Issue 005: From Rathski, With Lova

Coach sat comfortably on his moped as its little engine razzed. It proved to be a bright morning with a spot of sunshine, even though the chills of autumn had set in and a bone rattling breeze swept over the city. With every gust, Coach pulled his thick coat tighter.

Eden kept pace with the moped, running beside her coach up the hill. It was steep but at least Coach's bike had no trouble driving up.

"Last stretch and we're home safe," Coach said. "Just up this hill and through the park, then we'll be back at the gym."

"You said… Three miles" Eden panted.

"Yeah and you look in great shape for it," Coach replied.

"This is the fifth mile," Eden huffed.

"Less talking, more running," Coach said.

He revved the little engine and sped forward. Eden forced herself to catch up. They made it to the top of the hill together and passed through a set of wrought iron gates. The path started with a winding lane through the park gardens. Rows of bushes separated patches of chrysanthemums, asters with pink petals, and winter pansies. Then the garden ended at a pair of trellises bearing clematis, though none had held onto their flowers so late in the year.

They followed the path around a stone walled pond. Creeping jenny swarmed beneath well trimmed water lilies across the surface. Then the path came to a well worn play area. Wooden climbing frames, ramps and slides, and two sets of swings. It was far too early for kids to be playing.

"When I was a lad, a homeless man used to sleep under the slide," Coach said, breaking the calm silence. "We called him Salty Sal. Park smells a lot better without him."

"What happened to him?" Eden asked.

"No idea, he just stopped coming around," Coach answered.

The path took them past a small cafe which opened for the morning in two hours. Finally, they went through another gate in the iron fence.

A short way down the road was the gym. Coach drove through its open doors and parked his moped in the hallway. It felt nice to be in from the cold.

"Get changed into your boxing gear and keep yourself moving," Coach said. "Wait for me by the ring.

"Sure," Eden replied.

After a few minutes, she had changed from her thick tracksuit to a pair of shorts and a tank top. Eden boxed against her own shadow to stay warm as she waited by the ring. A couple more minutes passed and she kept the light exercise going. Until Coach returned with Jamie.

"Found your sparring partner," Coach said.

"Not a chance," Eden protested. "It's bad enough he trains in the same gym. We can't trust him."

"You can not trust any opponent," Jamie replied. "Especially your next one." He spoke carefully, with a soft accented lilt.

"Wait, I've got a fight coming up?" Eden asked. "How'd you find someone for my twelfth?" Managers often disliked pitting their boxers against someone in the last mile. Especially against a fighter coming up to their last fight.

"Oui. We found someone from abroad who is willing to fly here to fight you," Jamie explained. "She does not care how many matches you are from a shot at national champion, since she's not even from this nation. It's the same reason I came to Embreland."

"So where's this fighter from?" Eden asked.

"She's from Rathski," Coach answered as he flipped open a brown folder. "Elizaveta Veronin. Came up through the ballet before she transitioned into boxing. Good on her feet, good range. This will be your first match against another outboxer."

Eden smiled. "Jamie can't be my sparring partner then. He's shit as an outboxer."

Jamie merely shrugged.

"We're not gonna focus your training on technique," Coach said." This woman is a brute. Two full steel arms, she's over six feet tall, and she weighs over two-hundred lbs. Her last four fights ended in knockouts in the early rounds."

"That's fine," Eden said. "I've kept my weight up since my fight with Andy."

"You need to train for endurance and stamina," Coach said.

"We'll polish your defence, too," Jamie added.

"Then I guess I'm fighting her head on," Eden said. "Jamie, get my gloves."

Jamie scowled at her. "I am not running around for you." His voice took a sterner tone, though no less melodic with his accent.

--- --- ---

Every day, for an entire month of preparation, Eden woke at 5:00 a.m and ran her five miles with Coach. Then she went twelve rounds of sparring against Jamie. That was just the beginning of her days.

By noon she was lifting weights. The routine varied, with the weight lifting targeting different groups of muscles on different days of the week. But by the end of the day she was aching and sore. In the evenings she filled her bathtub with ice to ease her tired muscles.

Eden saw little of home, but to bathe and go to bed each night, and even less of her brother. She would lay awake in bed, her body too exhausted to allow her to move, and she listened for the distinctive beeps of a timer. Until sleep took her and she would dream only of pain, of hard hands and violent fists. The last she saw were fading visions of her mother, stolen by her 5:00 a.m alarm.

Three days before the fight, Coach gave her time off to rest. So Eden went home early for the first night in a long time. On her second night of rest she settled down in the evening to have dinner with her brother.

"I'm glad you're home," Jayden said.

"Yeah, sorry I ain't been around much lately," Eden replied. "I've been following a strict regimen lately." She took up her knife and fork to dig in.

"I know, you've got a pretty big match coming up," Jayden said.

"Yep and once again I've left you to pick up all the slack at home," Eden replied. "And you've been visiting dad. I just… It's been a few months since I've even seen him."

"No one blames you for not wanting to see him," Jayden said.

"It's not like I don't want to see him," Eden set her utensils back down beside her plate. "Between training and these past few fights, I've been busy. And seeing him in a care facility like that… It's complicated." Her fists clenched and she felt her metal knuckles tensing.

"Yeah, I know, I get it," Jayden said. "I don't really remember a lot before mum left, but I've seen enough of how he treated you. I know it sounds horrible, but sometimes I feel relieved he got ill."

"At least he can't drink on his meds or while in care," Eden said. "And, I guess dementia changes people."

"Feeling alone and abandoned, not knowing if you're going to live, that can change people too," Jayden said.

"Oh, he's not going to die," Eden replied.

"I've been wanting to talk to you about that," Jayden said. "He had a fall, two days ago."

"Is it serious?" Eden asked.

"Could be," Jayden answered. "He was having these periods where he wasn't… I guess he wasn't sure where he was. So they're keeping in for observations, for now."

"How long for?"

"I'm not sure but I'm told he'll be going back to the home soon."

"Shit," Eden said softly. "And I thought you were avoiding me because you didn't know how to talk about starting up boxing."

Jayden froze, fork inches from his mouth and laden with a heap of mushy carrots and broccoli. "You, erm… You know about that?"

"You've hardly been discreet," Eden said as she picked her knife and fork back up. She was back to eating the burnt pie and overcooked vegetables her brother had prepared for her. "I can hear the timer beeping most of the night."

"Oh."

"You'll never improve against your shadow, by the way," Eden said. "Or reflection, or whatever."

Pastry crumbled beneath a knife's edge as Eden cut into the burnt husk of a pie. If it could still be called a pie in such a blackened and charred state. Eden hoped that her brother proved to be a better boxer than he was a cook.

"So… You're not angry?" Jayden asked.

"Angry? Why would I be angry?" Eden countered.

"Because of your last three fights," Jayden answered. "You got hurt, then you hurt someone, then you were attacked in a car park."

"Yeah, but I learnt from those experiences," Eden replied. "And you can learn from them without having to go through them yourself."

"So, you're really not angry?" Jayden asked again.

"Look, Jay, I won't pretend I'm not worried. But I'm not angry," she answered again. She looked at him carefully, her chest tightening at the thought of what boxing could take from him. It could take him from her. The way she had nearly taken Andy from his family. "Boxing's not pretty and it's not always fun. People get hurt. You will get hurt. But you're nearly an adult and it'll be your own decision. I mean, dad was pissed when I started boxing."

"I remember that," Jayden said. "I'm sorry I let him treat you like that."

"That's not… No, don't be sorry, Jay. You were just a kid," Eden said, her voice had taken a softer tone as she spoke more quietly. "My point is, he got angry at me and tried to drive me away from boxing. Said it was not safe for girls to box. But he only pushed me further away from him. I don't want to push you away and I know that trying to keep you from boxing will only make you want it more. If you're going to box whether I like it or not, then I don't want to lose you."

"That sounds pretty fair," Jayden said. "But dad was wrong, about you and boxing. I think you were born to box."

"Born and raised," Eden said. "It's in our blood. Dad was a boxer when he was young, before he met mom."

"Wait, what?" Jayden burst out, his brow furrowing. "I've never heard about that before."

"I don't think he was too proud of himself," Eden explained. "He… He got disqualified for turning up to a fight drunk. Bottle of whiskey in hand, no gloves. Coach said he was a mess."

"I'm sorry, what? Coach was in dad's corner, when dad boxed?" Jayden asked.

"Oh yeah, Coach has been around a long time," Eden said. "He was Coaching while it was still televised in black and white, before it became cyber boxing."

"Damn, I know he's old but… Damn," Jayden said.

Eden set her utensils down again and leaned back in her chair.

"I've missed this, hanging out with you, Jay," she said.

"Yeah, me too," Jayden said. "Do you think I could come to the gym sometime?"

"I guess," Eden answered. "Not my gym to bar you from. But don't expect any family discounts. And you know you can't box professionally until you're eighteen, right?"

"Right, I know," Jayden said. "But I can start training. Maybe even take on a few amateur fights, get some experience in."

"Not a bad idea," Eden replied.

The two of them stayed up late, finally having the time to catch up like they used to. Sometime after midnight, Jayden offered a tired smile before he left Eden in the kitchen to tidy up. She watched him walk away, smiling. For the first time in a long time, she felt light, like the weight of all her worries had slipped right off her.

--- --- ---

The bell rang.

"Scrap 'her, Eeds!" Coach yelled.

Eden darted forward to take the middle of the ring. If she was to outlast her opponent in a contest of endurance and stamina, then holding the centre would give her the advantage. She planned to make her opponent waste vital energy by being forced to move around the outside.

Elizaveta was bigger and heavier. She pushed forward and worked the pneumatic pump which had replaced her bicep. With a full arm of steel, she drove a right cross at Eden and simultaneously threw her weight against the other woman.

Eden dodged past the punch. But Elizaveta's well muscled weight knocked Eden back when their bodies collided and she forced her way into the middle of the ring. And she had not struggled to do so.

Eden tried to push the bigger woman back but her opponent would not budge. They took it in turns to exchange hits and sneak shots at the slightest opening. But for the remainder of the three minute round, Elizaveta held the middle.

The bell rang and both fighters backed away from each other. Eden kept her guard up as she returned to her corner.

"You're doing great, Eeds," Coach praised. "You probably lost that round, on points, but it was a tactical win."

"It was?" Eden asked. 

"Yeah, it was," Coach answered. "You're wearing her down and that was only the beginning."

"Why is she smiling?" Eden asked as she watched the far corner.

"Forget about her mouth," Coach said. Eden frowned. "I'm more worried about the solid steel that comes after her shoulders. Stick to the plan, hauling all that metal around will exhaust her. Now don't get caught by her right cross. That's how she goes for a knockout."

"She's got a plan," Eden said. 

"We've got a plan, so stay with it," Coach said. "Of course she has a plan, every fighter has a plan. Stick to our plan. Right now she's confident, hopefully too confident. Let her lose sight of the long game and-" 

The bell rang.

"And take the damn middle of the ring!" Coach finished.

Eden dashed into the middle and Elizaveta, just like the first round, threw all of her body weight. Eden also threw herself forward, trying to push for the middle. Elizaveta wrapped her arms around Eden and pushed her towering mass against Eden's body. Eden struggled to get her arms loose so she could fight back.

"You kept your hands up, after the bell," Elizaveta said.

"So?" Eden asked.

Elizaveta released the clinch and pushed Eden away. "So you're afraid of me."

Eden gritted her teeth and swung. A wide hook with her right hand. She hit Elizaveta in the side of the head and the Rathski woman wobbled, then fell to one knee. The ref moved in, pushed Eden to her corner, then returned to the downed fighter to begin counting.

"Ten!" the ref shouted.

Elizaveta smiled.

"Nine-"

She rose to her feet. The ref gave her a quick look over before backing away. Eden stepped forward into the middle of the ring. For over a minute, nearly half of the round, Eden held her ground. But at the last minute, Elizaveta pushed herself back into the middle and forced Eden to work the outside of the ring.

When the bell rang, Eden kept her guard raised as she returned to her corner.

"She's incredible," Eden said as she leant against the blue corner post.

"You're better," Coach encouraged. "She's a great fighter, but don't be afraid of her. Not for a second."

"I'm not afraid," Eden said without pulling her eyes away from the woman in the far corner.

"Good, cause the plan's already working," Coach said as he inspected Eden's knuckles. Coach waved a hand and the crew climbed up to the ringside. "She's already getting tired. Fight for the middle again, keep making it a contest of stamina."

"Is my casing damaged?" she asked.

"Yeah, it's bent inwards," Coach said. "We gotta take it off or it could cut into you. So your right hand is gonna lose some weight."

"Lighter is faster," Eden said.

"Weight is momentum," Coach replied. "And momentum hits harder. Your right hand isn't as powerful, only by a small bit though." The crew pulled off the aluminium case that covered her replaced knuckles. "Don't expect another knockdown like the last one."

"I've still got my left," Eden said.

"Stick to the plan," Coach yelled before the bell rang.

Eden took to the centre of the ring. For most of the round, they traded blows and fought evenly. Elizaveta tried to use her weight to steal the middle but Eden held firm until the last minute. Elizaveta forced her way into the middle just as the bell rang.

"Great work, Eeds," Coach praised.

"She's so strong" Eden said.

"She's getting tired, her punches are slowing," Coach replied.

"Her punches are hitting just as hard," Eden said.

"Quit focusing on her," Coach said. "Listen to me: Stick to the plan."

"I know, Coach," Eden said.

"You've got this, Eeds," Coach said. "You're fire and she's coal. Burn her up, leaving nothing behind." The bell rang. "Leave nothing behind, Eeds."

The fourth round opened with Eden claiming the middle of the ring. Elizaveta moved in a wide arc around her, surprisingly light on her feet for her size. Her sharp, focused eyes watched Eden's every move. With a sudden burst of fury, she unleashed a crushing left-right combo that battered against Eden's arms. Eden kept her guard up.

"You don't… Trust me?" Elizaveta asked, her chest rising and falling heavily. "Is that it?"

"What?" Eden rarely spoke to her opposition during a match.

"When the bell rings… You keep your hands up," Elizaveta said, her voice strained. "I have honour."

"My last opponent didn't," Eden replied.

Without warning, Eden stepped forward with a long left jab, snapping her fist out with terrifying speed. She followed it with a second, then third jab, trying to drive Elizaveta back into the corner. When an animal is cornered, it fights back.

Elizaveta planted her feet and her whole body tensed. For a fleeting moment she was still. Like a coiled snake. Then she sprang! Her whole body rotated and leaned into the punch. Eden heard the pneumatics hiss as they pumped Elizaveta's full steel arm with a mighty right cross.

But it was a wasted effort. Eden had seen it coming. Elizaveta was tired and running out of options faster than she was running out of breath. Desperation had set in and she felt there was no choice but to try to end the match soon. Otherwise, she risked getting exhausted before they had even gone half the rounds. Under enough pressure, she was bound to go for the knockout.

Eden slipped inside the wide arc of the punch, moving so close she could feel the heat radiating off the other woman's body. Her left hand curved up in a sharp strike to Elizaveta's chin. Eden was prepared to follow up with a barrage of attacks - but before she could, Elizaveta crumpled to one knee.

Eden withheld her assault and backed away as the ref swooped in.

"Ten, nine," the ref counted. "Eight, seven…"

He stopped counting once Elizaveta was on her feet and steady. Then the ref moved out of the way so that the match could continue.

For the rest of the round, Elizaveta was cautious. She used her longer arms to box from the outside but her punches were slower and easier to avoid. Eden dodged what she could and held a firm guard against any she could not. Even tired, Elizaveta's attacks proved to be no less powerful. The pumps in her arms worked tirelessly to mechanically drive her punches. But the time between each strike was growing longer as exhaustion set in.

The bell rang and Eden let herself relax. Elizaveta chuckled as she returned to her corner.

"Why'd you deviate from the plan?" Coach growled as soon as Eden was close enough to hear. "You were doing great, holding the middle, wearing her out. Then you chased her into that damn corner and risked everything. What were you thinking?"

"Our plan's working but I wanted to put a stop to her plan," Eden answered. "She's tired, feeling the pressure. In all her recent fights, she won by knockout in the early rounds. And she tenses up before a big punch, every time."

"So you baited it out and punished her for it!" Coach yelled, "Not bad. It was a risk but maybe you made her think twice before trying it again. I don't know if I should kiss you or smack you."

"Which do you think she'd-" Eden stopped herself before she could finish the intrusive thought. "I mean, I don't think she's the type to think twice."

"Neither are you, Eeds," Coach said. "You've got steelier balls than any man I've trained or managed. How'd you know she tenses her body like that?"

"I've been watching footage of her previous fights," Eden answered.

"That's dedication," Coach said.

"Sure."

The bell rang. Round five began with Eden pacing forward and Elizaveta lumbering towards her, dripping with sweat beneath the spotlights.

"We both know where this is going," Elizaveta said.

"You ready?" Eden challenged.

"Are you?" she countered.

Elizaveta planted her feet and braced herself as Eden closed the distance. The Rathski woman lunged forward, putting her entire body behind the punch. Her machine arms pushed and she gave everything she had for this last chance. Eden weaved around the outside of the punch.

"I'm not…"

Elizaveta's left arm hissed as the pump worked overtime. She struck a second time, stepping forward and swinging wildly. Eden felt the air graze her chin as Elizaveta's fist narrowly missed.

"... Done…"

Elizaveta continued to press forward. Her right arm swung with a wide, desperate hook as steam spurted from the pump. This third attack came too fast. Eden had barely any time to react. She covered her face and the powerful punch struck her already bruised arms. The sheer force of the attack knocked her and she stumbled back.

"... Yet!" Elizaveta screamed.

She ran forward, her left arm already swinging. Eden steadied herself. The fourth heavy attack in a row came crashing down. Eden threw her own left punch to meet it head-on. Their fists collided and Eden felt her whole body shake. Her aluminium casing buckled beneath the force and she felt the bones in her hand crunch. Her punch was knocked aside. But Eden recovered quickly. Elizaveta was still lunging, unable to stop her reckless momentum. Eden's right hand lashed out. She struck true! Her punch cracked Elizaveta's chin and the larger woman fell to her knees.

Eden stood tall over the fallen woman, unmoving. The ref came between them to begin his counting.

"Ten, nine, eight," the ref shouted, but Eden could barely hear him over the pounding of her own heart in her ears. "Seven, six, five."

Elizaveta struggled to stand up. Blood dripped from her mouth. She raised a shaky hand up and spat her gumshield out to marr the ring floor with small splatters of blood.

"I can't…" She mumbled.

"Four, three, two," the ref continued to count. Elizaveta looked up at him. "One and out!"

Eden went to the other fighter's side and helped lift her to her feet.

"Thank you," Elizaveta said softly.

Eden helped her to her corner where her coach and medics sat her down on a small stool. The ref grabbed Eden's right hand.

"The winner of tonight's match, by knockout, is Eden O'Cay!" the ref shouted into his mic.

The crowd erupted. Eden looked at her bloodied left hand, a mess of metal and flesh. Cheers and clapping took over the crowd before they began chanting her name. She trembled. Coach pulled back the ropes and helped her climb out.

At the ringside, a medic peeled the aluminium casing out of her hand. She felt the sting of disinfectant before a needle and nylon thread wound back and forth over her lacerated knuckles. Then came the gauze, bandage, and ice pack.

"Keep it elevated," the medic said, speaking loudly to be heard over the racket of the crowd. "With any luck, the swelling won't push your artificial knuckles out of place."

Eden nodded.

"Damn it, Eeds, I don't know how that worked but it did!" Coach yelled. "That was a crazy stunt but you pulled it off!"

"I thought you hated my crazy stunts," Eden said.

"Yeah, I'm starting to come around on them," Coach replied. "Going toe-to-toe with her was mad. Absolutely mad. And she was already playing into our hands. But I guess, sometimes, you've gotta do it your way."

"I guess so," Eden replied.

"Oh, look sharp," Coach said as he turned his attention to Elizaveta and her approaching team. "You ain't begging for a do over, are ya? No use crying about it now."

Coach seemed entirely ignorant that he was a frail, old man against a monolithic titan of a woman.

"I wanted to congratulate you, Eden," Elizaveta said. "You earned that victory and I am proud to have stood my ground against you."

"You fought like a woman possessed at the end," Eden said.

"Thank you."

"You don't need a hospital or anything, do you?" Eden asked.

"No, not yet," Elizaveta answered as she shook her head. "My manager wants to book me in for a check up tomorrow."

Her manager, a portly man with a withered scrap of grey hair on his balding head, cleared his throat. "Indeed, she was our prize fighter before tonight and with the right medical care she will be again." His accent was thick, each consonant pronounced sharply, the words rolled from his tongue with a distinct cadence.

"So you've got no plans for the rest of the night?" Eden asked.

"She has a strict schedule of rest and recuperation prepared for the next three days, before we fly back to Rathski," her manager said.

"I can make some time," Elizaveta said.

"Do you drink at all?" Eden asked.

"Her diet is considered very carefully and-"

"Vodka is a key part of my diet" Elizaveta interjected, a playful smirk pulling at her lips.

Eden bit her bottom lip. "I'll meet you outside then."

--- --- ---

They stumbled into the hallway, leaning on each other for support and giggling. Every time Elizaveta laughed too loud, Eden tried to shush her. As quietly as they could, they climbed up the stairwell and reached Eden's apartment door. Eden pushed it open.

Jayden leapt up from the sofa, breaking away from the girl he was sitting with.

"Shit, Eeds. You're, uh, back early," he stammered.

"Who's this? I didn't know you were having a girl around!" Eden yelped.

Elizaveta shushed her then chuckled to herself.

"I didn't know you were having a girl 'round," Jayden echoed.

Eden looked at Elizaveta, and then back to Jayden. "That's not the same, you're both just kids."

Eden leaned against the dining table for balance and watched as Elizaveta staggered in beside her.

"Are you drunk?" Jayden asked.

"Only, like, a little," Eden answered with a grin.

"When was the last time you drank? Or even socialised?" Jayden asked, eyeing the tall woman next to his sister. Elizaveta was much bigger, with a stern but pretty face. Her arms were made entirely of steel… "Oh. Is she?"

Eden nodded.

"Is that allowed?" Jayden asked, a hint of disbelief in his tone.

Eden shrugged. "Match is over; we're not fighting each other anymore." Elizaveta nudged her shoulder. "Mostly."

"I don't want to know," Jayden said as he shook his head.

"Do her parents know she's here this late?" Eden asked.

"I have a name, you know," the girl on the sofa protested.

"In Rathski, only adults have names," Elizaveta said.

"Is that true?" the girl turned to ask Jayden.

"What? No, it's not true," Jayden answered. "Look, you're drunk, Eeds. Go to bed and sleep it off."

"Actually, we're not that drunk," Eden said.

"Yeah," Elizaveta chimed in.

"And I don't think you two should be left alone," Eden added. "But… I'm not a hypocrite. She doesn't have to rush home yet, if she doesn't want to."

"We'll be in my room then," Jayden said.

"Not a chance," Eden shot back. "Living room or I'll kick her out myself. And she needs to call her parents to be picked up tonight. I can't drive her home."

"I could kick her out," Elizaveta said, stumbling towards the sofa.

Eden gently pulled her back . "Living room. We'll order some pizza."

Jayden looked at the girl sitting on the sofa. "Are you hungry?"

"I guess?" she answered, slowly considering. "We could watch a movie?"

"Oh, I've heard about these movie nights," Elizaveta said. She made her way to the sofa and sat down heavily next to the girl.

"Pizza and a movie, then," Eden decided. "I'll order. Jay, you put a film on. You two…" Eden looked from Elizaveta to the young girl in her apartment. "Coffee?"

"I don't drink coffee," the girl said. "Can I have a can of pop, from the fridge, please? Do you have a black eye?"

"I'll try coffee," Elizaveta answered. She had never had coffee before.

Jayden turned the TV on, landing on the sports channel, which recapped the night's fight. Highlights from all five rounds flashed across the screen. The girl watched intently before slowly turning to stare at Eden.

"I loved that uppercut," Elizaveta remarked as her screen-self went down to one knee. "My chin is still sore."

"That's probably from my last hit," Eden replied, a smirk on her lips. "Your right cross was brilliant. And that combination attack at the end - where did that come from?"

"I do not know," Elizaveta answered. "You pushed me. I've never fought like that. Thank you."

"I've never celebrated a fight like this," Eden said as a warm smile spread across her face. "So, thank you, too."