The rest of the hall was crammed with more seasoned trainees as well as forty or more Fixers in full Pavilion uniforms. Everyone was armed except the people in the bleachers with Top and Bunny. Excitement rippled through the packed house, and Top saw some of the spectators grinning and nudging one another. Apparently, they knew what was coming and were totally into the moment.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” said HK, affecting the big voice and grand gestures of a circus ringmaster. “Welcome to another edition of Blue Diamond Battle Zone.”

It was meant as some kind of inside joke, and it got the expected laugh from the regulars. Eve clapped her hands and stamped her feet on the mat.

“Oh boy,” said Bunny under his breath. “This is going to get weird.”

“Hush now, Farm Boy,” murmured Top.

“We have a full house today,” continued HK. “That’s marvelous. So many of you have been with Blue Diamond since it was acquired by our new benefactors.”

She didn’t give a name, but Top didn’t need one. Everything about this was on a grand scale, and with massive money and tech savvy behind it. Kuga’s name might as well have been in neon lights at the gate. And Top’s heart sank at the thought that this was just one camp. Were there others? Here and elsewhere around the world? If so … how many and where?

“And we have some new members to the Blue Diamond family,” said HK. “Come on, boys and girls, stand up so everyone can give you a proper hello.”

She waved in the direction of the new recruits, and after a moment’s surprised hesitation, the people in Top’s section got to their feet amid thunderous applause. Top felt like a fool, and he felt incredibly exposed. Bunny, for his part, played to the crowd and raised both hands over his head, making the heavy metal horns hand sign and sticking his tongue out like Gene Simmons from Kiss. That amped the applause up a notch, and the other recruits turned and held fists out for Bunny to bump.

When they were all seated again, Top leaned toward Bunny to say something, but the big young man cut him off.

“Don’t even, old man.”

HK pulled the audience’s attention back to her.

“As most of you know,” she said, “we’re ticking down to game time—”

Applause drowned her out for a moment.

“—and that means we are going to light things up like nobody’s ever seen.”

More applause. Actual screams and yells.

HK held up her hand, and the room settled.

“For those of you who haven’t yet seen the K-110s in action, you are in for a real treat.”