A Million Miles Apart
A/N: New update time! Woo-hoo!
Hope you'll like this chapter and please review, favorite and follow! (Thanks to my Beta for proof-reading my chapter!)
Chapter 16, Reviving Hope In A Lost Soul
Well, this day certainly could have gone better. We were now in even deeper trouble than we were yesterday- no thanks, at all, to Jhanna and her crazy temper. Though I guess she had just wanted to stand up for me, just as I had done yesterday for her. But, still... The Arena? It couldn't be a good thing. It just couldn't. There was literally no possible way it could mean anything less than excruciating pain, judging by the reactions the other prisoners had at its very mention. Then again, it's probably better than being killed or something.
Gruel and two other Triceratons were currently leading us through a hallway that was actually dirtier than the cafeteria. A lot dirtier. Anyway, that's not exactly what worried me. What worried me was what Jhanna and I would have to go through on the other side of the last door. I figured that most of the aliens we had seen in the dining area were in here, but I wasn't sure. I looked over at Jhanna and found that she had a stoic, cold look on her face; I guess she was trying to remain strong and unfazed by whatever we were going to see. I wanted to be strong as well, but it was hard, since I had no idea what we were gonna face. And I hated not knowing.
Gruel pushed us through the door and I was met with a bright light that attacked my eyes. After they had gotten the chance to adjust, I was able to distinguish a big room that smelled worse than the sewers back home, looking like some sort of stable with hay, straw and dirt everywhere. And everywhere I looked, there were aliens in very poor and sad shape. Most of them were big and/or muscular and looked so scary that it would make most mutants run back home with their tails between their legs. Well, if they had tails, anyway. But they looked broken, disheartened, and scared. Like chased animals.
I saw Mona Lisa somewhere in the mix of aliens and I couldn't help but wonder how someone who had just told us she was careful with her life could end up here so quickly afterwards. In the corner of the room, on a bench, was that Triceraton from yesterday- I think he was called Traximus, which helped me with Rynokk. He was sitting with his elbows on his knees and his head lowered as if he was ashamed or waiting for something bad to happen… Or as if he was waiting for somebody to put him out of his misery. Gruel cleared his throat and shouted so loudly that his voice echoed throughout the room.
"Listen up, you morons! We have some fresh meat that needs to learn just how we do things around here! I trust you all to teach them that around here, you're nothing! You're below everyone and everything; in fact, even dirt is worth more than you! And the Triceratons are superior to every species of aliens, everywhere. Don't you filth ever forget that!" I looked around at the other aliens in the room. Were they just gonna stand there and take those insults without any protest? But they just stayed where they were and didn't say a word. Some looked rather angry, or at the very least, hurt, but they didn't say or do anything. Gruel sneered and turned away from us.
"Now, I have important things to deal with, so have fun trying to kill each other." Gruel turned around and walked out of the room, followed by the other two Triceratons. I looked at all the other aliens in the room, biting my lip. I had no idea what do next. Jhanna, however, didn't seem to feel as awkward as I did.
"So, who's in charge around here, anyway? Is anybody going to tell us what to do or are you just gonna stand there and stare at us?" She took a few steps forward, folded her arms over her chest and stared with a confident smirk at all of the other aliens in the room. One of the others, a skinny guy with long talons on his four-fingered hands and long teeth that stuck out of his lower jaw, snickered.
"Well, well, well... What do we have here? If it isn't the princess of D'hoonib. A young, sweet, precious flower in the slammer? Huh, who would've thought little innocent Starlee would end up in this place, eh, guys?" He smirked at his mates, didn't notice that Jhanna was shaking with anger. Without any warning whatsoever, she punched him right in the eyes and when he grabbed at his face, yelling in pain, she swept her leg out and knocked him off of his feet. As soon as he hit the ground, she placed her foot on his chest, pushing him down against the cold, dirty floor, making in impossible for him to escape.
"I am not Starlee, you brainless excuse for a Voidlum! My name is Jhanna, and I am the strong and rebellious princess! Not the sweet and innocent one! Get that through your thick skull, you moron!" The guy on the ground nodded, clearly too shocked and scared to say or do anything else. Humph, this place was crawling with cowards.
Mona Lisa stepped forward, careful to stay away from Jhanna, and walked up to me. She folded her arms over her chest, flicked her hair back and looked me straight in the eyes.
"Well, I can't say I expected to see you here- at least, not so soon. I guess you weren't kidding when you said that you've made quite the name for yourself." I rolled my eyes at her. She may have had good intentions, but so far she hadn't been much of a friend in any way.
"Yeah? Well, what exactly is 'here'? What are we doing here?" Mona Lisa looked over her shoulder at the other aliens and they either ignored us or smirked at us, like they knew something we didn't… which, really, they kinda did. Mona turned back to me and shrugged.
"Well, it's kinda like a punishment room of sorts, only you never leave. When you're here, it's because you have guts- a strong spirit, or are just an all-around troublemaker. And they'll make sure to beat it out of you." She walked over to her prison mates, stopped in front of them and placed her hands on her sides. She gestured toward the middle of the room, where there was something that looked very similar to a boxing ring with floors made of stone and a fence made out of steel. The floor was bathed in red-brown flecks that I could only assume was blood.
"In there, you two will fight and fight until you drop. From early in the morning you will fight till you can't stand up anymore. So it's best for you to know that you should never fall and lose." I blinked and looked over at Jhanna, who had let that other alien up by now, and she shrugged at me.
"That's it? That doesn't sound so bad." Mona Lisa shook her head and opened her mouth, but was interrupted before she could respond. The Triceraton that sat on the bench looked up from the floor at us with tired eyes.
"It's not. It's the fact that, once you've fallen to the floor, your opponent is allowed to destroy you. That is why you have to keep yourself from losing. Every day a few of us will go up to the topside where every Triceraton guard in this prison, a whole bunch of other off-worlders, and maybe even the Prime Leader if you're really unlucky, will be there to see you fight. And there, it's a battle for your life. If you fall for even a second, you're dead." He sighed and looked both crestfallen and hardened at the same time.
"You two newbies aren't going to last the day in this place. It doesn't matter if you're the most skilled warrior in the entire galaxy; you're dead either way. We're all slaves here, and these sick games they're playing with us will be the death of us all. There's no way to escape your undoing." I gazed at him with a raised eyebrow and folded my arms over my chest. Jhanna looked over at Mona Lisa with unimpressed eyes.
"Hey, Mona? Who's Mister Optimist over there? He sure is a little ray of sunshine." Mona Lisa tried to smile at Jhanna, but was interrupted again by another alien, something that looked like a mix between a gorilla and a Sasquatch with a bright turquoise shag on the head, arms and legs, dressed in a brown, furry loincloth.
"That is Traximus: the strongest, mightiest and most skilled warrior in this Arena. He is the undisputed champion in this place, and it would be wise to show him respect and not pick a fight with him!" I rolled my eyes at him and kept my arms folded. Jhanna glared at the big monkey-sasquatch and tried to stand a little taller.
"I don't respect people unless they give me reason to. So you can tell your 'champion' that he can keep his glorious winning streak to himself." The monksquatch's eyes narrowed and I think he would have punched her had Gruel not chosen that moment to enter. He smiled at us sadistically.
"Are you all done showing these kids how this place works? Well, even if you aren't, I don't care; it's time to start fighting! And as for the few lucky ones who get to show your skills to the other Triceratons and aliens in this place: I have received news that tomorrow the Prime Leader himself will be watching. As you all know, that means all of you will stay here today and train. I want your deaths to be as bloody and merciless as possible. So, LINE UP!" He swung the whip he had in his hand and all the aliens hurried to form a straight line, right by that boxing ring thingy. Jhanna and I followed their example and took our own place in line.
Then, suddenly, I felt a figurative light bulb appear over my head. While Gruel chose two aliens to fight each other first, I turned to Jhanna and leaned in close to her ear.
"Jhanna, I think I'm having an idea… One that can help us escape." Jhanna's face brightened immediately and she smiled lightly at me.
"Really? How? What do you have in mind?" I smiled at her and opened my mouth. But before I could respond, Traximus, who stood beside me, decided to join the conversation. He leaned in closer to me and whispered in my ear.
"Don't even bother to try. I've been here for almost two decades and nobody's ever been able to escape. So do yourself a favour and lay low; you might be able to stay alive-" I rolled my eyes and had to hold back a groan of frustration. Why did everybody here have to be so pessimistic? Wherever I turned there was someone who tried to shoot down my hopes. Before I could stop myself, I turned to him and yelled straight in his face, making him jump back in surprise with comically wide eyes.
"I DIDN'T ASK FOR YOUR OPINION!" Everybody, including Jhanna, turned to me. Even Gruel appeared surprised- though he also seemed irritated and slightly amused. I turned to look at them and for a moment I thought I was gonna feel embarrassed, or at least blush a little; but I felt my frustration still burning inside of me, and so I glared at the aliens and folded my arms over my chest with as much attitude as I could muster. I might have been underestimated a lot, even by my own brothers, but when it counted, my temper could match and even surpass Raphael's.
"What are you all staring at?! Haven't you ever seen a mutant turtle before?" I tried to look defiant, but the look on Gruel's face made me feel uneasy, and I darted my eyes from side to side as he walked up to me. He slapped the whip against the palm of his hand and smirked at me.
"Hmm… looks like you've still got guts, kid. Well, since you seem to have energy to spare, why don't you and your little friend start us off today?" He looked up at Traximus, slapped the whip against his knee, making him almost fall to his knees, and pointed to the ring.
"Get a move on, scum! I want to see you beat this kid's ignorance right out of him." Traximus growled under his breath but didn't say anything. We both moved into the ring and Gruel threw a huge battle-axe to Traximus, who caught it with ease. I didn't get anything, though, and I didn't hesitate to question why.
"Hey! Don't I get a weapon, too?" Gruel and all the other aliens laughed at me, except for Jhanna, who remained quiet.
"You? Should you get a weapon? Hah! You obviously aren't a well-trained fighter, seeing how skinny and bony you are. You're not gonna last five seconds. Why should I waste my time and precious resources on you, maggot? Now, begin!" I barely had time to get angry at the statement as Traximus raised his axe and attacked. I dodged the blade, jumped up and tried to kick his jaw, but he saw the attack coming and dodged as well before he knocked me into the fence on the other side of the ring. It was like being hit by a truck, and I had to take a second to catch my breath, but I didn't get much more as he attacked again.
He swung at my neck and I barely had time to dodge, feeling the sharp edge barely missing my chin and nose. He then swung his fist at my jaw, but this time I managed to catch his wrist with both hands and stopped his punch. I barely gave him any time to react as I quickly let go of his wrist with one of my hands and punched him in the eyes, and then kicked him in the jaw as hard as I could.
He stumbled back and grabbed at his jaw, but he managed to also smirk at me. It wasn't a derogatory smirk, but rather an impressed one. He was impressed by my skills, I could see that, and that felt pretty good. But then he grabbed the axe a little harder, my instincts telling me this subtle movement would be followed by an offensive strike; I wasn't disappointed as he attacked once more.
He hefted the axe over his head and swung down at me, and I thankfully managed to leap over it and land by his back. However, I miscalculated the heavy blade's trajectory, and its powerful upward momentum as it continued its circle and went behind him allowed the toe of the hook to catch my arm, leaving a long, painful, bloody gash. I cried out in pain, falling to my knees and grabbing my arm. Oh, there was so much blood! It oozed between my fingers and painted the rest of the arm a deep crimson, dripping to the floor when there was no green skin left to cover. Excruciating pain shot through my nervous system, blurring my senses temporarily as I tried to stifle both the bleeding and my agonized sob-screams.
I couldn't nurse my wound for very long, though, as I saw the axe come at me again from my peripheral vision. My muscles groaned in exhaustion and my joints ached in protest as I forced myself out of the pained haze in order to react.
I rolled out of the way seconds before I could be decapitated and then swiftly kicked the Triceraton in the head. He stumbled back again and dropped his axe. I quickly got to my feet and lunged for the weapon. Grabbed it. Swung.
The butt of the axe slammed into Traximus' head, knocking him into the fence.
A small voice in the back of my head pointed out that the other aliens were murmuring in the background, and it sounded as though they were either impressed or unsure of how to react. I looked to Jhanna, who smiled and gave me thumbs up. My knees shook in watery relief. I had done it. I'd done well.
But Gruel didn't seem as impressed. Unfortunately, before I could think of a response to his hateful glare, I was bombarded with other things to focus on as Traximus tried to punch me again. Now, as I barely dodged his fist, I saw that he was limping slightly, and I remembered that Gruel had slapped his knee with his whip. He was probably injured. I smirked and as Traximus punched, I dodged, went down low and swung the flat side of the axe, crashing it into his kneecaps, making Traximus collapse to sit on his legs and clutch especially at his bad knee. I quickly punched him under the chin with my uninjured arm and he flew back in the fence before crumpling to the floor.
He was about to get up, but I placed the blade's edge against his throat, showing him and everybody in the room that I had won the fight. I straightened my posture and stood proudly, making sure the look on my face was free of any trace of the agony I was experiencing and held only one thing: dominance.
The murmuring around me started to get louder in what I suppose was admiration. They sounded extremely impressed. Traximus looked up at me with surprised, flabbergasted eyes. But then he closed his eyes and lowered his head in shame.
"What are you waiting for? Finish me! You are the victor; it is within your right!" His expression softened into desperation. "Do me the favour to put me out of my misery!" My eyes widened at his last words, spoken quietly enough that they had clearly only been for me. Did he really expect me to finish him? I could never kill anyone, no matter how evil they were or how much they begged me. I deftly pulled the axe away from his throat and rested my other, bloodied arm on my hip.
"I don't think so. I was taught to honor life. I will never stoop down to a murderer's level." I gathered my dwindling strength and threw the axe out of ring, making the entire audience openly stare at me in surprise and amazement as the weapon clattered loudly to floor. I reached out my good hand for the beaten alien to grab and smiled kindly at him. He looked up at me as if he had no idea how to respond, which he probably didn't.
Unbidden, a bittersweet memory flew into my mind. Of myself, standing in a similar position, what I hoped was a reassuring smile on my face and my hand patiently waiting for a much smaller hand to grab it. Of the hand's owner, a small redheaded girl staring up at me with wide blue eyes, her expression telling me that she had no idea how to respond.
My heart hurt.
April.
But the painful flashback was dispersed when Traximus finally smiled back and grabbed my hand, letting me pull him to his feet. He looked at me with grateful eyes, but I could tell it was for more than just helping him up and sparing him his life.
"Stop!" Gruel bellowed, his voice echoing throughout the room. Everybody turned to him, who I had admittedly forgotten about since the fight started, and he wasn't happy at all. "Warriors don't help each other! They don't show mercy! In The Arena, if a fighter is down, you are to destroy him! Not spare him! Is that clear?!" Glaring at him as I went, I jumped out of the ring and marched up to him. I wasn't scared anymore, and especially not of this guy.
"Oh? Well, where I come from, I was taught to cherish and protect life- not destroy it! It's a precious gift, not something you should waste! I was taught to fight with honor and dignity! If following my beliefs means sacrificing some 'master fighter' title, then so be it! I will not murder someone for your sick, petty enjoyment, you pathetic coward!" I tried to stand a little taller, actually standing on my toes so I could look Gruel in the eyes better. He had a positively murderous look on his face, but it just served to fuel my fire further.
"Do you have a problem with that? Well, too bad! And if you've got something to say about it, why not take it to the ring? Since I could take the champion down, I bet I can take you down, too! You're not exactly that fit, either, you know!" I smirked at him and poked his big, fat stomach. The movement sparked pain in my injured arm and made it bleed harder, but I didn't care at the moment.
I was pushing my luck, I knew that, and I also knew that the only reason that I could take Traximus down was because he was injured. But I couldn't help it; I wanted to show that I had my moral code and that I was going to follow it, no matter what any of these guys said. In the corner of my eye I saw Traximus' eyes widen before he smiled lightly.
Gruel growled at me and hit me in the chest, making me stumble back a little (mostly because I was a bit off-balance while standing on my toes). He was about to whip me- that was painfully clear. But just as my muscles tensed in the first stage of fight-or-flight, Traximus stormed up, pushed me back slightly, and placed himself between my attacker and me. He let the whip wrap itself around his arm before he yanked it away from Gruel's hand.
"You will not hurt him! I will not let you harm the one creature that I've seen in years that actually knows the right reasons to fight!" His words surprised me, and I was, to say the least, flabbergasted to see him defend me against the Master in this place. Especially after he had said that it was wiser to lay low. I appreciated it nonetheless.
Gruel growled and pointed at the line again.
"You two, get back in line! Princess, you and Mr. Fangs-n-Claws will fight next! And show no mercy whatsoever!" Jhanna smirked, looked over at the alien who had mistaken her for that 'Starlee-person', and pounded her fist into her hand.
"Oh, don't worry your sweet little head over that. I won't show him any mercy at all." The other alien gulped and they both moved into the ring. Jhanna snatched up the axe I had thrown on the floor before Gruel could take it and got ready to fight. I looked at the two with interest, and I was really sure that Jhanna was gonna win. I glanced over at Traximus and saw that was staring at me a little. I wasn't sure what to say, so I said the first thing that popped up in my head.
"Um, thank you." He looked down at me, smiled lightly and shook his head.
"No, thank you, child. I have been in here for so long that I almost started to believe that nobody fought for truth and justice anymore. And I had forgotten how it looked to fight with honor. You reminded me of how and why one should fight, and have revived my hope that there are still honorable warriors out there. So, thank you." I couldn't help but smile, a wide, bright smile. He smiled back at me. "Well, you know my name, boy. What do you call yourself?" I smiled and reached out my good hand for him to shake.
"My name is Donatello, but my friends and family call me Donnie." He smiled, shook my hand and we turned back to the fight. Jhanna obviously had the upper hand since she had the weapon, and she had clearly paid the poor alien back for his insults from earlier. Traximus chuckled softly and turned back to me again.
"That girl has spunk, that is plain to see." I rolled my eyes slightly, folded my arms over my chest and nodded.
"Traximus, you have no idea..." He chuckled at me and I felt truly happy first time in a few days now. A new ally. This was great! Once Jhanna and I got a moment to ourselves, I would tell her my plan, and maybe, just maybe, Traximus would want to help us. And hopefully, if he did, he could get the other aliens to help, too, since these guys obviously wanted to escape as well. Nobody should have to suffer in this kind of prison. No matter what kind of crime they had committed.
A/N: And it's done! I had a rough start of this weekend, since I thought my cat was dead, but I managed to come back swinging and I managed to finish the chapter! Now, I know that a lot of this is very similar to the 2k3 episodes of Turtles in Space, when they are in prison, but after we leave the prison, I promise I will try to be a bit more original!
Hope you liked this chapter and please review, favorite and follow!