Pirates are a rowdy lot. It is a fact rarely questioned and merely accepted by those who deal with them regularly. While the Herald’s crew is no different, the band's leader has a different approach to facilitating their tendencies. To this end, one of the Matron's smaller hangars — designated Hangar Zerek — has been recommissioned as a combat arena... or execution chamber.

Once a dedicated repair bay, Hangar Zerek is still equipped with fabricator arms and an assortment of Trade Federation droid parts that have fallen into disrepair. A squared off section, including illumination banks at each corner, designates the intended arena. The section is denoted by active shock fences, run by nearby generators. It is here that the crew lets off steam, with the hangar bay sealed.

The hangar itself still has a fully functioning force field that comes into play when matches are meant to become more interesting, or when it comes time to jettison troublesome captives. The hangar bay doors peel open, leaving only the active field to separate the arena from the vacuum of space. The control mechanisms for the hangar doors can be operated manually from the control booth or on a set timer, including the force field's toggle switch.

The control booth is the last segment of Hangar Zerek worth noting. Doubling as an observation deck, it is the only obvious entrance to the hangar. All maintenance hatches and access-ways have been sealed in advance, though the catwalks crisscrossing along the upper layers of the hangar remain. The booth itself is sealed, providing a safe haven for when the force field comes down.

“This was your grand plan, Jon?”

“Oh come on, you act like it’s the worst idea I’ve ever had!”

Talis looked to his commander. Somehow in spite of the blindfold, Talis managed to convey a look. It was the kind of look he normally only got from Aura and Revak.

“...Look, we need those credits Talis, and you agreed to help me get them,” Jon explained. “Well, this is as good a way as any to get them!”

“No. You need those credits, Jon, firstly,” Talis pointed out. “Secondly, I agreed to nothing; you burst into the Squadron’s headquarters, grabbed me by the arm and said ‘get in, we’re going to go get rich.’ Thirdly, and most important: this is a terrible way to earn credits.”

Talis gestured to the pit where three gamorreans were ripping apart a squadron of B2-battle droids to the great delight of a throng of scum, villainy, and assorted low-lifes. As is to prove his point, one of the pigs chose that oppurtunity to rip the arm off one of the droids, and throw it out of the ring.

The severed limb landed at their feet, dripping oil and sparking electricity.. It’s fingers were still twitching.

Jon tried to hide his grimace.

“What are you worried about? Talis, these guys are just a bunch of untrained thugs!”

One of them, a great hulking zabrak overheard, and turned to look at them, glaring at Jon. The Captain chuckled nervously, and put his hands up in a placating gesture.

“Ah, not you of course, friend. You’re a... Ah… you have excellent… skull tattoos…”

“Silvon!” a deep, feminine voice called out. Despite the mass of noise and voices, her words rung out clear as day.

Jon and Talis turned - Talis with curiosity, Jon with thinly-veiled apprehension. The crowd parted to reveal a tall woman, with violet highlights in her raven black hair, and dressed in a skin-tight, violet outfit, walking towards the pair. Strapped to her back was pitch black lightsaber-pike, with a pair of golden serpents circling the hilt, their heads forming a kind of ornate crossguard. She seemed to almost radiate power - literally and figuratively; her presence screamed of the Dark Side of the Force.

To Talis’ senses, it was like a great black pit in the shape of a woman was approaching them. Although Talis had never met her in person, he knew exactly who she was. And Jon was… still smiling?

Oh Force no, tell me that idiot didn’t actually make a bet with--

“Selika darling!” Jon chirped, cheerful as ever as he stood in the presence of Selika Roh, Herald of the Dark Council. “I was just looking for you, m’lady! How are you --”

“This him?” Selika snapped, looking Talis’ way. Her gaze made him feel like he was bathing in ice.

“Ah!” Jon exclaimed. “As a matter of fact it is. Allow me to introduce --”

“My name is Talis Kor-Zar, of Odan-Urr.”

Selika Roh took in Talis’ form, appraising him. Slowly, the Dark Councillor began to circle the Odanite and the captain. Talis tried not to feel like he was being circled by a large predator, to very little success.

Jon was still chatting good naturedly, even though neither of the Force-users in the room were still listening. To some it might’ve seemed like he was just oblivious, but Talis knew him better than that. The captain knew full well that both Talish and Selika could sense the fear hiding just below the surface. The mask wasn’t for their benefit. It gave him a sense of control in the presence of people wielding powers he couldn’t comprehend.

“And the Odanites teach you how to fight I take it?” she asked. Her tone dripped condescension, a challenge.

“Obviously,” he said in turn. His voice, in spite of himself, was steady.

As Selika completed her circle of the pair, she came to a stop in front of them. Whatever she’d seen must’ve satisfied her, judging by the satisfied smirk on her face.

“Alright Silvon. You’re on. If your pet Force-user can take on my five best warriors down in the pit, you’ll be walking out of here ninety-thousand credits richer. Good luck.” As she turned and walked away, the two could hear her whisper “You’re gonna need it.”

“Jon. A word.” Talis grabbed his captain by the shoulder, and nearly dragged him to a secluded corner. “You’re gambling against a Dark Councilor?” he hissed.

The captain looked sheepish.

“Well, I mean when you put it that way --”

“What other way is there Jon?”

Jon looked thoughtful for a moment.

“...That we are taking a daring and heroic risk to acquire badly needed funds for Odan-Urr --”

“Jon.” Talis snapped.

“Talis. Calm down. You can take these guys, alright? They’re nothing!”

“Then why don’t you fight them?” Talis demanded.

Jon shrugged. “I’m not the one with the space magic and laser sword.”

“And I’m not the one who blew the Squadron’s budget upgrading the Grande Carnival again!”

“Not all of it,” Jon said, crossing his arms. “Some of it was for this cape I’m wearing --”

Talis took a deep breath, and resisted the urge to strangle his captain.

“When we get out of this,” he said slowly. “I’m going to make sure the Council knows exactly what you’ve been doing. And Aura will kill you. Slowly.”

“That’s the spirit Talis!” Jon laughed, clapping his friend on the back.

---

“Ladies, gentleman, and otherwise!” a droid with an over-the-top accent announced to the crowd. “*Do we have a show for you tonight! All the way from Kiast, a representitive of the Jedi clan themselves, Talis Kor-Zar!”

Talis walked into the hangar-come-gladiator-pit to the excited booing of a hundred species in a twice as many languages. A very encouraging start to this mad endeavor.

From up above, Jon leaned over the railing, watching his friend eagerly. Winning five fights in a row against Force-knew what kind of opponents… it would be tough, but Jon knew Talis’ fighting style well. As long as he could end each fight quickly, before his stamina started to run down, he could do it.

“You seem pretty confident your friend is gonna win this, Silvon,” a voice spoke from behind him. Jon started, and spun to see Selika standing right behind him. He’d never even heard her approach. “It’d be a real shame if the Light Side Clan had one less Force-wielder, of course. Quite the gamble you’re making, you know?”

Jon instinctively felt a thrill of terror go through him at the woman’s presence, but he immediately hid it behind a friendly smile, and a flourishing bow.

“The only gambles worth making, Madame Herald, are the ones with the highest stakes. Wouldn’t you agree?”

“I would,” she said with a nod. “So I’m sure you won’t hold it against me when I cheat.”

“...Come again?” he asked. The Dark Councilor pointed down into the ring. The droid was in the process of presenting to the crowd Talis’ opponent… no. Opponents. All five of them.

“Dank ferric…” Jon whispered as realisation set in.

“I did say five opponents,” Selika said, more to herself than to Jon, as she leaned against the railing.

“But,” Jon sighed, mentally slapping himself. “You never said one at a time, right? Should’ve seen that one coming a lightyear away…”

“Yes, you really should’ve,” she chuckled.

“And now!” the droid continued. “*Fighters ready! The battle will begin in five, four, three…”

“I hate my life,” Jon growsed before throwing himself over the railing and into the pit. He landed just before the force-fields came up.

“How’s that grand plan going so far Jon?” Talis quipped as their opponents came at them.

“Shut up and get out your lightsabers, Talis.”

Talis drew his lightsaber and stared down his 5 opponents. Jon spun his two vibroblades in a spinning motion before presenting his defense to the line up of opponents.

"So you'll take the two on the right?" Jon said motioning with the tip of his blade, "and I'll take the three on the left?"

"That depends." Talis said as he started forward.

"On what?" The confused man asked.

The group before the two pulled out their weapons. Two lightsabers were among the group. One, an iridescent purple, and the other a dark seething red.

Talis nonchalantly turned and pointed at the two force users.

"Oh, right! That." Jon shrugged as he followed his fellow Odanite.

Talis moved slowly but with force. He kept his chest out and his shoulders back but with his head leaned forward in a scowling manner as he stepped towards his enemies. He reached out with his mind and felt the five in front of him. He began dragging their worst memories of fear forward.

Selika smiled as Jon landed next to his fighter. The arena security had initially moved to remove the man but Selika waved them off with a raised hand.

'It does not matter Silvon.' Selika thought to herself.

The lanky being in the armor didn't look like he could put up much, if any fight, against the five presented. Jon would at least make this amusing to the woman. She had trained the two force users herself and was supremely confident in their abilities against the two. The juggernaut at the head of the column was just about to be promoted to hunter and her sorceress was already a hunter making waves. The privateer with the blaster pistol was highly recommended by her Hutt cartel contacts and was apparently well worth his money to help get rid of the two Odanites. The soldier was also no slouch. He had been cutting his teeth up the ranks since the fall of New Tython and wore the rank of Captain on his chest proudly. His autocannon also made it especially difficult for the two warriors with only one lightsaber between them. The only member of the group that was a relative unknown was the Mandalorian bounty hunter. He still only held a relatively low rank of runner for his clan but with his rifle could easily become a nuisance if left unchecked.

The taller challenger strode forward derailing Selika's train of thought. As the woman snapped her attention back to fight she noticed that something was off. None of the five were moving an inch and the expressions etched across their faces were of unbridled terror.

As Talis closed the distance the first of the group to recover was the soldier and the privateer. The soldier glanced around quickly while the privateer stepped back and shot a concerned look at his three unmoving cohorts. The soldier leveled his auto cannon at Talis before bellowing. "That all you got?"

"Nope." Talis curtly replied as he reached out his hand and suddenly where the soldier was standing a black orb now occupied the space.

Talis swept forward, releasing his hold on the group's minds as he went. The young juggernaut's skill was just enough to get his guard in place to accept the more experienced foe as he waded into him with a vicious flurry of blows.

Selika slumped back in her seat as disbelief flowed through her mind. The speed and irregularities of the attack were very familiar. The quick spinning attacks blasted thru the Juggernaut's banlantha style defense and landed multiple minor injuries in quick succession. This was an Ataru master and the young Sith's advanced knowledge did not hold up to the boisterous violence.

The other three were so shocked by the whirling onslaught on their teammate that they didnt know what to do. Jon utilized their shock to walk right up to the Mandalorian. Before he could protest Jon cut him down and made his way to the young sorceress wielding the purple lightsaber.

The Sith Huntress was more attentive and batted at the unkempt rogue. Silvon ducked the strike and retreated to a manageable distance.

Talis kept spinning and crashing his blade into the poor Sith's defense. The assault marched the fighter back. The added speed and voracity made every attack rattle the armor on the boys body that was still holding on.

After a short burst of strikes, the once confident Sith was now knelt before Talis unable to pick up his lightsaber.

"Sorry kid but you were out classed." Talis the stepped up to him and drove his lightsaber through the defenseless man's chest.

“Takar!” the sorceress cried as Talis’ ivory ‘saber burned through the juggernaut’s heart. For a second, all six remaining fighters stopped and turned. The young woman turned a heated glare against the blind Force-disciple.

Jon didn’t miss the way her eyes turned to a sulfurous, burning yellow before a blast of electricity struck the ground where Talis had been standing a moment before.

Had been standing. Talis had bolted out of the way and was already dashing across the battlefield.

It never failed to intrigue Jon how someone as, for lack of a better term, brutal as Talis Kor-Za had found his way into the ranks of the Jedi Clan. From the instant the battle began, his blind friend held nothing back against their opposition, unleashing fear and darkness through the Force, and cutting his opponents without ceremony or preamble.

It was merciless. It was cold. And it was damn efficient.

Jon smirked. This was why he had chosen Talis for this hairbrained little scheme of his.

Jon, for his part, took the opportunity to put some distance between himself and the screaming Sith and focused on opponents a little more his weight-class.

Spinning where he stood, Jon klicked Kanshour and Bakuya together at the hilt, freeing up his right hand. He drew a trio of knives from his belt, and sent them whirling at the two men who were still watching the space-wizards go at it with rapt attention.

These two need to learn to pay attention! Jon mentally chuckled.

One dagger found its home in the pistol holder’s leg, sending him to one knee, while the auto-cannon user ducked out of the way of another. Jon immediately charged them - the best way to handle ranged fighters was to not give them range to work from.

Spinning the joined weapon over his head, Jon immediately tried to bring it down on the pistoler’s head, but the man rolled out of the way, even as he clutched his bleeding leg in pain. Before Jon could pursue, he fired off a round that the captain had to dodge out of the way from.

“Hey roadkill!” the autocanner chortled as he prepared to unleash fury on Silvon, “What good’s those bantha-stickers against real firepower?”

Jon was about to think up a witty retort - perhaps something to do with the man’s sizeable girth or a reference to his mother - when another bolt of lightning struck the ground in between them, throwing up broken pieces of duracrete from where it crashed into the floor - it seemed Talis and the sorceress were in some kind of standoff, as she channeled lightning at him, and he held it back with his ‘saber.

Jon took the momentary surprise to run, just before the autocannon began unleashing. Running as fast as he could while dodging stray lightning, the autocannon’s stream of bolts was always just an inch or two behind him. Looking at his friend deflecting the lighting, Jon began to formulate a plan.

“Talis!” Jon yelled as he ran just ahead of the blaster fire. “Comin’ your way!”

As soon as he was perfectly between the auto-cannon and Talis, Jon stopped running and dropped to his stomach. Then he just watched.

Talis, still deflecting the lightning with his ivory saber, ignited his sapphire blade with his other hand. The auto-cannon’s fire went wild as it crashed into the spinning shield, with a few stray bolts going into the cheering audience. One, however, found its mark between it’s owner’s eyes, and the man dropped dead to the ground.

That’s three, Jon thought as he hopped back to his feet. So far so good.

“Clever trick, Silvon,” a voice said behind him, and Jon turned to see the man with the pistol now had it trained at the back of Jon’s head. “But you’re done,” the man said as he squeezed the trigger.

“Jon! Eyes!” Talis shouted. Jon didn’t need an explanation, and slammed his eyes shut, protecting them from the blindingly bright flash that followed. When he opened them again, the mercenary had dropped his pistol to the ground, and was clutching at his eyes in pain.

After a brief nod of thanks to Talis, Jon casually shot the man with a blast from his vambraces.

He took the chance to look up at Selika. The Dark Councillor was not happy, Jon could see that even from this distance. But, to her credit, he would admit she covered it well - inasmuch as one who lived and breathed hate could hide their emotions anyway.

Jon almost felt a sense of relief at that - before invisible fingers closed around his throat, and pulled him off his feet.

He caught a glimpse of Selika’s self-satisfied smirk before he was forcibly spun around, and brought face to face with a snarling, sulfur-eyed face.

“You two,” the sorceress hissed. “Will pay for killing my brother like that.”