Page 3 of Gladiator Moon

“Never mind. Samantha Moon, why don’t you summon the single flame?”

“Why would I do that?”

“Because it’s the only way.”

“The only way to do what?”

“To ensure your participation.”

“In what?”

“The Gladiator Games, Samantha, you will inevitably say ‘hard pass,’ so let me cut to the chase. It’s an interdimensional arena on a planet that does not exist in your reality. To get there, you will need to teleport. But I cannot compel an immortal to do anything. It takes all my power to just infiltrate your mind enough to cause the confusion of forgetfulness, but within that confusion, I can act.”

“Act to do what?”

“To hijack your teleport, if you will.”

“Where do you wish to teleport?”

“To his Highness’s arena.”

“Why?”

“You will find out why soon enough.”

“Soon enough for-“

“Silence!”

“Excuse me, asshole. Who the hell are you to come in here…”

“Samantha, I need you to summon the single flame.”

“How do you know about the single fla-“

“I just do!”

“Look, mister, if you don’t tell me what the hell you want or what you’re doing here, I’m gonna…”

“You’re gonna do what?”

“Drop you down on a cruise ship to Antarctica.”

“Yes! Please do that.”

“Do what?”

“Take me to a cruise ship to Antarctica.”

“Why?”

“You were going to show me something.”

“I was?”

“Yes.”

“Show you what?”