Mika might not be able to follow him very well if he was specifically trying to lose her, but that isn't the case. She almost gets lost once or twice, but with the creature jumping up and down to show her where he was, it wasn't too hard to reorient herself. It helps that she's not exactly huge either, and thus doesn't have too much trouble slipping through the crowds. Anyway, she eventually arrives at the vault door. "Almost lost you a couple times there... Alright. Let's see what you've built up."

The Mechanic nodded at Mika as he opened the Vault door by pressing a several bright buttons on a lower panel. The door made a hissing sound as it raised upwards, as he pointed for Mika to come in. Inside this vault there were at least a hundred people who were all waiting on something. Several of them were dressed in extravagant wears, others were dressed in standard issue battle armor. And there were a few White Nova Syndicate Representatives in the building. The Mechanic quickly ran to a platform as he pressed another panel as it began levitating upwards, and heading backwards to a large tarp that was covering something also incredibly large. It was at least 40 meters tall and was covered entirely by a dark grey tarp.

The Mechanic coughed as he waved to the people in the crowd. "Attention everyone, we have just got everyone ready for my special announcement. I am Morp the Mechanic, you may know of me from my roles in establishing several space-ships. Or you may not, the Galaxy is an unfathomably large place, but I have an offer for you. We all know spaceships are glorious and wonderful, it is true, but they aren't as entertaining in combat as people. You may be thinking, "Morp you crazy person, you are about to engage in a highly unimaginative idea aren't you?", sadly the idea has been done before! BUT, I shall introduce you to the NEXT Mecha Grand Circuit Champion!" Morp began pulling on the tarp and was struggling to pull it off in a dramatic fashion. After several minutes of trying, he threw his hands in the air as he went to the panel on his platform and began typing, as the tarp reduced in size and vanished, revealing a dangerous looking War-mech. "Now then, I do need sponsorship, a pit crew, and others to make this happen..."

Mika hurries inside as soon as he opens the door. And then she's promptly quite confused. The mechanic had been acting like he was going to lead her to a small garage so he could show off a few inventions. But now she found herself in the middle of what looked like a big unveiling ceremony. This didn't even appear to have any relationship to what he was talking about before - it was neither a droid controller suit nor particularly secret, so... What? Why bring her here, then? That said, she doesn't really have any real reason to leave. Might as well stay and figure out exactly what was going on.

"Hmm..." A mecha for that big competition? Interesting, but it didn't answer the question of why Morp had dragged her here.

Morp coughed as he glanced at his audience. "You were all brought here for a special reason! Anyway so those who have a lot of money to spare please donate now!"

Mika isn't exactly hurting for spare change, but this was far from high on her list of things to spend on. She just kind of crosses her arms and stares at the mechanic. Was this really why he'd called her here? Furthermore why would he even expect her to have enough money to sponsor something like this?

Above the Slave Pit, two Cycnocoid Guards opened it up, as they began whipping at a few gladiator slaves who were crawling to get out. They fell down quickly, and bled heavily, "Those who tried escaping will be fed to the beasts..." said one of the guards. Another Guard peered down at the slaves and announced, "Slaves Akira, Shah-Nahul, You two will be participating in the upcoming match against a veteran. You are warming him up for a more important match. This match is not to the death." The Cyconoid guard sneered at the two, "Well are you ready?"

---

A Cycnocoid Guard approached Zharkov, "Zharkov, you will have a warm-up match before the glory of the Festival of Beasts. One slave of the pair you will be fighting, the one with the robot arm, needs punishing. His master insisted that you be the one to defeat him and embarrass him in the arena. The other slave is Shah-Nahul, he is your -actual- warm-up opponent. If he only had more showmanship like you... He could make it far." He smirked, "Are you ready then to show these slaves true pain?"

Zharkov folded his arms and nodded his head. He yawned, walking up against the bars. "I am ready" Zharkov said. Though he had lived years on Praeclara, he had a heavy accent belonging to that of his native people. He unfolded his arms and grabbed onto the bar. Zharkov glared at the cyclonoid, a look of bloodlust in his eyes. "Well?" he threatened "what you waiting for?"

The Guard paused, "For a moment I felt a strange feeling that the universe was compelling me to wait... But." The Guard opens the cell doors, as he motioned his free-hand, down the hallway towards the Arena floor proper. "He should be bringing out the actual opponent, alongside the chew-toy, as I speak." He smirked as he glanced at Zharkov, "Have a fun warm-up match."

Morp glanced down at the audience, who he felt was mocking him with not speaking for so long. Then again, Morp never thought about time. A random individual in the crowd raised a mechanical arm, "Uh yes, why did you bring me here?" Morp blinked, "Uhh sorry who are you again?" The man narrowed his eyes at Morp, "You don't even know me!? WHY, why would you bring me to something that looks like a well-publicized event? Did you think I have money? That I was good with tech and would be willing to help you out?!" Morp scratched the back of his head as he pondered on a response.

"Well I brought a few at random, those who know the reason they were brought, know the reason. You I may have brought uh, I am not entirely sure..." Morp glanced at the man, "So uh, are you good with tech or have money? Or did I just bring you so I had a more impressive looking crowd?"

"May as well stretch my muscles." Akira said, rolling his shoulders. "If they're beasts, it must mean they're gladiators who've been overcome with bloodthirst. And therefore are evil. Which means fighting them...."

He raised his robo-fist. "IS JUSTICE."

One of the Cyconoid Guards cracked his knuckles, as he nodded to his partner. "I will be back momentarily. I require relief for my bladder." He headed off, as the other guard merely nodded at him. "I shall inform if any other slaves try crawling out of the pit. After all, I know how much you enjoy whipping unruly slaves." The one who was leaving chuckled a bit, before he was out of eyesight.

The Cyconoid Guard who remained, glared at the strange man yelling about Justice, "Or you know it could be ACTUAL Beasts. Or sociopathic gladiators, or gladiators we made you assume are beasts. If it was the third you'd be committing an evil act if you kill them. But yes, Festival of Beasts. Also you heard the other match you'll be in. I do not want to waste my breath explaining it again, to such a lowly slave." He smirked as he glared at Akira. After a few moments of glaring, the Cyconoid tapped at his whip's hilt, as he peered curiously at Akira,

"Huh Slave." He spoke with a much more casual and friendlier tone, "Say, have people said you look similar to the Atomic Samurai? My daughter loves the show. Say if you don't die horribly, and you don't misbehave, would you mind signing my Daughter's Cosmic Katana toy? She would really appreciate it Slave. Also I could put a better word on your behalf, I mean you are an unruly slave, and I am positive you need several whippings; But if you behave and fulfill what I say, well if you don't die horribly, which would be a fitting end to your life, I'll put a better word on your behalf."

The guard points at Shah-Nahul, "Now he is a fantastic slave. Well other than REFUSING to kill when the crowd demands their blood spilt!" The guard glances at Shah-Nahul, "Oh! Shah-Nahul, my daughter is a fan of your fighting." The guard scratched at the underside of his jaw, "Well as am I actually as well. I especially enjoyed your bout against Selvak Sourtongue, NOW that was a fun match to watch. Also did you go against Drir'mar the Noxious? I don't recall if it was you, or some other Mastonoid, but it was a stellar fight. An excellent display of the fundamentals." He coughed as he spoke again, "Whenever "Bring your Child" to Work Day comes, if you would answer a few of her questions. I would appreciate it, as would she." The Guard continues staring at Shah-Nahul "Oh also best of luck in your fight. I doubt you'll need it. Slaves, inform when you are ready to battle."

"As you wish, slave-taker. Now then-", he turned to Akira, his posture slouching forwards, "-iron-fisted one. You possess True Will. You shall fight at the front, with me; together, we shall face the Festival."

The Cyconoid chuckled, "I am more of a Slave-Tamer than Slave-Taker." The other Cyconoid returned as he nodded, "So are they ready for their match in the festival? Also, Khaa you should have saw that public execution of that infidel!" The Cyconoid, Khaa who was already there glanced at his partner and inquired, "How did they kill him?" His partner grinned, revealing a vast row of sharp fangs, which appeared to have some blood on them. "They got vermin to eat him from the inside out!"

"... And I missed THAT!? The Goddess must be very happy that even her more lowly of children killed an infidel in such a way. Hn, did you eat something on the wa-" The Partner blinked at Khaa, before quickly speaking "Oh quite. I tore apart some creatures I kept for Cena. You know they are much better when you eat them, while they are still squirming." Khaa nodded, "Yes. Now then... Those two slaves... It will be fun watching them in the Festival."

"Someone needs a public relations division..." Mika comments, though she keeps her voice low, more thinking aloud than anything. Especially because she didn't want that to be taken as an offer. Technical skills were something she definitely had, but right now she had far more important goals and this wouldn't advance them. On that note, she turns around and starts heading for the exit. That was enough messing around for now.

"Uh... Yeah, I guess I can sign a thing." Akira replied, thinking back to the first forged autograph.
He turned to face the fellow gladiator who had spoken to him. "Of course! JUSTICE DEMANDS BRAVERY! WE'LL FACE OUR FOES HEAD-ON, TOGETHER!"

Khaa gave a thumbs up, "The crowd will enjoy the misguided hero gimmick." His partner snorted, "... So what Shah-Nahul has a sidekick now?" Khaa glanced at him, "Looks like it now, if he doesn't die. I'll bet he doesn't die, partially because I want to see the look on my daughter's face when the Atomic Samurai signs her Cosmic Katana..." His partner chuckled as he gave him a quick smack on the back, "Bet accepted. Usual stakes regarding the life of a low level slave?" Khaa nodded, "1 solitary piece of currency." Khaa returned his glance down upon the slave pit, "You may stretch out your muscles for a little longer. They are still celebrating the Public Executions before any Gladiatorial Performances. It shouldn't be much longer..." His partner glanced at him, "Well, they are executing the lineage of the Traitor Guard. You know the one who helped orchestrate the assassination of a Magistrate. It may be awhile." Khaa glanced at him, "Really they actually managed to kill the Magistrate, how long did it take them to do that?" The guard paused as he scratched the underside of his jaw, "They were planning it for sometime, but they were quickly caught, as to be expected of traitors."

Khaa smirked, "Quite. Slaves, do you wish to inquire upon the nature of your first enco-" His partner interrupted, "They do not. I know you are a fan of Shah-Nahul. But there are so many slaves who are far more entertaining in the ring." Khaa glanced at him, "Well then, still let us have the slaves prepare for the performance. The Festival of Beasts shall be most spectacular."

Well Mika successfully left the room, as others who appeared to be taken in for no reason other than to make the meeting look larger also took leave. Morp glanced down at the crowd, "Okay, uh, now then financing! Any takers!?" Some Braxian was making calculations with five of his hands, as he peered at Morp. "Eh sure, I'll toss some finances your way. I am a fan of Giant Robot fighting." A few others in the crowd were still pondering on whether or not to help Morp with his project.

Zharkov slowly walked out of the cave, letting out low and heavy breaths. He reached his arm out, grabbing the cyclonoid and crushing its headpiece in his hand before tossing it aside. The slave warrior made it through the ring- its location was all too familiar to him. Zharkov had walked to and from the ring almost all his life. Though the others saw it as a festival of beasts, to Zharkov, it was a morning commute.

As he found his way to the ring, hearing the crowd cheer, Zharkov raised his hands in the air to rouse excitement in the audience. He put his hands down and flexed, growling in a low tone as he waited patiently for his first victim.

As Mika left, she would notice a group of individuals, at least seven of them but two of them were closest. They were all humans, looked to be teenagers. One of the individuals spun around a large two handed foam sword, as he smirked at another who was wearing a dark red cloak and juggling cloth packets.
The individual with the foam sword pointed it at the cloaked one, "Foul Sorcerer Ganor the Sickening! I shall put an end to your reign of terror!" He charged towards the one name Ganor, as he swung with his sword downwards, as Ganor was throwing a few packets at him.
"LIGHTNING BOLT!" "LIGHTNING BOLT!" Ganor missed these two, and one of the packets inadvertently flew towards Mika. Ganor frantically waved his hands upwards, "PETE! PETE! Yes, I am going Out of Character for a moment, but uh... we probably should move."
Pete narrowed his eyes at Ganor, as he brought down his foam sword which struck the ground with nary a sound. "No, we aren't going to move everytime a person shows up. How are we going to play at Lucky Shots then? YOU JUST WANNA AVOID THE BEAT-DOWN!" Ganor flicked out his tongue, as beads of sweat began pouring down his face.

Ganor, shook as he nervously pointed at Mika, "H-hey wanna join the game!". Pete stared at Ganor perplexed, as he kept his focus on Ganor. "You aren't going to avoid losing Terrance..."

The arena was a massive one, even though it was not even the primary arena of Praeclara, but even still it was an arena of most importance. The arena was circular in its design. The ground level was covered in banners depicting the Goddess of Predators devouring a Demi-God who tried to betray here, as several strange and horrifying monsters were watching on. The floor of the arena was simply dark red sand, which does help in concealing blood.

The crowd attending the Festival of Beasts in this arena was a large one. The upper levels of the arena were glowing with bright blue and orange crystals, while the lower levels were not lit with any crystals and were incredibly dense, with spectators rubbing elbows against each other as they observed the arena. The crowd was cheering in union, "ZHARKOV! ZHARKOV!" Various merchants were passing through the stands, as people were grabbing from large platters of bread and drink, readying their fill for an entertaining battle. From the upper levels of the arena, a voice boomed through the arena.

"And so Zharkov the Crusher shall face his first opponent. NOW then, let us release the first of the beasts!" From the other side of the arena, a large iron gate-way slowly opened... It was time for battle.