[center][h2][u]‘The Devil’s Playground’[/u] Part 5[/h2] Featuring: [@DJAtomika] &[@fallenreaper][/center] The wait for the next match was the longest one Vellios could recount in memory. Both Haze and him were licking their wounds, nursing what they could back to tip-top shape for the next fight. Neither knew who had made it to the finals but they both suspected it was the winners. It made Vellios unsettled to not know anything about them save that they were consistant winners. The black carapace turian paced the room's width in a steady, restless pace as he let the minutes tick by. It wouldn't be long now. As if reading his mind, Aleera entered the waiting room with a cocky smirk on her lips. She was followed by Haze's little admirer, Ithele, who kept close and still glanced over in Haze's direction with unfazed interesting. Vellios made a guess the asari was very selective in partners or this was her first experience, making him shift his eyes over to his partner to see if he noticed his little fan was back. "So, well done in the previous round. With mininal scratches too. Impressive." Aleera chirped with a pleased tone. [color=dodgerblue]"Hopefully the next one keeps it that way."[/color] Hazan chuckled, a little nervous for their next and final fight. Ithele was the one that replied. "I'm sure you'll do..." The younger asari trailed off as if being cautious about to say causing Vellios to raise a eyebrow in Haze's direction for a brief moment, then his expression cracked into a smile. He focused on Aleera to keep her attention centered on him while allowing Haze to deal with Ithele, hopefully gaining some intel from her before they were thrusted into a world of hurt. [color=rosybrown]"Aleera, drink with me? I could use the company as my partner isn't much of a drinking during business hours. I hate drinking alone."[/color] His arm wrapped about the older asari and twisted her gently about, leading her to another section of the waiting room where a bar was this time. It was clearly a different room from before as they didn't have a bar in the last one. Leaving Ithele behind. [color=dodgerblue]"Don't get too worn out before our next fight, Vel."[/color] Haze called to his companion as he left with the shapely asari who was hosting them. That left him with Ithele. The younger, gray turian smiled sheepishly at the asari left behind in the room and patted the bench next to him. [color=dodgerblue]"Have a seat? I won't bite."[/color] Naturally, Ithele's smile had deepen as she edged toward where Haze patted. Her figure showing signs she was in her maiden stage and naive to male company, possibly still learning what she wanted in life and even scouting possible playmates for the future. After all, the maiden stage was all about exploration of all expriences. When she sat down, her spine become ridged and a bit stiff in nervous energy. It was a bit too obvious she wasn't the manipulator that Aleera was. Though it was clear she had information that might help and needed a little coaxing to draw it out. "I didn't think you would... though I can't help but wonder how it might feel." Her cheeks blushed when the words involuntarily left her lips. Her hands shoot up while she bit her bottom lip, her eyes widened when she looked to the turian and wondered if she had gone too far. If turians could blush, he didn't want to know. It immediately harkened back to the mission not hours before, and Dex. [color=dodgerblue]"Well...I guess that makes two of us?"[/color] He said, sheepishly rubbing the back of his head. That statement made her relax almost immediately. Her hands clasped together while they settled into her lap, her eyes lowered down and thinking. "Nice to know I'm not the only one new to this whole... attraction business. I was worried I might go too far and chase you off." She sighed, trying to chase the butterflies out of her middle. [color=dodgerblue]"Oh you're not the only one..."[/color] Haze chuckled softly as he tried to relax. He leaned forward, elbows resting on his thighs as he clasped his talons together. He tried to take his mind off the fight, which helped some. [color=dodgerblue]"So, uh... M'name's Hazan Volintis, nice to meet you."[/color] "Are you always this flustered around other females?" Ithele asked, her blush lessen when she noted Haze becoming unsettled with their situation. "You were so charming earlier and I can't imagine you're not fawn over, namely with your looks. My name is Ithele Aellis, from Omega. Where are you from?" [color=dodgerblue]"Palaven. Born and raised. And yeah, I am. I've...never really been close with a lady before. You can tell, can't you?.."[/color] He smiled, rather embarrassed that she knew he was really not good with women. But still...he had to try, right? "Oh I can tell. Unlike your friend who seems to be rather fond of Aleera and somewhat creepy. I get the feeling he wouldn't have hestiated in the least and still managed to give the aura of a perfect gentlemen." Ithele shivered slightly, then added. "With all those scars... he looks more like a wild, dangerous animal than a turian." She suddenly realized how offensive her words had been toward Haze's friend and quickly apologized. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't badmouth your partner." [color=dodgerblue]"Oh believe me he'd take that as a compliment."[/color] "Not sure that's a good thing... I hope you have a muzzle for him." Ithele commented, jokingly. Hazan chuckled and smiled, shaking his head a little. Nice to know that other people felt the same way about the older turian. [color=dodgerblue]"Anyway...how did you end up working down here? There's plenty of better places for a lady like you to work out there."[/color] "Lady? That's a term more fitting for the matron stage really and I'm far from reaching that stage, believe me." Ithele stated quietly then added on the answer to his question. "Well, I was born on Omega and raised by my mother until she passed away. I wandered the slum regions by navigating the vents which often I lose numerous friends to during our youth. Aleera found me, took me in and cleaned me up. Currently she's teaching me things to use to get by." Her eyes averted at the last bit from Haze, her body hinting at what type of things she was likely being taught. "Namely how to keep the fighters happy and content." [color=dodgerblue]"I understand. Must've been tough, growing up on Omega. I couldn't imagine how hard that must've been."[/color] Hazan smiled a little and gently, if hesitant, placed a hand on her shoulder. [color=dodgerblue]"Hey, after the fight, d'you wanna...go get something to eat? I've got some shopping to do but after that..."[/color] Ithele took this moment to lean against Haze's shoulder, ready to jerk back if he showed the slightest discomfort. Her nose absorbed his sweaty, musky scent for a moment while listening to his words. She pratically purred when he mentioned something about getting a bite to eat. "I know this really neat dextro sushi place if you like that sort of thing which is on route to the black market. They guarantee fresh and clean meals for a decent price or your next meal is half off." She giggled a bit considering her words. "Though after getting sick off it, I assume few people come back really. I just hope you're in a good condition after the right between the Jarth brothers." [color=dodgerblue]"Dextro sushi? I haven't had that before, but if it's on your recommendation we should go there. My treat."[/color] Hazan smiled, relaxing as Ithele leaned her head on his shoulder. But her next words made him mentally stumble. [color=dodgerblue]"The Jarth brothers? Who're they?"[/color] "The winners of the last match and running contestants for the title. I'm hoping they don't thrash you up too badly in the match as they aren't know for their gentleness or consideration to leave their opponents able to walk afterwards. At least far. They take pride in their aggression since their race is very well known for it's brutality." Ithele stated, notiing Haze's stumble and looking concerned she might've chased off the turian from the fight. If she did, Aleera would likely make sure she didn't make the same mistake again. Her hand rubbed her arm slowly as if trying to wipe away bad memories from her surface. "I placed part of my savings on you and your partner winning. Aleera wasn't happy about that due to the fact it was a long shot." Ithele admitted meekly. [color=dodgerblue]"Ah..."[/color] His expression and demeanour softened as he heard her admitting that she'd bet on their winning the next fight, and his arm wrapped around her shoulders gently. [color=dodgerblue]"Well, I'll make sure me and Vel beat them to a pulp. Alright?"[/color] "I'm more concerned with you being able to walk away from it. The Jarth brothers tend not to play by the rules like everyone else. They nearly killed their last opponents before some of the more experienced maidens had to jump in there and force them back." Ithele replied to Haze's carefree and easy going attitude over the news she gave. [color=dodgerblue]"Well...it's just a fist fight, right? What's the worst that could happen?"[/color] [hr] [color=dodgerblue]"Why did I think that we'd been through worse?"[/color] Across from Vellios and Haze were two, fit and young Krogan brothers. Green markings played over their hides and decorated the vivid mazes of scar tissue from various attempts to take them down through sheer, brute force. Their stocky frames were indentical in everything save their faces. The oldest, Uvend, had an eye patch upon his left eye where a sharp tool had pentrated into his skull. He smiled viciously at Krahl and bobbed his head in Haze's direction, chuckling loudly. "Seems like we'll have a fresh pair of turian boots from that one." His tone was sadistic and harsh, gravelly in nature. Krahl snickered in agreement then eyed Haze up, trying to intimidate the already worried turian.His foot stomped in excitement.as Vellios took the opotunity to lean over and whisper to his partner. [color=Rosybrown] "Don't break from me. We're going to take them down one at a time. You go on your own, it's not going to end pretty and you can kiss bedding that little asari you were oozing over good bye. Especially being in a clinic bed for a few years."[/color] [color=dodgerblue]"And what if they try splitting us up? I'm not sure our happy little partnership would go unnoticed."[/color] [color=rosybrown] "Just keep moving. Don't stop, keep moving in then out. If we're split up merely try to regroup but focus on one Krogan at a time. Now...which one do you want to take?"[/color] Vellios asked as the match started, his eyes watching where Haze led. [color=dodgerblue]"Hmm...I'd say Eye Patch. He's only got one eye, so his peripheral vision on his left's gonna be shit. We can take advantage of that. But I'll follow your lead on where to hit."[/color] Hazan eyed up the two big krogans, and even though he was nervous he kept his composure, talons clenching and unclenching as he sized up their opponents. [color=rosybrown] "Good and keep up. I might go silent and when I do.. make sure to watch yourself."[/color] Vellios could feel his blood tingling as excitement raced through his veins. His muscles twitched from the extra energy causing him to shot forward first, his feet hitting the pavement hard and fast on his route to the krogan target. [color=dodgerblue]"I'll keep my eyes and ears open."[/color] Junk, like in the prior match, littered the ground. His eyes briefly flickered through the pieces and smiled when he spotted a sharp, hand size metal shard. He bent at the waist and reached out his arm, his talons snatching it up while Uvend tossed out a haymaker at Vellios' face. Without thinking, his left arm whipped out to guide it past his chest and allowing the rest of him to move to the outside of the punch. His weaponed hand jerked out to slam the blunt end into the elbow, hitting a part less armored than the rest. His feet didn't pause when he skirted by the large tank. Hazan quickly followed. He dashed after the older turian, bending down quickly to retrieve a smaller piece of rebar as he followed Vellios' footsteps. Uvend tossed a wild haymaker and Vellios diverted it rather easily. As the fist flew towards him, the black turian raised his right and slammed the butt end of his weapon down on the krogan's elbow. That made the arm bend, the punch no longer flying through the air. The slender gray turian ran towards Uvend's other side, brandishing the rebar as he skidded to a stop and applied a generous haymaker of his own. The metal bar slammed into the back of the krogan's head. Vellios ducked, nearly getting clipped by Haze when the turian took the other way around and branished the rebar. Naturally he resisted the urge to snap and tried to focus on his memory. Krogan had redunant systems in their nerves which made paralyzing them impossible though they could be 'overloaded' but it required multiple attacks all happening within the same nerve cluster at once. Something rather hard to accomplish for a single individual with little to no experience with the race. Reacting quickly, Vellios aimed his shard's end into the neck back following Haze's attack. Uvend was pissed when he felt the blows connect then jerked his elbow back to slam Vellios' head side. Immediately the turian raised his arm to protect himself from a full on collision. The blow smacked hard into his head side sending him jerking to the side and then onto the ground. He felt something wrong with his arm. It hurt like hell every time he moved it while he shuffled back upright and trying to gain his balance. Krahl then came rushing into the fight, his arm stretched out and ready to clip Vellios across the neck with the force of a charging rhino. [color=dodgerblue]"No you don't!"[/color] Hazan rushed forward and dove in front of Vellios. The rebar he held swung wide at Krahl's legs, intending to trip the younger krogan as he charged. Which he almost did. The blow to his shin made Krahl stumble, and the intended clothesline faltered as he almost lost his balance. The lithe grey turian landed and tucked into a roll, coming up just past Krahl. Haze got to his feet, reached forward and then shoved the stumbling krogan with both hands, pushing the charging mass away from his friend and sending him somewhere else instead. After which, he rushed to Vellios' side. [color=dodgerblue]"Your arm!"[/color] [color=rosybrown] "I'm fine... I've had much worse. It's merely fractured."[/color] Vellios said as he pressed his arm against his torso, his eyes darted to the side just in time to see Uvend coming in for another jab. His weapon hand gripped Haze's neck ring then hauled him downward to avoid the attack. [color=rosybrown]"Stab where a human's liver is located about twice then push back."[/color] [color=dodgerblue]"Merely he says!"[/color] Hazan took the hint and ducked. A quick step forward put him inside Uvend's guard and he jabbed the rebar forward like a sword. It impacted where he knew a human's liver was, in the midsection and to his right slightly. But as the blow landed, he saw that Uvend merely grunted and grinned in response. "That tickles." A meaty mitt whipped out and Hazan went flying a few feet away from his black-carapace companion. He tumbled onto the concrete and landed amongst a pile of junk, stunned, bleeding from the nose. When Uvend stretched out his arm to punch Haze. Vellios forced up his fractured arm into slamming into the elbow then thrusted his makeshift weapon into the same place as Haze. Uvend made a harder grunt then slammed his fists down. Naturally, even though he was hurting like the spirit's wrath, the turian had already moved when the fist impacted on hard concrete. A small sound of metal slashing uselessly against the krogan's tendons were heard causing him to whip his arm back. Uvend expected to hit air, but instead hit Vellios' chest, protected by his arms in a cross over formation. He flew back into Krahl's figure, the other Krogan about to tample Haze under foot and crush the down turian's skull. As Vellios was using the momentum from the blow, his body twisted to jab the metal piece into the Krogan's throat. There was enough power to both propel him and allow the weapon to get past the protective armor. It didn't kill Uvend however. Haze rolled right out of the way of Krahl's stomping foot, even as Vellios slammed into his side. He got up as the krogan stumbled a step or two backwards while the black turian jammed his weapon into Krahl's neck. Vel released his grip and rolled away, but Uvend charged again. He had to do something. And that something was to stop Krahl from sandwiching his friend between two walking tanks. Vellios felt his pulse start to increase, the pain fueling his adrenaline into new levels. His mandibles smirked, the emotion reaching dangerously into his eyes casting them with a sharp, unnatural edge. He kicked off to charge back at Uvend, looking rather crazy enough to take on the brute with full out force. Faster and faster his feet pounced across the floor, eating away the distance. At last second, his foot kicked out too wide and his figure turned upon his side. He slide over the rough textured surface as it bite into his carapace, scratching it up a bit. The grating sound echoed in his ears while his leg stretched out and smacked into the Krogan's leg just when Uvend tried to stop and bring down his fists upon Vellios. The turian rolled to the side, escaping most the damage and feeling the edge of the fist clip his back. That would leave a bruise, Vellios thought bitterly. As the lumbering Krahl thumped forward, Haze leaped onto his back and grabbed onto the length of metal stuck inside his throat. With a firm hold he pushed harder and leaned his entire weight off it, simultaneously kicking at the krogan's shin and the side of his knee. He growled and jabbed at his gut several times with his rebar, aiming at the same "where a human's liver would be" spot with each stab. The blows were finally showing some effect. A burning occurred in Krahl's gut, then spread like wildfire and edged through out his system in that area. His torso leaned into Haze's attacking direction while he tried to rub the turian off. He smacked his side into the pavement then jerked back upright, his movement a bit slower than before, and tried to scrape the parasite off him using the electrical fencing. Hazan reacted. He leaped up with his grip still on the krogan and pushed against the concrete wall with his feet. As he landed he yanked on the metal piece stuck in Krahl's neck and delivered one more knockout punch to his gut. After that he dove out of the way of the krogan's next attack, rolling so he was well clear of the walls. With the turian off, Krahl crumbled to his knee and snorted in pure rage. His eyes hinted red and furiously, filling with the krogan notrious bloodrage. He forced himself up again and let out a bloodcurling yell at Haze. Vellios hollered at his partner with urgenacy in his voice. [color=rosybrown] "Haze, switch me. NOW."[/color] [color=dodgerblue]"Got it!"[/color] With that, Vellios jerked to the right just when Uvend tried to get another punch in. He then followed up with a stomp, missing the black carapaced turian by inches and gaining a counter punch into the knee. Vellios could feel burning happening at the edges of his vision as his sadistic side crept out. Clawing at his mind and trying to twist it bit, by bit and he merely needed a target to be set loose upon. His eyes fixed on Krahl. And Hazan's eyes set themselves on Uvend. He ran forward and clapped Vellios on the shoulder signalling their switch of targets. The gray turian stepped forward and jabbed straight at Uvend's liver spot with his rebar, ducking down first in case he swung any wild haymakers at his face. Uvend was tiring of this game, his nostrils snorted in irritation. His fist thumped into his other as he readied himself, his eyes fixed on Haze then reached out his hand to grasp the jabbing knife hand about the wrist. He was surprisingly quick for his size. Without waiting for any other cues, Vellios shot from his hunched down position and rushed toward Krahl. His fractured arm was cradled underneath as his breathing deepened and became heavier with each inhale, his mind buzzed with adrenaline that numbed the pain within his pain receptors. He didn’t register anything but the krogan in that moment. Haze, Uvend, and the crowd were all background noise, easily ignorable and forgotten in his task. He bend down long enough to pick up a hard rock chunk into his talons. His fingers tightened over the porous surface when the turian slide to the right of Krahl’s charge. Vellios’ leg kicked out to catch the krogan on the knee cap causing him to stumble as his toe claws tried to dig into the scratch resistant hid. They didn’t break the skin, sadly, but it did force the krogan to nearly crumple to his knee as he struggled to retain his balance. Vellios didn’t wait for the krogan to recover when he was on the alien like a varren on a galleus, his figure literally pounced on the krogan’s back and smacked the rock in his hand down upon his head. It didn’t do much at first. Vellios’ legs curled around the underarms and continued to beat away, repeatedly at the target’s head. His other hand trying to dig into the head plate with his claws to rip it apart. Haze diverted his initial stab to avoid the grab attempt by Uvend and he rolled to the side. As the lumbering krogan tried to grab for him again, he diverted the swing with his left and jammed his rebar into Uvend's wrist repeatedly. The krogan grunted in pain as he swung a backhand which Haze blocked, sending him onto his ass. The slender gray turian got quickly back to his feet and assaulted Uvend again, slamming the pointy end of the rebar into his chest and midsection again and again. Uvend snorted in anger. His right fist thrusted forward then followed up by his left, his eyes reddening with growing rage and seeped into bloodlust. Meanwhile Krahl abruptly clawed at his hump, trying to peel Vellios off and rip the turian into pieces. Vellios' hand finally grasped a section of the head piece then jerked it open. The Krogan roared in pain that sent him to all four, his head thrashing into the concrete and trying to throw off the turian parasite from his back. Vellios let go. His body rolled across the floor and rose to an upright position. He then turned back for another attack. A wild grin widening across his face like a predator scenting blood. Nothing matter. Not Haze... not the match. All he wanted was blood, to feel, taste and smell it drowning his senses as he couldn't feel a thing. His heart beat thumped heavily in his ears, which was rushing with adrenaline and flowed easily through his veins. His feet pushed him forward while he pounced upon the downed krogan. Krahl spotted him then head butted Vellios hard. The turian took the blow into the shoulder while his other hand, now fisting a sharp bladed metal piece, shot forward. It tore into the krogan's eye and sank in from the added force, then ripped downward. Orange blood spattered out to stain his front but he didn't care or seemed to notice, his other talons reached to sink into the plated upper head. Haze swiftly leaned right to avoid the first punch, then as Uvend's left fist flew in towards him he ducked underneath it. He looked up and grabbed Uvend's left arm, and jabbed his wrist with the rebar again. Then as the big krogan roared and tried to grab him he dropped to the ground and stepped forward into the big lug's reach, stabbing his middle with the rebar while pushing him backwards. Vellios had managed to get past the head plate. His hand was ripping it farther off the krogan's head, the skin resisting and trying to hold together the flesh with each jerk. The black carapace turian didn't give a shit. His other hand joined when the krogan then wrapped his arms around him, applying pressure into what seemed like a backbreaking bear hug. The arms squeezed tighter and tighter. He slowly felt the breath being pushed out while he exhaled, his spine felt like it was about to give . Knowing he was likely to come out of this badly damaged, Vellios' face jerked forward and slammed into Krahl's face, namely his snout. Vellios felt a hard crack when it broke on impact. The krogan's head jerked backwards from the force as he felt his opponent's hand jab down hard into the soft tissue of the skull. The krogan seemed to have abruptly stopped all movement then crumbled forward. His carcass landed on top of Vellios, the turian wiggling and squirming to get out from under his dead prey. When Uvend saw his younger brother stop and fall over dead, he roared and charged straight for Vellios. But Haze didn't let him. As soon as the lumbering krogan began to move, the slender turian hooked his length of rebar around an ankle and pulled. The massive Uvend crashed into the ground and Haze leaped on top of him. He grabbed his left arm by the wrist and pulled it all the way back, yanking with enough force to feel a crack or two from within. The turian jerked Uvend's arm to his right and stamped down on the elbow joint, before letting go. Then as Uvend roared in pain, he did the same to his other arm. Haze panted and got off the krogan's back and watched as his opponent struggled to right himself, only for his arms to not respond and crumple beneath him. [color=dodgerblue]"Stay down. You don't want to end up like your brother, do you?"[/color] Uvend grunted then stilled. His words were icy and cold, his eye focused on Vellios still trying to claw his way from under his dead brother. "Fine... but your friend is dead." [color=dodgerblue]"Oh trust me, he's been through worse."[/color] He said before he went to help his fallen friend. Haze reached the side of Krahl's body and shoved, helping the black-carapace turian out from underneath the mass of dead flesh. Vellios instinctively growled, his voice harsh and animalistic when Haze touched him. His arm immediately recoiled as if the turian had struck him. The icy blue eyes seemed to become intense with his bloodlust still humming in his veins. [color=dodgerblue]"Oh don't you go all animal on me too, Vellios. I'm way too achy for that. Now get up. We're done here."[/color] Haze extended a hand, open talons for his friend to grasp onto. Serena's voice cracked out over Vellios' omni-tool, for all to hear, worried and slightly frantic. [color=hotpink]"Vellios! Vellios! Can you hear me? Calm down. You're better than this. You're not like this. You're not back there. You're not on that ship. You're free. You're not in his control anymore. Calm down. Breathe. Focus on my voice. You're okay now. You're better than this...there we go."[/color] Serena's voice came up over the omnitool, Vellios' mind seemed to calm and his thrashing ceased. He was breathing hard and completely winded when he looked at Haze. Confusion, briefly, flickered over his expression when Haze held out his hand to grab. Piecing together what had happened, the turian inched his arm out and took hold of the offered aid. Every inch of him was screaming outloud in pain. Several ribs were cracked, his arm was pretty much busted, and muscles seemed bruised beyond what was reasonably possible. Rolling off the dead krogan with his legs, Vellios pulled himself upright...only to suddenly collapse back down. [color=hotpink]"By the way, I'm going to kick your ass for going to an underground fight club, as soon as we get there."[/color] [color=dodgerblue]"Oh Spirits- "[/color] Hazan caught his falling friend and got a shoulder underneath him as the black turian just...collapsed. He helped his broken friend back up as the crowd fell silent. With Vellios leaned up against him, he activated both his omnitools and jammed two charges of medi-gel into his chest and back. [color=dodgerblue]"You are not passing out on me now, jackass. Wait til we're back at the [i]Borealis[/i]."[/color] [color=rosybrown] "Think that's a bit too late. I'm too fucked up to move and I think my hugger might've just fractured my spine so I'm not going anywhere save on a hover stretcher. This is why I hate blacking out during a fight."[/color] Vellios stated, his tone trying to be funny and carefree despite the severity of the situation. [color=dodgerblue]"Yeah well your blackout won us the fight, Vel. Good job."[/color] Haze tried to smile and gently, oh so gently, patted his friend on the back. [color=rosybrown] "Be thankful you weren't nearby...ooww, easy with the patting. I'm still sore as hell."[/color] Vellios stated, flinching. His eyes spotted several asari maidens enter the arena, some with medical bags and others with weapons, while they started to establish order again. Ithele was the one carrying the medical bag when she approached to look over Vellios. However, her first concern was Haze. "Where are you damaged?" [color=dodgerblue]"Don't worry about me, my friend's the one that needs help. I think his back's the worst hit."[/color] "Well, bring him to the back. There's a clinic in another sector, but I don't advise we take him there. That might just make his injuries worse. We need to bring a clinic doctor back with us." She admitted, looking worried. Medi-gel could nearly cure everything, but there were expections. Broken bones, ruptured organs, and much more serious injuries fell in that case. "I just need you to move him there." [color=dodgerblue]"No problem."[/color]