The Gladiators Part 1

Posted on Sat 21st May, 2022 @ 11:01pm by Sorra Yarime (Yari) & S'lani
Edited on on Sun 22nd May, 2022 @ 7:00pm

1,188 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: The Hunted
Location: Secret location of the Slaver's Guild
Timeline: MD 2, 1400 hours

Yari began to stir. His head pounded as if it were going to explode. He grabbed the sides of his head with his hands and tied to rub the pain away. Little help did it make. He slowly opened his eyes. Realizing that he wasn't in his quarters aboard the Conundrum, he looked around to find out where he was. He bolted upright when he didn't recognize the room. That was a huge mistake when his head began to swim.

"Do not move so quickly," the soft voice of S'lani said from nearby. "The disorientation will pass shortly." There was a faint rustling sound of someone moving. "Are you otherwise well?" She'd been awake for a short time herself and had felt her way around the room. "We are in a small room. One door, locked from the outside, two beds, one table, and a primitive bathroom facility."

"I'm okay." Yari said when he quickly realized that he wasn't injured. "I guess there is no point in asking you if you know where we are. The last thing I remember is purchasing the Orion girl and getting ready to beam back over to the Conundrum."

"I do not recall, either. Although I recall a sound that may have been a transporter, but the memory is hazy. I believe we have been drugged, though. There is a distinct taste in my mouth that would indicate something, but whether it was introduced when you purchased the Orion female or after, I do not know."

"I agree, we were drugged to get us here, where ever here is. I still feel pretty weak. In time we should be able to find out why we were taken and what happened to the others and the ship. For now, I guess we wait." Yari found no point in worrying about the others or their situation, there was nothing he could do about it at the moment and needed more information before taking action.

S'lani sighed. "I agree with your assessment, but I do not like waiting for something to happen." It felt like more of a failing because she was Vulcan--or so her parents frequently reminded her. Vulcans were supposed to be calm and logical. S'lani was far too emotional, and thus had hired out as a bodyguard. So far, she wasn't doing so well.

Yari chuckled in light of their situation, "And I don't like being here, but it's out of our control for the moment and when an opening presents itself we need to act without hesitation. Unfortunately we don't know yet if anyone else from our group was also taken so we need to investigate the situation further." He stopped talking when he heard the door unlock. The door screeched as it opened, pouring light into the dark room also blinding Yari in the process. He raised a hand to shield his eyes.

S'lani slumped onto the floor so she didn't look too awake, just in case she could use it to her advantage. They needed a lot more information before they could decide on any course of action and often, appearing to be less awake was a good way to get some.

Two large Orions lumbered in flanked by a much smaller man who appeared to be Terran. He stopped and glanced at the two room's occupants, "I see that you are awake." He said to Yari before glancing again to S'lani. "A Vulcan, excellent! Looks like she's still getting her beauty sleep. I am Bo Dillon, proprietor of this fine establishment and you are now my employees for the ret of your lives."

Yari interrupted him in a horse voice, "What type of employee would that be?" He asked Yari needed information, lots of it.

"I'm in the business of entertainment, all kinds of entertainment. I mainly produce broadcasts, game broadcasts." He said before Yari interrupted him once more.

"What type of games?" Yari asked.

"Well, I produce survival and gladiator type games at the moment and you two have been slotted for the gladiator games which is very popular at the moment. It is seen by over 20 billion subscribers at the moment and is expected to hit 30 billion by the end of the year."

"And your gladiator games, how do we get out of it, after all you did obtain our...services illegally and against our will." Yari said.

"One hundred bricks of gold press latinum each should do it. Do you have that much on you right now?" Bo asked.

"No, I suppose not." Yari said.

S'lani carefully took the measure of the three. She didn't think they could take all of them in their current condition, and she wasn't sure they could get very far if they did. So for now, they would have to do as they were told. 100 bricks? The price was outrageous. She hoped that someone either saw this gladiatorial combat or heard about it. They were definitely going to need help. "And what does this combat entail?" she asked quietly.

Bo turned quickly to see the Vulcan female looking at him, "Ah, you're awake, good." He paused before answering her question. "There are various levels of degree in melee weapon combat starting with low which is first to draw blood. The Gladiators are not allowed to kill, not even maim their opponents. At the highest end of combat is to the death. Only one may exit the arena alive, the looser is carried out in a bag. The more that is at stake, the more prestigious their reputation gets and more spoils they receive. Beginners such as yourselves will start off slow and work your way up to the more dangerous fights. I can't have you dying too t, you need to make me credits first."

No. He'd run out of people to fight if he did that. "And what happens if we get injured in the early rounds?" Might as well know what they were up against. S'lani wanted to know how much she could avoid before getting into trouble.

"I have Medical services that can tend to injuries sustained in the matches, don't worry about that" Bo said, after all, he couldn't let them die without making him lot of credits.

S'lani's head was beginning to throb again. "And what would it take for us to win our freedom?"

"Lots and lots of latinum" Bo said with an evil smile.

So, basically, they were stuck here until they could manage to escape or someone came to their rescue. S'lani doubted either she or Yari would last long if everyone knew that losing ultimately meant death. And, as his bodyguard, she was honor-bound to sacrifice her life if it meant saving his.

"Well, I'll let you two rest up now. Tomorrow we will see what you know about fighting for your placement. I just wanted to introduce myself." As soon as he was done speaking, he turned and left, followed by his guards.

She waited until she was sure they were gone, then lay back down with a groan. "This is not good. I only hope someone finds us soon."

 

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