The matches began, young and old alike meeting in the center of the circle, The gong striking, the battles beginning. There were 32 matches being fought at the same time, in different rings around the arena. Dante sat quietly in the back of the arena, on his dais, watching the contests. These were all master shockboxers, representing all the evolutions of master Khan's art. The zap of the shockboxing gloves filled the arena, the crackling cutting the air easily.
The crowds were going wild as this round ended, and another began. Those who were eliminated were brought before Dante, sitting below him on the dais, medics attending to them. Teh gong struck again, the next group of combatants taking their places. The first 32 rounds of the contest went long, and it was becoming late in the night, but the barabel hadn't even considered moving from their seats.
Sixteen more rounds would pass, the first of the quarter final combats. and the number of warrriors still participating was halved yet again. The next series of quarter final matches dropped the number by half again, leaving a 128 contenders left in teh game.

Dante rose to his feet, striking teh gong. "We call a hold to our actions to permit rest for all competitors this evening. The warriors will be sleeping here this evening, i bid you all return early in the morning, as teh first rays of light come across the bay." Dante turned, the staff of medics and warriors moving down ramps, coming to chamber s that had been prepared for them, medics tending to the freshly wounded, everyone tired yet exhilirated. Tomorrow would see the end of this, and the crowning of a new champion.

Dante sat quietly in meditation, remembering the man that he had seen when the barabel had taken him to the monastery in the crowd, something odd abotu him, something strange. Whatever it was, it would revela itself in time

Blackkon had sat and watched each and every match duruing the long day, his mind recording the events, particularly the styles of the better shockboxers. It was a brutal sport, and brutality wasn't something the human usually favored, but sometimes the job just had to get done no matter what, and he could learn some things here.

Like a computer the former admiral's mind kept track of his surroundings as well. Almost three dozen of his men had chosen to attend the tournament as well, and had seats in small groups throughout the arena. They were of no consequence now though, the majority of his attention was focused on the smuggler, three rows in front of him and watching the matches avidly. An interesting man this was, intelligent enough to design a grand smuggling vessel, and he was choosing the proper people to work for. Arthorn's friends would keep him in business, and as the young smuggler now new, they paid extremely well.

Another facet of the officer's conciousness was on Dante. Of all things, a human master shockboxer. Quite the oddity. All of these things ran through Blackkon's mind, and before he knew it the day was over, Dante haven't risen and made his announcement. Many of the non-Barabel in attendance began filing out, and Blackkon rose as well, lifting his duffel from where it had sat between his knees. Letting all signs of hostility drain from him the human slowly approached the seats that held Dante and the shockboxers. One of the fighters stopped him long before he reached the other human, and a mild arguement insued, both careful to keep thier voices down to not disturb Dante's meditation. Finally Arthorn was allowed past and he stopped before getting two close, to await Dante's awakening from meditation.

Dante awoke from his meditations quietly, eyes adjusting to the dim light. His students had brought him into the down below with the rest of the warriors, he was sitting in the midst of them, some were sleeping, preparing for the day to come, others were sitting together, telling stories, younger warriors listening to the battle wisdom of their elders. He felt at home for the first time in a while, surrounded by likeminded spirits, it made him feel at ease, moreso than he was around humans.

His gaze turned, his pale skin almost the shade of snow in the darkness of the sleeping chambers. He had felt the human move through his students, not sure how, not sure why, he had felt him, but he knew this man would come, he knew not why, but it appeared that fate intended for them to meet.

He sat quietly, white robe loose around his body, scars of old battles evident. The small metal cylinder was at his belt, the longer cylinder, obviously the hilt of a lightsaber, rested against it, his neck bearing a chain with crystals on it. His icy blue eyes studied the human as he approached, his senses keyed to him at this moment, the rest of the room fading from vision.

"What can i do for you?" he said quietly, offering the man a seat.

Years of command had made Blackkon a very patient man, and an efficient one. While he waited his eyes studied everything around him, finding information and deciding if it was important, then cataloging it away in his memory.

The shockboxers stayed some distance away from him, probably in reverence to thier master. Drachus had not escaped the former Admiral's eye either, he'd been studied very closely. His trained eye immediately identified the lightsaber at Dante's belt, and to a lesser degree the more exotic weapon next to it. He identified the crystals around his neck for what they were, crystals from other lightsabers, thier owners no doubt fallen in battle at Mitz's feet. Blackkon smiled at this, he had friends who also kept souveniers as well, though when they did they usually kept the entire lightsaber.

As he smiled Dante's eyes opened, just visible in the dark light to which his eyes had already accustomed to. He gave him a few moments for the master's eyes to adjust as well, then approached closer. The man spoke, and offered him a seat. He took it, setting his duffel down safely next to him.

"I just wished to meet the human shockboxing master", Blackkon said, offering his hand. "My name is Arthorn Blackkon, and among many other things, I'm a study of combat. Anyone with special combat abilities intrests me. You being a human shockboxer, as you know, is a rare thing."

Arthorn smiled, thinking of the smuggler who had wanted to enter the tournament. He was going to have to talk to him as well. "Your name is Dante correct," he asked.

"You make the assumption of my species, it is unwise. I may be the same height, the same general weight with an appearance resembling humanity, but as far as i know, my species is unknown."

His gaze turned, studying the Shockboxers around him, seeing most of them turn in for the evening, the spirit of competition appeased for one night.

"yes, i am Dante Khan, all though by the end of tomorrow i will be Dante again, The Khan becoming one of the men around us." He rose to his feet, silently, robe pulling up tightly around him. "If you wish to speak, let us go outside so as not to disturb them." He pointed towards the door, waiting for his decision.

Ace, was in back of the arena near the door. Ace never felt comfortable sitting in croweds.There Ace stood with his arms crossed, through all the fights. As the fights ended, and people started filing out, Ace just stood there. Ace enjoyed the fights, but that was not his reason for being on planet he was looking for a job. He waited until most everyone was gone, and started to scan around for someone, that could appreciate he's unusual talents.

As it turns out he found someone just of that sort,standing right in front of him. Ace heard one of the men ask if the other would like to step outside. Ace thought it through, and then said, to himself that most of the people here were in similar businesses like his. He got the attention of both the men " May I speak to you gents a minute. Ace felt the grip of his blastor against his hip just in case things went bad he would be ready.

Blackkon smiled and walked with Dante, his duffel over his shoulder once again. "I simply refer to you as human for ease of conversation. If you had actually been human then the young smuggler who attempted to join the tournament would have been allowed. But no matter."

As they walked they both saw the man waiting by the arena exits. The former Admiral's mind recognized him and identified him. Ace Lohan, former smuggler from the recently disbanded Solo Syndicate. He was gesturing to Blackkon and Dante, indicating he wished to speak to them. "Interesting," Arthorn thought.

He straightened slightly in proper military fashion before speaking. "Greetings Mr. Lohan. You may not recognize me from my former work but I'm Arthorn Blakkon. I used to be an Admiral in the New Alliance. How can I help you?"

Arthorn left Dante's introduction to himself. If the unknown wished to be known he would handle it. Inside Blackkon was chuckling to himself. He'd fully intended to recruit the young smuggler from earlier, and now he was being approached by another. An odd coincidence.

Dante led the two men outside, standing in the cool night air, watching the stars watch from teh nightsky. He turned, looking at both of them. His eyes erene and peaceful....the moonlight glinting off of the blue saucers.

"What is that the both of you are interested in?" He crossed his arms, coming to a leaning position against the building, eyes studying both men with equal efficiency, weapons dangling from his belt.

Niox was exiting the arena when he saw a group of three men, one looking very much like a smuggler himself, discussing something. Niox was a bit out of the loop and since he couldn't fight, thought he might be able to get a job out of it. He walked over to the group and said, "Hello gentlemen, I'm Niox. I noticed this fellow over here looks like a smuggler. I am as well, and I'm always looking for a job. Could you use my services for something?"

Arthorn spoke clearly and calmly. "I seek nothing, I simply felt I should meet you, just one of those feelings people sometimes get, that something needs to be done. I saw you last night when the Barabel were taking you out those doors there, and thought it odd. Had they been assaulting you I would have interfered, but they were not, so I simply let it pass."

He finished speaking just as Niox walked up. After his introduction Blackkon smiled at him, retrieving his datapad as he did so. He typed in a few commands and withdrew the datacard which held the information that had been sent to him earlier. He spoke, simply and directly. "This card should hold information to convince you to speak with me again. If it does, please come to docking bay 38 at your convenience. Identify yourself to the guards on duty and ask for the Admiral. They'll handle things from there."