Endurance: The Next Chapter (IC)

Ketryn didn't even look at Levith as she replied to him. "I didn't say don't do these- after all, who wants criminals running the streets? I am saying that you shouldn't let the innocent watch it. It is just like punishing them." Ketryn sighed as she leaned back and looked at Levith, not even caring that he had taken a threatening step towards her.

"But who am I to speak, right? After all, my species took innocent people and experimented on them all for the sake of science, not caring if that person would become unable to show emotions. Not like I should be speaking, coming from such a race, right?" Ketryn went back to staring ahead. "Mister Levith, you see the expressions on those watching this. Do you think it is okay for a government to force their own innocent citizens to have some of those pained expressions?"

Vetrys almost shouted for Levith to come back, but then he thought better of it. That could only lead to trouble. He stared at the door for a moment, silent, then turned to face Ketryn.

"He has quire the temper," he said. "But he is right." Vetrys looked back out at the arena before he continued speaking, noting that Somnus' ears were twitching. He was listening too. "Without firsthand knowledge of what happens when people break our laws, some see nothing to be afraid of. Though most do not fear the Games anyway, as it is only for the highest offenses..."

Somnus refrained from speaking up. While he didn't like the idea of the Games, he had to admit that it was a good system. It worked.

* * *

Kirex cheered Thray on, running up to retrieve his dagger from their new friend. He had another bomb in hand, and would throw it the moment anything else approached them.

Ketryn only watched as Levith stormed off, feeling, guiltily enough, pleased. As Vetrys spoke to her, however, she felt like scowling. She didnt get it? This... This system... Did not work in her eyes. Perhaps she didn't get it the way they did, but she understood one thing- the games weren't something everyone should be forced to see. Sure, it helped enforce te law... But there were better, kinder ways to enforce it. More guards. More warnings. Be sure everyone knows the Games take place, but don't force them to see it.

The more Ketryn thought of the Games, the more sickened she felt by it all. This being said, she just ignored Vetrys, staring down in her lap. She wouldn't be persuaded out of her views, and neither would they... It was as if they were brainwashed to believe watching these Games was needed... Ugh. Ketryn was pretty sure if she spoke another word it would be a direct insult, anymore.

Kirex grinned a certain grin that made most of his fellow prisoners back away when they saw it. "O' course I do!" he replied, pulling another bomb from his belt. This one was very different from the others, in that Kirex had felt the need to paint it with a bright red X to make absolutely sure he didn't use it accidentally. He didn't have many of these, but he used at least one during most battles, they were good for seeing, and keeping monsters away.

He threw it hard at the creature, jumping backwards the moment it left his hand. All at once, it erupted into bright flames that burned several feet high for less than a second, but that was more than long enough to kill the injured creature. Now sure that none of the flames would suddenly leap out towards him, Kirex went to stand by the 'campfire.' It was something he used fairly often, since it not only made everything easier for him to see, but greatly confused the monsters, who were used to the pitch black. He beckoned for Parrath and Thray to stand with him, and pulled out another dagger.

Ketryn's eyes slowly shifted to Kydi as he spoke. "You've mentioned Safyr3 before, but you haven't gone into detail," she slowly said. "But please, do tell me a bout her." Ketryn made sure to include the last sentence to keep her from sounding bored with the situation- it was quite easy to think that with her monotone voice, but Ketryn had learned to add in some sentenced to show interest in things.

It was then that there was a huge fire in the arena and Ketryn inwardly winced. Te fire was only there for less than a second, but Ketryn still saw it as a reminder that there were beings down there getting killed. Criminals or not, they were fighting to the death. At least Thray was alive- she was guessing that from how Kydi was acting, considering Ketryn still refused to use the goggles offered to them for seeing in the dark.

Ketryn listened to Kydi with interest, though what mostly interested her was the similarities. She waited for Kydi to finish, and was silent a few moments, before finally speaking.

"Sounds all too familiar," Ketryn slowly responded. She waited a moment before indulging them on some details about her. "I am model 5273. The Yarksonians were looking for a way to make their own race live longer, so they focused on trying to create a cyborg. they used their own citizens to do it." Ketryn paused before saying, "Long story short, out of the 5,273 citizens they experimented on, I was the very first successful one."

Ketryn's shoulders were raised, as if she were tensed up, before she finally let them relax as she said, "If we ever get out of here, Kydi, I wouldn't mind meeting this Safyr3 friend of yours."

Kirex smirked yet again and gave the Jakulo a small wave. Even the ones who weren't too nice to him. He didn't care, he'd help them anyway. No one deserved to die. Well, unless they were directly attacking him. Then they could expect to be set on fire and stabbed many times.

In any case, no one made a move to attack Thray, and so Kirex continued to beckon more people closer to the fire and away from the monsters. Speaking of which... He took a small step back, aimed carefully, and threw two daggers in quick succession, striking two different, smallish creatures in the neck. The first went down with hardly a sound, but the second, slightly larger, lived. He growled and pulled his other two daggers from his belt, prepared to retrieve the first two, hopefully without much trouble.

* * *

Vetrys listened to their conversation intently, though he didn't watch them. His eyes were fixed to the combatants in the arena. Specifically Thray and his companions. Thray seemed to have little problem with helping even the ones who weren't helping him. Except for a pair that he looked like he was glaring at... Ah, Nakion. Vetrys shook his head slightly. That explained it.

Somnus looked at Kydi for a moment, curious. He was reminded of something. "Kydi," he asked softly, "is this the same planet where you met Kalia?"