prologue

It was the feel of skin against skin, the smell of blood upon the air, it was the sound of bones breaking that forced a soul into the savage, primal, instinctive rage, that had you fighting back just as hard, where it made only one thing real, "Do or die," moral no longer exists in this state. In this world only the savage and wild will capture the hearts of cheering spectators and win the mercy of your masters. If you lost in the ring, the only way out is deaths door, but if by some strange cosmic chance that your opponent grants mercy upon your soul, death will seem like a gentle reprieve compared to the angry master that had lost millions.

If you beg and plead, no one will hear you. Your voice will fall upon death ears, it will fall upon the ones that silently listen but do nothing. You are helpless in this world and no amount of negotiation will get you out of a beating, until you learn to shut up and follow orders. They will learn, like he had learned for four years.

He groaned stretching out the large appendages that were attached to his shoulders, the golden brown feathers, matted and dirty. He missed the scent of fresh. Avian air, the feel of wind threading its spidery fingers through his plumage. He missed his people, his friends and his family. Slowly the great wings folded around his body, warming him against the arctic air that circled the Romulan vessel. He heard the faint cries of the newly captured. They'll learn to say goodbye to there loved ones, just like he had. He had given up on his chance of freedom three years ago. He's said his goodbye, holding onto only their love in his heart and there memories in his mind.

He listened as the sound of heavy footsteps sounded through the brig, it was accompanied by the sound of cloth rubbing against metal. He sighed, more kidnapped from their families and planet. These people were ruthless; undeserving of life their gods had given them! He snarled at the injustice. The cocoon he was in unfurled slightly as he heard the sound of his cell door open. He gazed through the feathers as three men were thrown into his cell. He had roommates. Goody. He glared up at the guard.

The Romulan was covered in tattoos, his ears, which curved, were chipped; scars littered whatever skin he could see over the rustic red and ebony black uniform. Dark brown eyes looked in his direction and a smirk curved the guard's thin lips.

"Looks like the boss deemed it time you got yourself some 'roommates'" the Romulan chuckled at the pun, he glowered in disgust. The act of mating was sacred upon his people. How dare this filth mock that?

"If I wasn't shackled your tongue would be ripped out before you could ever finish that sentence" he hissed towards the guard. The guard laughed and slammed the cell door closed. The place was left in darkness once again. He peered at his roommates, all three male, all three wearing funny outfits. One a disgusting yellow, the other two a type of royal blue. The dark was no concern for him, having the eyes of a hawk allowed to see better than most races, though not as good as a cats.

He watched them for a few minutes, his gaze racking across their features. One a Vulcan, a distant cousin from a Romulan, the other two where of a race he had only encountered once, a passionate, stupid race, Human. Closing his eyes, he settled against the wall, his wings once again coming around him to cocoon him. He anticipated the questions the three would have when they woke. Questions he had once uttered, he sighed. He was the only other one in the cell, meaning he was the one they would be coming from. He would need his strength if he were going to deal with a bunch of hysterical men…..