Chapter 16

Demon's Battle Cave, Day One

Ryu woke up at 0800 sharp, ate a light breakfast and then performed a light warm-up routine to stretch out and ready himself for his first fight. Nirri arrived at 0930 to meet with him. When he opened his door, Nirri stood there in the hallway wearing a new set of clothes that had clearly been purchased only recently, her face had been scrubbed clean and the barest touch of cosmetics applied, her hair framed her gray-green face in a naturally occurring wavy pattern and fairly shone in the hallway light. Shouldering his bag and closing the door behind him, the two walked out to the street and started toward the Demon's Battle Cave. Ryu said, "You look better now than yesterday Nirri; new clothes and everything."

She answered, "It cost me all of the wage you paid me yesterday and a chunk of the stake I'm saving to get out of this place when it's time, for the new clothes and a good cleansing bath but I can't go around looking like a rancor chewed me up and spat me out and expect people to take my fighter seriously can I?"

Ryu smiled, "Since when did you become my manager and me your fighter?"

Nirri smiled this time and said, "Since I checked the data stream last night after I left you at the hostel. There have been no less than 100 hits on your GFC fighter's profile and more than 200 requests for all other available data on you. The word is out all over the sector that you're fighting again. The arena will be at or near capacity and there will be several cantinas that will carry the fights live over the holonet. No one cares why you're fighting, just that you are. I figure this could be the break I need to get the money I need to get out of this sector and somewhere else, so that's why I've also placed some bets on you under a pseudo name. The Demon's Battle Cave may not be GFC caliber but the odds-makers still frown on anything that may even hint at inside information."

Ryu said, "I should be disappointed in you Nirri but somehow, I'm not. Like I told my cousin Michelle once, altruism aside, the galaxy in general and Coruscant specifically runs on money. We all do what we have to, to survive and you're no different than anyone else in that regard. I hope I don't let you down 'Manager'."

Ryu and Nirri arrived at the main entrance to the Cave. Already there was a line, a long one, of people large and small of several different species, waiting to enter the seating area. Acks the Gran, was at the door supervising the weapons checkpoint when he saw Ryu and Nirri approach. He called out for their attention and said to them as they got to the front, "Greetings Master Jayks. Go right in and enter the arena area itself, but only fighters are allowed entry, your servant will have to wait out here."

Ryu said, "Nirri is not my servant. She is however, my Manager and deserves to be in my corner to perform her duties."

Acks mumbled something in his native tongue and said, "Since this is the largest crowd I've seen here at the Cave in while, I guess I can let your 'manager' through as a show of thanks for all the money we'll make today," and waved them both through.

Ryu and Nirri entered and went to the platform where the fight would take place. The stands were filling up rapidly and just as Nirri had predicted, it looked like it would be at capacity or even a little more.

Ryu said, "I can't believe that there are this many people to see me come out of retirement, required though it is. Do you know anything Nirri?"

She pulled her rebuilt PADD out of a utility pouch on her hip and scrolled through the data stream for a few seconds. "I can't find anything specific, just a notation of 'something special' for your fights. Do you think Xoran is trying to fix the fight or something?"

Ryu nodded, "I have no doubt. It won't be obvious and it won't be pleasant whatever it is."

Checking his gi to ensure that it was properly tied, Ryu left his bag with Nirri and stepped onto the platform, put on his shock gear and did a few simple stretches, deep breaths and focus exercises. Reaching to the Force one last time to prepare, Ryu found it hard to reach for some reason. At that time, the golden spectator's box descended on its repulsorlifts and settled at the edge of the platform. Xoran stepped out of the box and onto the platform dressed in even fancier clothes than the day before. Touching his jawbone with a professionally manicured fingernail and then waving his hands for attention, Xoran said over the amplifier he just activated, "Ladies, gentlemen and sentients of all other genders, welcome to the Demon's Battle Cave. I am Xoran and I'll be your host. For your enjoyment and your betting, the first day of this tournament starts with sixteen fights. From those sixteen, eight fighters will emerge. On day two, those eight will become four. Day three brings that number to two and on day four; the finalist will have the option of fighting me for the ownership of the Demon's Battle Cave or going home with a percentage of all house bets made throughout this event."

The spectators roared and howled their applause. Xoran let the applause build to a crescendo and then motioned for attention again. When he had it, he said, "Today's first fight brings to us a distinguished fighter from the GFC. Retired after winning the title of 'Galaxy's Strongest' many years ago, this man went on to open a school in the martial art of Teräs Käsi. This ancient fighting technique, said to have been developed so that one who is not gifted in the power of the Force, can fight one that is in hand to hand combat and at least come to a draw. This man, himself a Jedi Knight for many years and only recently promoted to the rank of Jedi Master has come to us to avenge an attack on his offspring."

Throughout the tiers of seating, cheers, boos, hisses and other assorted noises of approval or disapproval were loud. Ryu didn't even bother trying to correct the misinformation since he knew that no one would believe him, stayed silent and only made some last minute adjustments to his shock gear after putting in his protective mouthpiece.

After letting the crowd noise subside on its own, Xoran spoke again, "His opponent originally hails from the planet Ando, and is a member of the Quara, or fingered Aqualish genetic line. He comes to us after a string of recent victories in other, smaller venues than that of the Demon's Battle Cave. His record now stands at 10-3-0, please welcome to the Cave, Gondo Krel!"

Again the crowd sounded loudly for over a minute as Ryu's opponent entered the arena and stepped up onto the platform before Xoran spoke again. "As you all know, there are only three ways to win in the Demon's Battle Cave. The first is to knockout the opponent. This is the one that we see the most here in the Cave. The second method of victory is to make the opponent submit by way of tapout, or by literally throwing in a towel. Fortunately for you in the audience, submissions of that nature are not often seen. The third and final method of victory is for the opponent to be thrown off of the platform. This one is rarely seen as well but when it does, it's usually accompanied by a knockout and you in the audience just love that one."

The audience declared their agreement by roaring even louder than before.

Xoran spoke again, "Perhaps you wonder how another fighter, even one of the Aqualish, a species we know to be in or near a state of rage almost constantly could possibly fight against a Jedi Master in hand to hand combat?"

Again, the crowd roared loudly.

Xoran said, "This is where I finally get to tell you all how this will be possible, but better still than simply telling you, I'll show you and then give a brief explanation."

Raising one wrist, Xoran entered a command sequence on the wrist controller on his arm. Seconds later, the doors above the arena opened silently. From above, a lattice-work of pipes and assorted tubing was lowered into the arena on a single support column. The moment the lattice work frame was completely visible, Ryu lost all touch with the Force. Suddenly and without warning; Ryu staggered as his senses were suddenly truncated. Feeling as though he was trying to see and hear through thick, viscous mud left him disorientated for a moment.

The creature within the frame, seemingly attached to a smaller version of the larger frame, was an Ysalamiri.