Pirates are a rowdy lot. It is a fact rarely questioned and merely accepted by those who deal with them regularly. While the Herald’s crew is no different, the band's leader has a different approach to facilitating their tendencies. To this end, one of the Matron's smaller hangars — designated Hangar Zerek — has been recommissioned as a combat arena... or execution chamber.

Once a dedicated repair bay, Hangar Zerek is still equipped with fabricator arms and an assortment of Trade Federation droid parts that have fallen into disrepair. A squared off section, including illumination banks at each corner, designates the intended 'arena'. The section is denoted by active shock fences, run by nearby generators. It is here that the crew lets off steam, with the hangar bay sealed.

The hangar itself still has a fully functioning force field that comes into play when matches are meant to become more interesting, or when it comes time to jettison troublesome captives. The hangar bay doors peel open, leaving only the active field to separate the arena from the vacuum of space. The control mechanisms for the hangar doors can be operated manually from the control booth or on a set timer, including the force field's toggle switch.

The control booth is the last segment of Hangar Zerek worth noting. Doubling as an observation deck, it is the only obvious entrance to the hangar. All maintenance hatches and access-ways have been sealed in advance, though the catwalks crisscrossing along the upper layers of the hangar remain. The booth itself is sealed, providing a safe haven for when the force field comes down.

The vastness of space had a feeling to it that was hard to describe. The infinite. An expanse of nothing that meant death for so many species within the galaxy. It was always so close, to those who traveled within its vacuum, yet deceptively far away. That deception fell to the wayside standing within Hangar Zerek. The hangar doors had been fully retracted, leaving only the force field separating the combatants within from being sucked into the void.

"Now now," a voice rang out. The overlay of static was thick, warping the tone of the voice as it echoed within the derelict space. "You're going to be putting on quite the show for us or, well... Would be a shame to have to hit this here button."

The threat was clear. the combatants remained exposed within the hangar proper and the only thing between them and a sudden, violent exit from the Godless Matron was the master control panel.

It had been too long since this old Shi’ido took a step into an arena, Silent had ignored the idle threat of being vacuumed out into space. It was too early into the match and he was sure there was more than one person up in the control booth watching, maybe placing bets on an old Sith or the young buck that was smirking on the other side. The Battle Lords body had spent time forming into the now Pureblood Sith that stood in the arena, Silent was fond of the ancient species and took the time to look like them but with a charcoal black skin, every chance he was in view of others.

The Shi’ido removed his black robes allowing his enemy to see his two lightsabers at his side, Death and Destruction he had named them. They were both identical, a sliver blue blade of death that emitted from them, a sharp black curved blade that was used as a hand guard and an added blade for close quarters.

Taken his saber in his right hand and igniting it in one swift movement, Silent readied himself into an attack position. Using his left hand and calling on his old friend “The Force” he quickly pulled a thermal detonator from his enemy Kylex. Kylex was ready for an attack and made his move to catch the detonator on its way to Silent. The Battle Lord was but a moment surprised at Kylex’s ability to act so quickly, but through the Force Silent was ready to activate the detonator and release it on its way back to his owner. The detonator exploded between the two, and Silent cursed to himself for not knowing how to set it of closer to his enemy instead. The Shi’ido was wise in many things but explosives were among the things he was not.

The two were pushed back in opposite directions into the arenas shock fences giving them both a jolt, nothing serious, more like a wakeup call. Silent took note of that and figured they might up the amps next time they get closer to the fence. They did after all want a show, who was he to not give it. Regaining his footing Silent pushed forward through black smoke toward Kylex, lightsaber in hand the Battle Lord came crashing down through the smoke. The Force seemed to be on Kylex’s side as he felt the danger coming for him within the waves of the Force, moving quicker then he should of his lightsaber came up, activated, and blocked the Shi’ido’s attack.

“It seems to me kid, that the Force has taken a liken to you, though I wished to have finished this sooner than later.” Silent spoke

“Sorry to disappoint old timer, but a new breed of Sith are here.” Kylex responded

With a smirk on his face, the Human male brought up his knee to hit an old Sith were the sun has never shined. Instead of moving out of the way, Silent took the full blow to the groin, barely moving back or in pain the Battle Lord simply laughed why holding his lightsaber still embracing in a saber lock.

“You have much to learn about a Shi’ido.”

Silent simply returned the favor right back at the Human and jumped back as Kylex fell forward, one hand on his crotch the other still trying to keep his saber up and in a defensive stance. Taking in some deep breaths the familiar smirk returned to the Humans face.

“I like your style old man, shall we get down to it?”

A simple nod from the Battle Lord to the Hunter was exchanged.

The young Hunter panted lightly, holding his crimson blade in front of him as he prepared for another assault from the Battlelord. The Shi’ido levelled his blade, holding it parallel to his head as he leapt at the Hunter. Kylex quickly stepped out of the way, watching as the Battlelord flew past him into the wall with a loud crash.

“Message for one Battlelord Silent. Ahem.” The Hunter cleared his throat as the Shi’ido rubbed his head. “Dear Silent, there is a wall there. Sincerely, hindsight.” Kylex laughed as the Battlelord got to his feet.

“If you spent as much time training as you do making jokes, you might stand a chance.” The Sith said coldly, quickly raising his hand as purple lightning erupted from his fingers, criss crossing and jumping violently towards the Hunter. The grin on the human’s face quickly disappeared, being replaced with a determined stare as he narrowly avoided the lightning. The Hunter looked over his shoulder at where he just was as the area erupted in sparks from the impact of the lightning.

“Thank goodness your aim isn't as good as your power!” Kylex yelled, dancing around as he avoided more jolts of lightning. The Battlelord began to stop his onslaught of lightning as Kylex charged him, raising his blade while he closed the distance. Silence raised blade as the Hunter approached, bring his blade down as the blue and red blades clashed in brilliant purple sparks. The two Sith enhanced in a blade lock, both sides pressing against each other’s strength.

“Come on you old coot, just give up.” Kylex laughed as the Battlelord began to inch backwards. The Hunter pressed against the Shi’ido’s blue blade, overwhelming the Sith in a show of pure strength. Silent quickly jumped backwards as the lock collapsed, his lightsaber tearing the floor up as he leapt.

“Listen, I don't want to kill you, but I don't want to die either.” Kylex said as he held his saber at his waist. The Shi’ido cocked an eyebrow, confused at this sudden change in agenda from the Hunter.

“If you think you can lie to me, you are sorely mistaken boy.” The Sorcerer mocked, leaping towards Kylex with a quick slash. The Shadow quickly backstepped, the blue plasma mere inches from his face as it came back around for a downward strike.

He is getting faster, keep your distance Kylex

Another strike just missed the young Sith, cutting a hole in his jacket.

“That's it!” Kylex shouted as he raised his blade, once again catching Silent’s blade with his own. The two stood against each other, grunting as eachother’s power pushed against one another.

“Listen, you may not trust me, but I have a plan so we can both escape this battle with our lives.” Kylex said, his childish tone replaced with a more serious tone. The Hunter broke free of the lock, using the Force to leap over the Sorcerer, landing softly a few meters behind him.

“So. What do you think?”

It seemed like only yesterday that the once mighty Sorcerer was standing victorious against many of fallen members of the Iron Thrones Army. How had the Force let down Silent in such a moment, or did he really let his need for vengeance cloud his judgement. It seemed the latter for the Battle Lord for when he next awoke he was in a small tiny cell, time slowed to a crawl as the only markers for anything was when food came in and splattered on his floor for him to eat like an animal. Then at one point the door finally opened and four men walked in with torn, patchy, multi colored clothing on, if it was not for the smell of them he would of know by the clothing. Whoever took him sold him to pirates, the thought of escape of course occurred but it was moot as the four men knew who they were dealing with and each carried their own adult Ysalamir wrapped around their necks.

The Battle Lord let out a sigh in defeat and allowed him to be cuffed and marched out and to their leader. The “Boss” as the rest called him wore a mask and even handed Silent back his weapons, three lightsabers. Death and Destruction by his hips the third hidden within his own body.

“You will fight, you will either live or die rather that is by your enemy in the ring or by hand is to be determined” The Boss said

“But what is keeping me from slashing you all down here and now?” Silent replied

“We have all your personal belongings, including a pretty little human woman in cryo that we found on your ship. Seeing how much medical equipment was around, we took a risk that she was very important to you.”

“What do you want from me?”

“An interesting Arena battle between you and another Force wielder like yourself, you win she gets to live, and well you know what will happened if you lose.”

“So. What do you think?”

Up until this point in the fight Silent had been testing the waters, reflex, force powers, lightsaber forms, Zero that was his form. Kylex had been careful to defend but untrained against the Battle Lords own Soresu training and thus unable to make any damage, now the Shi’ido understood the reason to carry a blaster and the added blades. Too bad the young human truly underestimated Silent in his ability to strike true with his lighting, in truth he was testing the shock fence. Would his lighting weaken the current in the fence? Would the power overload it? The answer was unknown and the cocky prick of a human in front of was growing to be a big pain in his ass as he once again repeated his question.

“So. What do you think old man?”

“I think you should work on your manipulation kid, over two hundred years I have been around, I can see that lie coming the moment I saw you in the ring.”

Reaching out into the Force the Battle Lord tugged at another thermal detonator but released it after Kylex reached out for it with the Force, once he had done that the Shi’ido changed his target to the Humans blaster and took hold of it as Kylex took hold of his detonator. Silent took his lightsaber and cut the blaster in half.

“I hate blasters, so uncivilized in today’s galaxy, what ever happened to a good ole fashion lightsaber duel?”

“Millennials? Umm never bring a lightsaber to a blaster fight? Galactic hashtag Old people plus old times equals sucks Sith spawn spit?” Kylex retorted

The Sorcerer rushed in showing how little the kid truly knew in a lightsaber duel with some Vapaad, the technique was unique it was a shame he has not tried to master a duel wielding version, to be the first to do that would land him in the history data pads, but for now he had a sadistic, smart ass, immature human prick to deal with and he knew how to do it when everything was set in place, he just needed some time now to get it there.