Back to the Pit

The pack of massiffs bore down on the wounded Gammorean. He sprinted as fast as his stumpy legs would carry him, but he just couldn't gain any ground. The advancing group of beasts snarled and snapped their jaws ferociously.

A cluster of large boulders sat in the center of the slight depression. This was Ploku's "Terrain Monster Fight," and there were also several other obstacles, such as low walls and a shallow ditch.

Speaking of those two impediments, the Gammorean tried to climb atop the wall, stumbled, and toppled over into the ditch. He panicked, swiping his axe back and forth as he scrabbled out of the rut, back out into the open.

One of the brown, black-spotted monsters propelled itself off the wall when the gladiator's back was turned, catching his arm and slicing it open. Blood splashed the dirt and the Gammorean went down. As he did so, he managed to swing the mighty vibroaxe so that the spiny-backed massiff was forced to back off.

The wounded pit fighter, squealing in pain, got up and took off, circling the wall and back toward the rocks. Again, a massiff broke away from the ravenous pack and leapt. This time, the Gammorean was ready, and he swiftly loped off the hunter's head. However, the force of the decapitated beast hitting him full-on knocked him to the ground. He struck his head against a rock, but his light helmet saved him from the clutches of unconsciousness. However, a third massiff got hold of his leg for a brief moment. As if fell away, it tore a deep gash in the green flesh.

Free once more, the gladiator scrabbled atop a boulder with great effort. He could not rise, for his right leg was shredded and bleeding profusely. Suddenly, a massif bounded up, kicked off a boulder, and flew at its prey, latching onto the already wounded arm.

The Gammorean whirled around and hacked at the new attacker with his axe. However, he only got in a couple of good hits before a massiff bit down hard on his leg and pulled him off the rock. The pack surrounded the downed gladiator and, as the crowd 'oooohed,' devoured him alive.

Beeggo Cha'zac headed down the hallway in the innards of the pit fight arena. Because of his recent victories, he had been permitted to walk through the Champion's Corridor, which went to the same door as usual, but the hall was lighted and had real walls and floors instead of being simply a channel through the underlying rock. He was partway down to the gate for his Terrain Armed Free-For All match when a man stepped out in front of him, brandishing a pair of blasters…

* * *

Meanwhile, See-yees Ploku was sitting in his box, observing the wranglers subdue and drag off the massiffs to their cages under the coliseum. The audience was delighted with another feature when one of the monsters was not quite out when a worker tried to lift it onto a cart. The beast leaped up, tearing off his arm. Two guards rushed over to the scene and jabbed the massiff with stun pikes before it could eat the rest of the beast wrangler.

After a few minutes, the gates opened. The crowd cheered as the announcer called out the names of the fighters: "Doda Chidonta, the Rodian! Fusset Tusserk, the Trandoshan! Gartogg Jubnuk, the Gammorean! And… finally… announcing, the triumphant champion… Beeggo Cha'zac!" At this, the north gate opened. However, no champion stepped forth. "Beeggo Cha'zac!" The crowd began to become confused and uneasy as two minutes passed with no Cha'zac.

"Where is that blasted Rodian?" Ploku snarled into his comlink.

"Sir, there's been a situation…" replied the voice of the guard captain.

"What do you mean, a situation? People out there paid good money to see Beeggo Cha'zac slaughter those three nobodies!"

"Just like they paid to see Cha'zac get slaughtered by Seebo Kabouk?" came a voice that was not an employee of Ploku.

"Who is this?" Cha'zac growled back.

The voice was dark, malevolent, and mysterious. "I'll be seeing you in three minutes."

"What? What did you—?"

But there was no response of the other side of the comlink.

* * *

"Hey, what's the big idea?" Beeggo raged. "I've got a fight to get to!"

The two blaster pistols lowered. "I'm sorry, gladiator, but we've got an intruder on the premises! I'm on my way down to the smaller arenas to head the guy off!" With that, the security officer holstered his weapons and jogged briskly down the corridor.

Enraged, Beeggo continued on his way, snatching the electro-net and modified ryyk blade Fryggar had been holding for him. "What were you doing back there?" the Gran asked as his friend rushed toward the battlefield. "The fight's all ready started!"

Without answering, Cha'zac charged the nearest opponent, Fusset Tusserk, cast the net over his head and shoulders, pulled him off his feet, and slashed him across the back with his sword. The crowd cheered at their hero's arrival, thinking his late arrival was part of the show.

Shocked, Gartogg Jubnuk couldn't raise his vibro-axe in time to block an incoming stab from Beeggo's ryyk blade. The Rodian turned on Doda Chidonta, who ducked out of the way and slammed his kite shield in his opponent's face.

Beeggo fell back, clutching his broken nose in one hand and slashing weakly with the other. He staggered, regained his footing, and parried a flurry of blows from the other Rodian's Kerestian darkstick.

Suddenly, a force pike jabbed through Chidonta's shoulder. He dropped to his knees as the Trandoshan Fusset Tusserk charged up from behind him. Cursing his stupidity at thinking the reptilian foe down for the count, Beeggo leapt away from the charged point darting at his head. He tripped and rolled on the ground. He tried to bring up his sword, but the pike caught its underside and flipped it away from his hand.

Beeggo opened his eyes to see the sharp point of the spear about to impale his forehead. Abruptly, there was a red flash and the enemy fell backwards. He thudded to the ground as the crowd began to shout in surprise and anger.

The Rodian fighter scrabbled to his fight and looked up to watch as a man in battle armor leapt off a stone balcony. Suddenly, he ignited a jetpack on his back and flew straight towards Beeggo.

Crying out, the gladiator was scooped off the ground. He was immediately hurtling through the gate and into the dark corridors of the arena. "Who are you?" he shouted, looking up at the dark visor above him.

Promptly, the intense speed ceased, and Beeggo was on the ground. Jango Fett slipped a set of zip-tie handcuffs around the fighter's wrists. Next, the bounty hunter drew a Westar-34 blaster pistol and pointed it at his catch. "Stay on the ground or I will kill you," he said. With that, he kicked in a nearby door. Ploku tried to rush out, but Fett caught him and held him fast. "Urgh!" Jango grunted. "Quit your squirming and maybe I'll bring you in alive!"

The Gran just wasn't cooperating, though. Finally, Jango drew the small syringe from his gauntlet and jabbed the needle into Ploku's carotid artery. In seconds, the arena manager was out cold.

Relieved that this task was done, Jango turned to deal with the other bounty. "Damn!" he exclaimed, seeing that the Rodian was no longer bound on the floor. The only sign of his quarry was a faint sound of footsteps receding quickly down the hall. With a sigh, he returned his syringe into his gauntlet and set off down the corridor, blasters drawn. It was turning out to be a very long day.

AN—Thanks for reading, and please take the time to give input, suggestions, and comments. Check back shortly for more of Jango Fett's adventures!