Disclaimer: I don't own Andromeda so don't sue me.
Copyright: I own Cadoris so please ask me if you wish to use him.
Battles Resumed
A small weasel faced man walked into the room where Cadoris was sitting in a hot tub soaking. The man looked around and announced in a pinched voice, "For the next fight we need Darkblade and Sun Star."
Cadoris stood up and grabbed his swords and put on his cloths. He really wasn't in the mood at the moment to fight again but he would fight and he would win like he always did. He moved his arm and looked at the gash in his forearm. It hurt a little but pain was nothing new to him. He lived with pain the problem was the wound would bleed and make his grip unsure on his sword.
Cadoris shrugged his shoulders as he stepped forward and the little man led him out to the arena again. Cadoris took up his position in the middle of the floor and stood much like he had the last time. Once there Cadoris just waited with his hands on his sword hilts. He felt only calm and no fear like many warriors claimed the felt before a battle. Battle had never scared Cadoris neither had death. The only thing he feared was coming true and that was not being able to help a friend who was in need.
Cadoris looked towards the entrance where his opponent was just emerging. Cadoris shook his head because he knew whoever or whatever it was it couldn't beat him because he had a purpose and that purpose would guide his hands and his mind in order to get victory.
* * * * *
The fight that Cadoris had been in had amazed trance. He had been amazing and she was surprised at how fluid his movements had been just like he had been born to fight and kill. She noticed during his fight that he never wasted a movement and everything had a purpose. It was interesting to see a fight like the ones she was watching.
They were so different from laser fights and held so much more excitement. At times she had found herself cheering along with the rest of the crowd and when she caught herself she quickly stopped for she hadn't wanted to be like them. She hadn't wanted to cheer for someone's death.
Trance had watched her friend win his fight but she had felt her heart hammer inside her chest when he had taken the wound to his arm. She had thought that he was dead but he had surprised everyone by throwing his arm up just in time. The thing that surprised her though was that the axe hadn't cut through his arm. It had hit his bone and stopped and allowed Cadoris the opportunity to win the fight that way.
Trance had looked over then to see the reaction on the face of Ray and had seen that he wasn't very happy about Cadoris winning. It seemed that he had expected Cadoris to die like every other human had ever entered the tournament. That made Trance happy to know that Cadoris was an exceptional person and that he was her friend.
Trance was hoping that Cadoris would win because she didn't want to be a slave or any such thing at all. She wanted to one day find love and one day hold that love close and look back on her life and know that it wasn't wasted and that she had done things that had meant something. The more she thought about it the more she found herself thinking that it could be a human man and one that she had never even known existed.
She put her elbows on the stone railing and then crossed her hands so that they created a steeple with her left hand on top. She then leaned forward and put her chin on the back of her hand and watched as Cadoris's next opponent came out to meet Cadoris.
* * * * *
Sitting still in their spots was the crew of the Andromeda Ascendant. None of the crew had believed that Cadoris had had a chance of winning the first fight but he had proven them and everyone else wrong. He had won and not only won but had won without taking too many wounds.
Beka especially couldn't believe that Cadoris had won. She had been so sure that Cadoris was just throwing his life away. Beka smiled as she thought about it. It was as if Cadoris had won just to prove her wrong. She was glad that he had won but she was also worried because he had killed that Maggog without any remorse or at least it seemed that way.
Beka wondered then where Cadoris had learned to fight. She knew that he could fight but it was something that was bothering her. He had defeated a Maggog and had shown that he had the strength to match a Maggog. There was also the matter of when he had gotten hit in the arm. He had taken a wound to his arm and any normal person would have lost their arm. The axe would have cleaved through the bone as well as the flesh and yet the axe hadn't. The axe had stopped when it had hit his bone. Beka frowned and decided that it was a problem for another day.
Beka along with the rest of the crew had been surprised when Cadoris had taken the cut to his arm. They had all, except for Tyr, been worried about Cadoris when that had happened. Tyr though had said, "If he had thrown his arm up in the way of the axe then there was a reason."
That reason was bothering Harper too. He had seen the cut and had known that he himself would have passed out from the pain. It wasn't that he couldn't handle pain but what had done to Cadoris's arm was enough to make most people pass out. After all there had been many people who had done just that when they had seen the wound and all the blood start to flow from it.
Harper smiled at that thought. Many of the people at the arena thought of themselves as spectators and even more they thought themselves knowledgeable when it came to the fights. Many of those people though had known nothing about the fight and had just talked to make themselves sound smart. Being smart and sounding smart were two different things that Harper could attest to. As he watched his friend waited for his opponent and Harper hoped that Cadoris would win his next fight and he hoped he could do it without any more bloodshed than was necessary.
Tyr had gotten up and walked off just as Cadoris came back out for his next battle and Rev had left right after the first battle where Cadoris had killed the Maggog. Dylan knew that Rev had hoped that Cadoris wouldn't kill the Maggog but had also known that it was something that would have to have been done. In truth though Rev had left because he didn't have the stomach for the fighting.
Rev was a Maggog that was true but he was different than his kin. He wasn't a bloodthirsty person and he had the capacity for love and enlightenment. Rev had killed in his day and he had hated himself for it. His self-loathing was what had led him to take up the teachings of the Divine. He had wanted to better himself and maybe one day better his people as well.
Rev had watched the fight and had felt sick because he knew just how Cadoris's opponent had felt. It was a burning sensation deep down inside that was begging to be let out. It was the fury of the Maggog people and they were all born with it. That fury was what led them to be the way they were. It is what made them kill without remorse and kill constantly. It was that which Rev had learned to suppress and that was why he was sickened by what his people were like.
He never showed that he was repulsed by his own people and at times himself but it was there nevertheless. Rev shook his head as he headed back to the Andromeda. He knew Cadoris had to kill but Rev had hoped that Cadoris wouldn't do it. He had hoped and his hopes were now empty because he knew that Cadoris would do whatever it took to get Trance back.
Rev loved Trance just like he would a little sister, but Rev wouldn't kill for her. Cadoris though had other views it seemed about what was needed in order to keep a friend safe and free of harm. Rev liked Cadoris as a friend but Rev wondered about Cadoris and why he was so ready to help Trance who he hardly knew. That was when it hit Rev and Rev knew why Cadoris was willing to do whatever it took. Cadoris Rev decided was in love with Trance or an emotion that was close to love. That was also when Rev knew that he would kill for a person that he loved in that way if it would keep them safe.
Tyr hadn't wanted to see the fight because he already knew who was going to win. The others didn't know what Tyr knew and that was why Try knew that Cadoris had a chance of winning the tournament. Tyr knew that Cadoris had more ability to fight than anyone Tyr had ever met. Tyr had no wish to see people slaughtered and so he had left to find something else to do. He had decided that he would go back to the Andromeda and talk with Rev even though he hated the way Rev preached about the Divine and the plan that it help for each and every person.
Rommie was watching the fights with more interest than most since it was a learning experience for her. She wanted to record the fights and keep them so that she could reference them if they were ever needed. She liked the fights and knew that most people would like the fights. Since she wasn't human or any other race she had a better understanding of why so many people watched the fights and cheered on people.
She came to the conclusion that people came to watch because they were afraid to fight themselves. That and that all races had an innate want to fight and kill. It seemed to be in all creatures and if the people didn't fight then they watched and that was an outlet for the destructive want that was in every one of the spectators. Many didn't or wouldn't know that it was there but everyone no matter how good had the destructive part of life in them.
Rommie had watched the fight with Cadoris and had caught herself cheering just like everyone else. It was a sensation that she wouldn't forget since it had made her feel more human than at any other time in her life. She had also known a bit of unease when she had seen her friend take the wound to his arm. She had known joy when he had won and shown little pain from the wound. She hoped as did the rest of the crew that Cadoris would win and get their friend back.
* * * * *
Cadoris watched as his opponent stalked toward him. His opponent this time was a Nietzchean. The man that stalked toward him was large standing in just under six and a half feet tall. He was also muscular and had those innate weapons on his forearms that he was told to watch out for.
Cadoris wasn't in the mood for a long fight so he drew his swords and waited for his opponent. The Nietzchean stalked forward and had his own swords out. Cadoris smiled for he knew that the art of fighting with swords and such was long lost and he had an advantage over his opponent or so he hoped. Cadoris would never underestimate an opponent.
The Nietzchean charged forward and swung his swords in a blinding fury that Cadoris was impressed with. Cadoris blocked every attack but he was impressed nonetheless. The Nietzchean swung his left sword at a cut low at Cadoris's legs and his other blade high at Cadoris's chest. Cadoris blocked the low cut just before it would have cleaved into his leg. Cadoris ducked the other blade as it whistled over his head just missing him.
Cadoris still crouched thrust forward with his free sword and the Nietzchean jumped back just in time to avoid being stabbed. The Nietzchean smiled at Cadoris then as the crowd roared it's approval of the fight. Cadoris didn't even notice the crowd all he had eyes for was his opponent. His opponent spoke then and Cadoris had to strain to hear what he said, "You will die Darkblade and I will win this tournament and claim my prize which is anything that I want."
Cadoris didn't care if the fool thought he could beat Cadoris but that was a mistake and Cadoris was going to use it. Cadoris walked forward and thrust forward with both of his blades which the Nietzchean blocked with his own blades in a v formation and he cut down in order to pin Cadoris's blades low and keep them from doing any harm.
The Nietzchean kicked up between the hilts of his blades and kicked Cadoris in the face. Cadoris stumbled back and pulled his blades from beneath his opponents blades. Blood was pouring from Cadoris's nose and that only served to make Cadoris a bit more angry.
The Nietzchean charged forward hoping to press his advantage. Cadoris was ready for him though and when the Nietzchean cut down in a v pattern with both of his blades aimed for Cadoris's chest Cadoris fell back onto his back. The blades passed over him harmlessly and Cadoris came up to his feet in the blink of an eye and kicked the Nietzchean in the knee. Cadoris heard a sickening crack and the Nietzchean fell to his knees.
Cadoris stalked forward hoping that he could end the fight then and there but as he neared his opponent the Nietzchean surged up to his feet and brought his blades up in a cut. The blades traced a line on Cadoris's chest since he was too slow to get out of the way.
Cadoris was thinking that his opponent was good and that he was going to have to end the fight shortly. He decided that the only way to do that was to kill him from a distance. The Nietzchean charged forward and slashed with his swords. Cadoris came in close and paid for it by getting stabbed with the natural weapons of the Nietzchean.
Cadoris fell back to the approval of the crowd. The Nietzchean walked back and forth then gesturing to the crowd and Cadoris smiled. Cadoris dropped his right hand blade and reached back and pulled free his throwing knife that he had put there earlier. As the Nietzchean was playing to the crowd Cadoris's arm snapped forward and the knife flashed through the air. The Nietzchean had had his back to Cadoris when Cadoris had thrown the knife but he turned just in time to feel the knife take him in the throat.
The blades fell from the hands of the Nietzchean who was clutching at his throat trying to hold in his life blood which was a lost cause. The knife had been thrown expertly and had taken the Nietzchean in the jugular vein. Cadoris walked over and knelt down next to his opponent as the crowd fell silent in shock. "You lost just like I knew you would. Now give me back my knife," Cadoris said as he yanked his knife free of the man's throat. Cadoris wiped the blade off on the cloths of his fallen opponent and then sheathed his knife. Cadoris walked over and picked up his sword and sheathed that as well.
Cadoris walked from the silent arena and went to the back where he was greeted by a woman. She was beautiful Cadoris had to admit. She had a heart shaped face and eyes that were the color of the ocean. Her eyes held fear and yet they held knowledge as well. She was tall standing just under six foot and she had long black hair that looked like the darkest night. She smiled at him warmly and held out her hand. Cadoris looked at it but didn't take it and instead he said, "Can I help you with something."
"Yes you can. I just wanted to thank you for killing that man because he was about as evil as a Nietzchean could be," The woman replied still smiling.
"Why do you want to thank me and what was the Nietzchean to you," Cadoris said as the blood still flowed from his chest wounds.
"I wish to thank you because I am tired of being beat and not having a life of my own. As to what I was to him well that is simple. I was his slave, his concubine if you will along with some other girls. Now that he is dead we now belong to you as the rules of the tournament state," the woman said quickly.
"How many of there are you," Cadoris asked for he was curious.
"There are a dozen of us and we are now yours to do with as you see fit," she said.
"Tell me one thing. The crowd cheered for him more than for any other and why was that," Cadoris asked with a frown.
"They cheered because he hadn't been beat in a dozen tournaments. You see every time you win the tournament you are given a woman of your choice and then anything else that is in the power of the tournament officials. He was the sure win this time as well until you beat him. Of course there is one other that I would worry about if I was you," the woman said.
"Well I don't worry about anything and I doubt there are any who can beat me. I am too dangerous for my own good. I have something to ask you and the rest of the women though," Cadoris said.
At the mention of that he noticed that she stiffened and her eyes hardened but she didn't back away which was good. "Ask what you will," she said coldly.
Cadoris smiled at the tone in her voice because he knew that she was scared of what he was going to ask her and yet she tried to be brave. "I was wondering if any of you know how to sew a wound closed. I need these cuts on my chest sewed shut," Cadoris said and she visibly relaxed.
"I can help you with that. I fixed many of his wounds before and yours are not bad so it shouldn't be too difficult. Come with me so that the others can see who saved them," She said as she turned on her heal and strode away from Cadoris.
She took him back to a room in the back of the arena. The room was well furnished and had the look of a place of relaxation. There was a bed in one corner and expensive carpets on the stone floor. There was a mirror on a wooden stand and there was a weapons rack in one corner.
Cadoris also noticed that there were also eleven other women in the room and they were all just as beautiful as the first. As he stood there two of the women came forward and started to undress him. "Hey wait now I don't need undressed," Cadoris said quickly as he pushed their hands away from places that their hands didn't belong.
"Of course you do for we are here to pleasure you," one of the women said in a sultry voice.
"I think that you need to go sit down and cool off my lady. I don't need pleasured and I don't need anything else except my cuts sewed shut. I would be extremely happy when that gets done," Cadoris said and watched in amazement as the woman he had told to sit down did.
"You weren't lying were you. You really are mine aren't you," Cadoris asked in wonder.
"We are and I hope that you treat us better than he did. We want someone who will be nice to us," the woman said.
"Hey what is your name," Cadoris asked.
"I am known as Lorianna, and may I ask master what your name is," she asked politely.
"First of all don't call me master because I am not even the master of my emotions. Second call me Cadoris for it is my name I think," Cadoris said as he held his hand out to her and she took it.
"Now that we are all friends can you please fix me up," Cadoris said smiling as he took off his shirt.
"I can do that and I thought that you didn't want to be undressed," the woman that Cadoris had told to sit down said playfully.
"Listen here now. I can undress myself and I am only taking off my shirt so that she can sew my wounds," Cadoris said smiling at the woman to let her know that he didn't want to hurt her. She smiled back and started to whisper to the other women around her.
After that Lorianna said playfully, "You are quite muscular and your muscles are hard just like I hope the rest of you is."
Cadoris blushed for the first time he could remember and knew at that moment that he had to help these women. They were nice to him when they didn't have to be and he owed them for that. He would find a way he vowed to help them out and then he laid back and let her fix him. He would have another fight shortly and then at least two more before the finals but he knew the next three fights at least would be easy and then he would have only one left. He closed his eyes and thought about how he could help the women as Lorianna's gentle hands worked and the other women whispered.
"Why are you so nice to us. You haven't hit any of us or used us for your pleasure," Lorianna asked after a couple minutes of tense silence.
"I have never hit a woman and I never will. I also don't think that using you for my pleasure would be right since I don't believe in slavery," Cadoris said and Lorianna fell silent to contemplate what she had just heard.
Cadoris had his thoughts return to ways of helping the women and ways of winning so that he could free his friend Trance. He would free her of that he had no doubt but he wanted to do it without having to kill the rat faced man. Cadoris had no wish to make even more enemies than he was likely to have made so far just for winning in the tournament.