The Beginning.

       THE training hall echoed with the thunderous clangs of metal on metal as Charles Ilagra's mech collided with his brother Octavian's. Sparks flew as their mechanized behemoths grappled, their pilots locked in an intense sibling rivalry.

      Charles grunted, sweat beading on his brow as he struggled to maintain control. His mech's limbs trembled under the onslaught of Octavian's relentless attacks. Then with a well-timed strike, Octavian's mech slammed into Charles's, sending it staggering backwards.

"Sloppy footwork, little brother," Octavian taunted, his voice crackling over the comm-link. "You're leaving too many openings."

      Charles gritted his teeth, his face flushing with anger. He hated when Octavian patronized him, treating him like an amateur. With a roar of defiance, he charged forward, his mech's forelegs raised with dangerously sharp claws ready for a blistering assault.

      Their mechs collided again, the shockwaves rippling through the hall. Charles rained blow after blow, but Octavian deftly evaded each strike. Frustration mounted as Charles's attacks grew increasingly frantic and unfocused.

"You're losing control," Octavian chided, his tone dripping with disdain. "Letting your emotions dictate your actions, as always."

      A brutal slam from Octavian's mech sent Charles's machine stumbling. Warning lights flashed as systems faltered. Charles snarled, slamming his fists against the control panels in a fit of rage.

      Seizing the opportunity, Octavian pressed the advantage. His mech moved with cold precision, each strike methodical and calculated. Charles's machine took a pummeling, unable to mount an effective defense.

      With a final, devastating blow, Octavian's mech sent Charles's crashing to the ground in a heap of twisted metal. Charles's cockpit hissed as the emergency releases disengaged, the canopy hissing open.

      Octavian stepped out of his mech, his expression one of utter disdain as he looked down at his fallen brother. "Did you really think brute force alone would defeat me? You're reckless, undisciplined..."

      He shook his head slowly. "This is why you're a failure, Charles. You let your emotions control you, blinding you to strategy and reason. It's pathetic, really."

      Charles slammed his fist against the ground, his chest heaving with exertion and humiliation. Octavian's words cut deep, striking at the core of his insecurities.

"One day you'll have to face the truth," Octavian continued mercilessly. "You'll never inherit our family's legacy with such glaring flaws."

      With that final condemnation hanging in the air, Octavian turned and strode from the hall, leaving Charles to wallow in the bitter sting of defeat.

* * *

      Aiden lexson slipped through the dimly lit alleyway, his eyes darting left and right. The distinct click of boots echoed behind him, sending a jolt of panic through his body. Quickening his pace, he cursed under his breath, knowing full well who those footsteps belonged to.

Skimmer.

And not just any skimmer.

The - skimmer.

      Aiden had been avoiding this moment for weeks, but his luck had finally run out. He owed this particular skimmer a substantial amount of credits, and the collector had been relentless in his pursuit. Only Aiden couldn't afford to give what he had especially since it was only next to nothing.

As the footsteps grew closer, Aiden pressed himself against the wall, praying he wouldn't be noticed.

…

      A sigh of relief escaped his lips as the Skimmer passed by, seemingly oblivious to his presence.

Aiden emerged from the shadows, his shoulders sagging. Another day, another close call. He couldn't keep living like this, constantly looking over his shoulder, never knowing when the Debt collector would catch up to him.

      With a heavy heart, Aiden made his way home, his meager earnings from the day barely enough to buy a simple meal. As he walked, the melody of the  hacker V's song echoed through the dome's hidden speakers, its defiant lyrics stirring something within him.

She had once again hacked the ilagra's impenetrable network.

      a feat that deserve the praise of many and the wrath of the ilagra, especially Amara, the one responsible for the dome's subtler types of security.

Aiden had always been a secret admirer of the Hacker's work, drawn to the way she used her music to rally the oppressed masses against the Ilagra dynasty's iron-fisted rule.

      The yearning and entrapment he experienced in a life never chosen consumed Aiden's thoughts. V's communication that evening resonated profoundly, igniting a long-suppressed scheme to break free from his circumstances' shackles. Although perilous, the allure of an improved existence burned intensely within him.

      As Aiden turned the corner, a sudden forceful blow to the back of his head sent him staggering. He crumpled to the ground, vision blurring as he grappled to regain his senses. The Skimmer towered over him, a malicious smirk etched across his face.

"So you got paid huh?" The skimmer chuckled. "I'll be taking your credits and if you make me do this type of thing again I'm afraid I'll have to triple the going rate."

How did it turn out like this? Aiden had already paid his debt 10 times over.

      Aiden groaned, tasting the metallic tang of blood in his mouth and his missing credits. This was the literal price he had to pay for his debts, a harsh reminder of the world he lived in.

      Sometime later as he regained consciousness he slowly picked himself up and recounting what had happened, his resolve only hardened.

The time had come to take action, to seize control of his own destiny. With a renewed determination, Aiden vowed to put his long-held plan into motion, no matter the cost.

* * *

      Aiden Lexson's footwear crushed the debris-covered terrain as he traversed the poorly illuminated side street, his heart racing with a blend of apprehension and resolve. He had ultimately chosen to set his long-contemplated scheme in motion, and he was aware that only one individual possessed the capability to aid him in executing it – Avery.

      Aiden Lexson's ears were greeted by the well-known clamor of striking metal and the potent fragrance of mutagen compounds as he neared Avery Livens-ton's workshop. Drawing in a deep breath, he pushed open the entrance, his gaze instantly settling upon the whirlwind of activity that was Avery herself.

      Aiden Lexson raised his voice, attempting to make it heard above the cacophony of Avery's labor, "Avery!" With the others absent during these extended periods, solely Avery would be present, allowing her respites without impacting her compensation. "I need your help."

      The petite blonde mechanic whirled around, her light brown eyes lighting up at the sight of Aiden. "Aiden! My favorite grease monkey!" she exclaimed, practically bouncing on the balls of her feet as she made her way over to him.

      Aiden couldn't help but smile at her infectious enthusiasm, even as his mind raced with the gravity of his plan. "Avery, I need to get outside the dome," he said, cutting straight to the chase. "I know it's risky, but I think I've found a way to get my hands on a TDM core module."

      Avery's eyes widened, her expression shifting from excitement to concern. "Aiden, you can't be serious! Do you have any idea how dangerous that is?" she exclaimed, her voice laced with worry.

"I know, Avery, I know," Aiden replied, reaching out to grasp her hands. "But this could be my chance to change things, to get out of this life. I need your help, please."

      Avery chewed on her bottom lip, her brow furrowed in deep thought. Aiden could see the internal struggle playing out on her face, the part of her that wanted to protect him warring with the part that longed to help him achieve his dreams.

"Aiden, I..." she began, her voice trailing off as she glanced over her shoulder, her expression suddenly hardening before a sigh. "Charles Ilagra made me an offer, you know."

Aiden felt his heart sink at the mention of the Ilagra's young master's name. "What kind of offer?" he asked, his voice low and guarded.

"He wants to fund my work, give me the resources to take my projects to the next level," Avery explained, her gaze fixed on Aiden's. "He says he can secure a comfortable future for my family, Aiden. I'd be a fool to turn that down."

      Aiden's jaw tightened, his hands instinctively tightening around Avery's. "And what about our plan, Avery? What about everything we've been working on?"

Avery's eyes softened, and she gave Aiden's hands a gentle squeeze. "Aiden, you know I care about you more than anything. But I can't ignore an opportunity like this, not when it could change everything for my family."

      Aiden felt a wave of disappointment wash over him, but he couldn't fault Avery for her decision. He knew all too well the struggles of living in the dome's lower levels, the constant fight for survival.

Aiden huffed "Everyone knows charles' womanizing personality. What's in it for him?"

"that's the part I worried about too but once you get to know him he's actually kind and sweet, but he just wants my talents." Avery replied.  

      Just as he was about to resign himself to defeat, Avery's expression suddenly brightened. "But," she said, a mischievous grin spreading across her face, "I might be able to help you with your little expedition anyway."

Aiden's brow furrowed in confusion as Avery turned and rummaged through a cluttered workbench, finally emerging with a small, cylindrical device. "The latest prototype of my exploration DOG," she explained, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "It's not armed, but it is equipped with state-of-the-art sensors and environmental shielding. It should get you outside the dome and back safely."

      Aiden stared at the device in Avery's outstretched hand, his heart swelling with gratitude and a renewed sense of hope. "Avery, I don't know what to say," he breathed, reaching out to take the device from her.

But just as his fingers brushed against the cool metal, its electrical hum startled him. Its purr unusual for the core module of a golem.  

"Is it supposed to do that?" Aiden asked as he carefully took it from a smiling Avery's palm. Her smile told him it was ok but more than that his curiosity was at an all time high.

* * *

"This is an untested prototype?!" Aiden mused in astonishment.

She denied his supposition with a shake of her head. "No, this is my very own untested, custom-made creation."

"The imperfections have been ironed out thanks to your invaluable feedback," she carried on while practically beaming , "So I believe you should be ready for the adventure of a lifetime!"

                                                                 ....

The hulking form of Avery's custom DOG mech now loomed before Aiden, its sleek, weaponless frame a testament to her engineering prowess. With a deep breath, he climbed into the cockpit, his fingers dancing across the familiar controls as the canopy closed with a hiss.

"Alright, Avery, I'm in," he said, his voice crackling over the comm-link. "Let's do this."

                                                                  ….…

The DOG's massive frame thundered across the desolate landscape, Aiden's fingers dancing across the controls with practiced precision. The mech's powerful servos propelled it forward, its heavy footfalls shaking the ground beneath it. It's speed nothing to scoff at.

Aiden's heart pounded in his chest as he neared his destination, the anticipation building with every step.  Hoping with his all that his information would be accurate.

The controls felt like second nature to Aiden, their use as instinctive as conversation. He had piloted numerous test model DOGs under Avery's watchful eye for a long time, and now the once heavy gauntlet-like directional controls now seemed almost weightless on his arms.

This was Aiden's maiden external voyage, yet his proficiency was undeniable but still he worried.  The primary issue was that the tdm core modules, unlike those in dogs, were prone to leaking. This leakage resulted in gravity wells infused with torque that could either crush or twist anything that ventured too near into a state resembling twine or putty, whether it was a dog or a human.

But just as he was about to reach his objective, a sudden crackle of static filled the cockpit, and a voice, rich and alluring, echoed all around him over the  radio. A figure filling every inch of the cockpit's curved projected display appeared.

Her features captivating and otherworldly.

She was undeniably beautiful, but there was a power in her gaze and voice that sent a shiver down his spine.

"Hi." The Woman purred, "This situation you find yourself in. I can help you out of it."  her voice dripping with seductive promise. "Surrender yourself to me, and I will spare your life. Refuse, and you will be crushed by the very power you seek to harness."

The DOG's systems suddenly flickered, and Aiden felt a jolt of panic as the mech's movements became erratic, as if it were being pulled by an unseen force.

"Avery what's happening?" Aiden demanded, his fingers flying across the controls as he fought to regain control. Avery didn't respond, "Ugh, no signal!?"

"This is simply the result of trying to harness something beyond your capabilities," the woman stated, an I've-got-you-right-where-I-want you type of smile spreading across her lips. "And now, it will be your undoing~."

Aiden's eyes narrowed as he stared down the woman, his jaw set with determination. "What do you want?" he growled, his voice laced with defiance. "oh its simple really." the woman replied, "I want you."

"I won't give you my DOG." Aiden growled, his voice laced with defiance as he fought to regain control of the erratic mech.

The woman let out a scornful laugh, her eyes sparkling with malice. "That unstable thing?"

"Honey, what I need is you, not that- thing." She purred.

The DOG's limbs began to shake violently, and Aiden could feel the pull of the Torque-infused gravity-well intensifying. He gritted his teeth, his muscles straining as he fought to keep the mech upright.

But as the DOG was drawn closer to the swirling vortex, Aiden knew that his only chance was to trust in Avery's engineering and the skills he had honed over countless hours of training.

But Aiden Lexson's heart pounded in his chest as he realized it was too late to steer the mech away from the edge of the gravity well. His eyes narrowed in concentration. The DOG's military-grade servos whined as it strained against the Torque's pull, but he refused to give up.

"I won't surrender to you," Aiden growled, his voice laced with defiance. "I'm here to take that module and you won't stop me."

The woman's eyes narrowed, and Aiden could see the disappointment in her gaze. "Then you will die," she sighed.

Aiden braced himself as the DOG was pulled closer to the vortex, the Torque's energy crackling all around him. But he refused to give in, his determination fueling his every move. But he knew that at the center of the gravity-well only death awaited him.

Aiden pondered his options, but this predicament seemed insurmountable. The cockpit could be jettisoned, yet that would only result in a drawn-out, agonizing death from torque exposure. He was caught between a rock and a hard place.

"I'll extend one final opportunity to you," she breathed her tone airy but final, "Surrender yourself to me, and in return, I'll repair the damaged module, ensuring your safety. Subsequently, I'll return that grotesque fusion of a mech and gift the core module to your kin. What do you think of that proposition?"

Aiden Lexson's nostrils leaked crimson droplets, a telltale sign that the mech's environmental systems were failing - a symptom of torque exposure. Time was of the essence; he needed to act swiftly and make a critical decision.

"Fine, save me… I can't die yet." Aiden responded.

The woman's lips curled into a grin as she said, "Excellent! But first, why don't you give it a try?"

Caught off guard, Aiden could only manage a bewildered, "what??"

"Death."