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<p><em>One thousand years after humanity took its first steps on Martian soil, gladiators of the Thothen system fight in a carnival of death. For freedom, for glory, and for wealth. The gladiators of Thothen V are feared as the most brutal in the system – these are the stories of those men.</em> </p>
<p>https://s17.postimg.org/iqcu5s91b/Thothen.jpg</p>
<p>Killen stood stoically at the base of an entrance leading into a tunnel that connected him with The World. An open-air arena surrounded on all sides by five levels of raked seating areas that could hold 250,000 spectators on a bad day. </p>
<p>This was Seti 2, a small sector in Balt City known more for its historical importance than it's gladiators. Yet the Colosseum in Seti 2 never ceased to amaze Killen. With its spiral, shifting gangways made of old memorphene tech and an arena layered in a sea of small clusters of nanoparticles that had the ability to self-assemble into various environs – the Colosseum still held a nostalgic appeal. </p>
<p>The translucent double-door hummed and began opening in opposite directions. The tunnel was dark, only being lit by the faint shifting of blue and white lights that blinked along the walls. As he walked along the path, he wondered what the Arena Captain had planned for him this time. </p>
<p><em>The light from the arena is growing larger and larger. I will have my answer very soon.</em> </p>
<p>Steem, his personal drone and beloved problematic ally hummed in the air above him. </p>
<p>“Don't get cold circuits now Steem. You were the one talking about how tough you were. You got us into this when you bragged about how weak our last opponent was in front of the Arena Captain.” Killen looked up and to the left at the large, silver ball-shaped drone that flew beside him. A single green light wrapped around its circumference. </p>
<p>“I only answered the Captain's inquiry about your physical fitness. He wanted to know how we defeated a pack of Piri wolves in under 10 minutes. I told him my Type 10 intelligence would always best wild organic beasts – whether they're six feet tall or not.” </p>
<p>“I had it handled. From now on I do the talking, you do the scouting and cover my back with your shield and plasmic cannon.” Killen shot Steem the look it knew not to cross. </p>
<p>“Fine. You'll stay a Class One Gladiator forever then. You'll only see freedom when one of your opponents bites or cuts off a piece of your body the Medic Sector can't grow back. </p>
<p>Steem was an artificially-intelligent hover drone with a peak human awareness that made it semi-autonomous and often unruly. One of thousands of varieties built in Balt City. The make or break of any worthy gladiator that sought to be free from this place with life still in his body. </p>
<p>The entrance grew larger, the light from the yellow sun above Thothen V began climbing slowly up his muscular frame. He could hear the crowd chanting with a chaotic frenzy only seen in the Colosseum. The smell of death caused the air to reek something foul – like hot flesh and blood. </p>
<p>The Arena announcer began to speak. “Ladies and Gentlemen of Sector 2, we come to the end of our Class One fights. He is a rising star who has survived his first two-hundred and fifty matches coming off of a record victory against a pack of Piri wolves straight from the Valley of Yanden. Stand on your feet for Gladiator SA-412!” </p>
<p>Killen stood with his full frame in the sun. A sea of spectators cheered in a rolling swarm of countless thousands. Twenty-five acres of arena space sat in a massive expanse in front of him – with the nanoparticles environment simulating green rolling hills. The directed self-assembly system was controlled by an external electric energy source built into the inner walls around the arena itself. Sector Lord Jasper Aluxxian sat like a demigod high in his tower seats to Killen's far left. It was said that he sat with the controls to the environment right next to him at all times. </p>
<p>“So this is the scene you want me to entertain you in Sector Lord? Ok, give me your worst.” Killen said as he awaited his opponents. </p>
<p>Killen continued further into the arena and began walking to the top of the first set of hills to get a height advantage over whatever was about to come his way. </p>
<p>“Gladiator SA-412.” Steem activated the protector shields. “That's gotta sting.” </p>
<p>“My name is Killen of Ardon. Trust me Steem, after this fight, I will no longer be another number. Another dead gladiator for the mob to bet against. They will know my name. They will call me by my name.” </p>
<p>“And his opponent, all the way from Sector 4 -” The announcer spoke loudly. </p>
<p>“ - Oh crap.” Steem said suddenly. It was well-known that gladiators in Sector 4 were the most advanced fighters in all of Balt City. The last three champions came from Sector 4. </p>
<p>“Shut up and get ready.” Killen shot back. He unlatched the metallic carbine rifle that lay draped across his caped back. The neuro-synthetic body suit that covered his muscled body came alive with a single thought. The body armor was composed of seven layers of stacked nano-woven memory metal. It fit softly around his body, light as a feather, but stronger than diamond. His ceremonial mask slowly enveloped his face. </p>
<p>The announcer continued, “ - one of the three brothers of two-time Balt City Champion Korien Klay the Slayer of Thothen III, the Slayer of Exi the Unseen, the Slayer of Ibriden the Great - “ </p>
<p>“Is he really going down the list of his brother's great victories? These are some of the most legendary duels and battles of the past decade Killen. We're about to fight one of the champion's brothers. No more wild animals for us huh.” </p>
<p>“Just stay by my side. We'll figure it out. It's his drone you have to be worried about. You have Type 10 intelligence remember? I'll worry about the Sector 4 snob.” </p>
<p>“True, but not Type 10 tech, weapons, or armor. His drone might be above Type 10 across the board.” </p>
<p>“ -Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you – Idren Klay of Soroboor!!” </p>
<p>The crowd cheered with a thunderous glee unheard during Killen's entrance. </p>
<p>At the far end of the arena, Idren Klay emerged from his entrance. Killen's heart began to race and blood rushed through his veins. The Klay Brothers were said to be biologically augmented beyond recognition – their DNA being spliced and recombined with the genes of the Visaari. The intelligent, native non-Human species of Thothen V. </p>
<p>Idren used his rocket boosters to fly high into the air and he landed with a thud that shook the ground in front of Killen. </p>
<p><em>Oh my!</em> Killen thought while trying to keep him composure. </p>
<p>Idren stood nearly eight feet tall, mostly due to the expensive mechanized armor he wore that made Killen's skin-tight body suit look low budget. At six feet six inches tall, Killen was short for a gladiator. Most stood at least seven feet in height due to years of body augmentations and enhancements that could be paid for from the small portion of the winnings gladiators received from their fights. The proliferation of gladiatorial combat in the Thothen system, combined with advanced bioengineering technology, made it so that nearly every human was a giant compared to their ancient ancestors that first traversed the stars after the turn of the second millenium. </p>
<p>“SA-412, I hope you have enjoyed your life on this planet. For you now breathe the last few breathes you will ever take.” Idren spoke behind his mask giving his voice a mechanical tone. Suddenly, Idren's drone appeared out of nowhere hovering above its master. It was three times the size of Killen's. </p>
<p><em><strong>“His drone has an invisibility cloak.”</strong></em> Steem spoke to Killen inside his helmet which was inaudible to anyone on the outside. </p>
<p><em><strong>“I know. Activate our infrared sensors. Turns out it might have been smart to buy that upgrade after we beat the Giant Snake from the Visaari lands.”</strong></em> Killen spoke to Steem. <em><strong>“I bet that big drone is only good for cloaking and shooting. With your speed Steem, I'd wager you are more nimble than that thing. Just survive as long as you can, once I'm done with Klay, I'll destroy the drone with my carbine.” </strong></em></p>
<p><em><strong>“Gotcha.”</strong></em> Steem answered. Then it flew away from Killen only to be tailed by Idren's drone. The chase was on. </p>
<p>The crowd began to cheer. Behind him, Killen could hear the sounds of Idren's drone attempting to gun down Steem. “Don't count your victory just yet Klay.” Taking the initiative, Killen raised his carbine rifle and began shooting at Idren who's shield took the vast majority of the damage. </p>
<p>Idren laughed and a Balt Industries chain blaster materialized in his hands and began firing a wild round of laser blasts in Killen's direction. Sprinting down the hill, Killen crouched low enough to cause the laser blasts to rip through the false ground created by the nano-particles. He began darting through the maze of hills that provided some level of protection for him. </p>
<p><em><strong>“Killen if one of those laser blasts hits you, it'll tear through your shield! Your shield isn't strong enough to block that chain blaster.”</strong></em> Steem said. </p>
<p><em><strong>“Yes I know, don't worry about me you have Idren's drone on your tail!”</strong></em> Killen looked up and saw Steem flying for its life as it bobbed and weaved through the air taking the occasional shot at Idren's drone that didn't appear to do any damage. </p>
<p>“Come on out SA-412! These fake hills won't save you from certain death.” Idren taunted Killen as he stood on the highest hill in the arena. </p>
<p>Killen dared to take a peek and as soon as his head broke the surface of the hill he crouched behind, a new flurry of lasers blasts peppered the nanoparticle surface. </p>
<p><em>He's big but he's slow to turn. With that cannon he's carrying though, there's no way I can charge in. He'll cut me to pieces – unless.</em> Kato grabbed a grenade from the pocket storage attached to the side of his armor suit. He tossed it in the air and took cover. The grenade explode in front of Idren releasing a blast of light and a cloud of tiny, insect-like machines that attacked the electrical components of enemy armor. <em><strong>“Steem I have an idea – you're not going to like it.” </strong></em></p>
<p>Steem remained high in the air, well above Killen but on the opposite side of Idren.<em><strong> “Impress me.” </strong></em></p>
<p><em><strong>“I just distracted Idren with an ELS grenade. Before he recovers, I want you to beam down on him at full speed so that he's forced to turn towards you, but keep his drone behind you.” </strong></em>Killen jumped to his feet and sprinted as far away from Idren as he could. The massive gladiator was distracted long enough by the blinding explosion and the robotic insects that were attacking his shields, that he didn't notice Killen taking off. </p>
<p><em><strong>“I think I know what you're getting at.”</strong></em> Steem made a hard right turn mid-air as Idren's drone was hot on his trail shooting rapid-fire laser charges at him. <em><strong>“Coming in hot!”</strong></em> </p>
<p>Steem boosted his accelerator and flew down in a parabolic curve towards Idren. Killen watched as Idren became aware of the attempted attack and – with the robotic insects still attacking his shield – he turned and began firing wildly into the air. Steem took a quick nosedive right after Idren began opening fire. In an instant, Idren's drone exploded in the air and fiery pieces of hot metal rained like a toxic nightmare above its former master. </p>
<p>“Oh no!” Idren let out a loud cry in disbelief. </p>
<p>Killen looked down at his carbine and pressed a button on the side that extended his barrel to a length of twenty-four inches. A scope materialized at the top of the body as the entire weapon shifted into a new form in his hands. <em>I love self-assembly machines. How did the ancients on Earth survive without it? </em>Killen thought as he took aim down the scope. </p>
<p><em><strong>“Killen now! His shield is down to 10% and his back circuitry is exposed. One well-placed shot should do it!” </strong></em>Steem spoke into Killen's helmet as he flew by to take his side. </p>
<p><em><strong>“I know what I'm doing.”</strong></em> Killen waited. Mere seconds felt like minutes and then the shot rang out. </p>
<p>The crowd gasped in shock. Idren screamed out loud and dropped to his knees as blood leaked from his back. </p>
<p><em><strong>“Now!”</strong></em> Killen ordered Steem to douse the gladiator in a chemical that would shut down his armor and freeze his muscles – he'd have enough strength only to breathe. </p>
<p>Killen and Steem made their way over to the immobile gladiator whose mask disappeared from around his face. They saw a bearded man, early hundreds in age it appeared. He wore the look of a resistant scowl on his face. “You don't know what you've been forced into SA-412. You think it gets better from here because you go up in rank? Oh no boy, the dark days are still to come.” </p>
<p>Killen didn't have time to interrogate the dead man before a massive, photorealistic projection of Sector Lord Jasper Aluxxian appeared high in the air. His image stood many stories tall and towered over the colosseum walls itself. “Well then, this was – unexpected eh!” Aluxxian flashed the palms of his hands and smiled as he swayed left and right. Playing the crowd. “Now for the second best part of any match – the Round of Fate! Will Idren Klay actually meet his end today!? You all know how this works, but I have to explain the rules anyway. It's up to you everyone! It's time to take out those datapads and press 'yes' or 'no.' If you choose yes, then you have to decide on death or rebirth. If no, then Idren will live to see another day. </p>
<p>The mob voted. The tallies began appearing in a separate image that appeared next to the image of the Sector Lord. </p>
<p>“It looks like they've chosen 'rebirth!' </p>
<p>“No! I can't start over again. Not again, my mind can't take it! Just end it now...please!” Idren's eyes bulged and tears streamed down his face. </p>
<p>“Sorry Idren, you're just not as strong as your brothers. Maybe you'll have better luck again in sixty years after your mind has been transplanted into a new body. Hey, it's better than death. Be happy the crowd likes your style.” The holographic image leaned forward with its massive face hovering mere feet over Killen. “As you for – allow me to introduce everyone to Killen of Ardon! No longer known as SA-412 and now a Class Two Gladiator. Meet me up in the Governor's box, best seats in the house for the next round of fights – you've earned it.”</p>
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<h2><em>LINKS TO IMAGES USED</em></h2>
<p><a href="https://z-axis-style.bandcamp.com/track/ire-of-the-wastelands">https://z-axis-style.bandcamp.com/track/ire-of-the-wastelands</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.artstation.com/artwork/q26g2">https://www.artstation.com/artwork/q26g2</a></p>
<p><a href="https://imgur.com/gallery/3kWRo">https://imgur.com/gallery/3kWRo</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/331436853812802137/">https://www.pinterest.com/pin/331436853812802137/</a></p>
<p>https://s17.postimg.org/3mv9f16sf/Steem_Stem_Coin_Style_Logo.png</p>
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