second as it chooses. Pangere looks to the crowd with a bright smile, waiting for the first player. Suddenly, the names stop shuffling:
ELLIS
‘Ellis!’ Cries Pangere and the crowd erupts into applause once more. Voss doesn’t react, he’s distracted by Derek’s smirk as the rest of Ellis’ team cheers.
‘Who'd have thought?’ Says Derek as he meets Voss’ eye. A silence quickly falls onto the room as they wait for the second name to be drawn. Derek leans close enough to whisper, ‘And I wonder who it will be…’ Pangere leads the applause before the name appears on the screen:
LEY
Ley shrinks beneath the gaze of the room but Voss holds her steady. It was all part of the show. He couldn’t have her falling over at the announcement when she’s supposed to be the strongest competitor at the Games.
‘What a surprise!’ Says Derek, as Pangere comes over to them.
‘Congratulations, Ley! First match of the season!’ Voss nudges her to reply.
‘Can't wait,’ she says.
‘Try not to mess this up Tessa, would be very embarrassing for everyone involved.’ Derek bends down so he's at Ley’s eye-level. ‘You make sure that you get enough sleep now. Big match ahead!’
Some people spend years trying to reach the level of arrogance that Derek wears with ease. Voss learned a long time ago to ignore it but he holds Ley’s shoulder firm, urging her not to react. Not to let him win. Still, using her TK, she very slowly pushes him away from her. Derek looks down at his shoes moving along on the floor and laughs.
‘She’s a clever one,’ he says to Pangere.
‘We’re very lucky to have found her.’ Derek leaves with a small bow to Pangere. ‘Isn’t he charming?’
‘Yeah,’ says Voss. ‘He’s a peach.’
‘Ley, come with me, we have to get some more photos before the match tomorrow.’ She draws Ley from Voss and the cameras start flashing once more, desperate to catch as many photos of Avery and her new protégé.
‘Let the Games begin.’
