Page 2 of Gladiator Moon

“Yes.”

“How can I help you…”

“Baltazar.” He points at a name written on my legal pad. That is, if Baltazar is, in fact, a name.

“I’m here to formally invite you to the Games.”

“What are the Games?”

“Think of them as gladiator games, where warriors will fight to the death for the king’s pleasure and those in the arena.”

“The arena?”

“A magical place where warriors across time and space meet to wage battle.”

“It’s a hard pass.”

“If you do not acquiesce, then I must use a more forceful tactic.”

“A more forceful tactic for... what?”

“To force you to comply.”

“Excuse me? Force me to comply to what?”

“The Gladiator Games. A generic term, I’m sorry, but it is the best way to describe the games that so entertain his Royal Highness.”

Something chimes in my head. What is that?

“Get the hell out of here,” I growl.

“It’s unfortunate you feel that way.”

“Feel that way about what?”

“The Gladiator Games.”

“What’s that?”

“A battle of the fiercest warriors in the multiverse.”

“Why battle?”

“Because it entertains His Royal Highness.”

“What does, exactly?”

“The Gladiator Games.”

“What about them?”

“We seek to recruit you.”

“For what?”

“Oh, dear Star Lord. My memory eraser is working a little too well.”

“Your what now?”