Neo Colosseum

"It's more of an outlet for my frustration I guess." Aria thought to herself as she wrapped bandages around her hands. It was easy to think in the dimly lit locker room deep underground, ones thoughts sort of echoed. Aria came by this sort of underground Colosseum by accident. She had been drinking one night and was rather intoxicated, she ran into a rather tall muscular gentleman. Well the man gave her an earful and Aria was not having any of it, She sucker punched him hard into a brick wall and just beat the daylights out of him. Little did she know this man was a contender for the underground arena named Neo Colosseum. The promoter of the Arena saw Aria knock the considerably larger opponent out. The Woman managed to talk Aria into a trial run at Neo Colosseum.

Aria had begun to have doubts though, the security in this place was unusually high. The doors were heavily reinforced to the point it was like a prison. In he ring the announcer was hyping up the crowd, the cheers got progressively louder. Aria put the other thoughts out of her mind and focused on the upcoming fight. In another area of the Arena Cebra was in disguise as maintenance. He was gathering information on this arena after he started to notice prisoners going missing like some of his informants. Neither of them had any idea that the other was in the area which was for the best at the moment anyways. It was Cebra's job to provide the wealthier members of arena with drinks, food, women... whatever they liked. It was a grotesque sight watching the wealthy sit up high and dine on fine foods over blood sports but alas.

Aria enters one corner of the ring dressed in black jeans and a ripped Zeppelin shirt with her hands gloved up. In the opposite corner a rather tall, bald tatooed man in a grey shaggy shirt and ripped jeans glares over at Aria like some rabid raccoon. Aria looks back completely unimpressed almost looking through him he's so irrelevant. The two fighters stand and the gong sounds, the skinny tall dude charges Aria. Aria stands still with a blank expression and bends backwards easily dodging the swing. his pattern continues for five whole minutes. The man swings with all his speed and might at Aria but she manages to avoid every swing with her hands still in her pocket. At this point the man is getting strained and tired while Aria has yet to throw a punch, he collapses to his knees breathing heavily. The girl two thirds his height now stands above him looking down.

"Is this really the best this shit hole has to offer? I was told I would get a challenge... Do you know how pathetic you look right now? I cant stand you weak little things."

The man looks up at Aria confused and out of breath, he cant understand how such a little thing moves so fast. Aria having grown bored of this so called "fight" grabs the mans head with both hands and knees him hard to the skull cracking the skull and causing internal bleeding... the man died shortly after on the sand floor of the ring. His blood draining into the sand and the crowd cheering for blood made Aria rather sick. She didn't kill him for the entertainment of these savages but never the less she was curious about this Arena and who ran it. She'd stick around to see what exactly was going on.

huh if you don't talk about fight club how are you supposed to know how to get there. Jeannie wondered she had heard about some kinda colosseum thingy.

like gladiator or something? well maybe more like Bloodsport being a kung fu movie fan and martial artist that suits her better.

having been busy doing hero stuff she hadn't had time for sports lately and that was kinda depressing she liked playing games.

she thought it sound like something fun to try but was quite lost come on she even bothered wearing a t-shirt from the fight club movie thinking if you can't talk about fight club maybe you can advertise your interest in it on your shirt. hoping some would point her in the right direction. huh, she wonders if there is cool prizes for the winners.

Standing across the street from Jeannie is a young man in sweatpants and a T-shirt in good shape. He's talking with another older man in a suit and tie very wealthy threads. The older man looks over the crowd of people as he talks to the younger.

"So you know how it goes kid, pick anyone here you like... of a certain age limit. You beat them and you're in on the rookie circuit."

"Yeah is it that easy dude? What about the cops? I dont see me assaulting someone just going away."

"You let me worry about the police. I'll make sure any chares against you go away, that's part of my job as well."

The young man smirks and looks over the crowd scanning for what he thought would be a weak but appropriate opponent. He skips over the elderly and children obviously, the disabled as well. As he scans his eyes narrow on the cute little blonde with the fightclub T-shirt. He grins sadistically chomping at the bit to beat what he thought was just some defencless blonde bimbo.

"How about her?"

Pointing out Jeannie in the crowd?

"That little blonde chick? Are you serious?... That's kinda low but I guess not against the rules. Well go ahead then just be quick."

The young man walks through the crowd aggressively pushing past people keeping his eyes locked on Jeannie. He gets close to her then pushes her into a brick wall.

"Come on punk, let's see what you've got!"

ouchies that's mean
Jeannie gets up
hey what's the big idea mister? you don't just go around pushing people. Jeannie was confused by the strange man.
punk no you got me confused I'm Jeannie.
also, you might need some glasses cause cm punk is a guy. so your eyes must be really bad to mistake me for him.

I got a long way to go before I'm as good a wrestler as him

The crowd gasps and gives space to Jeannie and the young man picking a fight with her. He moves up on her and cracks his knuckles.

"Sorry girl but you're my ticket to a better life, I guess it's not really fair picking on a little girl but I dont care. All I have to do is beat you senseless then... Heh nevermind just put your fists up Blondy"

oh are you here for the fight club thingy? that's good you could help me I'm lost she listens to him talk huh fight me now? I'm not really ready to fight yet.

these clothes aren't the best for that. I like this shirt and would hate to get it messed up it needs to stay nice for if I meet Brad Pitt and get him to sign it for me. and these pants are kinda tight to kick and stuff in.
besides you're not supposed to hit girls, why don't you wait and show me how to get the club.

then we can find some better playmates for each other huh Jeannie hopes he might listen she'd rather find some other pretty girls to play with and not get her nice clothes messed up. also, she hopes that the other people at the Colosseum weren't as rude

The young man looks at Jeannie dumbfounded by her reaction. He had intended just to fight her in order to get into the Arena but she was making him feel awkward. He looked back at the older man with a nervous expression then back at Jeannie.

"What do you mean I'm not supposed to hit a girl? Wait how do you know about the Neo Colosseum? Are you trying to get in as well?"

Jeannie is happy he calmed down and know was talking
duh guys fight guys and girls fight girls
haven't you seen wrestling on tv and you get a shiny gold belt and I get a sparkly butterfly one that's how it works.
Jeannie is temporarily distracted daydreaming about her at Wrestlemania with said belt before getting back to his questions
I saw an ad or something about a fight place being here. and wanted to play but got lost and bumped into you, they should get a sign or something

neo colosseum huh neat name do you guys know where it is?
ok, I'm going to be the queen of the Colosseum! Jeannie smiles happily these guys can get her unlost it seemed

The young man smacks his head in frustration, one because he failed to even start a fight much less win. The other reason is Jeannie's light hearted banter about the Colosseum.

"You do realize that it's not just wrestling it's any kind of fighting blondy. Also you'll be fighting whoever they put in front of you man or woman. There's no mercy... people even die in the ring or so I've heard. If you're going to fight then you better be a lot tougher than you appear right now."

The young man glances over his shoulder remembering the fighter scout he was talking to a while ago. But the man had left likely because the young man couldn't even get in a fight.

"Damn it! That was my chance!... sigh... unbelievable."

eww, Jeannie didn't like the sound of that, killing each other how barbaric.
oh like in Rome with swords and lions and stuff?scary, die in the ring that's no fun why do that then we can't play more. I'm sorry about missing up you chance thingy Mr.

will if we look around and find it we can get you another chance i guess. oh, I'm Jeannie who might you be?

"The Colosseum isn't for fun blondy, if you make it to the top there then you make it into higher society I've heard. They treat the champion like royalty, the best foods, the best clothes, adoring fans. You can have anything I hear. That's why you put your life on the line, not every fight ends in death but most do. Gender doesn't mean a thing in there, after all how can you be a fighter a champion if you cant beat someone of the opposite gender?... Well at any rate my chance has passed for now, the recruiter dude probably moved on to someone else, I'll have to wait a few weeks... but if you're looking to enter then here."

The young man hands Jeannie a piece of paper with a phone number.

"And my name is Eric."

Jeannie's eyes get wide with excitement champion like royalty, the best foods, the best clothes, adoring fans! Jeannie wants that she likes all those things she takes the paper and looks at it.
thank you, Mr. Eric, I hope you have better luck next time she calls the number on the phone to see what happens

Cebra still in the Arena facility investigating missing peoples is now in the security office, he managed to procure a guard uniform and infiltrate the room. Cebra quietly inserts a link between him and the security camera feed so he can see everything at once. He starts paying more attention to a large underground sewer area. From the tunnels come in five boats carrying large wooden crates. The crates are unloaded onto a small pier as a man moves closer to open them. When he opens them people emerge from the crate, men, women, meta, all manner of beings each looking as dangerous as the last.

"This is... no, it cant be... Ryan?"

Out of one of the crates steps a short haired black male with a nervous expression being moved along by armed guards. Cebra disconnects from the computer only to see the chief of security closing in on him from the doorway.

"Shit."

Cebra mutters under his breath.

"You! Pale motherfucker."

Cebra quickly stands up from his chair and faces the bloated, ginger haired security chief.

"uh yes sir?"

"Go to the cells and monitor the prisoner transfer, need more guards down there."

"Yes sir, right away sir."

Cebra goes for the door when the Security chief turns around eyeing him suspiciously.

"You know I dont think I've seen you around before, when did you start here?"

Cebra without hesitation turns around feigning an innocent expression.

"I started last the weekend, I was assigned to the storeroom until a few days ago sir."

"Really?... Alright get going."

Back above ground the phone number Jeannie called answers after a few rings. A gruff sounding woman answers the phone with two short questions.

"... Name and species."

well, the first question was simple enough but the second one was kinda odd and she wasn't sure herself exactly what she was human kinda? oh luckily Jeannie's love of anime helped what was the animal people in full metal alchemist again, that be a good answer she thought
jeannie rose and i guess I'm a chimera

The woman on the phone let's out a long audible sigh then goes into detail.

"Human or Meta?"

Back down underground Cebra assists the rest of the guards with moving the the former criminals and other fighters to their rooms which they would share. Cebra ushers them along until he finally reaches Ryan, the young black man he saw before on the security feed.

"Dont look at me, speak quietly and dont use my name."

Cebra says to Ryan without eye contact. Ryan however looks directly at Cebra for a moment then turns away trying to hide his shock.

"Ceb... er Blacksmith? What are you doing here man? Look I could use some help bruh."

"Shh keep it down... I'm going to try and help you and everyone here who wants out. I just need time alright? What do you know about the missing prisoners?"

"Yo, I swear inmates are straight up vanishing and none a the guards even care. If you ask any questions you go next, keeps everyone rather quiet. But I do know that this aint just some corrupt prison shit, it has to go much higher."

"I see... alright I'm gonna try and fix the fights so you stay out of the arena, but you should know nothing is guaranteed. I'll do whatever I can to watch your back but I cant break my cover, there are many lives at stake here understand?"

Ryan nods his head.

"Good this is your room, you'll be sharing it with two other people. I dont know who right now but you'll find out... just keep your head low buddy."

Cebra shows Ryan to his room then locks the door behind him. Cebra then heads to the Arena as another fight is due to take place and he is on crowd security.