Havok Bringer

"That is the seed of power?" I asked. I knew that what I was looking at was actually some sort of ship, but I wanted to hear Karis' explanation.
"It is a piece of advanced technology recovered by my people before we were banished. The Havokium pioneered dimensional travel and architecture but had been unable to create anything on a large enough scale to be useful for anything other than basic research," Karis pointed at the hologram of the Seed. "This technology helped unlock our understanding of the data necessary to create large, complex artificial dimensions."
"Like the one your people were imprisoned in?" I asked.
Karis tensed at this. "Correct…We were forced to construct our own prison. In the centuries after our imprisonment, no other species in our galaxy was able to replicate our advances in dimensional physics. Eventually, the Council returned to us within our prison and requested our assistance with the promise of a commuted sentence. They, however, did not hold up their end of the bargain. We used what we had learned from the Seed to create complex pocket dimensions to serve as the host sites for the Reaping tournaments. This continued for millennia until eventually our origins were forgotten, the deals made with the Council forgotten along with them. Over time, we shed our Havokium identities and only communicated as the Coeus collective," Karis sighed deeply.
I raised an eyebrow in disbelief. "So I am supposed to believe that the Galactic Council, with all their technology and lust for power, just forgot about one of the most impactful enemies they ever faced?
"Time is a knife that can carve away even the strongest of memories, Andrew. The Council, having lost its accurate records of my people to the annals of time, became reliant on the Coeus to continue the charade of the Reapings. Over time, we created a plan to re-emerge. I was the facilitator of this plan; you were the key that would unlock the doors that caged us. That is why I was forced to use you, forced to hide my true identity from you. I could not trust that you would do what was best for my people. Contingencies were… necessary."
"And what if I refuse this offer?"
Karis smiled confidently. "Then you fight. You lose. You die. I will salvage the necessary elements of your remains to construct the key for myself. Admittedly, this will take time and result in much frustration on my part. The results will eventually be the same, though."
I stood up and stretched my arms above my head, groaning beligerantly as I did. "I'll pass. Let's just get this shindig started already."
"I beg your pardon?!" Karis growled.
"Pardon granted!" I bowed with a flourish. "I am afraid I don't want to take your deal."
"What?! Why would you pass on this opportunity? There is no need for you or your friends to die." Karis stood, his robes beginning to bellow ominously.
"Couple of reasons, really. Elvis would never forgive me if I kept him from a fight. Especially one in this badass arena. I mean, have you looked out there? There must be millions of spectators in those stands. Honestly, this is like his wet dream. I don't think he will lose, but if he does, he will lose doing what he loves the most. Secondly, I don't fucking trust you. I am sure you need me, but I am guessing you need me to do this willingly. Otherwise, you would just kill me and make this key of yours. There is also the tiny issue of the citizens that you need on your side," I walked over to a nearby refreshment table and grabbed a bottle of something I didn't recognize. I was betting that Karis had ensured the refreshments would be compatible with the human biome. I took a long swig. "Hell yeah, brother! Now that is some good shit!"
Karis' face twisted in anger and hatred. "I will ensure that this is the last day you see, human!"

"Aaaand there it is! I knew there was a bigot with a superiority complex hiding somewhere under that polite facade of yours. Glad to finally meet you, prick!" I walked back toward the viewing window, my back purposely turned to Karis, who was still fuming. "So, here is what is gonna happen. Elvis is gonna fight. He might win, he might lose, but it is gonna be a helluva show, brother. I can guarantee you that. Then I am gonna go down there and rearrange Jax's guts. If you don't return my crew, I will ensure that I sow the seeds of chaos in this shithole of a capital until there is no way that you will have the time or resources necessary to complete this little re-emergence project you are working on," I turned and faced Karis. "You are a planner, I'll give you that, but I am a bit of a planner myself. You think you have it all figured out, don't you? I got news for you, you are still missing a few pieces of the puzzle," I stepped closer to Karis in defiance. "I see you, Karis. I know who you are, who your people are. Now, I don't imagine I can stop you from bringing your people back to our dimension. What I can do is slow it down. Between now and then, though, I am gonna save my friends and set fire to this God-forsaken capital. If you want any chance at picking up the ashes, I suggest you honor our arrangement in full. Are we on the same page?"
"I look forward to dissassembling your corpse when my dog has finished with you, you impertinent human scum," Karis began, emanating waves of power before taking a deep breath and returning to his more amenable demeanor. "Our arrangement will stand. You may go willingly to your demise."
With those words, Karis stormed from the viewing room, and I heard a boom from the arena behind me. I turned to see a dazzling light show and fireworks shooting off along the top of the massive arenas. Everything went black before a lone figure floated down into the center of the arena on some sort of disc-like apparatus.

The figure was dressed in formal attire and seemed to be readying to make an announcement. "Citizens of Boutelerien! Are you ready to witness the depravity of battle?! Are you ready to see the chaos of combat? Are you ready for BLOOD!"
The crowd went absolutely fucking nuts. It was hard to make out individuals from my suite, but I could see a number of different species I recognized in attendance. I saw Rereks, Lycoans, Lacertines, Bouteleriens, and a host of species I had never seen before. They were drinking, eating, screaming, fucking, it was like this arena was the epicenter of chaos and insanity for the galaxy. I felt my heart beating furiously in my chest. I began to second-guess my decision. There was no way that a spectacle like this was created without a predetermined outcome.

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"Kindo, sitrep?" I whispered into my comms.
"We are about our shit, boy. Ya need to be focused on the fight in front of ya. Let us do what we do." Kindo replied.
"Kindo, my crew isn't here. They are in orbit. I have a plan for that. Once you all have finished your task, you need to get out, do you copy?"
"Copy that, boy. We will be in and out 'for these Council fucks know what sliced their bellies. Boy?"
"Yeah, Kindo, what is it."
"You stay sharp. you were just starting to grow on me. Get your revenge, do yer killing thing, then get out. Does that register?"
"That registers. Be safe Kindo."
I walked to a corner of the room to ensure I wouldn't be overheard. "Natasha, do you copy?"
"Oh yes, Captain. I am all ears." Natasha replied. "I need to talk to C.J. There has been a change of plans, and I need the Bloodhound's assistance."

"What is it, Andy. I'm here. What do you need from us?" C.J. chimed in. "I was monitoring the comms, just in case."
"The rest of the crew has been moved. They are being held on a containment vessel in orbit. I need to know if the Bloodhound can locate them."
"Captain, I am afraid that the orbital traffic around Boutelerien is very congested at the moment," Natasha said. "Finding the crew without a transponder signal or even a physical description of the vessel would be nearly impossible. Do you have any details you can share to expedite the process?"
"Standby." I racked my brain trying to remember if Karis had given anything away in our conversation. I sat down pondering, but came up with nothing. He had been purposefully vague regarding the crew. I winced as a pain shot through my head and heard Ses speak one word.
"Connection."
I tensed, listening for more, but nothing else came. "Connection? What the hell does that mean? What connection? Can you give me anything else here, Ses?"
Again, the pain in my head, followed by a single word. "Bond."
My eyes went wide at the realization. He was referring to my bond with Kaj. I had nearly forgotten all about it by now. When Kaj and I formed the blood bond, he told me that I would be able to find him if I needed to. I stupidly hadn't pressed further and never used the skill, but there was no time like the present. I sat down and tried to clear my head; the task seemed impossible with everything that was going on. There was music booming from the arena. People were screaming savagely, and light shows were illuminating my suite in unsettling, intermittent blasts.
I took a deep breath and focused on clearing my head. I focused on Kaj, trying to amplify our connection. Nothing. I got nothing. I stood up and growled in frustration. "How does this angel magic even work?!"
Pain, again. "Feel…him…out."
I sat back down and closed my eyes. This time, I didn't focus on Kaj; I instead focused on the bond. I felt the scar on my bicep start to tingle before it started to get warm. I looked down to see it glowing slightly. "Oh, shit! It's working, Ses!" I closed my eyes again, refocusing on the bond. I felt myself starting to move, not physically but… psychically, I began shooting through the air, leaving the arena and entering orbit. I shot into orbit and began spinning around, trying to locate the vessel where Kaj was being held. Like a psychic bloodhound, I found him. I shot past numerous vessels in orbit and eventually blasted into an unassuming vessel over the northern hemisphere of the planet. I passed through the hull of the vessel and into a room with several individual cells. I couldn't make out the details of who else was there; it was almost like they were blurred out, but I saw Kaj. He was sitting on the floor, his face bloodied and his arms chained above his head.
As my presence entered the cell, his head shot up, and a smile grew on his lips. "I was wondering when you would remember our bond, Captain. I am glad to see that you haven't forsaken your crew just yet. As this is your first time using our bond, I will inform you that it is not possible for you to communicate. You are, however, fully capable of understanding my words. There are eight security guards on board this vessel. Two of the eight are pilots as well. Whatever aid you are sending, please ensure that you are safe. Ensure that I am freed first so that I may assist with freeing the others. I will see you soon, Captain."
I opened my eyes and immediately called C.J.. "C.J., I found them. They are in a Council prison frigate over the northern hemisphere. I didn't see any sort of registration number on the exterior of the vessel, but there is a Council insignia on the stern of the ship. It's a red circle with a blazing eight-pointed sun in the middle. Is that enough?"
"Natasha is scanning. Standby, Andy."The comms clicked, and I waited in what seemed like absolute silence, even though the arena was exploding with sound.
"Natasha hacked the Council's orbital security data feed. Based on what she could find and the description you gave, she believes several ships have contacted the orbital security force about an unregistered ship holding a steady position above the normal hemisphere. She believes with 89% accuracy that this is where they are. What do you want us to do?"
"C.J., I can't force you to go in there. From what I know, there are at least eight enemy combatants on that ship. You won't have any backup," I clenched my fist in frustration. "But those are our friends being held captive on that ship, so damn it, I need you to save them."
"I was prepping before you even responded, Andy. If we can't save our friends, how the fuck do you suppose we are gonna save our entire planet? I got this, bro, it's my turn to do some hero shit."
"C.J.?"
"Yeah, Andy?"
"Go do some hero shit."