Chapter 13
DR. JADE ROBERTS
Fight day. As I walked with him down the hall with the armed guards I was shaking. So much was riding on this challenge and I had no idea what to expect. I was terrified. This morning I was starting out the property of the warrior that I was in love with, but I could very well end the day the property of a warrior that would ruin me. I would have to get to the escape pod, not be caught, and successfully launch off of a planet and be in space alone. It was a lot to take in, and it was exactly why I was a shaking mess as I walked with Dalik to the warrior station where the challenge was held in the grand arena.
"Remember what we talked about," he whispered to me as we approached the warrior station on the east side of the city.
"I remember," I whispered back. Since we were already inside the building, I would have to use a different route to get to the escape pod than the one that we had previously taken. This is what he was pointing out to me as he nodded his head toward a door that would lead me to the pods. I nodded in response that I understood. Soon we entered a vast room with a vaulted dome ceiling. I had never seen a grand space like it. I saw the commander walk in and my blood ran cold as he looked at me and smiled. I knew that he was already planning what he wanted to do with me. I stood up tall and proud. I had faith in Dalik.
"You are going to win," I whispered to Dalik as he looked at me and was moved away from me.
I knew what was going to happen because he had explained to me how the trials worked. Even though I did not understand a lot of it, I did understand that the first part was a trial of intelligence. The commander and Dalik sat at a large table facing each other. The trial began and I did not understand what was happening between them in this match of wits, but I understood that Dalik had the upper hand. I could see the commander getting frustrated as he shouted, "You are a cheat!"
"Concentrate," I whispered as though Dalik could hear me. I knew that the commander was trying to throw him off with his distractions and Dalik seemed to know as well because he did not respond to the commander’s threat. I don't know how much time had gone by but I knew that half the day had been spent. Dalik had won every single challenge of the wits and the commander was growing increasingly frustrated. He was like a spoiled child and I wanted to laugh at him. He was no warrior; he was nothing but a brute.
"Let the combat round preparations began," a loud voice said. This was the part that I was the most nervous about. Dalik was a great warrior. I knew that. However this was the only part of the trial that the commander could match with Dalik’s skills. I knew that the commander could not possibly win enough rounds to compensate his losses already. But I was fearful of something else, I was fearful that the commander would kill Dalik out of spite. He would kill him so that I would be free of him. I watched as Dalik got into his warrior gear and he smiled at me. I smiled back and nodded my head with arched eyebrows giving him support that I knew he could take him. But deep down inside I was very nervous and very scared. The commander was not going to fight fair. It was obvious to me.
"Let the battle begin!"
As soon as the words were shouted the commander was charging Dalik before the words had ended. I gasped in terror, but Dalik turned quickly as though he knew all along what the commander would do. I wondered if they had fought before. It seemed that they were at odds already when I first encountered them together. If they had fought before then Dalik knew his style. He knew that he would fight dirty and he was well prepared for it. I wanted to look away as blow after blow each warrior was an equal match for each other. I did not think one could win because they were both very good. I should have looked away but I could not.
Then it happened. I saw it happen quickly and it was a very clever trick. A large metal button fell off of the commander’s leather like sleeves on his forearm. It rolled under Dalik’s feet and he slipped and fell on his back. The commander was on top of him quickly. I should have been edging toward the back of the room to be ready to escape but I did not do anything like we had planned. I was in shock. The commander had his staff against Dalik’s neck as he pressed down. He had cheated and it worked.
"Ribs," I whispered as though Dalik could hear me. I don't know if he could but in that moment he used his fist to punch the commander in the ribs with just enough force that he loosened the pressure on Dalik's neck. He rolled on top of the commander pressing him onto the floor and punched him over and over in the head until the commander was unresponsive.
"Halt!" The Master shouted.
Dalik stood up. His breathing was hard and he look down at the unconscious commander expecting him to spring up and pull another trick as he backed away from him.
I was so relieved that I wanted to run into his arms. But I dared not show how much he meant to me and how much I meant to him. It could be used against him in our future together in the city. For now, I would play the obedient female human slave as though I did not want to be his slave, and I was his true Kalazaron captive. It was the only way.