During the fight between Kronus and the new fighter, no one, least of all Chloe or Lana, took notice as a cloaked figure just below them got up and walked away from his seat. He walked down to the walkway that was provided for the audience to use to enter and exit the arena and to use when they needed to use the facilities or to visit the many food vendors. He walked over one section of seats and then walked all the way to the top of the arena where a similar, if smaller, walkway existed. He then turned back the way he came and continued walking. He turned again and started back down the same flight of stairs that he started on. This would have looked very strange to anyone who watched his entire journey and the path that it had taken, but everyone was watching the fight and paid little or no attention to the hooded figure. As the man neared his place of origin he stopped a few rows above his seat.
One of the guards almost made the mistake of telling the figure to be about his business and move along when he noticed the glowing light that seemed to shine from his eyes, even under the hood. Upon realizing who the figure was the guard stepped out of the way and allowed him entrance to the booth. There the figure sat down next to a corpulent body and began talking.
"You were right," said the figure in a rumbling, craggy voice.
"Tell me."
"He cares for them very much, especially for the one with the lighter hair. I didn't understand everything that was said but I believe that he is here because of them. He is trying to rescue them and return them to his home."
"How well does he know them and how much does he value them?"
"He seems to have known them for quite some time, although I cannot be more specific than that. I can however tell you that he cares for them very deeply. He is risking his life for them after all. I could tell it in his voice. He would die for them in an instant if it were necessary. I believe that he will do whatever you ask to ensure their safety."
"You are sure about that? If you're wrong it will cost me much, and therefore, it will cost you everything."
"He will not allow them to be hurt if it is within his power to stop it. I guarantee it."
"Excellent. Now go back and report anything more that you hear to me."
The figure left the box, retracing his steps exactly until he came back to his seat. He sat down just as the next fight was beginning.
Above him was whispered one word, uttered so softly that no one heard it.
"Excellent." The Owner said with a smile that looked more like a sneer.
Ch. 12
Clark walked out onto the field knowing that he had no choice but to expose his gift of flight. His opponent, the Talitcit, would make this into an aerial battle and if he didn't follow suit he would be at a distinct disadvantage. His opponent was simply too capable to allow for that kind of a handicap.
As the shield was lowered the Talitcit began to lift off of the ground, beating his wings at such a fast rate that even Clark couldn't keep up with them. Clark once again went into 'Clark time" just as the shield hit the ground. He bent his knees and took off after the hovering Talitcit.
The Talitcit was extremely surprised at this move and was unable to compensate before Clark rammed into him as hard as he could, flinging him straight into the shield. Bouncing off of the shield, the Talitcit quickly regained its equilibrium and took off with Clark in hot pursuit.
Both of them took turns trying to attack each other. To the few in the audience who were fast enough to see the fight as anything more than a blur the fight looked much life an aerial dogfight. Both opponents twisted and turned, looped and swerved, all the while trying to damage their opponent while gaining the upper hand through positioning.
The Talitcit was a better flyer, having spent almost his entire life flying and was constantly out positioning Clark, but Clark was stronger and tougher, and he had an innate sense of how to dogfight. He also knew to keep away from the Talitcit's bite and never to allow him to clamp onto any part of him with his mandibles.
So far Clark had been fairly successful at this, although one or two times it had been just a little too close for comfort. Clark was able to lash out occasionally, and did some damage, cracking the exoskeleton of the Talitcit in several places. A few more hits and he would be able to penetrate the exoskeleton and hit the tender flesh underneath it.
Suddenly the Talitcit banked off of his pursuit and came around in a circle. Clark followed, ignoring the warning that seemed to flash in his head that this wasn't right, that it was too easy. He flew after the Talitcit not realizing the trick that was in store for him. Taking advantage of his slightly greater maneuverability, the Talitcit preformed a loop de loop just as Clark was about to land a punch.
This maneuver caught Clark off balance and allowed the Talitcit to latch onto Clark's back and side just long enough to bite him in the arm. Clark swung his other fist around and hit the mosquito looking being directly in the face, where the exoskeleton was weakest. Clark, of course, had no idea that this was the Talitcit's most vulnerable spot, he just wanted the creature off of him.
The Talitcit fell to the ground, unconscious, the exoskeleton that covered his face nearly shattered by the force of Clark's blow. Clark had reacted fast enough so that not all of the venom was able to be injected, however, enough had been injected that he felt very weak and was unable to continue to fly.
Clark hit the ground much faster than he wanted to, causing him to fall to his knees for a moment before shakily standing to his feet and slowly walking off of the field, completely ignoring the announcer as he proclaimed Kal-el to be the victor in yet another fight. The announcer continued on, unheard by Clark, announcing that there would be a long break and then the championship round would commence. In the mean time, a replay of the fight would be shown for those who were unable to follow it due to the extreme speed at which it had been fought.
Clark barely had the strength to make it back to his seat. Collapsing in it, he put his head back and tried to allow his body to filter the poison out of his system. It would take in between fifteen and thirty minutes to get enough of the poison out of his system to return him to normal. It would have taken hours for him to recover had he taken the full dose of venom. He hoped that the intermission would be at least that long or he was going to be in major trouble when it came to fighting Kronus.
After about six or seven minutes several beefy looking guards entered the Trough and told him that The Owner was expecting him.
Clark opened his eyes and replied that he would be unable to go with them due to wounds suffered in the last fight. He informed them that he needed to rest and recover before the next fight or he wouldn't perform well.
The guards wouldn't take no for an answer. When Clark continued to refuse, two of them grabbed his shoulders and 'escorted' him to where The Owner was, stating that he 'wanted to come with them'. Clark was too tired to put up any real resistance and allowed them to help him walk, even though he was healed enough by now that he could at least walk. If they wanted to help, who was he to argue? He decided to simply conserve his strength for the upcoming fight. He was also a little curious about what was going on.
Clark was escorted to a back room in the arena and was told that The Owner would be joining him soon. Two of the four guards left but two of them stayed and kept Clark 'company'. Clark waited for several minutes before The Owner walked in. The Owner had a very disturbing expression on his face, exacerbated by his rodent like features. Clark was suddenly very alert but decided not to show it. Instead he fell back on his alter ego and played the wounded brat.
"Why did you drag me here? I need to rest and recoup my strength before I fight Kronus in the ring and this isn't helping matters. I will need at least an hour to an hour and a half to heal. Make sure that the intermission is at least that long would you? Tell them that you're having technical difficulties or something like that if you have to." Clark said in the weakest, most demanding, and most whiny voice he could come up with.
"Oh, don't worry, the intermission will be at least that long, but not for the reason you think. You see, I know what you're doing here. I know that you're here for those slaves." The Owner said smugly.
TBC
