Nightshift 35: The Coliseum

[givemeoblivion.livejournal.com]

[from here]

When she came to, Callisto found herself sitting in what appeared to be a small set of stands. That didn't last for long, as she was soon on her feet and staring around at her new surroundings.

Unlike the rest of the basement had been, this area was fully lit - almost as though it was daylight and they'd been transported outside. It hadn't become morning already, had it? Even if it had, they definitely weren't back where they usually were when the night ended. Was this what lay beyond the black doors? But the words carved in it had said that only those who had...

She glanced to the side, quickly. One, two, and she made three. Only three of the five of them were there. The two that had pricked their fingers weren't among them.

Callisto lunged for Goku instantly, meaning to grab him by the front of his shirt. "Why did you stop me?" she all but screamed at him.

Comments

Arena Floor

[31st-of-china.livejournal.com]

The sudden darkness cleared, as abruptly as it'd come. He was on his hands and knees on some hard-packed flooring. Sand. Unlike the last room, it was bright in here, like day out in the desert, minus the heat.

Sanzo got to his feet. Something felt different. His body felt different. Lighter, more confident.

Or maybe there wasn't ever a change, he thought. For some reason, whatever dampening powers had been placed on him were suddenly gone.

And...

A hand touched the banded fabric draped over his shoulders. There was no reason to suddenly have it back, just like that, but it was the sutra. There wasn't any doubt about it. The same hum of power throbbed from the scripture, the same glow that only he could see.

[braidless.livejournal.com]

Obi-Wan was not sure how much time had passed since he'd pricked his finger on the fang, but as his eyes opened, the first thing he noticed were feelings from the Force swirling around him. It'd felt like ages since he'd last been this sensitive to his surroundings, and it would have been like taking in a breath of fresh, much-needed air after being kept in a cold, dark prison for years. That is, if he hadn't been bombarded by the thick clouds of fear, anger and aggression clinging to everything around him. It was stifling, making it almost uncomfortable to breathe. His stomach turned with a sudden wave of nausea, but he forced himself onto his feet, and tried to fully take in his surroundings.

The area was a stark contrast to where they'd been before. Where the halls before were dimly lit, this one seemed to have light streaming through the ceiling. And yet there was a greater sense of dread and evil here than Obi-Wan had ever come close to sensing within Landel's before.

It was very unsettling.

By now he'd also realized that, along with his full grasp on the Force, he was also wearing his robes, as well as his traditional Jedi tunic. Wrapped around his waist was his utility belt, and then...at his side was the lightsaber he'd had equipped just prior to his abduction. But it wasn't just any lightsaber. It was Qui-Gon's.

The Jedi Knight could sense where his former Master was, along with Callisto and Goku, so there was no need to look for them. Instead, he focused on Sanzo, who was on the other side of the area. He couldn't help but frown. The more he saw, the more he was starting to get an idea of what this would entail -- a battle of sorts, and one that might not end well.

"I've got a bad feeling about this," he said.

[31st-of-china.livejournal.com]

Obi-Wan had been dumped here too, which accounted for the other person giving the so-called blood sacrifice. But where were the others? Callisto he didn't give too much a fuck about, but Qui-Gon hadn't been that bad. And the monkey...

Sanzo stepped out further into the wide space, looking around. It didn't take him long to locate Goku, in time to see him shove Callisto back. They were all seated together, high above the field, in what looked like some seating box.

The suspicion began to grow. The priest looked around, uneasily. Admittedly, he'd just gotten fed up with the bickering; he'd only pricked his finger just to get their asses moving again. Something useful. Goku was partially to blame for it. Of course he'd find someone to fight with in the kappa's absence.

Except there was going to be more to it than just a warning. Sanzo did not like how this was looking to shape up: the wide open space - far too much like a stage for his liking - and the high walls, topped with seats. Seats which offered a perfect view of the entire floor.

Sanzo's fingers tightened around the Smith & Wesson, knuckles whitening.

[31st-of-china.livejournal.com]

[over here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/464766.html?thread=37479806#t37479806)]

[braidless.livejournal.com]

He knew how to recognize Martin Landel's signature -- or lack thereof -- in the Force -- but with his senses at full capacity, that stark contrast he gave off in comparison to everything else was even more unsettling. Obi-Wan hadn't been able to explain it back when he'd seen the man in the chapel, and he certainly couldn't explain it now. There were many possibilities, of course, but that's all they were -- mere possibilities. The Jedi Knight had hoped to find some answers to those questions tonight.

But it seemed they were only here for their captor's entertainment.

It was then Sanzo resolutely moved towards the edge of the arena. Waves of murderous intent practically radiated off of him, and he didn't have to be a Force-sensitive to pick up on what he was about to do. But there was likely a barrier of some sort separating them from Landel, like the last time he'd appeared before them. Sanzo wouldn't be able to touch him.

"It's no use!" he called, but it was too late. The gunshot rang out, and he couldn't help but grimace. Fighting the Head Doctor this way was only a waste of energy, as far as he was concerned. Right now, he just wanted to know what it was he wanted with them, so he could try to figure out a way out of this.

[31st-of-china.livejournal.com]

[Still over here addressing the Head Doctor (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/464766.html?thread=37531006#t37531006)]

[braidless.livejournal.com]

Obi-Wan couldn't hide the shock on his face as he watched the bullet stop in mid-air, hover in front of him, and drop to the floor. This was no ordinary barrier. It was almost as if he'd used the Force itself to stop the attack. In fact, he couldn't think of any other explanation. And while finding Force-sensitives in even the far corners of the galaxy wasn't unheard of, encountering someone with this kind of power was rare, especially if they hadn't received any formal training. Unless...

He thought of the red lightsaber his friend had found the other night. Was there some kind of connection?

But now wasn't the time to dwell on those sorts of things. He had a more pressing issue on his hands at the moment.

The Jedi Knight listened to these "rules" of Landel's game, and it soon became apparent why the air was so stifled with anger and fear. There was no way to know how many people might have perished within this arena. And, if there was any real weight to this game, someone would be dying tonight. If the fighters did not participate, then the spectators became convenient hostages, it seemed.

Any emotion he might have been feeling was carefully masked, but he could not stop himself from glancing towards Qui-Gon from the corner of his eye.

Still, that did not mean he could submit so easily to Martin Landel's whims.

[braidless.livejournal.com]

((Heading to speak to the Head Doctor over here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/464766.html?thread=37539454#t37539454).))

[31st-of-china.livejournal.com]

"You're wasting your time," Sanzo muttered. The anger wasn't fading, but turning into something more managable; a cool reality of the situation, and what he had to do.

He'd come to a realization - the truth of the situation- that Obi-wan apparently hadn't arrived at yet, or didn't want to accept.

The man was too tough to crack (not impossible, everyone had some breaking point) and it would take them too much time to chip away at it. They didn't have that time.

There wasn't any way out of the arena that he could see. No way up to Landel, and with that barrier, no way to reach him right now, much less even kill him. If his suspicions were right, that barrier was also cutting them off from the others. It left them trapped on the arena floor, with no way to affect the others or Landel, while they were at the son of a bitch's mercy.

There weren't any other options. Only one.

He couldn't count on Landel fulfilling his bargain. He could count on him to gloat when this was over though. There had to be an opening then, and when Sanzo found it, he'd kill the asswipe, slowly and painfully.

STANDS

[prevails.livejournal.com]

Re: STANDS

[qui-gonjinn.livejournal.com]

Qui-Gon watched as Obi-Wan turned his back to him, walked to the door, and...

The darkness was absolute.

When he came to, he found himself propped up in some kind of seat with no recollection how he got there. Blinking awake, the Jedi roused, and saw he was seated in some kind of stadium. He gazed around and noted how bright it was in contrast to the rest of Landels - whatever happened here, Martin Landel wanted them to see it, wanted there to be no mistake at all what happened. Goku and Callisto were already here, Sanzo's young friend asking him a question.

Struggling to shake off the fog and focus, Qui-Gon stood up, leaning forward. He found the group was high enough above the coliseum's floor that jumping down would be dangerous and foolhardy.

And below, dressed for some reason like the Jedi he was, was Obi-Wan.

"There they are," Qui-Gon said, voice tight. He pointed. "Both of them."

Peering down, he frowned. Something about Obi-Wan was different. He could sense it, even with his abilities dampened, and it was like seeing a bright star in the middle of the evil he could feel pressing down on him even now. Facing the evil, his friend stood tall, clipped to his belt a lightsaber. A lightsaber, Qui-Gon realized, that looked startlingly familiar; it was his, not Obi-Wan's, and he wondered how he'd gotten it. Sanzo, too, was dressed differently, wearing his robes with some kind of cloth with characters on it draped around his shoulders.

The purpose of this coliseum was obvious. Qui-Gon had to find a way down, he knew, and he began searching their viewing box, looking for a way down, outwardly calm. While nothing had happened yet, he was deeply concerned they would escalate. They shouldn't have come this way.

Re: STANDS

[givemeoblivion.livejournal.com]

For someone so small, Goku was surprisingly strong. When he pushed her, Callisto fell backwards into one of the other seats. When she'd gotten over the shock, she growled back at him. "You little--"

But then what Qui-Gon said caused her to pause, and her attention was drawn to the arena below. She rushed to the balcony, peering over and down. Sure enough, there were the two missing members of their group. They were dressed differently now, and Callisto recognized the weapon on Obi-Wan as one of the light weapons she'd seen the night before. They'd had their clothing and weapons returned to them, then?

It appeared as though they were set up to fight. How infuriating! She'd rather be down there herself, not sitting up here as a spectator, even if the fight might prove interesting.

When this was over, she'd have to pay that brat back for interfering.

[prevails.livejournal.com]

[qui-gonjinn.livejournal.com]

Qui-Gon saw Goku try to jump off the balcony too late to get to him.

Only the young man bounced off of thin air and fell back. Qui-Gon breathed a sigh of relief; while it looked like they were trapped, at least Goku hadn't taken a one way ticket downstairs. And yet Callisto and Goku were still fighting, despite being trapped here. Qui-Gon almost, but not quite, lost his patience with the bickering.

"Now isn't the time for arguments," Qui-Gon told Goku and Callisto sternly.

He was about to say more when he cut himself off. Qui-Gon felt Martin Landel just a second before his voice rang out, a sense of evil and yet of nothingness coming in, oppressive, and sickening to his core. Qui-Gon turned. He could see Martin Landel in a viewing stand like theirs, saw him with his eyes and yet in the Force, there was nothing, just the deeply unsettling feel of void where a life should be. Qui-Gon stilled, eyes on the Head Doctor. There was a flicker of movement from his peripheral vision; turning, he watched as Sanzo strode forward, his gun up and aimed.

It's not going to work, Qui-Gon thought. He didn't think Martin Landel was a Jedi, but it was possible he'd been trained somehow by one - or a Sith. Someone had owned those red and blue lightsabers. Martin Landel could probably bend the Force to do his own biding, Qui-Gon realized, even as the shot rang out with a crack that echoed in the Coliseum.

[givemeoblivion.livejournal.com]

That voice.

Callisto had never seen Martin Landel before, but she'd heard him a few times since she'd arrived. This was unmistakably him. So he'd come to watch them fight, was that it? He'd come in person and she wasn't even down there to earn his favor. This wasn't working out right at all.

There also appeared to be some sort of invisible field keeping them from interacting with the people below, if Goku's actions proved anything. Of course. And of course Sanzo firing his weapon would be useless also. Anyone who could keep people like them trapped in this place, brought in from Zeus knows where, wouldn't be the sort of being who could be stopped by a simple projectile weapon.

Her brows knit in frustration. There had to be some way she could take advantage of this situation. She had to get a meeting with Martin Landel!

[prevails.livejournal.com]

[qui-gonjinn.livejournal.com]

Hostages.

They were all hostages.

Qui-Gon's face was impassive, but he felt cold fear for Obi-Wan grip him. Martin Landel, for whatever reason, wanted them to fight to the death and what made it worse was Qui-Gon couldn't determine the emotion behind the motive. He'd told Obi-Wan how important it was to do so and yet Martin Landel was a blank wall: all he could feel was nothingness and evil. Qui-Gon wasn't sure exactly how the Head Doctor would make things unpleasant but he knew if he said he would do it, he would. Would he use the Force and corrupt them like he had the staff?

The room was brightly lit, but the chill Qui-Gon felt then was very real.

"I don't know," he answered Goku slowly. "But either way, we're in trouble."

Turning away from the others, Qui-Gon took a few steps to the side, ignoring Martin Landel, ignoring everyone else, and pulled out his commlink. He held it in one hand, thumbing it on and keeping his voice quiet as he spoke into it.

"Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon started, voice urgent, "Whatever happens to us, keep your focus on the moment. He wants you both in this position - you cannot act with anger, fear or impatience."

The Head Doctor's Seats

[the-head-doctor.livejournal.com]

"Good evening, patients."

The voice was unmistakable to the patients, loud and slow and deliberate. It was the same voice as the one that spoke every day and night, the voice of both cheerful tidings and mocking insults, of the circumstances that all of the patients were trapped in and of everything they all wanted to escape.

There was a difference this time, though. While the voice carried much further than should have been possible without electronic equipment, there was no tinny quality to it, no indication that it was being broadcasted from a different location, and it seemed to originate from the set of seats at the south-center of the arena. Just as the patients seemed to realize this and turn their eyes towards that location, a figure stepped out from the shadows at the rear of his section and walked to the edge of his balcony.

To those who hadn't been at the Institute long, the man's face might have not been as recognizeable as his voice, but it was sinister all the same. Martin Landel gave a slow, wide smile as his eyes scanned the area, and he gestured at the arena with one hand as he shouted:

"Welcome to the Coliseum!"

Re: The Head Doctor's Seats

[31st-of-china.livejournal.com]

[Stepping in to act against the Doctor from here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/464766.html?thread=37413758#t37413758)]

So the twisted fucker couldn't resist showing his face. Whatever was about to happen, Landel couldn't resist having a front row seat to it. That kind of arrogance, that sadism was going to be his undoing.

Sanzo didn't wait for him to get any further. He strode towards the man's seat high above them, closing the distance with long strides, sandals whipping up sand. His right hand raised, bringing with it the Smith & Wesson.

The monk fired, gun aimed towards the Landel's head.

[the-head-doctor.livejournal.com]

The Head Doctor didn't flinch or blink at Sanzo's sudden move, though he did turn his head to watch curiously when the bullet's speed seemed to slow and then stop completely at a space a few feet away from the balcony. Landel's eyes followed the object as it fell to the floor and he chuckled as he glanced up again.

"Really, Mr. Sanzo..." he took a few steps to the side as he met the man's eyes, clicking his tongue admonishingly. "I'm not going to die as easily as one of your home-grown demons."

He paused, as if in thought, and smirked. "Although... you might. You see –" he extended a hand towards the two men as he leaned over the railing, "that's the way a battle always ends in this room: with a death. Oh, yes–" he said, anticipating the protests that would follow his words as he paced to the other side of this section, "you may be thinking nobly and you may think there's a way out of here, but trust me, you won't be so keen on morality once you hear the rules you'll be playing by."

He stopped, a hand on his chin.

"You only receive your prize if one of you defeats the other. And to ensure your cooperation, for each minute that one of you chooses not to fight..." His eyes wandered towards the spectators and he let out a small sigh. "I regret to say that your friends might become unhappier and unhappier."

[31st-of-china.livejournal.com]

Another barrier. It'd been worth a shot.

Sanzo was already reloading the Smith & Wesson, sliding in a bullet to replace the one he'd just spent, mind running over the implications of the Head Doctor's words.

So that's what this was all about. A battle to the death, and all for his entertainment. If anything, the monk detested being a pawn in someone's plans.

Sanzo glared up at the man. "I"m not playing your fucking games, you piece of shit."

He didn't see any guards, or any archers or marksman stationed around the arena, much less any vantage points for a sniper. Which left the question of just how the bastard could make good on that threat... or whether it was even a threat at all.

Could be a bluff, Sanzo thought. Not likely though. From what he knew of Landel, the asshole didn't have to use bluffs.

[braidless.livejournal.com]

((From here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/464766.html?thread=37537406#t37537406).))

Obi-Wan made his way a little closer to where Martin Landel's seat overlooked them, his hard boots kicking up a little dirt as he did so. But unlike Sanzo, his demeanor was less aggressive, though his face was creased with an uncomfortable frown.

"But why go through all of this trouble?" he spoke up. The situation was looking more and more grim, and while it might have been easy for most people to spout out insults and wave pistols around, Obi-Wan wanted some genuine answers behind all of this. "The basement, the challenges, the artifacts...just to lure us in here for a battle and a prize. Is this your idea of entertainment, Martin Landel? Or is there another reason you've graced us with your presence this evening?"

After all, this was only one of two times he'd seen their captor personally. This man, or whatever he was, didn't appear for just anything.

[the-head-doctor.livejournal.com]

[ To Callisto, Sanzo, and Obi-Wan. ]

While the validity of the Head Doctor's statements was still unsure, what did seem fairly certain was the fact that he'd been bombarded with insults and questions like this many times before. He rolled his eyes and rested an elbow on the railing while he gestured at the railing.

"I think I'm fine right here, Miss Callisto, and Mr. Sanzo–" he glanced at the priest, "–I think you'd do well to mind your language."

Martin Landel's intercom announcements had never proved him to be anything less than a horrible hypocrite, so it wasn't surprising that his remarks in-person followed the same form. His eyes moved towards the Obi-Wan and Landel gave a wide smile at the young Jedi.

"As for you, Mr. Kenobi, I'd advise you not to underestimate me or my surroundings." The Doctor dusted his shoulders off in a very self-satisfied way as he continued to stare at the patient. "I didn't come all the way down here to get sand in my face; that's for sure. This is all a game – I won't deny that – but even the most primitive rat race is no fun to watch unless there's a chance of a rodent winning, is it?"

He paused for a moment and then gave a comically defeated expression, holding his hands up in the air.

"In any case, lady and gentlemen, I congratulate you all for getting one step closer to freedom – that I do plan to reward eventually, so you know – but..."

He glanced down at the gold watch on his wrist.

"I believe Mr. Goku and Mr. Jinn are due for your punishment right about... now."

[31st-of-china.livejournal.com]

At that, and despite his original stance not to give the fucker what he wanted, Sanzo turned to look back towards Goku.

He didn't expect to see blood. The kid was clutching his side, a look of pain and sheer surprise on the monkey's face, right before the idiot tried to pretend that he hadn't just been mysteriously hit. Dark red blossomed from underneath his fingers, staining the uniform.

What the hell? The monk hadn't heard anything, no whistle of arrows or gunshot, and that wound looked just like a gunshot. He'd seen enough of them, been the cause of them to know what they looked like by now.

Sanzo turned, eyes narrowed. So the fucker wasn't lying about this. They were on a timer, until they fulfilled his mind game. And there wasn't jackshit he could do about it.

Fury was welling up in him, with such intensity that it was almost alien, all of it directed at the man above them.

"You sick son of a bitch..." Sanzo said through clenched teeth.

[braidless.livejournal.com]

The Jedi Knight heard Qui-Gon's message through the commlink, but he did not outwardly respond, choosing to act upon his words instead. He kept his gaze on Landel and listened to what he had to say. Too bad he couldn't take much comfort in the fact he planned to release them eventually. Not when he had this mess to deal with.

It was then Landel announced the first punishment. Obi-Wan didn't need to see the spectators, or feel Sanzo's fury washing over him, to know something was wrong. Still, he suddenly looked towards where Qui-Gon, Goku and Callisto were, saw the condition that the boy was in, and his thoughts turned to his former Master, who appeared to still be standing. Qui-Gon would not let him see any signs of injury for his sake, he was sure, which only made the fact he was holding onto the railing even more worrisome.

At least two lives were at stake here.

He briefly closed his eyes, and accepted his anxiety for what it was. He could not leap into action until he'd fully assessed the situation. Glancing towards Landel, he brought the commlink to his mouth.

((Talking to Qui-Gon over here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/464766.html?thread=37599358#t37599358).))