Battle Scars

Chapter 1- Transfer to the Balmera

The arena was cheering in anticipation. I stood by other gladiators from other worlds, but we all wear the same thing. This uniform, showing we are not to be considered above slave level. This dark, warm fabric that itches when you try to sleep and freezes you on a cold night. It has the mercy of being flexible, allowing a full range of movement, allowing us to fight to our fullest potential.

What fun would a fight be if we were held back? They like to watch us suffer, to know that we are trying our hardest and failing. That's how you break someone.

We do not watch the others fight. They have us sit in the back of the arena entrance and go in one by one. Some never come back out. Some come back with horrible wounds. They always get sent to try again. Until they die in the ring.

I watch the others go in, and I hear screams from the new ones. They beg. They cry for their families and ask to be spared. That won't work. It never has. They're sent out anyway.

The one before me returns without an arm. They hand me my weapon, send me out, and I dissociate, letting instinct take over to survive. I know there is bleeding from my arm. I ignore it. I feel a bone break and keep going. I do not get to leave until the crowd has had their fill

And I will give it to them.

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I awaken in my cell. Some of the other prisoners are speaking. Crying. Whispering to their mothers and fathers and children as though they will be heard.

Why? Nobody can hear you. You will be here until you die. Like me. Soon you will forget them, and you will only know this cell, this fight.

A sentry comes to my cell, leads me out. I hear their whispers.

"What did that one do?"
"Am I next?"
"Off to the druids for that one I suppose."

But I am led to a pod, with others I recognise from my years in the ring. Other gladiators who have been fighting, other masters of survival. I see one smile at me.

I do not smile back.

We are going to die.

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After a long drive in the pod we reach a planet that is overtaken by Galra buildings. The purple glow is soft, making the sentries look less menacing.

The sentries have us line up in front of the ship. Galra officers are coming down the metal roads towards us, and  I feel something placed around my neck. It is labelled in Galra letters. Not that it matters- I never learned to read Galra or anything else.

One by one the officers find the gladiator they want and one by one they are led away. My new master is the last one there. I am the last pick. He sighs.

"Come with me." Glaring, and he turns, walks down the road. I follow.

He gives me a different uniform. It has short sleeves and fits tightly on top like the old one, but it is loose on my legs. I can't fight in this.

"You are my mining overseer. This balmera is almost done being harvested, and we need to start the plans for Galra evacuation. You will ensure mining continues while I do so."

I nod. He hands me a weapon and i follow him towards the huge mine entrance an arena away from his quarters. He sends me down, down, down, and I watch as the people of the bulmera pull out the huge crystals.

Broken, defeated.

Like me.

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I hear a crash down one of my mineshafts. The Balmeran rock-people flinch as I walk by, gently tossing my weapon in the air to flip it before catching it again. It is a dagger, beautiful and silver with black and purple accents. One Balmeran has collapsed.

I jab his ankle. Not enough to provide blood, but enough to hurt. A warning. He gets up and continues his work, clearly exhausted. I continue towards the crash site.

I've escaped my cell once. I don't want to risk being thrown back in over a tired rock-person.

I reach the mineshaft and see huge skidmarks in the ground. A ship crashed here. Sentries and Galra soldiers swirl up above. I retreat down another tunnel on my rounds, following the furrows.

Down the tunnel. Darker. I hear words, whispered. There are no crystals down this passage. Only rooms where families sleep.

"Galra would tear our family asunder if they found these ones. Everyone comes to Balmera and takes, but gives nothing in return," A male Balmeran speaks.

"In the past, those who took the Balmera's crystals would replenish her with energy. It was an equal exchange. But the Galra only take. It is no wonder we can feel her suffering," says a female. I sit quietly and listen.

"I'm sorry that we put everyone in this situation, but the faster we get the crystal and get out, the faster everyone is out of danger. We're looking for a battleship-class crystal," a male speaks, but he does not have the accent a Balmeran does.

"Battleship-class crystal? Those are most rare. Galra soldiers guard them ceaselessly until their harvest. Your quest is in vain," an older Balmeran man. Then the girl speaks again.

"There is one, found only weeks ago. It is almost excavated."

"Quiet! Even if they could steal the crystal from the Galra, battle patrols wait to take down their ship. These ones have no chance of getting out of here alive, with crystal or without," the young male has a point. I step into the doorway, and the Balmerans look at me in fear. The girl speaks.

"Silent one!"

"A human?" I snap my attention to the non-balmerans. The first, closer to me.. A human male with medium skin and a rather round stomach. He has a mouth full of food. I point my dagger.

"The Silent One wants you to identify yourself," the Balmeran girl says. I glance at her. Shay.

"I'm Hunk."

I point my dagger at the other man. An Altean.

"Coran!"

The Altean man, Coran, reaches for a communicator. I shake my head at him and he stops. The human, Hunk, finishes his bowl of cave food and speaks.

"Uh, hi Silent one! Um, we are here, because we need a battleship class Crystal and we are wondering if you will give it to us please?" He smiles nervously. If I was Galra he wouldn't try this. I narrow my eyes. He speaks again, "You see, im, ah, paladin of voltron! And we need the crystal so we can power our ship and free everyone from their Galra overlords."

His smile is so hopeful, nervous, awkward.. I look at Shay, sign to her, and motion to Hunk and Coran with my dagger. She nods, then speaks to them.

"The Silent One says they will not speak of this treachery if you take them away when you go"

Hunk looks suspicious. I nod, sign to Shay that I must continue rounds, and leave the room. Her voice translating my goodbye and warning against leaving me fades in the distance.

I feel a warmth

Hope.