Failed Ambush

Fire.

Campfires, they burned everywhere. Slaves from the capital of Sakaar, gladiators from the arena and from the Maw, all sat around various campfires. Smoke billowed up past the trees and into the sky.

"We should find higher ground, the mountains aren't far from here," Lavin explained, part of the ground that stood away from the rest of the freed slaves. In this group stood the lieutenants of my new slave rebellion, Lavin, Hiroim and Korg. Then there was me, the face of the rebellion and its leader, Tah-Rao. "From there we'll be able to see the approach of any ships and armies."

"There used to be a Shadow tribe that lived within those mountains, before the Spike," Hiroim murmured sadly, frowning deeply. "If we can get there, we'll be able to fix up the tribes structures and have a place to stay that isn't out in the open."

I nodded my head, they were good ideas and I found no fault in them. The high ground would especially give me the advantage, I could snipe any ship out of the air with my heat vision. Then if they got too close, fly off from high altitude and quickly knock them out of the sky myself. It would also give us a high defensive position, which would give even the most amateurish fighter an advantage. The only downside would be the lack of food which could be used to starve people out if they went for a siege, but with me there it shouldn't be a problem.

My only concern right now was Caiera and Beta Ray Bill.

Until I had them two on my side, I wouldn't make a move on Sakaar fully. Just focusing my efforts on freeing slaves, alone I was confident in victory against either in a one-on-one fight. But I had already experienced fighting against numerous foes weaker than me. Tyrany'r and Conquest, I had been confident in beating them one-on-one, but with them together plus others on their side, I had lost.

It would do not to overestimate myself and underestimate my enemies. That's how I failed the first time and I would not fail again.

"That's where we'll go." I concurred. "Lavin, you have experience in training men. You'll oversee the training of every able-bodied man and woman we have. All must contribute. Those that aren't able, they'll help with scavenging for food and other materials. As for Korg and Hiroim, you'll be working with me, liberating slaves from nearby villas. We'll see our numbers grown and then expand our war to new heights."

A simple, but effective plan allowing me plenty of time to work on getting Beta Ray Bill to my side. The promise of finding his people should be enough, but he first had to trust my words were true and to do that, he had to trust me.

If I had him on my side, I would then just go ahead and take Sakaar for myself. Caiera wouldn't be able to pose a threat to both me and Beta Ray Bill combined. I could work on her after the fact.

"Shouldn't we put out the fires?" Korg asked, watching the smoke drift into the sky in concern. "Won't that give away our position?"

We all looked and I nodded my head. "It will, but I want it to," I explained. "Our actions in the arena will spread, but it won't spur slaves to try and free themselves. Our actions in the Maw will further inspire them, but the disks attached to their chests will leave them too afraid to free themselves. We need more victories other the Sakaarans in order to inspire them enough to rebel despite the disks."

"Another victory then?"

"Exactly," I confirmed, pleased to note that he was capable of thinking ahead. My rebellion was still in its infancy, slaves definitely wouldn't risk their lies to rebel in fear of the disks and because they didn't believe it would succeed. However, the more victories we gained, the more likely the chance of victory would appear to them and hence, the more slaves will risk their lives to be with us.

Rebellions like these were all about image.

An image of invincibility was what I needed and with my powers, that's exactly what I would get. "Lavin, take those untrained away from here. Hiroim, Korg prepare the rest of the gladiators and those with experience in combat, we have guests to attend to."

Finishing that sentence, I burst off the ground lightly. I had the ability to break the sound barrier with ease, but that would alert the incoming soldiers and that's the last thing I needed. Now if I remember correctly, there was a certain spy hidden upon one of the nearby rock formations directing an ariel bombardment team towards our location.

There he is.

Shooting down quietly, I gently placed one foot upon the ground, making sure not to alert him to my presence. "Actually, I'd like to move a bit further out, if that's okay?" The spy waited silently for a response that never came and so he didn't even acknowledge my approach.

Both of us looked up to see approaching ships, though they were unlike anything I had seen. More like flying squids than actual ships, but I know what was within them and what they could do.

"Oh no." The spy murmured turning around to run only to freeze as he looked upon me.

"Lovely evening we're having isn't it," I said, never taking my eyes off the squids as they released numerous bombs that plummeted to the ground. They'd take no more than a few seconds to land and in the distance, a detachment of guards were marching down the hill.

A good plan, all things considered.

Bombard us with these bombs, take out most of our fighters then with the admittedly, average-sized detachment of under-equipped guards, finish off those that remained. However, I had no intention of letting this play out in that way.

A burning heat erupted from my eyes, beams lancing out and cutting through each of the bombs. The sky illuminated with burning flames in a way that was admittedly very beautiful to watch.

I then walked forwards, the spy dropping to his knees in defeat. He knew there was no escape, no way he could get out of this situation alive and his body just gave out. But I didn't kill him, instead, I placed one hand upon his shoulder as I crouched down beside him.

"I have a task for you if that's alright?" There was a pause, a moment in which the guard said nothing and I smiled when I felt some measure of life return to him. I could hear his heart rapidly beating, almost deafening really. "I need you to watch everything I do, then I want you to go back and tell everyone what you saw. Can you do that for me?"

The spy rapidly nodded his head. "Good man." I patted him upon the shoulder and rose to my feet.

The detachment of guards had come to a stop, confusion as to what was happening easy to see. But what none but myself were able to see, was the gladiators led by Hiroim and Korg moving into position surrounding them.

It'd be a slaughter, one that would reverberate across Sakaar.

A slave rebellion that not only escaped the arena and threatened the Red King's life. But then attacked and destroyed the Maw. And now, defeated a detachment of guards led by Caiera in a failed ambush.

Such a glorious and enjoyable thought.

I pushed off the ground, no longer attempting to hide myself or my powers anymore. A loud boom echoed behind me as the sound barrier broke.

Mere moments later I shot towards the ground, directly where the Sakaaran guards were waiting for additional orders. Some had heard my approach looking around to see where it was coming from and when someone noticed, they went to speak.

By that point though, it was too late.

I slammed into the ground, the explosion that erupted from my landing causing the guards to cry out as they were flung away. Those immediately near to my landing including the unlucky man I landed on were immediately killed from the impact. Mere moments later, the gladiators led by Korg and Hiroim charged in with a cry.

It was a slaughter plain and simple.

A slaughter I stood within the middle of and looked up to the top of the hill where the guards came from. There stood Caiera, and I smiled, even bowing to her. She frowned in response, turning on her heel and walking away.

She recognised a lost cause and well, I quite enjoyed the sight of her walking away. Such a shame she couldn't stay for a little while longer.

Oh well, there was always next time.