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.

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

There was a dull throbbing somewhere in his mind that Sanzo was pretty sure wasn't supposed to be there. The sutra was starting to give off an ominous humming sound, something he was pretty sure he could only hear, and something he was just as sure he could do without.

The monk didn't know how much longer he could keep the sutra going; he'd never kept it activated this long before. The cracked ribs were making it hard to breathe, hard to concentrate fully on keeping the scripture powered. He had to end this quickly.

Sanzo started to bring the pistol butt down, in a vicious arc towards Obi-Wan's neck.

[braidless.livejournal.com]

Stars burst in Obi-Wan's line of sight, which suddenly gave way to another vision.

Qui-Gon's hulking form drove a blood-stained sword through a spider's body, pinning it to the soil beneath it. There was no remorse over ending a creature's life -- only cold precision and efficiency. The spider gave a horrific squeal, legs twitching violently as it struggled against the blade. When it finally fell still, his friend pulled the weapon free.

Alone, he turned and, without sparing the monster a second glance, hurried along his way. Intent, hell-bent on finding something...or someone. A trail of anger, regret, fear and sadness seemed to follow him where he went -- a feeling as overwhelming and vast as space itself, except there were no stars. Only darkness.

Like when he'd lost Tahl, Obi-Wan realized as the haze cleared. And within that moment, he knew he couldn't let Qui-Gon endure that kind of grief twice -- not when everything they'd been taught to hold onto was in jeopardy as it was. Not when Martin Landel was wielding this kind of power over not only them, but the entire universe. Not when his friend needed him.

It was selfish, yes, but it was what drove Obi-Wan to tighten his grip on the lightsaber's handle and, with an angry hum, drive it forward, deep into the tendrils of parchment.

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

He didn't see the blow coming, just a blur of sickly green, and then the sutra fading suddenly. It was too fast, his vision going gray for a moment, stars swiming across his eyes.

The monk's body jolted with the sudden blow. For an instant, it seemed he hadn't even registered being impaled. Sanzo's eyebrows furrowed, before he looked down. The lightsaber was sticking into his stomach, probably protruding out from his back; strangely solid feeling for something that looked so ethereal. Smoke was sizzling up. It hurt; far worse than that time with Shuei, and with it, the knowledge that this time was different. Sanzo sucked in a ragged gasp, at the agony that radiated from it...

....the robes looked pristine around the blade........

He could smell burned flesh.

...F-fuck...

There was a sickening instant as his gaze finally flickered to Goku. The kid was staring at him, wide-eyed with horror, disbelief....

It was over as soon as it came. The gun dropped from suddenly nerveless fingers. The monk's eyes rolled back and closed.

....As if the strings were cut, Sanzo's legs gave out and he crumpled to the floor soundlessly.

[the-head-doctor.livejournal.com]

The slow sound of clapping came from the centermost seats as the huge lights above the arena slowly began to dim, leaving a circle of light around the winner and the fallen man. Another light appeared above those seats, revealing The Head Doctor, standing, smiling, and looking down at Obi-Wan and the body of his defeated adversary.

"Bravo, Jedi," he said as he walked towards the railing. His expression was one of satisfaction as he met Obi-Wan's eyes, and he smirked as if things had played out exactly the way he'd wanted them to. "I must say, I was expecting the priest to be the one with the grit to land the final blow. You did surprisingly well, and I do enjoy surprises."

He shifted his weight and narrowed his eyes in amusement. He pointed at Obi-Wan.

"You, my boy, have just made it onto my good side."

[braidless.livejournal.com]

He was stunned when the lightsaber sliced through Sanzo, and for a moment, he gazed at his face, etched with pain as the smell of burnt flesh reached his senses. The moment seemed to drag on, but Obi-Wan could only watch in silence as he suddenly drew the green blade back, and Sanzo's Force signature rapidly faded.

The bright energy that had once emitted from his opponent flickered like a candle's dying flame; and then what had once been a notable presence in the arena was gone, having become one with the Force. It was over. The blond dropped to the ground, leaving Obi-Wan with the heavy weight of what he'd done.

He was breathing heavily, burns and cuts throbbing everywhere, but he did not show it in his demeanor. Instead, he paused and switched off the blade; then he bowed his head, as if he ought to show this man some proper respect. After all, life was precious, and all life lost was to be mourned. This did not mark a victory; it was a failure to save everyone.

Martin Landel's slow clap echoed eerily through the arena as the lights dimmed, only illuminating him and the man's body.

In truth, he wasn't interested in being on their captor's "good side," nor was he interested in any prizes. There was only one thing on his mind right then. "The spectators," he said, voice surprisingly hoarse. With Sanzo's overwhelmingly vibrant life force missing, Qui-Gon's worsening condition was that much more apparent to Obi-Wan. His limbs felt cold at the thought of watching him die, too. "The fight is over, so there's no need to hold them hostage anymore."

[the-head-doctor.livejournal.com]

"Of course," Landel replied easily, tilting his head as if to get a better look at the victor. He smirked. "You've done good for your master, and you have saved Sanzo's friend as well. You shouldn't look so glum."

He paused and then gestured at the arena.

"You all have earned the prize of getting one step closer to the finish line and the escape that it promises. Starting tomorrow night, everyone in this room will be able to enter the doors at the opposite side of the Ballroom, and through them, you might begin to find some answers about why this place exists and how you can get back home."

He paused and added: "Of course, when I say 'everyone in this room,' I don't mean 'everyone in this room and their friends.' Your prize is something intangible that only the Institute can see; you can't share it with anyone else, and should someone who hasn't gone through this trial try to accompany you on your journey into the depths of this place... well, let's just say that things won't end well."

He glanced at Sanzo's body and sighed. "As for your friend... I might be merciful and I might not. We'll see in the morning, though there will be a price to pay..."

The Head Doctor slid one hand into a pocket while he held the other one in front of him.

"And I believe I have other potential contestants to attend to. Goodbye, everyone, and I do expect very great things from you."

He snapped his fingers.