First Reply Fighting Pit

[Aiden Rennek]

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"You want me? Come and get some," Aiden challenged the beast through gritted teeth, while he kept his spear leveled at it. The Nexu continued to circle around him, flashing its teeth and showing off its many combat scars. Aiden could only guess how many had fallen to this creature in this very ring, but he wasn't going to become part of that body count. With a jab in its direction, he forced the beast to keep its distance, but he knew it wouldn't be for long. Aiden's muscles were aching, his chest was heaving under his heavy breathing, and sweat pooled from parts of his body he didn't believe possible.

This hadn't been his first fight of the day, and the beast would exploit that weakness if he let it.

Three other warriors had already fallen against him, leaving him with several scars along a mostly bare upper body, and torn pants from the Nexu's claw ripping open his left leg. The fight against this beast would be his last one today, and only if he were to survive, he'd be given new gear for more fights later this week. How had he gotten himself into so much trouble again?

Aiden's thoughts were swiftly interrupted, as the Nexu launched itself at him. His entire body screamed in pain, but with his final breath forcing his muscles to tense and move, he raised the tip of his spear. His arms met heavy resistance, as the weapon pierced through skin and flesh, and while Aiden was knocked over with another scar over his chest, he still managed a smile. The adrenaline in his body had nullified the pain, and he was far too glad to have survived another day in this arena.

But how would he ever get out?

With the battle over, Aiden stumbled his way out of the ring, and plopped down into a chair at a nearby bar, still within the confines of this wicked place. Winners were rewarded with drinks and proper meals to regain enough strength to fight again, but also credits and even attention from slaves if they desired. All he took was what he needed to survive another day. With his meal on the table, Aiden's green eyes began to shift around, almost hoping to see a familiar face to rescue him, or perhaps to figure out who his next opponent would be.

First Reply​

 

[Alexandros Xanathos]

TAGS: Aiden Rennek

A figure with turquoise eyes, shrouded in a dark hood, moved with a grace that seemed almost as predatory as the Nexu Aiden just fought. The dim light of the tavern flickered, casting shadows that danced across their form, revealing only glimpses of their hawkish features. As they pulled out a chair and sat down beside the man, there was a shift in the atmosphere.

"Now how... did you end up in a place like this?" the figure asked.

 

[Aiden Rennek]

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Aiden was very aware of his surroundings, especially now that it seemed like the entire world was out to get him. The presence of a stranger thus hadn't escaped him. When the figure sat down, Aiden regarded him for a moment, before raising his cold beer up to his lips for a sip.

The question that followed, whilst seemingly innocent, could cause a lot more trouble than he wanted. Aiden was an Alliance marine, captured after a failed mission here on the planet. With how many enemies the Alliance had in this part of the Galaxy, he could quickly find himself at the wrong end of a weapon.

"Who is asking?" Aiden asked in return, his green eyes shifting to the figure beside him.

Alexandros Xanathos ​

 

[Alexandros Xanathos]

TAGS: Aiden Rennek

"Quite possibly your savior," the redhead remarked, easing back into his chair. He crossed one leg over the other in a relaxed manner, his arms folding over his chest soon after. Leaning back, he offered the slightest hint of a smirk and a subtle tilt of his head.

"Perhaps a private individual with enough credits to buy out your contract," he mused, his eyes methodically scanning the man, as if measuring him up.

He then sat up, leaning forward and placing both feet firmly on the ground. A small vial, its origin unexplained, was deftly twirled through his fingers before being placed on the table witha solid click. The mysterious substance inside it caught the light as he set it down.

"Maybe I'm just a new fan, grown wealthy from betting on a fighter as vigorous as you. Or perhaps I'm merely a stranger, a harbinger of a dark and peaceful end. It's hard to determine. But my identity is less significant than my purpose, which is to be your extraction point."

 

[Aiden Rennek]

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"What's the catch?"

Aiden had lost track of time at this point, but he knew he had been here for at least a week already. That long away from home and the people he cared about made him almost desperate for any chance to get away. Just not desperate enough to know that some things sounded too good to be true.

And here he was, after another hard-fought battle, being offered an extraction for no reason at all? It made him extremely suspicious.

He needed answers.

"Who sent you? What do you want for it in return?"

Alexandros Xanathos ​

 

[Alexandros Xanathos]

TAGS: Aiden Rennek

Alex's smile took on a devious edge, one that hinted at a plan unfolding just as he had envisioned. This endeavor wasn't bound by the constraints of a formal contract, so he mused that Cedwyn Blaidd couldn't really hold any significant grudge against him. No, this was a matter of personal interest, one that had developed gradually as Alex observed the members of the GADF, their patterns of arrival and departure, delving subtly into their lives bit by bit. The status of 'MIA' had caught his attention, and with it, the lingering possibility that Aiden might still be alive.

"The catch? You'll have to find that out on your own," Alex said, his voice laced with a hint of mystery. "The vial is your Plan B. If things go south, your best bet is to drink it. But be cautious – don't get caught with it." His gaze was sharp, assessing, as if calculating the myriad of possibilities that lay ahead.

"If you're looking to make this extraction more efficient, there's a way you can help," he continued, his tone now more pragmatic. "Identify who 'owns' your contract. Once I have that information, I can work on negotiating the terms for them to relinquish your contract." Alex's suggestion was straightforward, yet it carried the weight of someone who was well-versed in navigating the complexities of such delicate situations.