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A couple of hours later, Zirta strode back into Obi-Wan's room. "Here, put on your boots. I want to show you around the compound."
Obi-Wan reluctantly obeyed. "Where do the rest of the gladiators stay?" He followed her out into the hallway.
Zirta glanced at him as they walked. "This is the main house. The only other people who stay in here are my closest aides, Jancy and Krana. The slaves who serve here in the house have their own quarters out back. You are being given special treatment. As long as you succeed as my star gladiator, you will have your own comfortable room, the run of this house, plenty of food and preferential treatment."
"What a honor," Obi-Wan said sarcastically.
Zirta gave him a hard look. "You should see it as such." She headed down the huge staircase. "All the other women who work for me stay in another building. They're all extremely loyal to me, so don't bother to try and play sympathies with any of them." She continued out the front door. "Flyn, my most trusted and talented trainer will be working with you. I'll introduce you to her later."
Obi-Wan looked around at the many buildings. The compound was quite extensive. He stretched his gaze further to the outer wall. It was obviously electrified. Cameras were everywhere. Guards patrolled the perimeter with some kind of horned animal on a leash. She wasn't kidding when she said this place is secure!
All around, he could see and hear the other gladiators training with varying weapons. Obi-Wan couldn't help but be a bit surprised at their size. He knew that Aurelian men were shorter, but now he saw that they were also less muscular than human men. With all the fighting they do, he thought that they would have well-developed muscles, but they didn't. It seemed that on Aurelia, women were taller AND stronger than the men.
Zirta stopped at the door of a long building. "THIS is where the other gladiators stay. It's your basic bunkhouse." She gestured for Obi-Wan to enter. "I'm constantly adding new gladiators to my stock. I must do this because I'm constantly losing gladiators in the Games. But despite that, I still manage to keep growing my numbers. This bunkhouse sleeps two hundred. Eventually, I'd like to have every bed filled."
Obi-Wan couldn't believe how casually she talked about the death and purchase of fellow Aurelians. It made him sick! He looked around and noticed that there were a few gladiators in there. When they saw Zirta, their gazes fell to the floor. But they surreptitiously watched Obi-Wan. They knew he couldn't possibly be Aurelian. They wondered who he was and why he was being given a personal tour by Zirta herself.
Zirta pointed to the end of the building. "The shower room is there. Everything is kept very clean. I treat my slaves much better than many owners out there."
Obi-Wan kept his voice low. "A well-treated slave is still a slave."
Zirta matched his voice level. "A well-treated slave is still better than an ill-treated slave." With that, she walked back outside.
Obi-Wan followed her out and then right back into the building across the way. He knew immediately that this was the dining hall. Long tables and benches filled it.
"This is obviously the mess hall. You will not be eating in here with the others. You will eat in the main house." She walked back out. "There are training areas all around the compound. There's a mini-arena behind the bunkhouse."
Obi-Wan looked around. "Do you have any exercise equipment, weights, punching bags?"
Zirta looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "Well, my employees have an exercise room in their building. I will see that you have access to it. The only exercise the other gladiators get is their weapons training. I forgot that you're…different."
"Will you show me where that exercise room is?"
"Follow me." Zirta headed for a large building near the main house. "Each employee has her own apartment inside this building. The exercise room is on the first floor." They entered and headed down the hallway. A large room enclosed by glass came into view. All kinds of exercise equipment filled it. The room across the hall from it housed the pool.
Zirta headed back out the door. "I am going to have a meeting with all my employees to inform them of my wishes where you are concerned. I will see to it that you have unfettered access to the exercise room and the pool." Zirta glanced back at Obi-Wan. "As you can see, a facility like this takes a lot of money. YOU are going to ensure its future."
"Great." Obi-Wan flashed her a disgusted look.
Zirta just smiled in return. She headed towards the small arena. "Now, I'll introduce you to Flyn."
Obi-Wan followed her back behind the bunkhouse to the arena. No one was out there, save one extremely muscular woman. He saw her eyeing him as they approached.
"Flyn, this is Obi-Wan." Zirta looked at him with obvious pride. "He's a skilled warrior and is quite strong. I'm sure it won't take him long to master the weapons of a gladiator."
Flyn eyed Obi-Wan skeptically. "We'll see."
Zirta pulled Flyn to the side. "Remember that he is going to be my star gladiator. Do not punish him as you do the others. I will not be happy if he's harmed."
Flyn glanced over at Obi-Wan. "I'll do as you say, Boss."
Zirta turned back to Obi-Wan. "I must be heading back to the city. I've already been absent too long. I must give Qui-Gon all my assurances that I will help in any way I can in his search for you." She smiled a wicked smile before heading out of the arena. She stopped at the outer edge, wanting to watch the beginning of Obi-Wan's first practice session.
Flyn picked up two identical weapons. "We'll start off with the vibrospear." She casually tossed one to Obi-Wan, who easily caught it. She got into a ready stance.
Obi-Wan got into the Jedi ready stance. It looked casual – arms loosely at the side, hand gripping the weapon loosely, feet slightly apart. Even though he didn't have access to the Force, he focused his mind on the here and now. He studied her stance and could tell what her first move would be.
Flyn watched Obi-Wan. He doesn't even know how to get ready to fight! I'm going to eat this kid for lunch! She lunged at Obi-Wan, spear aimed right at his mid-section. Obi-Wan quickly moved aside and thrust his spear up against hers. Flyn was barely able to hang on to her spear and block his next strike. Surprise entered her eyes as she quickly found herself on the defensive. Obi-Wan kept up his attack until he had knocked the spear right out her hands.
Respect entered Flyn's eyes. "She wasn't kidding when she said you were a skilled warrior!" She laughed as she walked over to the pile of weapons. "Next, we'll try the good, old-fashioned sword."
Zirta had watched the whole match with a huge grin. He is going to be a star! And he's going to make me rich! Obi-Wan's abilities, even without the Force, were impressive. She walked back towards the employee building in a happy mood. She would now meet with the rest of her staff before heading back to the city.
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That afternoon, Zirta went to join Qui-Gon and Lahrna in the conference room. As she entered, she saw that security personnel were there as well. Qui-Gon rose from his seat and bowed. "Prime Minister Zirta."
"I was told about your apprentice. Why was he out in the city alone?" Zirta looked at Qui-Gon coldly.
Qui-Gon really didn't want to go through this again. He released his irritation into the Force. "He was out trying to learn more about your culture."
"It's dangerous out there! Why would you let him go alone? What kind of master are you?"
Breath deep. She's just worried about Obi-Wan. "Obi-Wan is a Jedi with a duty to perform. He may be young, but he is very capable."
"I don't doubt that. But considering the way things are here and the attractive prospect your apprentice makes…"
Lahrna couldn't help but smile. "I've already given Qui-Gon this very same lecture, Zirta. Let's give him a break now."
Zirta eyed Lahrna. So, she saw Obi-Wan's great potential as well. Had Lahrna wanted Obi-Wan for herself? Too bad, Lahrna, he's mine! "Very well. How is the search going?"
Lahrna sighed heavily. "Not well. Captain Zami was just telling us that she and her team have questioned several known slave dealers, but to no avail."
Zirta studied Qui-Gon. He still had his neutral mask on, but she could see the worry in his eyes. Well, what do you know? The master does have some emotions. "We will find him, Master Jedi."
Qui-Gon just nodded his head. His hopes had been dashed a little more with this latest report. But he had to hold on to hope! He would not give up on Obi-Wan!
Lahrna eyed Qui-Gon. "Is Obi-Wan like a son to you?"
Qui-Gon looked up, surprised. "Yes. Yes, he is." His voice was barely above a whisper.
Zirta eyes widened in surprise. This could complicate things.
Lahrna smiled again. "Obi-Wan seems to be one who can make his way into anyone's heart."
Qui-Gon was surprised at the insight in Lahrna's words. She had obviously seen much in Obi-Wan in the short time she'd known him. "Yes, he can. When I first took him as my apprentice over five years ago, I tried very hard to keep him out of my heart." Qui-Gon allowed himself a small smile. "But that was impossible."
Zirta found herself growing very uncomfortable with this conversation and wanted to change the subject. "Captain Zami, what do you plan to do next?"
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Obi-Wan and Flyn walked away from the arena after a long day of training. Flyn had enormous respect for his abilities. She now understood her boss's certainty that he would be her star gladiator. She couldn't help but grin as she eyed the young man next to her. "You have one heck of a sunburn, kid."
Obi-Wan looked down at his red arms. "I know. By tomorrow it's probably going to hurt to even move."
"We have a cream that will help. It will cool it and help it to heal faster. Ask Jancy and Krana for it. They're in charge of you while the boss is gone." Flyn stopped in front of the main house. "I'll check in on you tomorrow morning." She then headed off to the employee building.
Obi-Wan walked into the main house. He was immediately greeted by two women he assumed to be Krana and Jancy. "Oh, honey, you have one stellar sunburn!" The redhead shook her head. "I'm Jancy."
Krana stepped closer to him. "I'm Krana." She had darker skin, dark eyes and dark hair. "We're in charge of your care while the boss is gone."
Obi-Wan looked at them impassively. "I'm Obi-Wan. I'm sure I won't need much in the way of care." He tried to keep the irritation out of his voice.
Krana eyed his sunburn. "I wouldn't be so sure of that, Obi-Wan. We have some cream that will help with that."
Jancy gestured upstairs. "Why don't you go take a cool shower and we'll get the cream."
Obi-Wan nodded and slowly walked upstairs. His flaming skin was really beginning to hurt.
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Obi-Wan walked out of the fresher into his room with a towel around his waist. He looked in the closet and in the chest of drawers. There were no clean clothes for him to put on.
Jancy and Krana walked in as he was finishing his search. They both smiled at seeing him in nothing but a towel. "I take it you're looking for something to wear?"
"Yes. Preferably, something other than this towel."
Jancy threw him a pair of shorts. "This will have to do for now. The leggings you wore today were the only pair we had that would fit you. You're quite a bit bigger than our other slaves." She grinned openly at him.
Krana shared her smile. "We're having to get clothes for you specially made. You won't have them until tomorrow sometime."
"Great." Obi-Wan did nothing to hide his irritation. He went into the fresher to put on the shorts. When he came back out, Jancy and Krana were still there. "Just leave the cream."
Jancy smiled wickedly. "You have no way of putting the cream on your back. You don't want to miss any spot."
Krana circled Obi-Wan. "We'll put it on for you. We promise not to miss ANY spot."
Before Obi-Wan could protest, both women had globs of the cream in their hands and were rubbing him down. He involuntarily hissed in his breath as the cold cream hit his burning flesh.
Jancy spoke up behind him. "Sorry, honey. We promise to be gentle." She slowly rubbed the cream into his back, his neck and the backs of his arms.
"Yeah." Krana held his gaze as she rubbed the cream into his chest and his stomach.
Obi-Wan felt absolutely humiliated. But he held his temper.
Krana moved up to his neck. "Close your eyes while I get your face." Obi-Wan obeyed as she carefully applied the cream to his face, moving in small circles over his cheeks, around his eyes, up to his forehead and over to his ears.
Disappointed that it was finished so quickly, Jancy came around to face Obi-Wan. "There. Don't you already feel better?"
Obi-Wan had to admit that he did. The cream had cooled his skin down considerably. "Yes, thank you."
"Dinner should be ready by now. I'm sure you're hungry after the day you've had." Krana indicated that he should follow her and Jancy to the dining room.
Obi-Wan followed them and took his seat at the dining table. He watched the house slaves closely as they served the meal. He did not like these slaves having to serve him.
Krana and Jancy watched Obi-Wan watching the slaves. When the slaves had retreated, Jancy leaned forward towards Obi-Wan. "You hate the way we treat men here, don't you?" She had noticed the fire that had ignited in his eyes.
Obi-Wan focused those flaming eyes on Jancy. "Yes, I do. You treat them like animals."
Krana snorted. "They're weak and pathetic!"
Obi-Wan turned to Krana. "There is more to a person than physical strength."
Krana didn't back down. "I'm not just talking about physical strength. They have no courage. It's so easy to dominate them! They don't even put up a fight!"
"Maybe they've given up because there's no justice to be had on this planet." Obi-Wan looked at both in turn.
Jancy wasn't used to debating with a man. "They didn't give up. They didn't fight to begin with."
Obi-Wan couldn't believe what he was hearing. "So the women on this planet felt they had to squash the men like a bug, is that it? The strong must prey on the weak?"
Krana gave him a smug smile. "That's the way of the world, Obi-Wan. I suggest you get used to it."
Obi-Wan gave her a hard expression. "This is not my world and I will NEVER get used to it!"
