The Arena of the Doomed

The roar of the crowd vibrated against the metallic walls of the arena, a mix of shouts, bets, and bloodlust. The planet Ordo Eris reeked of sweat, rust, and despair. Here, life was worth nothing, and death was just another spectacle.

I remained in the shadow of a raised platform, arms crossed, hood pulled low over my face. My job had been finished hours ago, but something made me stay. Curiosity. Or maybe a bad feeling.

The Haxion Brood wouldn't shut up about it: a new fighter, a kid who had survived a bounty hunter and had been thrown into the arena. "He moves like he knows what's going to happen before it does," some said.

Those words put me on alert.

And when I saw him, I knew my suspicions were right.

A red-haired boy, no older than twenty, was dodging with precision as an Oggdo—a massive amphibious beast with jaws capable of tearing a man in half—lunged at him. The creature leaped, launching its sticky tongue toward him, but the kid spun at the last second, rolled across the ground, and countered with a blue lightsaber.

A Jedi.

Five years. Five years in hiding, five years burying my past, five years avoiding any connection to the Order. I didn't care what happened to the other survivors. I couldn't care. Not if I wanted to keep breathing.

But then I saw something that made me curse under my breath.

The Brood wasn't interested in a fair fight—of course not. They wanted an execution.

A security droid unlocked a second cage, and the crowd erupted in excitement. Another Oggdo, bigger and more aggressive, dropped to the ground with a heavy thud, its tongue snapping in the air.

The kid wasn't getting out of this. He was already exhausted. I clenched my teeth. I turned away.

Not my problem.

But my feet wouldn't move. Why wasn't my body obeying me this time? This wouldn't be the first time I looked away and moved on.

The screams intensified. The creatures attacked. And before I knew it, my fingers were already gripping the handle of my blaster.

Shit.

I pushed off the platform and jumped down into the arena, drawing my blaster in midair. The crowd fell silent for a moment before erupting in cheers, thinking I was part of the show. They didn't know I had just signed my own death sentence.

The redhead looked at me, startled, but didn't miss a beat in the fight.

—Who are you? —he asked between ragged breaths.

—Shut up and keep fighting.

I shot the nearest Oggdo to get its attention.

Mistake.

The blaster bolt bounced off its thick hide, only serving to piss it off. The creature whipped its tongue toward me. I barely had time to throw myself aside before it slammed into the ground where I had been a second earlier.

—Great, nice idea —the kid muttered sarcastically.

Maybe I should've let them eat him.

I rolled across the ground and fired again, this time aiming for its right eye. The Oggdo screeched and recoiled—just in time for the redhead to slice off the other beast's tongue with his lightsaber.

A hum of engines caught my attention.

Above the arena, a ship was diving toward us. It wasn't coming to attack—or at least, it didn't seem like it.

The kid's face lit up with relief.

—Down here! —he shouted at the ship.

The vessel's nose tilted, aiming directly at the arena, and the cargo ramp lowered.

This was my chance to disappear. But I had already exposed myself as a traitor. I had already made it obvious I wasn't just another Haxion mercenary. And if I stayed, the Empire would find out about me.

I didn't think twice.

I ran after the redhead, jumping just as the ship leveled with the ground. We slid inside as it lifted off again, leaving the arena—and my bounty hunter cover—behind.

Still running on adrenaline, I pushed myself up and looked around.

A crew was waiting for us: a four-armed, gray-skinned Latero in the cockpit, and a dark-skinned woman stepping forward, arms crossed, watching me intently.

The redhead took a deep breath, glancing around.

—Thanks for the help —he said—. I'm Cal Kestis.

The rest of the crew looked at him with relief, like he had come back from the dead.

I realized he wasn't just another lone Jedi. They had come to rescue him. The woman turned to me, her tone sharp.

—And you?

I didn't answer right away. I lowered my head slightly, making sure my hood still covered my face. I didn't want to draw attention.

—Just someone who had a bet on the kid —I muttered, keeping my voice as neutral as possible.

She didn't say anything for a moment, but I could feel her eyes on me. And then she spoke again.

—Do I know you?

The question caught me off guard. I didn't look up, but my mind started working at full speed. That voice…

Something about it ignited a memory, a feeling buried under years of caution and distance.

I know her.

The problem was, without seeing her face properly—I had no idea from where.

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Well, that's the prologue guys! Hope you like it

Knowing your opinion always help!