Darkness.
Endless, suffocating darkness.
That was all he could perceive in the void between consciousness and,
BOOM.
"Move out, Commandos!"
Explosions and gunfire erupted around him as he charged through a snow-covered forest, vibranium shield in one hand, sidearm in the other.
Around him, the Howling Commandos pressed forward into battle.
"I'm with you to the end of the line, pal."
That voice... it belonged to the best friend he'd lost in this war.
"You won't be alone."
"A lot's changed since you went under."
"Aayla... Aayla Secura."
"What's our next move, Cap, "
"Steve!"
In an instant, Steve Rogers' eyes snapped open and he bolted upright. After a moment of disorientation, consciousness fully returned.
With a slight cough, the super-soldier carefully stood, taking time to survey his surroundings.
"Looks like it's time for a change of scenery," Steve muttered to himself.
This was the same cell Ultron had kept him in before transferring him to some particularly unsavory-looking aliens and humans.
He'd been quickly subdued with an electric shock, then awakened hours later in an identical cell aboard a different vessel, now sporting some kind of restraint collar around his neck.
The collar had been chafing his skin for days now.
Steve finally understood the frustration people felt when wearing a cast, that maddening itch you couldn't scratch.
Unfortunately, removing it wasn't an option.
Knowing there was little else to do during his imprisonment, Steve jumped up, grabbed the cell bars above him, and began doing pull-ups.
This had become his routine over the past several days.
His only interactions with his captors involved them providing food and water, nothing more.
The guards either shouted at him or ignored him entirely, though they'd learned to keep his shock collar ready to enforce compliance.
Cap continued his workout until finally, a Devaronian guard approached his cell.
"Prisoner 1918."
Steve casually finished his push-ups, keeping his back to the guard while tilting his head to show he was listening.
"Prepare for transport," the Devaronian growled. "Time to earn your keep."
This didn't exactly answer any questions for the First Avenger, but the cell door opening and the remote in the horned alien's hand suggested he was finally leaving his cramped quarters.
Cap was escorted through a series of corridors, accompanied by a faint, unidentifiable rumbling sound.
Steve frowned and tilted his head, trying to place the noise, but couldn't quite identify it.
Eventually he found himself before a heavy metal door, and without ceremony the Devaronian handed him a battered, rusty sword.
"This is where you start," the horned alien grunted. "Time to prove you're worth the price we paid."
Confused by this statement, Steve tentatively accepted the blade, and in that instant it suddenly dawned on him where he'd been brought.
A moment later, the metal door opened before him and he was shoved forward.
He stumbled a step, then regained his footing and straightened as he stared out at the massive arena he now occupied, the roar of the crowd echoing throughout the space.
"You've got to be kidding me," Steve muttered in disbelief.
The arena was circular, open to the sky, its stands packed with scum and villainy from across the galaxy.
"Great... I'm in a gladiatorial arena."
He was genuinely grateful Tony wasn't here right now, or he'd never hear the end of it.
"This isn't even how it happened in the movies," Steve thought to himself.
Honestly, this seemed more fitting for Thor, who was always boasting about his combat prowess and love of a good fight.
Cap would gladly trade places with the God of Thunder right about now, wherever he might be.
Steve took a moment to survey his surroundings. Numerous pillars, some standing, others toppled, dotted the arena floor. Various weapons lay scattered about, along with several corpses.
There were also some dead, decomposing creatures that even Steve couldn't identify.
Overall, the situation looked grim.
Just as Steve was about to demand an explanation,
"Ladies and gentlemen!" the arena announcer's enthusiastic voice boomed over the crowd. "Welcome once again to the Sleheyron Gladiatorial Pits! Only the galaxy's greatest and fiercest warriors dare test their mettle here, proving they stand above all others!"
The crowd cheered so loudly the entire arena seemed to vibrate.
"Now, allow me to introduce our combatants for today's tournament," the announcer continued with obvious delight. "But today, my bloodthirsty audience, I have the honor of presenting a man who has achieved galactic renown!"
The crowd began chanting and shouting in anticipation.
"As war rages across the galaxy, heroes and villains emerge from both sides of the conflict," the announcer proclaimed. "Tales spread of extraordinary feats performed when death should have been certain. Many know of the Republic's Jedi Knights. But here stands a man who fought with such distinction that he went toe-to-toe with Separatist forces as a soldier of the highest caliber. Ladies and gentlemen, I present Captain America, Leader of the Avengers!"
Steve grimaced slightly at the deafening roar of approval. Apparently he was more famous than he'd realized.
Or maybe the announcer was just skilled at working the crowd.
Steve felt a surge of irritation as he realized exactly who and where Ultron had sold him.
But as that annoyance flared, a chill of fear followed.
He was completely alone on some unknown planet, possibly in an entirely different galaxy. Being a thorough man, he'd studied galactic charts extensively, and if he had to guess, this was probably somewhere in the Outer Rim.
Right now, though, his location mattered less than the fact that Steve knew he'd walked directly into a life-or-death situation.
This wasn't entirely new territory for him, but he still needed a solid plan for what came next.
The collar around his neck made escape impossible for now, as long as it remained attached.
He pushed these concerns aside when the announcer resumed speaking.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the moment you've all been waiting for! Our newest combatant, Captain America, faces off against..."
Steve tensed and glanced down at the deteriorating sword in his hand.
It was uncomfortable and poorly balanced, but it wasn't like he was completely defenseless.
He'd been training and sparring with Jedi Knights, Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Aayla among others, in various lightsaber combat forms, gaining decent proficiency in some basic techniques from each style. But between the war and searching for his missing teammates, he hadn't had much time to truly master any of them.
Plus, he felt distinctly vulnerable without his iconic shield.
"Just adapt and overcome," Steve thought to himself, settling into the opening stance of Ataru Form IV.
A section of the arena floor opened and a ramp extended upward. Soon after, something emerged before the entrance sealed again.
The newcomer was essentially a large feline predator with razor-sharp claws. It had spikes along its back, a long forked tail, and a gaping maw filled with teeth. Black stripes covered its tawny hide. It actually looked somewhat familiar.
What was this thing called again?
"A nexu!"
"Let's see how our newest gladiator fares against this beast!"
The nexu released a piercing roar and the crowd responded with equal enthusiasm, eager for battle and bloodshed.
The feline seemed to taste the air for a moment before all four eyes suddenly locked onto Captain Rogers and it growled hungrily.
Saliva dripped from its maw, and Steve grimaced, realizing this creature had likely been starved for some time. It looked ravenous, and even if it seemed weakened, a predator that hadn't eaten for days would be abnormally desperate and deadly.
Steve raised his sword and took a steadying breath, waiting for the nexu to attack. It began stalking toward him slowly, not rushing immediately but instead circling to size him up.
Smart beast.
Steve adjusted his stance, holding the blade horizontally at eye level, waiting for the creature to strike.
With a thunderous roar, the nexu charged. Steve was slightly surprised by its speed.
Instinctively, Cap leaped aside and delivered a spinning heel kick, sending the nexu tumbling.
It hit the ground momentarily stunned, and Steve seized the opportunity to rush forward and drive his blade into the creature's chest. It thrashed and roared in agony from its massive jaws.
"By the Force! Ladies and gentlemen, can you believe it?! Captain America dispatched his first Sleheyron gladiatorial opponent in a single engagement! Child's play for this fierce warrior!"
Steve simply sighed and quickly withdrew his bloodied sword, flicking the gore from its edge while staring down at the dead animal with a frown.
He wasn't squeamish, but this was simply unnecessary slaughter.
Before he could dwell on it further, another gate opened and two more nexu emerged.
Instantly, they spotted Steve and without hesitation began sprinting toward him.
The super-soldier reacted swiftly.
When the nearest one was only a meter away, he leaped forward, using its head as a springboard to vault toward the second nexu that had launched itself airborne at him.
He twisted mid-flight and managed to drive his blade into the nexu's flank, blood spattering his face as they crashed to the ground together.
The wounded nexu writhed in agony for several seconds, releasing pitiful cries. Steve quickly withdrew the sword and drove it through the creature's skull, ending its suffering.
As soon as he completed this action, more openings appeared in the ground and walls, and nearly six additional nexu emerged.
"This is never going to end," Steve whispered to himself, realizing that in this fight for survival, things were only beginning.
He vaulted onto one nexu's back as it charged him, the creature releasing a sharp cry and breaking into a run, trying to throw Cap from its back.
Cap managed to grip the feline's coarse fur firmly and raised his fists to strike at the beast.
With all his enhanced strength, he brought his fist down hard on the nexu's skull. The creature stumbled from the impact but managed to keep running. Seeing the limited effect, Steve began repeatedly hammering the nexu's head until it went limp and he used the momentum to leap clear.
Turning around, he saw another nexu charging toward him.
Cap exhaled, suppressing his fatigue, and raised his fists, preparing to face the next wave of alien predators rushing at him.
"I can do this all day," Steve whispered to himself, steeling both body and mind for what was undoubtedly going to be a very long day indeed.