Note: I own nothing involving Star Trek
Leigh frowned as she followed the line up of females being led through the underground facility up a long stairwell carved into the rock face. It wound up and around, with low ceilings that almost made it difficult to navigate. None of the females were chained, but she supposed it didn't matter as they all wore a silver bracelet around their ankle. It only took one shock from the tiny device to show her why none of the others dared to revolt.
She made sure to keep Nelson close to her, not that it was hard as the younger girl immediately attached herself to Leigh the moment they were pulled from their cells. Ignoring the other for the time being she looked around at those sharing their predicament. The women consisted of several races, some she could identify and others she could not. She saw Romulans, Klingons, Halberds, one or two Ferengi, and even an Orion. And those were the ones that looked remotely human. Some took forms and shapes she never imagined. All were dressed in skimpy clothing that allowed easy movement. Briefly she wondered how their captors even managed to do that to Klingons, given how fierce their race was in general, but shook that thought from her head. Like before only a few met her eyes, including the Klingon females, most however continued to whimper and huddle.
Their guards led them to a large room that contained several doors on one wall. A distant roar of cheers and voices sounded from beyond the wall. A bad feeling settled in the pit of her stomach.
Soon the females were placed so that they faced the front of the room where a small portly man stood, dressed in furs and leather, much like a pirate. His beady eyes drifted over the group, while he puffed away on the half of an old cigar occasionally flashing the few yellowed teeth he had left. Utterly repulsive in her humble opinion.
"Welcome Ladies," the man spoke, his voice gravely from too much smoking over the years. "You have been chosen for a very special purpose. You will compete before an audience. You will go through a series of challenges, with obstacles at every turn. If you do not pass the obstacle, you die. Each time you make it to the next stage the challenges get harder. By the end only two of you should survive, if that many make it. At which point you will fight to the death. Whoever is the last one alive, will be set free."
'Bullshit' the word echoed in her mind, though she could tell some of the others were thinking the same thing. Nelson looked ready to say something, but Leigh managed to grab her arm and shake her head in warning before the girl could get herself in trouble. One of the Romulans was not so lucky.
"And if we refuse to play your games," the woman snapped, glaring defiantly at the man.
The man flashed a feral grin at her before motioning to one of the men standing near by. Without a word the man pressed a button on the control device for her bracelet. The Romulan woman screeched in pain as electricity danced around her form. It took nearly five minutes for the screams to stop and her body to fall dead to the floor, blood and saliva dripping from her mouth.
"Any more foolish questions," the man asked amiably. No one spoke up. "Good. Then prepare yourselves for the first trial."
Several guards pushed forward and separated them into groups. Leigh made sure to hold onto Nelson so they would go in together. Somehow they managed to get regulated to the second group that would traverse the maze. The first group was positioned at the entrances.
"Remember, anything goes in the maze," the man spoke one last time. "In fact you are more than welcome to kill your fellow competitors." He walked away then, through a side door followed by some of his henchmen, laughing the entire way.
The doors to the 'maze' opened, allowing the roars of the audience to echo loudly in the small cavernous room the women waited in. The guards pushed the first group out and the doors slammed shut behind them. It did not take long for the screams of fear and pain to start.
When the guards nudged them forward Leigh turned to Nelson who looked beyond panicked at this point. "Nelson. Nelson… Casey!" the young woman's eyes finally fell on her. "Listen to me. You have to stay calm. Stay with me. Ok? I'll work to get us out of this alive, but you have to stay by my side, understand?"
Nelson nodded her head in jerky motions, her hands squeezing Leigh's arm where she had latched onto the older woman. Leigh didn't say anything about it, instead she focused like she had been taught, blocking out the sounds of the crowds, looking only to the mission ahead. Not many knew it but she came from a long line of Marines. And even though the US Military had absolved with the formation of the Federation, her family still practiced the Marine philosophy and physical regiments. Members of the Leigh family were always prepared for any situation. Suddenly she was thankful her grandfather had been so adamant that she continue the tradition as well.
Several minutes had passed before a light flickered on, obviously the signal for the next batch of competitors to be released. As the doors lifted Leigh took a deep breath, mentally preparing herself for what she needed to do.
Before she stepped into the maze, Nelson still tight on her side, she let out a whispered oath that had not been uttered in many years.
"Hooah."