One thousand years after humanity took its first steps on Martian soil, gladiators of the Thothen System fight in a carnival of death. For freedom, for glory, and for wealth. The gladiators of Thothen V are feared as the most brutal fighters in the system – these are the stories of those men. 

 Previously on 'The Gladiators of Thothen V': Part 1, Part 2

Killen stood with his hand on the rail as the Air Car glided through the towering skyscrapers of Balt City. There were no trees on the horizon, no vast green plains full of animals – native or foreign to the Thothen System. All there was were soaring skyscrapers – as far as the eye could see. Balt City was a megalopis that stretched across forty percent of the surface of Thothen V. Founded in the early days of the Visaari War, it grew massively after humanity defeated the Visaari. 

The Air Car flew past a holographic billboard, Killen read a notification that read – 'Victory Day, Show Support For Your Favorite Gladiator.' 

Victory Day, more like genocide day. Killen thought to himself, realizing he had forgotten it was the most important day in the Thothenite Imperium. The day they defeated the Visaari and began the process of pushing them off their land to create the technological wonder they now lived in. Buildings that were self-aware and could repair themselves. Various artificial intelligences that controlled the currency called Baltcoin and practical medical immortality. In some ways it was the best time to be alive, in other ways Killen felt humanity was more barbaric than it had ever been. 

The Air Car plopped down onto a large circular airpad that extended out  from the main building that was the Technorium. It was located in Sector 4, since the thinking was that the best fighters in Balt City needed to have the quickest access to the best technology. 

“Ah, my favorite spot in Balt City.” Steem said. Gliding behind Killen as they stepped off the Air Car with the rest of the passengers. 

“Yes, there's no place better to advance yourself. It's the hub of progress with some of the best inventors and scientists on the planet.” Killen responded.

 A series of short beeping sounds came from Steem's body. “You're getting a call. It's your wife.” 

Killen nodded and stopped to speak before entering the Technorium. The holo-image of his wife appeared hovering in the air – projected from the inner frame of Steem's cybernetic systems. 

“Yoranda. You don't know how glad I am to see your face right now.” Killen said. “There's something important I have to tell you after I leave the Technorium.” 

“Ok be safe Killen. I saw your fight, like I always do. You're in Sector 4 right now and Klay's brother is from that region...just be careful.” 

“He can challenge me to a duel if it comes to that. I'm prepared to fight like always – it's the Thothenite way. 

Yoranda remained silent. “Well let's hope it doesn't come to that.” 

An awkward silence hung in the air. Killen was tired after fighting for several months straight during the Games – he hadn't seen his family at all during that time. “Well the games have come to an end for me at least. I have another six months to recover before I do it all over again. Gladiator's live on the Cycle. It's not a bad system, at least we get time off. I heard on Thothen III they have less compassion for their gladiator's.” 

“What was it you said you had to tell me?” She asked. 

“It's best I don't say anything publicly and definitely not where I'm currently at. Just know that it's something that will help me a lot over time.” 

“Ok. Just make it back to me. That's all I care about. That's all your children care about.” 

“Will do. I'll see you very soon Yoranda.” They exchanged pained smiles and the call ended. 

“She misses you Killen.” Steemed said. “They all miss you.” 

“There isn't a gladiator in the Imperium that doesn't have family that misses them. The only way I can help them and myself is to gain my freedom from the Games. But you know that can take several centuries.”

 They made their way into the Technorium Plaza – a series of mechanized shops, technology clinics, and engineering boutiques existed across hundreds of levels up and down the spiraled building that was the Technorium. This was the place to go when you needed something fixed, created, or designed. Cybernetic enhancements to improve everything from eye sight, to lost limbs. Bioengineering and genetic engineering enhancements to alter a clients DNA or grow new organs. Drone shops to buy and sell drones, or provide upgrades to a drone already owned.   

Killen walked past a large store that sold androids. “You think I should surprise Yoranda with another Maiden android? She could always use another hand around her shop.” 

“Not sure. I could send her a message for you and find out.” Steem said. 

Killen walked up to the shop window and looked into the eyes of an android that was offline. 

“It's insane how human they look. There's such a blurring of the lines between humanity and machine nowadays. Some people enter into the Technorium Steem and spend days in this place – when they leave they're seventy percent machine. I pray it never comes to that for me.” 

“A lot of the ones that do that are Elder's I've heard.” Steem responded before following Killen away from the shop. “I hope you never become a Mecha-Human Killen, you'd lose your sarcastic humor.” 

“I'm not the sarcastic one Steem.” Killen chuckled. “Just give me a new body every fifty years and I'll be fine. I like my flesh and bones.” 

The two made their way to an elevator and exited onto a bustling floor full Thothenites playing with their drones. Everyone stopped as they walked by, noticing Killen's gladiator drone which was much more menacing than the toy drones the kids played with. 

“Hey, it's Killen of Ardon!” A child spoke out loudly from the crowd. “And that's Steem!”

“Ah crap.” Steem said. “So much for being discrete.” 

The child pulled his parents over to Killen and looked up at him with wonder in his eyes. “I want to be a gladiator like you when I grow up.” 

The thought of a child wanting to fight in the Games, not realizing the emotional toll that comes along with it, made Killen cringe on the inside. “Enjoy your youth kid. The Games aren't what they make it appear to be on augvision.” 

“My father is a gladiator – Class 2 like you!” 

Killen looked up and finally noticed the bearded, dark-skinned barrel-chested man towering behind the boy. He nodded. “Sector 4?” 

“You know it!” The man's face was cold and expressionless. “Names Jaktor Loomian. This is where real Gladiator's are born my friend.” 

Killen noticed a tattoo under the man's eye. “An Imperial insignia – are you receiving patronage from someone in the Assembly?” 

Jaktor was about to respond. Then his head leaned slightly to the left and his eyes twitched suddenly and he looked at his wife who appeared equally shaken. Grabbing his son by the shoulder he said, “Good day to you Killen. You have prying eyes on you.” 

“That was weird.” Steem said before turning around. “That's why.” 

Killen turned his head and saw a group of men hovering in the shadows away from the crowd. 

“They're Mecha-Human's Killen. Their body heat is too low to be primarily organic.” 

“I'm not worried. There's no dueling in the Technorium.” 

“What happens when we leave?” 

“I'm working on that.” Killen continued down the path they'd originally been on when they exited the elevator. “Come on, let's find the location Lord Aluxxian told us this Dian Allendia would be. We'll lose them along the way.” 

40 MINUTES LATER...

“They're still behind us Killen.” Steem began to sound agitated. “The chances of them being hostile towards us are extremely high.” 

Killen stopped abruptly at the shop located directly next to the one where they were supposed to meet Dian Allendia. He quickly ran in, followed by Steem which flew in behind him. The two watched as the crowd walked past, not paying them any attention. Then the group of Mecha-Human's began walking by – they appeared to not have seen them, then stopped suddenly. The four hooded men turned to face them and lined up in a row, appearing to position their arms to pull something out from underneath their tunics. 

Suddenly an energy barrier leapt up in front of the shop, blocking the Mecha-Humans from entry. They banged on the bubble-like energy force and began looking for ways to enter. 

“What in the name of Thothen?” Killen stood confused. 

“You might want to follow me.” A woman said from behind them. “They can't see what's happening on our side through the barrier. But we can see them.”

Killen spun around and a woman with black hair and dark eyes stood behind him. She held a device in her hand. “You did that?” 

She nodded and motioned for them to follow her. “Hurry, come with me. The Technorium has levels that regular citizens don't have access to. It's the only safe place to talk.” 

She began walking away towards the back end of the store. Killen and Steem stood their ground and didn't budge, even as the sounds of banging on the energy barrier grew louder.   

The woman, noticing they weren't following her stopped and slammed her hand on the counter. “Look, I own both of these stores. Aluxxian sent you to meet with me next door, but I knew you were being followed. You just happened to step into one of my stores and not someone loyal to the Champion Korien Klay – then you'd be in a world of trouble.” 

“So I assume your name is - ” Killen started saying. 

“- Yes. Dian Allendia.” She aggressively waved them forward. “Now come on before I change my mind and drop that barrier.” 

Killen shrugged at Steem and the two of them quickly followed Dian into a darkly-lit hidden stairway that appeared behind a door that looked like a wall in her back office. 

“That was close.” Dian said as they made their way down the stairs and into a large chamber. A ring of holo-projectors hung in various locations around the room which was shaped like a giant ball. “I would've hated to have to tell Lord Aluxxian that you were killed by Shadowstalkers.” 

“Is that what they were?” Killen had heard rumors of Shadowstalkers in Sector 4. Mecha-Humans that were hired to keep the locals in check, among other things such as spying. “We don't have that problem in Sector 2.”

 “Oh you do, they're just usually better at blending in. They were probably going to stun and kidnap you. There's no dueling in the Technorium, but no one ever said anything about being forcibly detained against your will. No one would've done anything to stop them either Killen, because as you know might makes right in the Imperium.” 

“I'm aware of this flaw in our society, it's believed that if you can't defend yourself then you're no good to the Imperium.” Killen pulled out the datachip and handed it to Dian. “Apparently you know what to do with this.”

“Ah yes, the key that'll need to give you access to the Darkchain.” 

“What in the world is the Darkchain?” Killen asked. 

She looked up from her workstation and eyed him cautiously. “Do you have any idea what you've agreed to?”

Killen shook his head. 

She exhaled and put her head down. “Amazing.” Walking over to him she said, “Killen, the Darkchain is an artificial intelligence. It's the artificial intelligence actually, so advanced the Imperium doesn't admit to its existence.” 

Killen stared at her blankly. “Ok, I've been around A.I.'s before.” He pointed his thumb towards Steem. 

“No, not this A.I. This A.I. was built for one thing and one thing only.” Dian said. 

“And what's that?”

“To wipe out the Visaari Killen. You agreed to become what they call the Jakundai - 'the exterminators.' That's a pejorative they use for people like you Killen...right before they try to kill you.”

Sweat began building up on Killen's forehead. “Oh really? Well that's not good.” 

“That's a matter of perspective.” She said before turning around and heading back to her computer. 

So this is the “real” Thothenite Imperium Lord Aluxxian spoke of? Killen how the hell will you explain this to Yoranda? Killen thought as his mind began to race. 

 

WORDS FROM THE AUTHOR:

"It has been a joy writing this series and it's only just beginning! I have a lot planned for this world and want to take everyone on Steemit along for the ride. There are many more chapters to come. This one was long because there was a lot I had to set up. With your support, I can continue to flesh out this cool new world set in the Far Future when mankind has developed the ability to travel to planets around the galaxy.

The Gladiators of Thothen V is a dystopian future story you don't want to miss!