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

[the-head-doctor.livejournal.com]

"Now, now, Mr. Sanzo," the Head Doctor replied calmly amidst the priest's insults and the tension that was slowly mounting in the room, "there's no need to blame me for your predicament. The solution is very simple: all you have to do is kill the Jedi and your friend will be made good as new."

He tilted his head, making eye contact with Sanzo and smiling. "I promise you I'll fulfill that end of the bargain, and you'll be rewarded with even more than your life and the safety of your friend should you succeed."

He paused in his words and glanced down at his watch. He sighed.

"Fifteen seconds until you hurt your friends even more. Really, it's painful to watch."

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

"I don't care about the fucking reward, and he's not my friend!" Sanzo snapped back. The fact that the asshole was making assumptions like that was only pissing the monk off even more, tacked on with the fact that he thought Sanzo could be bought with the promise of some reward. It did nothing more than further fray his nerves.

The monk wasn't looking at Goku, instead just scowling at the ground. He had nothing against killing, but he also had nothing personal against Obi-Wan either or Qui-Gon. And it wasn't like he got off on the act itself, it'd nearly always been self-defense.

He especially didn't like being fucking coerced into it.

Sanzo didn't trust Landel at all, at least not that he'd fulfill his part of the deal. He wasn't stupid, and he'd seen more than enough twisted fuckers before. Sanzo just hadn't ever been in a position where he had to submit to their whims.

He had no illusions that Landel was the picture of honesty.

What he did know was that he was definitely telling the truth about his threat. The kid might be tough as hell to kill, but he bled like the rest of them, especially here. How many more wounds could he take before the blood loss was fatal?

Sanzo angrily sucked in a deep breath. He hadn't felt this cornered in a long time.

[braidless.livejournal.com]

((From here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/464766.html?thread=37652094#t37652094).))

Obi-Wan knew he was running out of time and options. But he had to do what he could, and if that wasn't enough, he and Sanzo would need to reach a quick decision over what to do next.

He quickly strode closer to Martin Landel's seat, his expression neutral. "Why a death?" he suddenly inquired. "Surely we can have a fair competition without one of us killing the other. We could offer something else of value that the person who loses must give up -- something else to keep the game interesting."

He wasn't sure if their captor would agree -- he and Qui-Gon had just finished saying it was likely impossible to negotiate with him -- but he wasn't going to try to take another life so easily.

[the-head-doctor.livejournal.com]

"Killing another man is the truest expression of loyalty to your friends." The Head Doctor smiled at Obi-Wan as he ignored Sanzo's yells. "But don't take it from me. Ask your master, the man who will surely die if you don't act."

He moved away from the railing and sat down in the large chair at the center of his section.

"I tire of your indecision, so either act or don't. One is more interesting to watch than the other, but..." he glanced down at his watch again, "it's your choice, not mine. Three, two, one..."

[braidless.livejournal.com]

"My loyalty lies, first and foremost, with the Jedi Order," Obi-Wan responded firmly, but he tried his best to mask the cold fear he felt for Qui-Gon's safety. It was natural to be worried for his friend, and for the other hostage as well. As a Jedi Knight, it was his duty to make sure as few lives were lost as possible, to ease their suffering if he could. Regardless, he could not let his emotions cloud his judgment.

But he was running out of options, and the thought of losing Qui-Gon a second time was enough to make his heart pound harder than he wanted it to.

The Jedi stopped short once Landel counted down, and he abruptly turned to look over at the spectators. He could sense their pain and distress through the Force, particularly Qui-Gon's, and he swallowed hard. For a moment, he felt anger wash over him -- fury over this man's crimes, and his disregard for life -- but he knew now was the most crucial time not to lose his head.

He needed to speak with Sanzo. They would have to fight, if only to buy some time.

And it was at that moment the other man struck.

((Getting sucked into the fighting over here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/464766.html?thread=37712254#t37712254).))

[the-head-doctor.livejournal.com]

( Moving to respond to the fighting thread here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/464766.html). )