Child of War

The Contest

The ship landed on a platform and I could already see a huge floating cube behind an elegant building. This wouldn't be good.

My employer led me through the building to where a small group awaited his arrival.

A short Phindian approached, walking with a slight hunch. "Lord Tyranus." He gave an exaggerated bow.

"You're late Eval." Tyranus said harshly.

"Yes, well." The Phindian stuttered. "We were... delayed."

Lord Tyranus raised an eyebrow and walked past Eval.

I followed, not acknowledging the Phindian.

"Welcome, bounty hunters!" Lord Tyranus addressed the others gathered. "Kiera Swan, two-time winner of the Obsidian Sphere, Parwan Derrown, The Exterminator, Sakiyan Sixtat, the Outlands Butcher, Rodian Jakoli, famous for never taking targets alive, Kyuzo Embo, who had the second largest bounty toll last season, Snivvian Sinrich, inventor of the holographic disguise matrix, the brothers Onca and Bulduga, Twazzi, Rako Hardeen, and Cad Bane." He stood before the line of twelve bounty hunters. "Today you will participate in a contest. Those who succeed will be rewarded with a place on my mission." He faced me. "Would you care to join our little contest?"

I examined my opponents quizzically. "I'll gladly put these amateurs in their place."

He nodded. "Welcome the competition, Selene Fantas, scourge of the underworld."

I took my place in line with the bounty hunters.

"Proceed into The Box." Eval urged.

As a group, all thirteen of us moved beneath The Box. A platform carried us up inside of it. We stopped in a massive square room. We stood in the center, waiting for something to happen.

Suddenly, a pillar shot up from the floor and gas seeped into the room.

I leapt and grabbed the edge of a rising pillar before it was out of reach, letting it pull me out of the gas.

We all stood atop our own pillars as they continued to rise.

Rako Hardeen - Master Kenobi - suggested that the exit would be in the gas and that his helmet could protect him for a short time.
I watched him in anticipation as he dropped into the toxic fog, silently praying that he would be okay.

The ceiling got closer and closer. Soon, my hands were against it, trying in vain to push me away.

Then, we heard a call from below. "I found it!"

I was the first to jump to the floor and find the exit, a hole in the floor connected to a tunnel.
Without a second thought, I dropped into it and crawled forward. I exited into another square room, but this time it was dark.

The others were right behind me as I stood beside Master Kenobi. We had reached the second challenge.