Writer note: I been strugling with my story for sometime. I know now that it is more of an epic saga than anything else. Book 1 is almost over. I will take sugestion from anyone for Book 2.

On a more political subject Monday is trash day in Canada so if you are Canadian do yourself a favor go vote and take the Liberal trash out.

You still can get my rant and Counter Strike Spray at my websitehttp/ 13 Title: The Arena

Duncan Idaho made is way toward the arena Waff and company following.

In front of them a stand a building very few humans ever saw. It spread wide and far with thousands of entrance, hundreds of fighting areas that can host a total of one million spectators at all time. Just the Gambling facility would make a Ferengi die with envy. Only Duncan Idaho was not impressed but we can excuse a man who has witnessed so many times the God Emperor Syanoc ceremony.

"Behold the arena, this is there that major disputes are settle in this city for over a thousand years now." Said the bartender.

"We arranged for a clerk to be waiting for us." Said one of the bar customer.

"You did good Illios, clerks of admission are busy at this time of the day."

Said the bartender.

"We also took care of the entry fee, tax and all the administration part of this duel."

"You did not need to do all this." Said Idaho.

"We are your witnesses. It is our sacred duty to oblige you." Said Illios

"Save it. You do it for the cut you get on gambling." Said Waff.

"Business is business, gentlemen beside the winner take 30. So don't complain much Klingon." Reply Illios.

"What area did we get?" Ask the bartender.

"55 the highest I ever got." Said Illios

"I don't follow?" Ask Idaho.

"We class the fighting area by size, the bigger the crowd is expected to show up the bigger the area we get." Said Illios

"It is rare to see outsider fight here, and it almost unheard to have both fighters are outsiders with would explain the crowd expected." Added the bartender.

"I am glad that the death of that puny human will be see by so many." Said Waff.

The Klingon boasting only told Idaho that he was hiding the fact that he was nervous as hell.

Too bad this could have been interesting if you were calmer Waff. Tough Idaho.

Just to break the klingon a little more Idaho remained silent for the rest of the trip.

They stopped at a door marked Armory.

"It times for the choosing of the weapon. I must warn you Idaho, some of these weapons are antiques and will fail you." Said Illios.

"The fighters must choose carefully only a true warrior can make the right choice."

Said the bartender while opening the door.

The room was huge and stacks up with blunt weapons, short sword, long double edged blade, Idaho himself never saw that many shape and form of weapons.

A kappan guard came to them he said.

"We have weapons from most of the worlds of the Alpha quadrant we even have a few from the Delta Quadrant since Voyager came back."

"I am impressed!" Said Idaho

"Of course this is the display room most of the weapons are in storage." Added the guard.

"Do you have anything from earth?" Ask Idaho.

"Let me check the list... Ha! Yes we have a few short swords and a saber on load one fifteen. Do you want to see that case?" Ask the guard.

"Why not I might as well start there." Said Idaho.

The guard left and came back with a black case made of polished wood.

Opening it Idaho saw two ordinary looking short sword but under those a very deadly sword was revealed. Idaho took the sword and partially unsheathed staring at his own reflection on the blade he said softly.

"It a Japanese Katane of the mino style. You see the mark on the blade that Hatori Hanzo marks. I wonder if the blacksmith was Hanzo himself. One of the best master of that era and the best Katana I ever saw. Not that I saw that many we learn their use and the bushido way at Ginaz but they were so rare and their making was a lost art. I never got the chance to get one of my own later."

"You have the chance now the winner is given the weapon he chooses." Said the guard with respect and awn. The guard was the closest to Duncan Idaho and he saw the fire in Idaho blue on blue eyes he also reminded himself that the outsider was given very bad odd of winning the fight. The guard decided right there and then that he needed to place some latinium on Idaho.

Idaho remained silent for a minute thinking of the borg that was coming and right there he saw what he will do to stop them. He sheathed the Katana and said.

"My sword, my soul, my fate. Kanly she was.

Freedom she will be now."