Geonosis: 18 BBY
Petranaki Arena
Nakoa Sen

    "How are these battle droids still active?" Les whispered. "I thought they were all shut down when the Empire took over."

    "Maybe the Geonosisans reactivated these ones," Nakoa replied with a shrug. He kept his focus on the tunnel stretching on ahead of them. His mood was steadily worsening and he knew Lesia and Oni were aware of it.

    This is not how I wanted to spend my day, he thought. I was bored, but being captured by bugs and battle droids isn't exactly the cure I had in mind. His face flushed before he could stop it. Neither was being searched by Les. She had indeed grown bolder during her few weeks with them. He wasn't sure if that was a good or bad thing.

    His anger was partially directed towards her. Not because she had searched him, but because she'd forced him to surrender. They were now unarmed and surrounded by enemies. It didn't sit well with him.

    Daylight broke at last. Les shielded her eyes from it as the Geonosians ushered them into the sandy area. A few stone pillars rose from the ground. Walls surrounded the entire place. Realization crossed Nakoa's mind.

    We're in the arena, he thought. It looked as though the place had taken a beating in its time. Broken pillars littered the ground and there were traces of carbon scoring along the walls. Deep grooves were carved into the sandy ground.

    They were led across the arena and placed before pillars. A Geonosian lifted Nakoa's hands above his head and attached his wrist binders to a chain. Nakoa rolled his eyes. As if that would do anything. He still had his jetpack. Oni did too.

    One of the battle droids paced in front of them, waiting for their restraints to be secured. At last, it spoke. "We knew more of you would come. After the last one caused so much trouble, it is only fair that we make you pay as well."

    Oni pulled against her restraints, suddenly. "What have you done to Galaar?"

    "He is alive. If you will listen, I have a deal to offer you." The droid's eyes flickered eerily.

    "What do you want?" Nakoa asked.

    "We want nothing more than retribution. This," it gestured to the arena, "is that retribution. If you survive, you will regain possession of your weapons and your friend."

    "First, show us that our friend is actually alive," Les demanded. Nakoa and Oni both stared at her for a moment. She didn't look at them.

    The droid gave a small nod. A gate opened up nearby and two Geonosians appeared, dragging a man in between them. Nakoa drew in a sharp breath, seeing Galaar's bare face. Oni didn't make a sound.

    Galaar looked much older than Nakoa had expected. He had a short beard and peppered brown hair hung in his face. His eyes appeared gray and were full of guilt. The bugs pulled him out of sight once more. The remaining Geonosians and battle droids vacated the sandy floor of the arena. The stands built into the walls were packed full and clicking filled the air.

    The ground beneath Nakoa's feet shook. He stared at the massive gates on the wall opposite to him. Dread pooled in his stomach as all three of them opened. The first creature was nothing but a rolling death ball. The rathtar gave a fierce screech and shot a tentacle into the front row of the crowd. A Geonosian screamed as the rathtar pulled it from its seat. The rathtar crunched down on it and the crowd cheered.

    A rancor emerged next. Saliva dripped from its gory mouth. Nakoa hoped that small detail meant it had already eaten. Lastly, a gundark appeared. Nakoa glanced towards Les worriedly. She was already working on climbing up her pillar, using the chain as a makeshift rope. Oni gave Nakoa a small nod and braced herself.

    Nakoa forced his attention away from his two friends as the rathtar barreled towards him. Right as it reached him, he activated his jetpack. The creature snagged a tentacle around his chain. The chain snapped and Nakoa landed on top of his pillar. He quickly began picking at the lock on his wrist cuffs. The rathtar shrieked, rolling around beneath him. A second later, Oni appeared on top of her pillar. Her chain was broken as well and hanging from the mouth of the rancor.

    "Les!" Nakoa shouted. She pulled an explosive from her satchel and tossed it to him.

    He snatched it out of the air and attached it to his belt once more. Les tossed another charge to Oni. Nakoa eyed the rathtar below him. It slashed at the pillar with its tentacles. He leaped off the pillar, landing behind it. The rathtar quickly caught sight of him and gave chase. Nakoa dove beneath its belly and quickly recovered himself.

    The rathtar shrieked with rage and doubled back. A tentacle wrapped around Nakoa, trapping his arms at his side. He gasped as the tentacle began to tighten. Nakoa latched his hand around his only explosive. He wiggled his arm, trying to get free. The rathtar opened its mouth wider, revealing rows of razor sharp teeth. Nakoa jerked his arm free and activated the charge. He tossed it into the creature's mouth.

    Within seconds, fire erupted from within the rathtar. It loosed an agonized scream, spewing chunks of fresh and charred meat out of its mouth. The tentacle slackened and Nakoa pulled himself free. The rathtar continued to struggle a few minutes longer, then fell still. Nakoa panted for breath, then got to his feet once more.

Geonosis: 18 BBY
Petranaki Arena
Lesia Mirri

    The gundark was repeatedly leaping up at her. Lesia jangled her wrist cuffs again, to no avail. "Blast it," she snapped. There was no way she could use her lightsaber to cut the chain without anyone seeing. The gundark leaped, digging its claws into the stone. Les threw herself over the side of the pillar. She swung from the chain and kicked her feet into the gundark's stomach.

    It collapsed with a yelp. The chain jerked suddenly and Les went flying. She screamed but was cut off as she hit a hard scaly object. Lesia's mouth dropped open in terror. She clung to the rancor's head as it vigorously tried to shake her off. The gundark had turned its attention to Oni now and was stalking around her.

    Lesia's grip loosened on the rancor. It roared and slammed its head forward. Les smashed into Oni's pillar and slid to the ground. The rancor loomed over her, bloody saliva pooling around its jaws.

    Les forced herself to meet the creature's gaze. It works on people. Maybe it works on animals too, she thought. She stumbled to her feet and stretched a hand towards the rancor. To anyone else, it would look like a desperate last attempt to save herself. Hopefully, no one would recognize the Force at work.

    You don't want to hurt me. She sent the thought running through the Force, from herself to the rancor. It snarled and inched closer. Les took a step back. You are calm. The rancor roared, raising a hand. Her back bumped against the pillar. You will not harm me, she commanded. The rancor's clawed hand came down, slicing through the stone pillar as though it were cotton.

    Les stood, coughing from the dust. The rancor stared at her expectantly. She could feel its presence joining hers. Its emotions flooded her mind. Les glanced at Oni. The gundark pounced and Oni dodged.

    Kill the gundark, Les ordered. The rancor bellowed and whirled on the other creature. Oni dove out of the way with a scream. Les darted towards her as the rancor slashed at the gundark.

    "What is it doing?" Oni rasped. Les slid an arm around her and helped her to her feet.

    "It's an animal," Lesia replied. "They attack other animals."

    Nakoa landed next to them shortly. "Are you guys ok?"

    "I'm fine," Les replied.

    "I'm pretty sure that gundark bit me," Oni groaned. "But I'll live.

    Les stiffened as an unexplainable rage washed over her. She clenched her free hand into a fist. The desire to dig her nails into soft flesh became overwhelming. She bit back a yelp of pain and uncurled her hand. She had dug her nails into her own palm.

    Lesia stared at the rancor, realizing what had happened. It dug its talons into the gundark and tore the poor creature open. The rancor let out a triumphant roar. Les could feel its pride...and its lingering bloodlust. It half turned, watching her from the corner of its eye.

    Les gritted her teeth, returning the creature's gaze. She knew what she had to do. The thought still frightened her. Her gaze flickered towards a pillar. Trip, she shouted down their Force bond.

    The rancor took a hesitant step forward. It groaned, tripping over the gundark's body. The rancor smashed into the pillar. Debris rained down on it. Les blinked back tears, feeling its pain. She gave the final command. Die. Overwhelming pain crashed through her. Les fell to her knees, watching the rancor obey her. With a snap, her mind became free and was her own once more. The Force was dark and twisted as she pulled her senses back.

    She became aware of Nakoa kneeling beside her. "Hey, Les." She didn't know how many times he'd already called to her. Nakoa gripped her shoulders firmly. "Lesia."

    She blinked away the last of the pain and shock. "I'm all right. I don't know what came over me."

    "You have to focus. I don't think the bugs are going to hold up our deal. We'll have to fight our way to Galaar and our weapons."

    Battle droids and clones flashed before her eyes. "Nakoa." She gripped his arm tightly.

    "We have to help Galaar," he repeated.

    "Get her up," Oni said. "Now."

    "Do this and maybe Oni will like you a little more," Nakoa added.

    Les closed her eyes, drawing in several long breaths. She opened them again and nodded. Les pushed herself to her feet and waited.

Geonosis: 18 BBY
Petranaki Arena
Nakoa Sen

    Nakoa couldn't help but glance at Les again. There was something unnatural about the way she had just collapsed. He had noticed her gaze fixated on the rancor. She had seemed on the verge of tears. He half wondered if she'd been stuck in one of her nightmares. Nakoa pushed his concerns away and joined Oni.

    "Did you see where they took Galaar?" He asked.

    "They took him out through there." Oni gestured to another gate in the wall. This one was small and clearly meant for humanoid people.

    "Then let's get what we came for," Nakoa replied. They started walking towards the gate. Oni slid an explosive into her grasp and prepared to activate it.