Symbiosis

[Preliat Mantis]

The sand was what awoke Preliat, the blistering heat of the sand scuffed onto his bare face. He had a vague memory of the events that transpired briefly before he awoke here, though he distinctly remembered being both armored and armed. He turned his head around, letting the sand that was clinging to his face fall off, though some remained, the sweat and oils of his body acting like a natural glue for the clumps of minerals and particles to stick to his face. He sat up, getting his bearings. He vaguely remembered what transpired, he was here to turn in a Bounty, when he felt electricity course through his back. Tazer upon tazer, brought him to his knees, until a bag was placed over his helmet...and that's the last thing he remembered before he passed out from the constant tazing. He looked down, checking his person for anything. He was nearly in the nude, down to his compression shorts alone. He touched the marks, the burns where the tazers hit him. His eyes began to adjust to the other parts of the earth-toned room, noticing that there was a cot where he must have fallen off of. There was a man sleeping on the adjacent cot, though he didn't want to bother him, or awake him. Preliat felt...truly naked. Beskar'gam was his skin, practically. He was unarmed, and he had no idea where he was.

Rust filled his nostrils, and iron filled his throat. Blood. Blood in the air, blood on the sand beneath their feet. Preliat waited for a little while, and he did know if he fell asleep or not. Finally, after a long while, he picked up a handful of sand, and gently threw it at the man on the other cot. It was dark now, but Preliat needed answers.

"Wake up."

[member="Jacen Cavill"]

 

[Darron Wraith]

[member="Preliat Mantis"]

Coming back to the forefront of the galaxy was never easy, especially when you were one of the most wanted men in the galaxy. On the flipside of the coin he was also one of the most powerful with both of his names, and that convergence of identity was what had lead him to the point where he was at. Sand struck him, and the hazy level of consciousness he was in suddenly started to clarify. All the thoughts that seemed to run together or just fade away started to crystallize as he started to become more and more cognizant of the situation. Part of him wanted to backtrack to the events that lead to him here, but instead he did as all the training he had ever received instructed him to do.

He focused on what was, not what had been.

Cavill's now bare toes wiggled, and he was acutely aware that he could see his feat. Both his legs were covered in dirt as he worked his way up, and again he was only wearing what amounted to compression shorts. His tree-trunk size legs were hard to miss in that type of fabric, and he worked his way up his powerful torso to see he only had minor bruising. How in the feth did I get bruises? Then he remembered he still had the damn ring on that cut him off form the force, and that's why he was still bleeding from a wound on his head. Whoever attacked me, they had to have ambushed me in public. Memories came rushing back as he remembered the attack on him when he had been doing a deal for his company as Cade Lee. Those slimy bastards, that thought crossed his mind as he took notice of the fact that he was in a dark cell and he wasn't alone.

"Wake up."

The voice was foreign to him, yet Cavill weakly sat up in his cot. Sweat from being in the heated area mixed with blood from various wounds as it ran down his chest. The effort to turn and face his cell mate was far more considerable than he'd like to admit. Do I take this ring off and reveal myself, or wait? Patience won out, and Cavill instead took the bait. "Where are we?" Looking around for more information, he could hear voices on the other side of the room, and a crowd roaring that shook the ceiling above them. "Better yet, who in the feth are you and why are we here?"

 

[Preliat Mantis]

[member="Jacen Cavill"] was distraught. It didn't bother Preliat, he didn't know the man, but it seemed, that they were stuck together for the time being. Preliat stared at the man for a while. Preliat was lean and vicious, savage like in his posture. This man was refined, his muscles were too purposeful. He narrowed his eyes. This man was definitely, more than he appeared. Preliat glanced upwards, towards the cheering crowd. He blinked several times, before turning to the man on the opposite side.

"I don't know where we are. And I don't know how you got here, but I'm pretty sure it's along the same line as me."Savage eyes, met the Sith with a hidden fury. Something told Preliat, that they'd have to at least know each other's names. Preliat spit to the side, drawing the rust-scent out of his nostrils and the iron taste from his mouth as the blood was expelled."My name is Preliat Cassus Mantis. I am a Rally Master in the Mandalorian army, and I am Ori'ramikade. I am a super commando. Who are you. And who are you really? I don't take kindly to lies."

 

[Darron Wraith]

The crowd did roar more, and the door did eventually open. Cavill considered the man before them as they were both made to stand and escorted out from their dark cell. Guards drove them further until they were unchained and let out into the arena before them. Boos and hisses could be heard, and Jacen took a moment to get acclimated to the outside light. Having that concussion prior to coming out here didn't help, but the Sith had to play it safe with his ring. Remove it too early with his head throbbing like this, and the power of the Force rushing back to him would most likely render him unconscious. No, whatever he had to deal with right this moment would have to be with the training he received from the Empire and the Echani when he studied with them for a few years after first joining the Sith. Vertebrae in his back popped as he allowed himself to stand to his full height, and he regarded the man who had just introduced himself to him. A Mando? Great, just what I need. To say he didn't discriminate would be a lie, Cavill wasn't a fan of them.

"Fine, my name is Jacen Cavill." There was no expression, and whatever false worry that clouded his face was gone. Jacen's cool confidence began to show, and began to analyze the situation. "I'm more than I appear, but let's just say I know how to handle a weapon." A voice was playing over the loud speaker and a door was opening as many warriors came out from it. Still not paying the voice any attention, Jacen instead focused on his surroundings and found a rusty sword and a blunt staff. Reaching down, he threw the staff to the man named Preliat, while he took the blade for himself. Feeling it's heft, he was discouraged to see that the blade was as dull as they come. As his focus began to come in, he again noted he was counting his opponents all the while not listening to the alien speaker who was talking in a tongue he didn't understand.

"You're a super-commando huh? Well, I'm something that most have never seen up close. We can either work together, or die today." Their opponents began to circle, and they awaited the announcers signal. "Your choice, I'm going to live though." The second his headache let up he would unleash hell on them.

The signal was given, they all moved as one.


[member="Preliat Mantis"]

 

[Preliat Mantis]

Preliat turned and faced him. He had heard the name before, heard it in whispers and on newscast. He was no fan of the Republic, or the Jedi. In fact, he held a bitter hatred of them. And as far as the Sith went, he didn't trust them as far as he could throw them. They typically were out for themselves, while the Jedi had an odd philosophy about them. The attackers began to circle the two, eyes hungry for blood and fists clenched around makeshift weaponry. Preliat clutched the staff tightly, staring down a Nautolan and a Twi'lek before him. They were carrying shortswords in one hand, and a dagger in the other. The other beasts and aliens began to circle the two. He began to pick out various words in Huttese.

"They said we're the main attraction. They've been targeting us."

Preliat twirled the staff, circling the attackers, following [member="Jacen Cavill"]'s movements as the buzzer sounded. Preliat didn't move at first, but then, he sprung into action. He was without armor, and he was very, very fast. And brutal. Bringing his staff upwards, he jammed the staff into the Nautolan's face, feeling it crack and break with the thrust of action. He turned and did not wait to see the aftermath. He used the staff to trip the Twi'lek, then dropped his knee onto his throat until he felt like he wasn't going to get up anymore. More attackers started to pour after the Mandalorian, to which he met with savage efficiency. He wondered how the Sith was doing.

"Do not disappoint me, Sith."

 

[Darron Wraith]

"Let's give them a show then." Jacen wasn't one for teamwork, but with his head spinning he had little choice. The attackers were smart, they kept a massive circle around both of them. Cavill partially wanted them to break up into smaller groups, so he could only focus on a few at a time. As it was, he could see the apprehension on the men's faces and in their bodies. Even armored, and armed with much better weaponry, they hesitated. "Cowards, all of you are nothing." His insult was met with more silence as they finally decided to attack the Sith Lord and the Mandalorian named [member="Preliat Mantis"]. A Jedi would have gone back to back with the warrior, instead Jacen marched forwards towards those who were attacking him. His own self preservation was all he cared for, and even in this weakened state his rage called for blood. Two blades came directly at the Sith, and there was no hesitation, no sign of regret at what happened next.

Both blades met air, Kryptus simply ducked under one as he simply shot his blade forward into the Nautolan's neck. Blood shot forth, and the alien fell to the ground as he pulled the blade back and launched a powerful kick straight into the human's ribs. A snap and a crunch were quite audible, and the man fell. Taking his advantage, he bought his blade down in a reverse stab into the man's back and ended his life. Head still pounding, he deflected a couple more blows, and even disarmed another attacker as he was worked back near the Mandalorian that he was presently fighting for his life with. Another opponent fell, and he heard Preliat's words. "Guess everyone knows who I am, no worries. Let me get my bearings, and I'll show you why that name is feared." There was no arrogance to the statement, merely honesty as he beat back more attackers.

"Do your job, and we will kill those responsible for this." Cavill lunged back into combat.

 

[Preliat Mantis]

Preliat watched the carnage unfold, the two warriors carving through the others in the arena. Preliat brought his staff forward, jamming it into an armored humanoids neck. He felt the staff go inward, as it crushed his windpipe and would kill him in a manner of minutes.

Preliat turned, and watched as the Sith began to go to work. He was good. A noticeable smirk crossed Preliat's face as he pressed onwards, advancing towards the remaining opponents. The Sith, did not disappoint. And neither would Preliat. Smashing his foot into a Wookies kneecap, he felt a sickening blow and cartilage tore as the Wookie turned to the side. Preliat used the pole to elevate himself, and wrapped his legs around the neck of the Wookie, before he gave it a sharp twist, and both fell to the ground, but only one was alive. Preliat scowled, standing up. He was soaking with sweat and blood, tearing apart the opponents and other gladiators was tiring. Preliat turned to the Sith as the six remaining opponents began to regroup.


"They're re grouping. That means that they're either scared, or they know something we don't."


Preliat went and wiped sand on his hands, drying up the sweat and blood. He splashed sand on his face as well, soaking up the sweat and giving him clearer sight. It was a trick he learned growing up on Ordo, to avoid being caught unaware by sweat and moisture.

 

[Darron Wraith]

[member="Preliat Mantis"]

Grouping they were, but not before he took two more from the group. It was no easy task to break a Wookie's neck with your barehands, but it was one he had learned from the Echani. Another human was trying to gather what remained of his intestines after a well aimed slash, and Cavill started to back up closer to Preliat. Taking stock of how they were backing away, the Sith could tell another plan was in place. Looking up in the stands, he could see the crowd was roaring in disapproval. "Apparently, we aren't playing to the rules of this gladiator arena." Food was being thrown into the sands near them, and the boos only grew louder and louder as the second went by. "I'm going to assume they wanted us to die like good boys."


An alien language began to sound over the loud speaker, and the warriors quickly put their weapons back up. Seeing this Jacen simply jammed his sword into the ground while taking notice of the Mandalorian. "Nice trick, been a while since I've had to use sand. Most Force-Users are taught a means of not relying totally on their sight." He continued on as he bent down and threw some sand on his face and pushed his thick black hair out of his face. "It makes us rely on feeling life, or in my case death." Standing back up, Jacen started to notice his head was clearing slightly. "It can make many a Jedi or Sith weak, it's why I sought out further training so I wouldn't be helpless when put in situations like this."

A chuckle escaped his lips as he realized the humor of what he was saying. "Now don't think that I just plan on getting captured while hiding and enjoy fighting in arenas in my spare time." Cavill did love battle, but on his terms, not this farce. The alien's speech started, and all the warriors redrew their weapons. Seeing this, Jacen pulled his sword out of the ground and took an offensive stance. It would have been Djem-So had he had his lightsaber. Then two gates opened on both sides of the arena, and the distinct roar of creatures he knew well filled the arena. The crowd began to roar, and the warriors charged as the beasts came out.

Rancors were here, fething rancors.

 

[Preliat Mantis]

[member="Jacen Cavill"] talked a lot. Preliat wasn't much of a talker anymore. Bringing the staff upwards, he stared down the Rancor. A sneer took hold over his face. However, a loose and incoming Shuura caught his attention, and the Mandalorian caught it before it could reach the damning sand. Preliat took a bite out of the sweet fruit, breaking what he had bitten, and tossed the other half to Jacen. He turned away, not caring if he caught it or not. He offered, and that was the right thing to do in the situation where the two of them depended on the other's survival. Rancors. His third least favorite animal in the galaxy. He dug his staff into the sand, and picked up a fallen shortsword from the slain gladiators.

"I have no plans on dying today. I don't know about you, exactly. I'll take the one on the right."

Preliat ran upwards, dragging the shortsword as the six remaining gladiators broke off, into teams of three. With the Rancors, they believed they had a chance. They were wrong. They had a higher percentage of a chance of success, but not much. Not much at all. Bringing his sword straight through a neck of a Epicanthix, Preliat turned and jammed his thumbs into the eyes of another human, before turning to the last, a Duros gladiator with a trident and a net. Preliat yanked the sword out of the man's neck, after killing the man with his bare hands. Preliat swing his blade around, before turning and running at the man with the trident. He went straight for him, and looked to be impale, but brought his body to the side as the thrust came, and wrapped his arm around the pole, and prevented him from yanking the trident back all the way.


The Duros was less than happy when Preliat broke the trident in half, and jammed the three blades into his chest. Preliat kicked him away, feeling him drop to the floor. He turned, looking up to the cameras and televisions around him. He was not popular here, they weren't exactly Null-Hockey fans. He held his arms out to the side, as the Rancor came.


"MY NAME IS PRELIAT MANTIS, AND I WILL NOT DIE TODAY."

Preliat, as if by magic, as if by cosmic intervention, or maybe, just perhaps, thanks to peripheral vision, ducked as the Rancor's mighty claw came towards his head, and missed. Preliat's sword slammed into the claw, straight through it's wrist. Preliat used the handle of the blade stuck in it's chest as a way to climb unto the Rancor, scrambling up it's arm, but stopping to rip the blade out from it's arm. The Rancor swiped at Preliat, who fell against it's head crest, and stood atop of it, and gave a war cry. The war cry shook the foundations of the building, silencing the onlookers and the spectators. Preliat saw troops moving, and lots of them. They wouldn't be leaving after this fight. They would have to bide their time, for a little while longer. Preliat knew the sword couldn't cut through the skin of it's face, so he went with an alternative route. He jammed the sword into it's eye, but it didn't go deep enough into it. Preliat jumped off the Rancor, and then on the way down, kicked the hilt of the blade. The blade shot through the eye muscle and tissue, shooting straight into the brain of the Rancor.

The Rancor fell down, dead as could be. Preliat fell to the sand, exhausted from the ordeal. He watched, as Jacen began to engage his targets.