WORLD MILITARY LEADER FYN CYR IN CRITICAL CONDITION AFTER FIGHT WITH DEPENDENCY.

By L.M.Taurus

8/8/0027 UWC

36 hours before headline

Lete stood in front of a bathroom mirror as she washed blood off of her hands. She scrubbed as hard as she could causing more pain. The blood was hers from repeatedly punching someone. She finally stopped scrubbing, taking a good look at herself in the mirror. She had purple hair, a lot of black mascara under her eyes and an emerald nose ring. She looked like trouble and that's exactly what she wanted, the don't mess with me look.

There was a knock on the door. "Everything okay in there?" asked McKnight from outside of the bathroom.

Lete opened the door and shoved her way through McKnight. "Everything is peachy."

McKnight grabbed her wrist before she could get too far. He brought her wrist close as he observed her injuries. "These are the hands of a fighter," said McKnight, bringing her hand up and giving it a kiss. "I don't know if I've said this before, but thank you for what you did back home. I don't know if I would have been able to get out of there if it wasn't for you." He released her hand.

"You're welcome," said Lete. She walked over to one of the beds in their shitty motel room and sat down. "How much money did we earn last night, anyways?"

"Five hundred," answered McKnight. "I still wish you would have let me fight instead," he said as he sat in the other bed.

"It had to be me," said Lete. "The payout is bigger when I'm the fighter."

"Yes, yes, I know," said McKnight. "Odds are higher against you."

"What's the plan?"

"First thing we have to do is get out of this country and go to America," said McKnight. "The lack of electricity can only help us."

"Help you," corrected Lete. "The world military doesn't know who I am. It's your face that's in the media."

"It's not my fault they found me out," said McKnight.

"It's not your fault you left an Agent of Dependency's mask at your father's bar. What were you thinking?"

"I wasn't."

"No kidding. You're so lucky I was there to save your ass."

"Quick thinking, putting that mask on as well."

"Being unidentifiable is the only way we get to keep operating."

"Careful Lete," said McKnight. "This is my team, not yours. Hence why I have an Agent of Dependency mask and you don't."

"You already told me," said Lete as she stood up. "I have to earn a mask first before I can truly call myself an Agent of Dependency." She went over to the window and peeked outside. "How much money in total do we have?"

McKnight reached between the covers and pulled out a wad of cash. He counted the money as Lete watched. "Almost three grand."

"My guy can get us on an airship with two point five grand each," said Lete. "At the pace we're going, the world military is going to catch us before we get out of Scotland."

"Maybe you should let me go on ahead and I'll buy you a ticket to reunite in America later."

"Fat chance. I'm sorry McKnight, but I don't trust you. I want an introduction with the real Agent of Dependency."

"I am the real Agent of Dependency."

"See, this is why I don't trust you."

"What? I am."

"You might be an Agent of Dependency, but I want to meet the Agent of Dependency."

"Only Agents of Dependency get to meet the boss," said McKnight.

"You've told me this already. The part you haven't told me is how do I become an Agent of Dependency?"

"You earn it."

Lete rolled her eyes. "Never mind, let's just get out of here."

****

Lete and McKnight were back at the fight club. Lete wrapped her hands as McKnight talked to the manager. McKnight went to Lete and took a seat next to her.

"I think you should let me fight tonight," said McKnight.

"No," said Lete. "You know we need to get out of this country as soon as possible. We make more money if I fight. The world military are on your tail."

"But you're fighting the champion. He's a really big guy."

"Hmpt," said Lete as she leaned forward and smirked. "That's a good thing. I've seen him fight. I can take him and since he's the champion, big payout."

"Are you sure about this? He's two times your size."

Lete stood up as the ring announcer called her name. "I'm positive. Now sit tight and take notes."

Lete climbed into the ring as her opponent stretched. He was two times her size. He looked down at her, a serious look on his face. She noted the man was taking her seriously which meant he'd been watching her fights as well.

The announcer took a step back. "Ready," he said and Lete and her opponent got into a fighting stance. "Set." Lete took a deep breath. "Wait a second," said the announcer, shocking everyone in the room. "Championship fight. Special rules."

Guards from outside tossed two baseball bats into the ring. The bats happened to land closer to her opponent.

"What the fuck," yelled McKnight from outside of the ring.

"And fight," yelled the announcer.

Lete slid right towards one of the bats and took it as her opponent reached down for his. She smashed her bat into her opponent's knee cap, popping it and shattering her bat. He screamed. She grabbed the other bat and slammed it at the back of his other leg. He fell forward onto his knees. Her opponent was at eye level with her. She grabbed him by his hair and pulled him down onto her knee, busting his nose and knocking him out.

There was a silence in the room as they processed what just had happened. Then the crowd let out a tremendous cheer.

McKnight got in the ring and embraced Lete in a hug. "That was fucking amazing. You took down the champion in a three hit combo. I've never seen anything like that."

"Let's go collect our money," said Lete. "Maybe we made enough to get out of here."

Lete and McKnight had to wait till the club closed before they were allowed to see the manager. They entered the office and found the manager counting money on his desk with two guards right behind him.

"Here you go," said the manager, pushing a wad of money forward.

McKnight grabbed the cash and counted it right there. "I think there's a mistake. You only gave us 200 dollars."

"That's the right amount," said the manager.

"How? She made twice that yesterday and that was a qualifier's match. She just beat the champion. She should have double or triple."

"Except yesterday she was a heavy underdog and today she was the favorite."

"How is that possible?"

"Everyone watched her fights," said the manager. "It was easy to tell she's a skillful fighter. Ex-military?" he asked her. Lete only glared at him. "Regardless, everyone bet she was going to win and she won. We lost a lot of money tonight so your cut is 200 dollars. Come back tomorrow and fight again. Maybe your odds change again if the match is three against one."

"That's not fair," exclaimed McKnight.

"Tough. Now leave."

The guards went to remove McKnight and Lete, but they took the hint and left. "What a piece of shit," said McKnight as they walked to their vehicle.

Lete didn't say a word as she reached in the back of the truck and pulled out a sword and the Agent of Dependency mask.

"What are you doing?" asked McKnight.

She put the mask on and made her way back to the club. "I'm getting us our cash."

"Lete, wait. There's too many of them," said McKnight, but she ignored him. "Fuck it," said McKnight as he reached inside the truck and pulled out another sword.

McKnight ran into the club as he heard screams of agony. He hesitated for a second before entering. He found blood and men on the floor all over. Then he spotted Lete, wearing the Agent of Dependency mask, taking down all of the guards with such ease and quickness. The guards didn't even have a chance.

By the time she reached the manager's office, his guards had decided to retreat. She punched the manager as McKnight entered the office.

"Should have just given us the cash," she said to the unconscious manager. She turned to McKnight. "Take all of the cash, we're getting out of this country."

****

Lete and McKnight drove to the harbor when they heard sirens in the distance. "Shit," said Lete. "One of those assholes must have called the cops on us. Pull into this garage," she said as she pointed at the parking garage next to the harbor.

They got out of the truck and walked to the edge of the garage. They saw the police arrive at the harbor alongside the world military.

"Shit," said McKnight. "Is that a world military leader down there?"

"Fyn Cyr," said Lete as she looked at him. He was ordering the police around.

"Fuck. This is because you wore the Agent of Dependency mask. One of those guards must have called the police. We have to go."

"No," said Lete. "You're getting out of here tonight." She grabbed McKnight and looked into his eyes. "Listen to me. You're going to take that cash and you're going to give it to the owner of that ship." She pointed at a small green airship at the end of the harbor. "You're going to tell him Lete sent you."

"You're not coming?"

"I'm going to distract them."

"Nah, let's just retreat. We can get out of the country another day."

"We're not going to get another chance like this," said Lete. "The world military is closing in on you. It's only a matter of time."

"How are you going to distract them?"

"I'm going after their golden boy."

"You're going after Fyn Cyr? You can't take him."

"Are you sure about that? You've seen me fight. I might surprise the asshole."

"Fuck," said McKnight. "Fuck it. He pulled the Agent of Dependency mask out and offered it to Lete. "Take this. Wear it in the fight."

She took the mask. "Does this mean I'm an Agent of Dependency," she joked.

"Yes," said McKnight, seriously. "Good luck."

Lete was surprised by his words and gave him a nod. "Good luck to you too."

The two went their separate ways. Lete sneaked her way to the harbor and near the airships. She crossed a couple of policemen, but she knocked them out before they could notice her. Lete was almost upon Fyn, who wore his bulky world military leader armor.

Lete had her mask on as she took a step into the light. "Hey big guy," she said, getting his attention.

Fyn turned around. "You're not the Agent of Dependency."

"Oh no," said Lete. "What makes you think that?"

"I've met the Agent of Dependency and I'm pretty sure he's a he."

Lete smiled. "No, I'm not the Agent of Dependency you've met, but I am one of the many Agents of Dependency and it's going to take a lot more than you to take us down."

"I don't know," said Fyn as he approached her. "I'm always game for a good challenge."

Fyn rushed Lete and swung his club at her. She managed to block his attack with her sword. Fyn went into a barrage of attacks and Lete struggled to keep up with him.

The police heard the commotion and came to see the fight. They stood back as they saw Fyn was winning the fight. Fyn got close to getting a good hit on Lete, but she always managed to block just in time.

The two of them were at the edge of the harbor when Fyn managed to punch Lete in the face, knocking off her mask. She kept her head down so he wouldn't see her face. He tried to look at her face as she reached down and grabbed her mask.

Fyn went forward and grabbed her sword arm. "I got you," he said as he looked at her face.

Lete frowned as she cocked her head back then slammed it right into Fyn's nose. Fyn released her. Lete went forward in stabbing motion and slammed into him. The two fell off the edge and into the water.

****

McKnight stood at the edge of the ship as he looked into the ocean water. He saw the fight between Fyn and Lete. He hoped she had survived.

"We need to go," said the captain of the ship.

"Not yet," said McKnight as he continued to search the water.

"If we don't go, you run the risk of being captured."

McKnight spotted something and got off the ship. He ran to the water and reached down. He grabbed someone's arm and pulled them up. "You made it," he said to Lete.

Lete pulled up the Agent of Dependency mask. "I kept this, but I lost my sword inside of the golden boy."

McKnight and Lete shared a smile as he helped her to the airship.