Page 16 of Found By the Alien Warrior

"You really shouldn’t have.”

Korga chuckled, his thin strands of black hair showing lank and greasy under the alien sun. “You have ten minutes to get into the ring.” He started to turn away before he added, "Keep yourself steady on the platforms and that island. It'd be a shame if you were to fall off and miss the show.”

I glanced down at the platform I was on and experienced immediate regret. It was the only thing that stood between me and freefalling. How silly of me to think there was solid ground on this planet. The floating islands of Zephyra were the ground.

I backtracked and returned inside the ship to my shared quarters. Vessa was leaving, her gear for her match strapped to her satchel. She gave me an impatient look. “Why aren’t you out there with the others? I told you I’m coming.”

I stood in front of her, refusing to let her send me off like a little child. "Korga has me reffing Aurik's match in less than ten minutes. I have no idea what to do."

She sighed. "If they stay down past the count of ten, then it's over. If it's a ringout then the one still in wins."

That last part prompted me to risk a glance downward at the floating island we were on. Vessa immediately picked up on my discomfort. "Get a grip on yourself. This is your task now.”

“That can’t be all I need to know.”

She switched her bag to her other shoulder. “Don't get too close to the fighters. Let's see, what else? If you have trouble of any other kind, for Arcturus’s sake, let the guards handle it.”

My gaze switched between Vessa and the arena where Aurik and Gornoc would soon face off. I wished I didn’t have to be down there.

"Exactly how did you come by all this advice?" I asked Vessa, trying to distract myself from the impending match.

"You're not the first female who's had to learn the ropes."

There was a depth to Vessa's gaze that hinted at experiences she rarely shared. But before I could ask, a guard ushered me away to get ready for my new role as referee.

Chapter Eight

SONYA

I stood at the entrance to the fighting ring. The perimeter was outlined with twisted metal poles, probably repurposed from some long-forgotten structure. They stood, uneven, as if the builders hadn't bothered much with a level, giving the whole place a slightly off-kilter vibe.

The audience "seats" were a mishmash of salvaged materials—discarded ship parts, crates, and what looked like the remnants of a metal scrapyard. It was an eclectic blend of comfort and discomfort, as if they'd grabbed whatever was lying around to fashion makeshift bleachers.

Above, a hastily strung-up canopy provided a bit of shade, casting a patchy relief from Zephyra's harsh sun. It flapped in the wind, giving the whole setup a bit of a nomadic feel.

The lighting was basic but effective. Portable glow orbs, hooked onto the poles and suspended from wires, cast an eerie yet functional glow over the arena. It was like someone had raided a hardware store and said, "These will do."

In the center, the fighting pit itself was a cleared circle of ground. As I stepped into it, I could feel the eyes of the small crowd boring into me, their anticipation intense. But it wasn't their looks that weighed on me - it was the knowledge that the rules and safety of Aurik’s match rested in my inexperienced hands.

I recognized a few faces from Korga’s original ring. I guess he had a traveling entourage. Locals mixed with them, their voices rising in debate over who would win the match.

"My money's on Gornoc. He's strategic."

Another disagreed. "Aurik's got more experience. You saw the way he handled Raze the other day."

As their arguments continued, stress gnawed in the pit of my stomach. All I wanted was for it to be over, for everyone to survive and for Aurik to be the one left standing.

“Place your bets,” Korga boomed from the so-called VIP section, a row of crates in the front. “Hold onto your seats. We've got one hell of a match coming up."

Gornoc entered into the pit without an introduction from an announcer. The crowd cheered. I looked around for Aurik.

“He’ll be here,” Korga stated when I faced the VIP section. “Go.”

Gathering what little courage I had, I stepped forward and raised my hand, signaling for silence. The crowd hushed as they turned their attention to me again, their anticipation as sharp as the edge of a blade.

AURIK

I stormed into the fighting pit, fresh off the ship, and my fury boiled over as I saw Sonya standing there as the referee. What shit-twisted game was Korga playing by putting her in harm's way? The anger surged through me, making my fists clench, but I forced myself to seek calm.

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