Neo Colosseum

"Jeannie... she's a cold blooded murderer. She doesn't have the ability to feel anything. She cant be trusted at all, I know first hand what that woman is capable of doing and there is nothing good in her!"

Aria looks back at Cebra with a smirk.

"I'm sorry? Who cant be trusted? Or did you already forget what you did to me?"

Cebra's angry glare fades as he looks down in what appears to be some shame.

"Not like you gave me a choice, someone had to stop you."

"You can say that if it makes you feel better, but you know you tried to force me back into a slave for those monsters."

The lull in the yelling is enough time for Aria to look at Jeannie.

"You know Cebra? How?"

are you sure Aria doesn't have an evil twin or something? she's been very nice and caring since I meet her.

I meet him doing super hero stuff we catch bad guys together sometimes Jeannie was still very confused she found Cebra to be a trustworthy person but his description of Aria didn't match the girl she had became friends with at all.

Cebra backs down and stops emitting energy, he looks off down the hall at another guard passing by and is visibly uneasy.

"Jeannie... you trust people too easily. One day it will get you in trouble."

Aria backs down not wanting to cause a commotion either but still upset.

"Says the man who uses everyone like a tool... Why are you here anyways? You dont even like to fight tin man."

"You should find a way out of this place Jeannie, nothing is what it seems. There's someone working behind the shadows, fighters are going missing."

"Missing? What the hell are you talking about?"

Cebra shoots Aria a raised eyebrow.

"Concerned are you?"

Aria grabs Cebra by the collar and pins him against the wall.

"Hey you're going to tell me if Jeannie is in danger, dont test me right now."

Cebra is shocked for a moment then smirks.

"Interesting... Well if you must know. The current champion of the Arena Cass Mora, some cyborg woman. She's been the champion for three years which is odd. A cyborg with three year old out of date tech that keeps winning? Even more she always and I mean ALWAYS kills her opponent. There's never an autopsy or funeral rites so the body just goes missing. I couldn't find any trace of where they dispose of them so there are only a few conclusions I can come up with. I believe the Cyborg is being modified and upgraded by a corporation, the same corporation that's ordering her to kill every enemy so that they can quietly steal the body. That's all I know right now."

a cyborg! neat it's like lady x in rumble roses!she was tricky to beat so was the mortal kombat ones they had all that tricky things to throw at you, never tried fighting a cyborg for real.
could be intresting Jeannie wonders how to unplug the robo lady so she can be the champion, ignoring there auguring.

well, tell something Aria said caught her attention jeannie in danger? that's no good, so nice of you to care, you're a good buddy!she gives her a hug

Aria lets Cebra go and looks at Jeannie as she hugs her breaking her attention.

"Gah Jeannie!"

Aria blushes.

"Don't make me look soft in front of this jerk."

For a split second Cebra looks at Aria seeing a bit of humanity for the first time ever. He cant help but stare at them both with curiosity.

"Well... at any rate I plan to bring and end to all of this. The same people funding the Colosseum are the same people stealing dead bodies. And it's likely we're all in danger, dont think anyone is allowed to leave of their own free will. Aria if you really do want to keep Jeannie safe then just keep doing as you were and fight. Jeannie you too need to act normal like nothing is happening. I'm going to have to meet a friend and see what he found out about the champion here. I have seen her once before and she's... well she's not very good, not at all."

"So you want to take down the whole Colosseum? Isn't that a bit much?"

Oh ok then, sorry Jeannie wonders what happened to make them so mad at each other.

Jeannie listens to cerba talk about stuff act normal ok, huh what a mess I thought this was just a fun game to play but it's all weird, you better not let us get body snatched.

(Next morning)

Cebra starts doing his rounds on guard duty, the place is very lively with fighters going to their first matches of the day. Some clearly more upbeat than others. Making his way past the med bay Cebra passes by something he hoped he wouldn't have to see. On a gurney covered by a white sheet is a dead fighter, likely a human as they were more fragile than the average meta. Something about the body made Cebra curious, he couldn't help but take a peek and possibly plant a tracking device. The truth of the body widen Cebra's eyes in shock as he quickly dropped the sheet and turned away in disgust. It wasn't the fact the body was mangled like some animal tore into it... it was Ryan.

"I... I'm sorry Ryan, even you didn't deserve this."

Cebra walks away down his route visibly distraught.

"Whoever did this... I'll make them suffer horribly"

Back downstairs in the room occupied by Aria and Jeannie, Aria is awake in her torn tank top and underwear looking at her face in the mirror. The confrontation she had with Cebra still fresh in her mind as she rinsed her face with cold water.

"... How does he always get under my skin?"

Aria sighs deeply hanging her head.

"Asshole."

good morning! huh no I'm Jeannie that's a funny say good morning calling someone that Jeannie confused stretched still sleepy not sure what Aria was talking about.

she was still wearing her pink swimsuit from her match deciding she might as well wear that while she was here, plus she didn't expect to be spending the night, so that and the t shirt and blue jeans she was wearing earlier was all the cloth she had and it was also more comfortable to sleep in

she looked in the mirrorlooky all better! she points to her stomach the bruise she had from her fight had gone away her skin there back to its normal porcelain color.

she turned around and was happy to see the little cuts on her back from the cage were gone, she picked under the band-aid on her shoulder and was happy to see no teeth marks and it healed up.

she makes a funny face taking it off.looks like I just need a good nap! she then playful whistles enjoying the sight of her attractive friend in her undies

nice butt, huh you might want a new top, that one's kinda messy and torn, have you had for awhile? so what's for breakfast I'm hungry

Aria turns her head back surprised Jeannie heard her.

"Oh!... n no not you Jeannie, I didn't even know you were awake aha."

Aria takes a close look at Jeannie's body.

"Huh wow you really are a meta then, but you look so human. But no denying this you really do heal fast."

Aria smirks at Jeannie's whistling and gives her own ass a smack while winking at Jeannie.

"I know right? Cant tell you how many times this booty got me free drinks at the bar."

"Well you kinda have to know how to flirt with guys and girls in a certain way heh you'd be surprised how desperate some guys can be... and a few girls I suppose."

Aria stops for a second and glances away when Jeannie mentions Aria looking human.

"... Well if you're hungry there's still some time before the fights begin, or at least my next one. We can go get something to eat though I dont think I'll ever be quite as hungry as you are Jeannie hmhmhm"

Aria slips on a pair of tight leather pants and a leather jacket that looked quite worn and tatered. likely from many fights.

"Ok Jeannie, let's get something in your belly before you pass out hahahah!"

Aria grins wide as she laughs.

"I've got a little time before my fight so I dont think I'll be eating, dont wanna get hit and throw up my breakfast... eww bleh."

The room where the Arena champion dwelled was considerably more upscale than the other fighters. Even the long hallway looked like it belonged in a five star hotel in some exotic country. Cebra patrolled the hall but in secret wanted to plant a few miniature cameras inside. Fortunately Cass Mora was in a match and it would be a while before she returned, the entire hallway was empty as Cebra was the only one assigned to guard the floor. Cebra spotted the security cameras along the hall, thinking far ahead of time he planted a bug in the security system. This forced the cameras to go on a loop of recorded footage so that they wouldn't record Cebra stealthily picking the lock, or rather shifting the metal pieces of the lock to open.

He sneaks inside closing the door quietly and starts sleuthing around the place. Nothing out of the ordinary, nothing that screamed "HEY LOOK! SIGNS OF CORRUPTION AND EVIL!" Cebra however was a persistent detective, or so he told himself. Cebra had finally given up and took a rest sitting on the rather plush bed... But wait. Cebra looked in the corner seeing an energy cell charger in the corner. Cebra understood how cyborgs worked and that was strange. The charger should be right beside the bed to charge the energy cells in a cyborg as they sleep. Cebra went over to check the charger examining it carefully, what he found was shocking. Inside the cell was a control node, a device Cebra knew was meant to control the brain of cyborgs like puppets. Cebra was horrified because he knew what company was now responsible for this.

"... Orion"

Just then footsteps arrived at the other side of the door, Cebra jumped out of his shock. The door started to open and Cebra quickly rolled under the large bed.

good idea I wouldn't want that Jeannie smiles liking the idea of food.ewww that would be gross, you might want to eat a little bit though if you don't you'll be hungry and have no energy to fight.

"Maybe after the fight... Really I'm wondering what's going to happen. If this place really is just some scam to kidnap fighters. I mean should we do anything? Or jus leave it up to that idiot?"

In the Champions room Cebra hides under the bed listening to the two voices now in the room.

"Is she performing well?"

"Cant complain. It' not like We needed her for more than this."

"I'm not fond of seeing one of our units used as a meat grinder... What do you need the bodies for anyway?"

"That part is proprietary information Mister Corba... suffice to say even flesh is raw material."

"Hey you're talking to a cybernetics and organics manufacturer. Well we hope Cass Mora keeps you happy."

"I'm sure she will, my regards to your boss."

The named Corba leaves the room first, he drop something on the bed before leaving. The other man touches something on the control node then leaves the room. Cebra comes out a moment later thinking about what those two were talking about.

"So... The Cyborg is being controlled by the people running this arena? To produce corpses? If only I knew why they need raw human material... The only place all of this flesh and stuff could be going is lower down in the facility. I need to find a way down to the lower level... A solid plan, so I can snake my way down... Maybe a box?... No that's just stupid."

Cebra quietly sneaks out after planting the cameras around then continues his security rounds.

huh ok I want snacks though which way was the food place again? these hallways all look alike
after finding the way to the cafeteria Jeannie gets a big stack of pancakes.

muum yummy, tummy going to be happy now she starts to eat and thinks about Aria's questions
what idiot? huh well maybe we should tell the cops I'm sure most of what they're doing is illegal