The Arena

Posted on Mon Jan 30th, 2023 @ 6:01am by Captain Calypso Skyie

Mission: Trade And Tribulations
Timeline: Immediately Post- Explanations of Indentured Servitude

Cally hadn't taken long and after a few minutes had chosen and dressed in something that wasn't elegant, but had been of a similar red to her uniform. The difference was that it was rather airy and allowed her to feel more at ease in the environment and she pinned her commbadge to it and even her rank pips to the modest neckline of dress. It went all the way down to her still-booted feet, not hugging her form, but not revealing it either. She emerged back onto the balcony and received a warm smile from Governor Torresh for her efforts. "This feels much better, Governor, thank you."

"Please, call me Torresh!" He stated jubliantly, "You look more Dashian now, Calypso, please, come and join me to watch the Games!" He patted the chair next to his ornate one and made another gesture and a cheer came from the crowd. From one of the other balconies, a voice announced the first set of combatants. Two men of a species that Calypso had never seen before, much like most of the crowd, came out onto the sand-strewn ground, each with gloves on that looked much like boxing gloves.

Throughout the next couple of hours, Torresh explained every one of the combats that had gone on, what each of the combatants had done to earn their sentences, pointing out the professionals from the indentured. One fight with blades had ended in both fighters surviving, medics seeing to their wounds even as the victor was led off the field to cheers, stopping briefly to congratulate his opponent for a fight well fought. All in all, it was far more civilized than she had thought it might be.

Then she leaned forward as the announcer himself had come out into the arena, "And the penultimate bout of this episode of today's games comes a match to the death!" He paused as a cheer resounded. True, it was civilized more than gladiatorial fights were presumed to be, but this was still a bloodsport, "From the depths of the pits, having worked to his freedom and back as a professional, I give you... The Butcher!"

This time there was a cheer as a giant of a Dashian walked out of one side of the arena, waving a giant sword as if it were a toothpick to him. Torresh leaned in towards Cally and spoke to her, "This is not one of the finest examples of Dashian society. He murdered two people in cold blood before being caught by Trarimi authorities. He's one who loves the act of killing for killings sake, instantly volunteered for deathmatches and as you can see, he's large and strong enough to be able to take a hit and keep coming. Two months ago, he nearly lost one such fight, but managed to win and then the healers came in."

Cally shuddered, especially at the thought of someone like him among the people, "I assume he's not allowed in public? Someone who just... loves dealing death?"

"He's banned from most public places due to his criminal record and violent tendencies, but the crowd does enjoy his fights. He makes them... Interesting." Torresh admitted, "But I believe many secretly wish his demise as well. Of course, the random draw did make this one rather interesting as well."

The announcer had given 'The Butcher' his moment in the spotlight as Torresh had explained to Calypso those who may die were allowed, but there was always another... "And his opponent, an alien unknown to us until three weeks ago. A fighter whose mercy is as much a spectacle as her kills, I give you... The Chooser Of The Slain!"

The woman walked into the arena and Cally instantly became wary. The walk, the set of the shoulders, this one was tense with worry, but as the dark eyes cast around, she recognized that it wasn't worry for herself. "What's the story behind this one?" She asked Torresh.

"She and a companion were rescued by a Hestera freighter that was heading this direction. Apparently, their ship had been attacked and left for dead without hope for repair and the Hestera required them to sign a contract to pay for their passage before they would take them on board, not that they had much choice. They're from a world they call Tial and desire to return there, but they first must pay for their freedom, the two of them. The Hestera sold their debts to a Liari trader that lives here on Trarim, making them subject to Indentured Servitude laws. The other one is a part of the Liari's household, paying off her debt I don't know how, but this one down there attempted to assume BOTH debts. They claim that they shouldn't be subject to Hestera or Trarim law, but the law is the law."

Down on the arena floor, the eyes of the dark-haired woman finally stopped their motion and Calypso noted a wave of motion off to her right and stood to get a better look. A striking blonde woman in flowing yet revealing gown had stood as well, meeting the eyes of the fighter. Suddenly, the stance of woman on the ground relaxed, as if just seeing this other woman had taken a massive weight off her shoulders. and that made Cally wonder even more. The fighter crossed her arms across her very lightly armored chest and bowed slightly to the blonde before turning away to finally consider her opponent. Chevrons were carved onto her cheekbones, likely some cultural markings. Her gait turned from tense, to one like a panther and suddenly Calypso's thought that she was the underdog reversed itself. "Why is she called the Chooser of the Slain? There's a word for that which comes from one of Earth's religions, called a Valkyrie."

"Valkyrie..." Torresh tested the word, then slapped Cally on the back in joy, "I like it! She's called that because early on she was in one of these fights against a youngster that wanted to be out of debt instantly. The combat lasted only a minute and that was because she was definitely trying not to kill him. In the end, she wounded him only enough to be unable to fight back, then walked away. It was a unique situation and we allowed both to live. And so, she chooses. In this case, however, I don't know if she'll be the victor. Let us watch..."

*************
On the Arena Floor
*************
The arena was loud, Cass'e'Indira estimated probably about five thousand of the locals were in attendance for their favorite bloodsport, this fight to the death. She'd been given her swords and outside of a smaller dagger, not much else. She had on a single shoulder pauldron, a bare minimum of upper chest support and woolies that covered her waist to halfway down her thigh and boots. Not much protection from the blades and anything else sharp that came her way. From the gate opposite of where she came in, another, far louder roar was given voice as a similarly clad, but male, had came out a large sword in hands. This was a far larger specimen than the normal, heavily muscled and obviously the crowd favorite. His arms were raised in triumph as he saw his newest victim

Cass had found Sera at last, then finally turned to her opponent and smiled as she looked him over, then pulled both her swords from their minimal sheaths on her 'belt' and crossed them across her chest as she bowed first to the 'editor' of the 'games', who then departed the arena floor, then to her opponent, who had done the same to the 'editor', but not to her. Ten paces away, she faced him, then flourished her blades for a pair of seconds before they were inverted in her hands, pointed down, then she went to one knee and buried the blades a foot deep into the sand. She reached down and placed a hand on the sand, picking up a few grains of the sand and rubbed it between her fingers, then stood, blades still in the ground. She looked up and smiled brightly, deciding that the choice was between quick and clean or whether or not to make a point. "Make a point" She whispered to herself as she came back to her feet.

She took a step past her weapons as the 'editor' gave the commencement sign from his own elevated platform. A hushed murmur ran through the crowd as they saw her weaponless, but her opponent roared and started towards her as she took one step, then another towards him. At optimal distance, he started a swing with his sword as he also jabbed forward with his shield to stop her in her tracks. She stepped a half-step to the side, then pushed off and inwards from his sword reach and grabbed the shield arm and hauled herself to help with the jump and to turn herself. Her left leg went over his shoulder from behind, followed by her right and she clamped down with her thighs as she turned, then twisted hard to right and a sharp crack echoed through the arena, readily audible even over the cheer of the crowd. The veritable giant began to fall, neck broken, as she released her grip and continued the slight spin. She began her dismount, landing on her right foot first before completing the turn and ended up walking back towards her swords as the end result to her original motion, the newly made corpse twitching slightly as the crowd went outright silent.

Cass'e'Indira looked up at the 'editor' and smirked at him in his shock and he fell back into his seat. With a very, very slight shrug meant for him that got the message across to him and she dipped to retrieve her swords in a smooth motion without stopping and replaced them on her belt as she continued out the gate to the silence of the crowd.

*************
The Governor's Balcony
*************

"That was... Quick." Calypso remarked quietly as a murmur ran through the crowd. "I thought he was supposed to be good?" Her voice seemed to echo in the silence.

"And so he was. But apparently he underestimated that one, expected a fight with blades and discounted her abilities otherwise." Torresh nodded in approval, "But with that victory, she has placed herself in the Grande Finale, which occurs tomorrow in the afternoon. There will be a total of eight champions, six professionals and now two indentured."

Calypso grimaced at that particular scenario. The blood from that, "Another deathmatch, winner lives?"

"It may be that way, but it may not." Torresh admitted, "The rules are significantly different for this fight, certainly the last one standing is the victor, but a fighter can withdraw at any time, even in the arena. So if one of them obtains a wound they believe will prevent them from winning the fight, they can yield by backing away and discarding their weaponry. At that signal, anyone attacking them is bound to allow them to withdraw or be charged with a crime. The professionals are proud fighters, they all believe they can win and are willing to risk everything to prove it."

There was some relief at the admission as Calypso stood up with the Governor following suit, "And the Indentured? Do they stand a chance at survival?"

"That one, certainly. The other? They can yield as well, but by doing so forfeits any gains against their debts from the combat. Of course, they can't repay their debts if they're dead." He chuckled at the faux pas, "And if they win, it's worth far more than a single combat against their debt. Depending on the wagering, they may even earn enough for their debts to be fully repaid. You see, a winning fighter also wins a portion of the wagers made in their favor to be paid against their debts or towards their own purses should they be free and clear."

"And would I be able to place a bet myself?" The words came out of Cally's mouth before she contemplated the meaning of it, "My apologies, I don't know what came over me."

"Why of course you could, Captain! While you don't have a credit history on Trarim or within the Hegemony, if you have collateral against something other than your starship, we would be able to come to some agreeable amount." The Governor remarked.

Cally leaned over the edge of the railing and looked towards where the other woman had been looking, for the blonde, but they had already departed with their... Master? Employer? "And is there any way for me to talk to that second woman? Maybe even the fighter? Part of the Federation's mandate is to help those who are helpless and to meet new species."

"I can arrange both, if you'd like." The Governor smiled broadly, "It does do some good to have friends in high places."

"In that case, Torresh, I'd like to take some time to talk to one or two of my officers and get an update from my people on the ground while you make arrangements?" She smiled brightly, "And I do love this outfit, it's definitely a better feel than my uniform, plus it has the right colorations. May I impose on you to have my dress uniform sent back to the shuttle I arrived on?"