Saying that visits to planets outside Federation space often came with unexpected outcomes was an understatement this time.
The latest reports on the planet —which weren’t exactly recent— spoke about a highly developed culture resembling that of the Earth during the last centuries, and so did their sensors indicate as they entered the planet’s orbit. However, after having tried all frequencies and still receiving no response from the surface, the captain made the decision to beam down to investigate.
After that, it all went downhill. The landing party was received by the worst welcome committee, outnumbered and separated. Nothing of what was happening made any sense considering their data on the planet, but he had no time to hear his first officer’s insight on the matter, as before he knew it, he found himself in a cage. He had been stripped out of his communicator and his phaser and given a bow and a spear in their place. And while the look of his newly acquired weapons did pose some questions, now wasn’t the momento to think about them.
The place was, without a doubt, an arena —and at that point, Kirk had come to hate arenas—, which obviously meant there was also someone or something he was expected to fight.
Though he had no intention of using it if not strictly necessary, he clenched both fists around the spear as he hesitantly walked outside the cage. He looked around, but found no one but a young girl, empty-handed and looking no less helpless than he was himself.
So maybe there could be a way of avoiding the fighting, after all.
He nodded at the girl, hopefully expecting some kind of friendly —or non-violent, at the very least— response.
The opponent she found was not the opponent she expected. She expected a machine, or a warrior; what she got was a man dressed in foreign clothing as bright yellow as glaze root. He looked strong and he was armed, but Aloy had begun to recognize killers--they had a way of walking, a way they held themselves and looked at the world. This man was not a killer.
Uncertain, she nodded back. Helis had been boasting about gutting her, how her blood would be the first of many... so why this guy? The sound she heard next answered her questions, and her fear.
Behind her, a second door opened. The crowd had hushed to a low murmur and people craned their necks to see the new contenders. Though she couldn’t see them, she recognized their scream and so did the audience. At the first screech, the Carja erupted in caws of excitement. Stalkers. And the new guy was just the appetizer.
“Dammit...” Aloy began backing up. “Hey, golden boy! I hope you know how to use that spear!”
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