The New Gladiators
You awake in chains, unable to speak, unable to move more than the inches your restraints allow.
"Welcome!" a man greets you and the others you begin to notice around you, all in similar restraints, "You've all been chosen for a glorious purpose!" He raises his arms dramatically, the flaring of his coat by that motion bringing attention to his strange black attire, "You have all been selected from your respective worlds and times as the strongest warriors of the bunch. Now, a few of you might not have had your training and all that yet, and that's my fault. I didn't grab you from the proper point in your timeline, so that one's on me, but that shan't be too big a deal. You're all known for being resourceful, after all."
He began to pace, not impatiently or with anxiety, but like a showman paces across a stage to address his audience. He was on a stage, you realize. The setup in which you and the others were arranged made it so you were in a sort of half-circle around where he stood on an elevated platform, with nothing but a blank grey wall to distract from him.
"You see," he said, "I've been bored. Very, very bored. Tis' the nature of things out here I suppose. But I wasn't going to settle with that, oh no, so I gathered you all!" He grinned at his captive audience as though you should all be absolutely thrilled at that prospect.
He stopped his movement suddenly in the exact center of his stage, snapping into an authoritative, all-business posture in an instant and changing his voice to match, "Here's what you will be doing. I'm going to have you all interact. Just get to know each other for a little while. Once you are properly acquainted, I'll pair you off into partners and have each duo face off in the wonderfully exciting tournament I've arranged for all of you!" He gradually lost the businesslike tone as he spoke, regaining his previous delight.
He grinned, his eyes sparkling with anticipation, "The last duo left alive will receive a personalized prize! I've scoured all of your histories for exactly what it is you most desire, and I've come up with a prize for each of you accordingly. If any of you need a question answered," he gestured to the wall behind you, where, just out of your sight, is a chalkboard with all of the required chalk in the tray, but no eraser, "all you need to do is write it out on there. If it is a question you're allowed to have answered, the answer will appear for you immediately. If not, nothing will happen."
He then tapped a foot against the ground and raised a hand in farewell, "I will see you all again when it is time for the pairing!" The ground then lowered beneath him, leaving his hand to be the last you see of him before the ground closes up and your restraints fall away, your voice returning with your freedom of movement.
Spoiler! :
Gender:
Points: 999
Reviews: 95