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.

Nora Olen strode purposefully through the corridors of the Matron's base towards Hangar Zerek, her Sith Scepter in hand. As the Quaestor of House Ventress in Clan Plagueis, she had several apprentices, but Bril Teg Arga was one of her most promising students. He was due to arrive shortly, and she had arranged to meet him in the hangar.

Nora had heard rumors of the hangar's unconventional use, and as she approached, she could hear the sounds of raucous cheering and blaster fire. As she stepped through the doors, she saw that the space had indeed been repurposed as an arena, with the designated area marked off by active shock fences. The crew was letting off steam in the sealed hangar bay, with the doors peeling open only when matches became more interesting or when troublesome captives needed to be jettisoned.

Nora's eyes flicked around the hangar, taking in the surroundings. The fabricator arms and Trade Federation droid parts caught her attention briefly, but her focus shifted to the observation deck. The control booth, doubling as an observation deck, was the only obvious entrance to the hangar. All maintenance hatches and access-ways had been sealed in advance, with catwalks criss-crossing along the upper layers of the hangar.

Nora could feel the force of the Dark Side pulsing through her, igniting her anticipation for the next matches as she made her way through the dimly lit hallway towards the control booth. Despite the excitement of the situation, she had her apprentice's skill development firmly in focus, and she realized that this would be the ideal chance to see him in action.

She entered the control booth, the sleek black console and monitors flickering with holographic images of the matches. Nora settled into one of the plush chairs, the smooth leather cool against her skin. She took a deep breath, centering herself in the Force, and let her gaze linger on the holoscreen before her.

As she waited for her apprentice, Nora's mind drifted to her own training as a Sith. She recalled the grueling trials she had undergone to attain her current level of power, the sacrifices she had made to embrace the darkness within her. Nora knew that her apprentice had the potential to become a formidable Master, but he still had much to learn.

Suddenly, she sensed her apprentice's presence approaching, his footsteps echoing through the corridor outside. Nora turned towards the entrance of the control booth, her eyes scanning the darkness beyond. And there he was, striding confidently into the booth, the hilt of his lightsaber glinting in the low light. Nora felt a surge of pride as she watched him, knowing that she had played a crucial role in shaping him into the Force Disciple he was today.

"Good, you made it," Nora said, nodding in approval. "I have a task for us."

Bril tilted his head in curiosity. "What kind of task?"

Nora gestured towards the squared-off section of the hangar, where the shock fences hummed with energy. "A combat exercise. I want to see how you've improved since our last session."

Bril's eyes widened, excitement flooding through him. "Yes, Master! I've been practicing every day, I'm ready for whatever you throw my way."

Nora smirked, sensing his eagerness through the Force. "We'll see about that. But first, I have a surprise for you." She reached into her robe and pulled out a small, rectangular device.

"What's that?" Bril asked, eyeing the device warily.

Nora held it out to him. "A tracking device. I want you to place it on our next target. He's a smuggler who's been causing us problems, and I want to use the Arena to make an example out of him."

Bril took the device from her, his expression becoming serious. "Understood, Master. I'll make sure he doesn't get away."

Nora nodded in approval. "Good. And remember, in the arena, there are no rules. Use whatever means necessary to defeat your opponent."

Bril nodded, his hand instinctively reaching for his lightsaber hilt. "I won't disappoint you, Master."

Nora gave him a small smile before turning towards the entrance to the arena. "Let's begin." The hangar bay doors slowly creaked open, revealing the vast expanse of space beyond. Nora gestured towards the arena with her scepter, and the shock fences hummed to life.

Bril stepped forward, his lightsaber igniting with a snap-hiss. Nora watched him with a critical eye, knowing that he was ready for the challenge ahead. The sound of the hangar bay doors closing echoed through the space as the two began their combat exercise, the crackle of their lightsabers the only sound in the sealed hangar.

Many would hesitate when faced with the prospect of facing a Sith of Nora Olen's caliber in single combat but since becoming her apprentice, Bril had quickly shown himself to be markedly different. Whenever his master scheduled combat training, he answered the call without demur, and his determination to surmount any obstacle she placed before him allowed him to sharpen his skills at an unprecedented rate. Today would be no different. As master and apprentice stepped into the arena proper, their Force presences clashed and supercharged the air within the sealed hangar. Maintaining a firm grip on his saber's hilt and sliding into a plow guard with his left side forward, Bril narrowed his eyes while trying to get a read on Nora's intentions through her body language, but she offered him nothing in return. She stood in a narrow southpaw stance with her saber held in her lead hand, the crimson blade held farther out than his own and trained on his center of mass.

"Prepare yourself!" exclaimed Bril. As quickly as the words left his mouth, he lunged forward and thrust the tip of his amber blade toward his master's right shoulder. She beat the saber to her left before replying with a diagonal cut aimed at his left side, but a quick flick of his wrist brought his blade up fast enough to defend. A flash of orange filled the room as the sabers clashed. The crackle of their bound blades stirred his fighting spirit, and he pressed his weight against her saber in the hopes of overpowering her. He was the larger of the two, and Nora knew this; so, instead of trying to meet his strength head on, she sidestepped him and fired a back elbow into the side of his head as she passed.

Bril took the blow without so much as a flinch and began circling her with his saber held parallel to the ground, pointed outward.

"Good, but I've seen better from you," advised Nora, stepping into her stance once more. "Again."

They met in the center of the hangar again and began exchanging strikes in rapid succession. Bril gritted his teeth as he tried to gain an advantage on her, but it was like she was a step ahead of him.

The sounds of their duel caught the attention of a small group that had just finished in a separate section of the hangar. Among the raucous troop was a male Falleen whose most notable feature was the high ponytail that rose from the crown of his otherwise bald head. The man stood in the observation deck with crossed arms, sneering while watching the free show.

A pause in the action allowed Nora to reach across the distance between them and make her thoughts known to her apprentice.

So, that was their target. Bril replied with a silent recognition of the message he'd received. They hadn't discussed how he would plant the tracking device on the smuggler, but he had enough confidence in his abilities and his master's to know that an opportunity would present itself at some point. But that would come later. He had a duel to win. If he couldn't find a weakness in her style, he would have to create one.

Another advance brought Bril within cutting range; however, instead of striking at her, he dragged his saber across the arena floor in an upward arc that sent a shower of hot sparks flying toward her face.

She instinctively raised a hand to protect her eyes from the shower of hot metal, giving Bril the opening he needed. A drilling lead-leg side kick landed clean on her stomach with enough force to push her backward. Although her armored plating had absorbed most of the impact for her, Bril was satisfied with having landed a clean blow. They both knew that if anyone else had taken that kick, they wouldn't be standing afterward.

A series of cheers from the observation deck broke the tense silence that had built up between them during their last several exchanges. The Falleen smuggler leaned over the control panel and began pressing buttons, "Let's make things a bit more interesting, shall we boys?"

An automated countdown blared over the hangar's intercom, "30...29...28...27..."

Bril's eyes shot to Nora, who was gazing at the observation deck with a scowl. "Um... Master? What is that?"

She sucked her teeth while lifting her saber toward the control room, "They just triggered the force field's deactivation sequence."

As the automated countdown continued, Bril could feel the weight of the situation sinking in. Without the force field, anyone could enter the hangar and interrupt their duel. And with the smuggler's presence, that meant potential interference from his associates.

Nora turned back to face Bril. "We need to finish this quickly," she said, her voice firm and focused.

Bril nodded in agreement, his mind racing with possible strategies. He had to keep his focus on the duel and not let the looming threat distract him.

They resumed their battle, their sabers clashing and humming with each strike. Bril tried to anticipate Nora's movements, but she was as unpredictable as ever, constantly shifting her stance and varying the speed and intensity of her attacks.

As they circled each other, Bril noticed movement in the observation deck. The Falleen smuggler had disappeared from view, and Bril suspected he was up to no good. He had to act fast.

With a sudden burst of energy, Bril unleashed a flurry of strikes at Nora, forcing her to retreat. He took advantage of her momentary hesitation and sprinted towards the control panel.

Before he could reach it, however, he was blindsided by a blast of energy that sent him flying across the hangar. He landed hard on the ground, his vision blurry and his head throbbing with pain.

Struggling to stand, he saw the smuggler emerge from the observation deck, his hand crackling with dark energy.

"You should have stayed out of this, kid," the smuggler sneered. "But now, you'll pay the price."

Bril summoned all his strength and lifted his saber, ready to defend himself. But before he could make a move, Nora appeared beside him, her own saber ignited and ready for battle.

"You'll have to get through me first," she said, her eyes blazing with determination.

The smuggler smirked. "Very well. Let's see what you've got."

Nora and Bril charged towards the smuggler, their sabers flashing in the air. The sounds of their battle echoed through the hangar, as sparks flew and energy crackled.

Despite the smuggler's formidable power, Nora and Bril fought with a fierce determination, drawing upon their training and the Force to overcome their opponent.

Finally, with a final burst of energy, they landed a decisive blow, sending the smuggler crashing to the ground.

As the smuggler lay defeated, Nora and Bril exchanged a knowing glance. "Good work, apprentice," Nora said, a hint of approval in her voice. "You handled yourself well."

"Thank you, Master," Bril replied, feeling a sense of satisfaction at having completed his mission successfully.

Together, they stood victorious in the now-empty hangar, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

Bril felt something catch in his throat, "You mean the force field that's keeping us from being sucked into the cold void of space? What a lovely way to spend a Taungsday."

After deactivating her lightsaber and tucking it into her waistband, Nora quickly scanned her surroundings. All of the access points save for the observation hub had been sealed for this express purpose. It was an ingenious design that she would have admired more if she wasn't being threatened with it. Knowing her time was short, she hurried over to the observation deck.

With a hand resting on a hip, Nora met the gaze of the Falleen man, "Show's over for now. I can make it worth your while if you let us in."

She held eye contact with the leader of the group for a little longer and even offered a wink, then did the same for the remaining three who stood behind the thick glass of the observation room.

By the time she finished, the pirates were practically falling over themselves to get to the control panel, and they disabled the deactivation sequence with five seconds to spare. "Oh, thank the ancestors," said Bril with a sigh. Bril could hardly believe it. Anyone with eyes could see that his master was good-looking, but he had no idea that she was that skilled at getting people to do what she wanted. He needn't to work on that. "Well done, master," he said as they waited for the sealed doors to open, "Now, please allow me to take the lead."

Nora nodded and took a step back.

Bril took a deep breath and allowed his muscles to flex and tighten in anticipation of what was about to happen. The doors opened and he led with a front kick to the first man he saw, knocking him out cold when he crashed into the far wall. A surge in physical strength allowed Bril to make quick work of the next goon, who had the unfortunate job of helping him test just how durable that glass window was. That left a human man and his Falleen leader. They rushed him but were seized by the invisible grip of his master, who used a slight gesture of her hand to hurl them into the arena proper.

"You said to make an example out of him, right master?" he asked as she stepped into the observation deck.

"That's right," concurred Nora, "I think it's only fair that they give us a show, now. What do you think?"

"That sounds like an excellent idea."

Nora's lips pulled into a grin as she closed the observation bay doors; then, she switched on the built-in comlink to project her voice over the arena's PA system. "This is what happens when you think yourself more clever than you actually are," she said in a frigid tone that even made him uneasy, "If you thought that you could cut in on our operations without us noticing, then you really are a fool. Clan Plagueis sends its regards."

The Falleen smuggler's eyes widened, and he took a step forward while addressing her with a shaky voice, "Look, we can work something out. We can make a deal!"

Bril spoke next, "No deals. You're going to fight until we've seen enough. The winner will live. And the loser, well, I wouldn't want to be you."

Although he preferred not to kill if he didn't have to, Bril knew that that wasn't something that he and Nora shared. For all he admired about her, he had known his master to be capable of profound cruelty when she felt she'd been slighted.

After setting the timer to three minutes, Nora activated the countdown for the arena's forcefield. The duo spent the remainder of the time carefully watching the two men battle it out, critiquing their technique and placing bets on who would be victorious. To Bril's displeasure, though, was that neither man was able to continue by the end of it. He shook his head and moved his hand over the button to deactivate the forcefield. But he hesitated. That was when he noticed his master watching him with an expectant look on her face. So, this was his real test. The combat was just a convenient way of putting him in a position where he'd have to make a decision, the right decision, in her eyes.

He had earned somewhat of a reputation for bending the rules to suit him, especially when it involved having to take a life. Surely, she had noticed this; she was far too observant to have missed it. Then, the Sith's words echoed in his mind again.

This is what happens when you think yourself more clever than you actually are.

Had she intended that to be a message for him, as well? He wouldn't delay his choice any longer to find out. Slamming his fist on the button, Bril steeled himself to watch the faint blue of the forcefield disappear, exposing the exhausted combatants to the void. Their limp bodies disappeared into the blackness.

"Good choice, my apprentice," Nora rose from her seat and patted him on the shoulder, "You have passed this evaluation."

Bril kept his eyes forward, staring into the now empty hangar, and pressed the button again to reactivate the forcefield and close the hangar bay doors. "Thank you, my master."