>>6177487“Fifteen? Impressive. I remember back when I was fifteen, I was still struggling to learn to surpass my limits under my old master.” you say, feeling a bit nostalgic for a moment before pushing the memories of happy times away, focusing back on the woman before you. “But what kind of champion? Some sort of organized fighting circuit? So, that symbol on your suit and the device on your head is some sort of brand logo?”
“Wait, you don't get Dreadzone out here?” she asks you, sounding genuinely shocked. “Seriously?”
“Dreadzone? What's that?” you ask, seeing her expression shift rapidly for a few seconds. From shock to disbelief to excitement, clearly eager to tell you all about it. However, before she can start, one of the waitresses you recognize, Jennifer, a shorter redheaded woman with large... Personality bounces up to the table with a smile.
“Afternoon! Yer steaks're on the grill, but what can I getcha both to drink?” she asks, pen and notepad in hand. “Ya want yer usu'l?”
“Yes, if you've got it.” you reply, then turn back to Chaya. “What about you?”
“I'm, uhh, not from around here.” she says, playing off the fact she's not even of this world. And with her slightly familiar but completely unplaceable accent, compared to anyone of this world you've ever spoken to, the waitress never even questions it. “What would you recommend?”
“Oh, if yer doin tha Challenge, I'd say you'd want a sweet tea. Helps it go down smoother.” she replies with a wink, grinning with her gap-toothed grin at Chaya.
“Great, I'll have that.” she says, the waitress scribbling it down before turning back to you, giving you a wink as well before turning bouncing away. You force yourself to turn your gaze back completely to Chaya, not letting the jiggling of her movements draw your eyes even unconsciously. But Chaya clearly has no such inhibitions, actively staring for a few moments before turning back to you.
“She seems... Friendly.” Chaya says, her train of thought completely derailed. “What were we talking about?”
“You were about to tell me about you being a champion, and this 'Dread zone' you mentioned.” you say, seeing her eyes light up. Immediately she goes into the organization, how Dreadzone is basically a televised/streamed gladiatorial combat sport, one that doesn't shy away from the blood and gore of violence. How the organization is so large and powerful it owns entire planets, turning them into obstacle courses, deathrace tracks, and other sources of entertainment for the universe at large. And how, since she was a prepubescent girl had been fighting there. Working her way up the ranks, finally dethroning the then-champion and claiming the title for herself.
