Meeting

Floating endlessly, I enjoyed the feeling of weightlessness surrounding me. All my muscles relaxed as I simply remained there, arms outstretched and body fully facing the sun before me. Yet while my body was resting, my mind was wide awake, as it always was.

Just as I had expected and intended, my popularity was rising massively. My achievements in the arena, my domination of all opponents through skill, rather than overwhelming strength had captured the mind and imagination of the people of Sakaar. I was an undefeated champion of the arena, both as a solo gladiator, but also amongst a team.

The constant string of victories had led many to talk about a battle between myself and the Red King's Champion. According to the Governor I was still very much considered the underdog. But I was fine with that, I had not yet shown my full strength.

When I first arrived, Korg had been the stronger of us both and for many days in secret, I would test my strength against his. He alone would be a match for Thragg and Conquest in terms of strength, and I had beaten him many days ago. However, while the agreement I made with the Governor was to battle the Red King's Champion upon reaching such strength, I wasn't ready for it. Why would I when I could continue further expand my power with the opportunity before me?

Best to lie and continue absorbing radiation making myself stronger before my inevitable battle. I had been blindsided by the attack against me from Tyrany'r and the Viltrumites. Neither side had come out of that battle the victors, but it had been a close call for me.

A very close call.

Same with my battle against Doomsday and even against Thragg.

There were so many things I should have done differently and one thing I needed to do was ensure that when entering battle, the ball was in my court. Battle was an unpredictable thing, with so many factors that could shift and change the flow from one side to the other. However, the more factors you controlled, the greater your chances.

That was something I had always made sure of when being a soldier on Krypton and something I had forgotten when gaining my powers. Believing purely that because I had my powers that the ball would always be my court.

Well, now I knew differently.

From now on, I would make sure to gain every advantage possible before entering into a battle of any kind. Then, only when I was confident in victory, would I enter.

So for now, as strong as I was, I needed to make sure that I took advantage of my current deal with the Governor as much as possible. I would delay and act weaker than I was, ensuring that I could continue to draw power from the sun until such a time I was confident of my victory against the Red King's Champion.

Feeling a slight shock from the disk on my chest, I opened my eyes with a frown. Slowly turning around to see the ship behind me.

My time it seems, was up.

While being directly near the sun helped increase my growth of power, the weakness of the sun was still a problem. It was like being on the surface of the Doomsday planet, which said a great deal, didn't it? There I had been hundreds of thousands of miles away from the sun and I was getting the same amount of power as I was now, merely a few meters away from its surface.

However, it was better than the scraps I would have gotten back on Sakaar.

-X- Line Break -X-

"How long now?" Korg muttered from beside me as we reclined in our cells. They were more comfortable than our previous holdings back in the Maw, but there was no denying it was a cell with just a few extra comforts.

Clasping my hands behind my head, I looked up at the ceiling, staring through it and at the stars above. "A few more weeks if I can. But the Governor is getting frustrated, especially with the Red King pressuring him. So more than likely a week at most." I turned to him. "But we alone won't be enough. We'll need more than just us to actually win."

"I've already spoken to a few more of the Governor's gladiators, they'd be willing to rebel. Many though, won't."

"That'll change when the rebellion actually happens," I replied. "Most just don't want to be involved in the initial part of it. But once it starts, their emotions will run high and they'll join in, I know they will."

"Not if you don't get rid of these." Korg tapped the disk upon his chest.

I smirked, eyes flashing red. "I'll sort that out." Though then I picked up movement down the corridor and I rose a finger to my mouth, Korg nodding his head. Both of us going quiet as moments later, a guard arrived and banged on our cell bars.

"Tah, you have been summoned."

-X- Line Break -X-

Cracking my neck, I extended my hand towards the guard who after a moment, undid the bindings surrounding them. After a quick flex of my hands that made the guard tense, I turned and stepped in through the doorway and into one of the rooms meant for entertaining guests.

I had been called here a few times, a few of the Sakaarans of the female variety wishing to be taken by a gladiator. Most were quite pretty, a few not so much but it helped my cause and earned me the favour of the Governor so it was all for a good cause. As much as I wished him dead, I needed the Governor on my side for as long as possible, helping him in this way was the best way to do that.

Though the guest that greeted me was a surprise. "I didn't expect the Red Kings personal guard to ask for me. You're never seen from his side." I spoke, looking upon the beautiful figure of Caiera the Oldstrong. Her form, lithe and toned, athletic and curvaceous with a generous bust that strained against her form-fitting armour.

Though as soon as I grew closer, a blade was swung in my direction. By reflex alone I stepped back, just barely avoiding it, the drapes of cloth decorating the room cut and floating to the ground. However, Caiera was upon me once again, blade singing dangerously as it came down for me.

Yet whereas before I was caught off guard by the attack, this time I was prepared. My hand shooting up, wrapping around her wrist while I stepped in, hip checking her and flipping her through the air.

She was skilled though, going with the momentum and landing on her feet before lashing out with a kick that I barely blocked in time. Her power was also surprising as it threw me back, slamming into the reinforced wall and cracking it. A shocking thing considering the Governor had designed them to withstand blows from Korg, especially after a failed rebellion many years ago by a group of very powerful slaves.

Yet I couldn't think on that further, Caiera closing the distance between us.

-X- Line Break -X-

Caiera's visit was shocking for sure, though in the last few weeks Denebo had been visited by many unexpected guests. The recent success of Tah and the gladiators who had been with him during the Maw had earned Denebo a great deal of favour from the other lords of Sakaar.

"Ensure that the slaves and guards who have seen Caiera's visit are kept silent." Having people request to be entertained by a gladiator wasn't a rare thing, especially from married, widowed and unmarried women of Sakaar.

However, in the interest of retaining good relations with them, keeping their visits secret was the best policy. Out of all the women that had visited his manor, Caiera was perhaps the most high profile despite her low rank. Yet her position as the personal guard of the Red King and the fact she was the only one he seemed to actually listen to, it made her far more valuable.

It was why despite receiving no notice of her visit, he rapidly organised to make everything perfect for her.

And as he passed by the room, he paused upon hearing the racket being made. 'I suppose Tah is doing his duty as expected of him.' He thought to himself. "And have a few slaves prepared to fix the room once they are done."

-X- Line Break -X-

Straining my arms, I pushed against Caiera, both of us studying one another and I smiled. "This is certainly a surprise. What brought this on?" I asked and as Caiera went to answer, I struck her left leg. It buckled slightly and I used this opportunity to disarm her, the blade flying across the room and landing with a clatter.

Caiera recovered, landing a blow across my cheek.

Spinning with the momentum, I smashed my elbow across her own throwing her back against the wall. She landed against it with a grunt, me taking her arms and pinning them there.

Yet the knee that struck my stomach loosened my grip allowing Caiera to land a hammer strike that knocked me to the ground.

Leaning my head to one side I avoided the foot stomp to my head, hands gripping her leg and bringing her down with me.

There the two of us grappled for a moment, both of us trying to leverage our skills and strength against the other before ultimately breaking apart. Spitting out a wad of blood, I licked my bust lip and smiled.

She was skilled, very skilled and she was strong.

I liked that in a woman.

"So you gonna answer the question or not?" My smile widened as Caiera only rose her guard. "Let me guess, you like it rough? Is that it? You want to fight me and then get dominated?"

That warranted a reaction. "You're a threat to his majesty. I eliminate threats."

"Oh boy, you really believe he cares what you do?" I chuckled. "He's using you, just like he used the Spikes to find you."

My words struck a nerve and instead of attacking like she had been about to, Caiera froze in place. Eyes widened slightly and looking upon me in disbelief. "What?" She murmured.