Alien Gladiator's Prize

by Zara Starr

  The antimatter pistol hit Alothrax in the arm and the creatures spun around, gripping its shoulder.

  The blow wasn’t fatal, but it would stop him from fighting – the pain was almost paralyzing, at least for a short while.

  Alothrax fell to his knees and held up his left hand, a sign of surrender. He was giving in.

  Gage turned around, threw his hands up in the air, and beckoned with his fingers, asking the crowd to give him the celebration he deserved.

  And they responded. The crowd went wild. The sound was music to Gage’s ears.

  As he turned, he scanned the stage of females. He hadn’t looked for the human woman before, not with any intention. He had been focused on the fight.

  But now, after winning, he could focus on the stage as much as he wanted. Some of the other gladiators allowed themselves to get caught up in a possible prize, but Gage didn’t take his eyes off his opponents. Not until he was sure he won.

  It was the mark of a good fighter.

  He spotted the human female. She wasn’t hiding away in a corner, she wasn’t cowering behind the other females. She stood front and center, upright and proud, and she was watching the arena floor carefully. She didn’t look scared or bored either. The other females often looked as if they either didn’t want to be there or didn’t care what happened.

  This one looked intense. As if she was taking everything in.

  It intrigued Gage. He wanted to know more about the human female. What was the race like? Was this one a perfect example? Or was she different? She was definitely different from any of the other females he had encountered since the day he had decided to start fighting.

  Gage was interrupted by one of the Saithin officials, who had stepped into the arena with a microphone. The two gladiators were brought together, and Gage shook the Palean’s hand. Alothrax scowled at him.

  “Good fight,” he muttered.

  “Yeah, it was,” Gage agreed.

  “You are a good fighter.”

  Gage nodded, without returning the compliment. Alothrax was a good fighter too, but Gage had won. There was no denying who was better.

  He turned his attention to the official who awarded him his prize. It was a small sum of Saithin currency, transferred directly to his account, and a meal at one of the capital’s finest restaurants. It served authentic Saithin food, and it was usually too expensive for most people to go to. The waiting list was as long as Gage’s arm.

  As a bonus, Gage was told that he could take a guest, and immediately, his thought jumped to the human female.

  Not a good idea. He would have to do go through all kinds of protocols to make that happen, and she was already terrified. It had been clear when she had cowered away from him in the room.

  Although, Gage couldn’t say for sure that it was what she had felt.

  Again, he felt that frustration, the fact that he didn’t know what she thought, he couldn’t predict her actions.

  That was another good reason not to take her to the restaurant with him. Who knew what would happen? Who knew if she would distract him from his training? He wanted to get to know her better, he was curious about her race, but he was worried that he would be affected by her in some way. What power did she have? He was worried that her gift was to cancel his. He couldn’t afford that. Not now.

  Besides, what if he liked her? What if he enjoyed having a conversation with her, what if she was as mesmerizing as she had been when she had been asleep? It hadn’t happened with other females he’d taken out before, but this one was different.

  That would only distract him more. And if he was too distracted, he would lose.

  What was the point then? Why get attached if he wasn’t going to win this season, because of her?

  No, he wouldn’t take her with him. He would find another date – someone he could spend the evening with and then forget. That was the best way to do it, it kept his eyes on the prize, kept him focused on the game. After all, that was why he was here.

  He wasn’t here to socialize.

  Still, he glanced up at the women on stage. He desperately wanted to see her, at least one more time.

  As he watched, the females were led off the stage and into the pod that would take them back to their quarters.

  Gage felt a little saddened that he couldn’t see her again.

  But perhaps that was for the best.

  After the match, Gage moved to his spacecraft. There were shower facilities at the dome, but he didn’t enjoy being there. The facilities at the dome were often occupied by the slaves, and he didn’t like mingling with them. He didn’t like knowing that they weren’t free to make their own choices, that they didn’t have their own will. It seemed wrong to be with them, the contrast too great.

  Although, he was fascinated by the way that they trained. He always enjoyed comparing his way to the ways of others.

  But he had other fighters at the gym where he trained that he could speak to, that he could compare himself to.

  That was what he would do.

  First, he just needed to stretch himself out. His joints felt stiff and his muscles ached. He had pushed himself hard during this fight. Harder than usual.

  Why was that? Gage had known that he would win. He had anticipated it. Although the Palean was a worthy opponent – they were all incredible fighters – Gage had sensed that it would go his way, that it would turn in his favor.

  Why, then, did he fight harder, as if he wasn’t sure that he would win?

  He knew the answer to that question. It was for the female. Because he had known that she would be watching.

  Gage hadn’t tried to be better so that he knew he would win – it was something he had always known – he had done it so that he could show off. To impress the female.

  Immediately, he was irritated with himself. Why did he bother? Why did it matter what she thought of him? After all, she was a prize to be won, just one female among many. The only thing that mattered was what the finalist who chose her thought of her. Nothing else.

  But strangely, Gage wanted to know what she thought of him, how she had experienced the fight. He wanted to know if her expression had meant that she was interested in the way he moved, the way he fought. Or if it had been something else.

  Again, he was flustered. Why did he not know what she was thinking? Why was it so difficult to read her? Gage had never experienced this in his life, and it bothered him.

  Finally, he shook off his thoughts. It didn’t matter. She didn’t matter. What mattered was that he had won the battle. If he continued like this, he would win the championship.

  And if he wanted the female then, he would have her.

  Otherwise, he would choose someone else. It was as simple as that.

  Perhaps, they would have other human females to choose from. With the advertisements that were circling the network, Gage had the feeling that they would collect more human females as prizes. It was an attraction, something that filled the seats.

  Something that’s got more gladiators to join the tournament.

  Which was good, because it gave him fresh opponents, something different from what he had before. Gage couldn’t count how many times he had faced the same people, fought the same battles, feeling like he was having déjà vu.

  In his spacecraft, Gage flew home. When he arrived, he walked through the large house. He had acquired all of his property, the furniture, and all the ornaments, through fighting. Some of it had been bought with the currency he won, and the rest he had won as prizes. Some of the artifacts in his house were practically priceless.

  Although everything Gage had won had filled him with a sense of achievement, there was always something missing. Something that made him feel like he wasn’t quite on the right track.

  Gage could never figure out what it was. Now, his thoughts traveled back to the human female. Why could he not stop thinking about her? Why was this happening?

  He had to put her out of his mind. It wouldn’t do that she wa
s distracting him even when he didn’t take her out to dinner, even when he had nothing else to do with her.

  He had only seen her that one time, for crying out loud.

  After taking a shower, washing off the sweat from the fight, he dressed in white clothing, soft linen that was gentle against his skin. He sat down in the garden, crossed his legs, and tilted his hands upward on his knees. He closed his eyes and started to meditate, trying to shake off the aggression.

  But instead of focusing on nothing at all, as he always did, his mind traveled again to the human female.

  Irritated, he shook his head. He couldn’t get rid of her and it was frustrating him, reminding him of his downfall. Reminding him that when he had been with her, he hadn’t been able to use his gift.

  She was trouble, she wasn’t someone he should think about.

  So, instead of meditating because he couldn’t keep his mind off her, he found his plasma phone and scrolled through his contact list. Finding a date for his dinner would be better. Someone that could distract him, someone that could take his mind off everything that had happened during the past two days.

  He scolded himself for contacting Qhin, for asking to meet the human female. He should have been able to anticipate that it would be a bad idea.

  But perhaps, her ability to stop his gift had already influenced him before he had met her. Perhaps, everything to do with her was like that.

  It was all the more reason for him to stay away from her.

  But as he scrolled through his contact list, Gage knew that he wouldn’t choose any of the women he knew. They wouldn’t distract him, not enough.

  He would have to find some other way to get rid of the thoughts of her.

  Or, perhaps, he would force the issue. He would spend time with her, get to know her, and realize that she wasn’t anything special at all.

  As soon as that happened, as soon as his curiosity was satiated and he knew that she was just like any other female – she just looked different – he could forget about the whole damn thing.

  Chapter Seven

  Amelia

  Being a prisoner was a terrible thing. At least, it should have been. But since the moment Amelia had been put into a room that was properly furnished and well decorated, everything had been really comfortable.

  Aside from being paraded in skimpy clothing, of course.

  It was odd. The room was nice, the food was delicious, and there was more than enough. She was pampered in many other ways too. Massages – although Amelia struggled with the Saithin creatures touching her – as much food as she wanted to eat, comfortable clothing when she didn’t need to be paraded, and spa-like baths.

  Despite her discomfort about the whole situation, Amelia tried to stay calm and take pleasure in the small things. She enjoyed the spa-like baths the most.

  Every day, they were taken to these indoor pools, where the water was hot and fragranced with all kinds of perfumes and oils. The steam made everything seem a little foggy, and the females felt like they could truly relax.

  It was where Amelia was the least on her guard. It was where she felt she could breathe, like something wasn’t going to jump out and implant something in her again.

  Although, that had only happened once. But that wasn’t the point – once was more than enough.

  Every now and then, new females were added to the group. Amelia wondered where they came from. Were all of them captured? Probably, she couldn’t imagine that anyone would choose a life like this. Amelia would never have volunteered herself either.

  Had they all been abducted? Or had some of them been bought? She was very sure that this was slavery.

  Although, as it was, nothing was expected of them. At least, not yet.

  So far, Amelia had been playing the role of the scared female, as if she was terrified all the time, not knowing what to do or where to go.

  She did it on purpose. If she could convince the guards that she wasn’t a threat, that she would only hide in the corner and that she didn’t need to be watched, then everything would be easier. They wouldn’t think that she was planning an escape.

  When they finally did realize what she was doing, it would be too late.

  The females were taken to the pools again and Amelia sat in one of the corners, leaning against the wall, her legs in the water. She had already swum a couple of laps and she felt warm and relaxed. The essential oil in the water had soaked into her skin, drawing out all the tension that was caused by everything that was happening around her. She felt lazy and at ease.

  A commotion arose at the doors to the pool and the Saithin guards brought in another prisoner. A human woman.

  Amelia’s eyes widened. She hadn’t thought that she would ever see another human again. Perhaps they could be friends, perhaps they could figure out a way to get out of here together.

  “Oh, it’s the new girl,” one of the females close to her said with a sigh. She was a Karzem that Amelia had talked to a few times.

  “You know of her?” Amelia asked.

  The female nodded, her deep blue skin melding into the pale blue of the water.

  “They already struggled to take her from the stage. She fights them at every turn. It’s just going to make things worse.”

  Amelia nodded. She was excited to have another human around, but she couldn’t have her getting in the way of her plans of escaping. If she was already causing trouble and drawing attention to herself, that wouldn’t be good for Amelia. It was the opposite of what she had been trying to do.

  The human woman approached her, her long dark hair flowing behind her. Amelia eyed her as she did, wondering what to say to her. No doubt, she wanted to connect with her own kind. If she was new, she probably had a lot of questions. Amelia didn’t blame her. It was a natural reaction. She’d been the same.

  “You’re human,” Amelia said when the other woman came up to her.

  She nodded, sitting down next to her. “I’m Tanya,” she said.

  “Amelia,” she said. “You’re new.”

  Tanya nodded again. “And I feel completely out of my depth. What is going on here? Who are these… monsters? And what do they want with us?”

  Amelia glanced at Tanya. Where to even begin? And how much could she say? She didn’t know the other woman, but Tanya was crazy if she wanted to make it clear that she wanted to escape. Should Amelia tell her that? She decided to start with the basics.

  “I haven’t been here for very long,” Amelia admitted. “Some of the girls here have been around much longer. It’s been a couple of days for me. And so far, they haven’t hurt me. In fact, I have been treated well – pampered. Almost like being at the most extravagant spa you can imagine.”

  Tanya frowned. “That makes no sense.”

  Amelia looked around at the other females. Tanya was in the water, but even though the essential oils were meant to relax everyone, she seemed tense, angry.

  “Actually, it does,” Amelia countered. “They are keeping us in good condition. As prizes. For the gladiator contest.”

  Tanya shook her head. Amelia could see the confusion on her face, how she was trying to figure everything out. It was a tough one, the shock that came after realizing that you had been abducted to be used as an object, a possession, nothing more.

  “They want you to behave,” Amelia added when Tanya didn’t say anything. “They want you to enjoy yourself, pretty yourself up. It is what they want for the people who are going to end up owning you.”

  Amelia watched as an expression of horror crossed Tanya’s face. Of course, it was terrifying. Which was exactly the reason why they needed to stay calm and not cause waves. So they could escape.

  Amelia nodded, confirming what she had just said. “It’s awful to think about, I know. But I guess we just have to accept our fate. That’s what I’m trying to do.”

  Of course, it wasn’t what Amelia was trying to do. But she didn’t know who was listening, and she wasn’t about to reveal her plans. She also did
n’t know if she could trust Tanya just yet. Not if Tanya was so aggressively trying to escape. If she wasn’t going to pretend to be weak and scared.

  “Is there any way to contact Earth?” Tanya asked. “Surely, we can’t be completely cut off from civilization?”

  There it was, the exact thing Amelia had pinpointed in Tanya. That fire. She was going to try to do something drastic. Her stomach lurched. Clearly, Tanya was trouble – and Amelia didn’t want to be dragged down along with her.

  She let out a delirious laugh. “Civilization? Honey, this place is more advanced than any place you have ever been to. Trust me, this isn’t some forgotten wasteland.”

  Maybe she could still discourage her somehow. Get Tanya to go with her plan.

  But Tanya shook her head. “I mean that I want to contact home,” she said.

  “No,” Amelia finally said. “There isn’t.”

  The Karzem woman Amelia had talked to before swam closer. “I couldn’t help but overhear,” she said. “There is a communications room in the gladiator dome.”

  Dammit, she should not have said that. Amelia could see Tanya’s mind turning, calculating, thinking about how she was going to make it. Amelia stared at the female who had given her all the information. Now, Tanya was definitely going to do something reckless.

  “I wouldn’t try to access it though,” the female said, and Amelia almost let out a sigh of relief. “I tried to escape a while ago. I wanted to do the same thing. It didn’t go down very well.”

  Well, something useful. The female actually had good information as she described her escape attempt, seducing the guards, and trying to run.

  The woman continued to tell them about the chips in their necks. That they were meant to keep an eye on them, that it tracked their location and made everything harder. Amelia listened closely, making notes in her head – what not to do when she finally tried to escape.