Elevated over a ravine, the Massassi Arena has withstood the tests of time. It is arranged in a circular formation and made by a slab of stone that connects the opposite slopes of the ravine. On its eastern side, the floating arena leads to a staircase and into a near-vertical cliff face. Because of its nearly unsupported vantage that overlooks a several hundred-meter fall, even the smallest creatures can feel the occasional motion the platform makes as the breeze brushes across its cold surface.

Adding to the adrenaline rush of standing within the slab’s concentric patterns carved into the rock, barriers and obstacles echo the Massassi’s commitment to taking every advantage over their opponents. Pillars ring the outer edge without guardrails linking them, some remaining intact and others having toppled into the arena or over the perilous heights to the ground far below. Weeds and other flora cover each surface as nature seeks to reclaim the ravine and eventually send the arena itself to the depths.

A creaky rope-bridge leads away towards another ancient suspended platform with the same weathered, upturned stones. Mossy footing, and uneven ground make each of these platforms unique in small subtle ways. While there is no seating for formal spectators, the ancient stones of the Massassi Arena hold an omniscient, aged wisdom that speak to the things they have seen and the battles fought through history.

A third rope-bridge leads to yet another platform, completing the triad of battlegrounds that make up the Massassi Arena.

A gentle breeze blew through the ravine, causing one of the platforms to sway as it felt the embrace of the wind. Kah smiled as he felt the motion, reminded of the lily pads in the Lianorm swamp he spent much of his childhood in. He moved from the center of the platform to the outer edge, staring down the ravine and spitting. He shifted an ear flap to listen better, and when he could not hear it land he whistled in surprise. The Gungan could feel a tickle in the back of his head, as though he were being watched or someone was coming. He pretended to still be distracted by the loogie he had spat over the side, nonchalantly scanning the area around him a little better.

“Hello,” said a voice Kah did not recognize, but those syllables sent a shiver down the Gungan’s spine. The Odanite slowly turned to face the voice, and he clicked in frustration when he saw who it belonged to. The first thing he noticed was the Inquisitor armor; the second thing he noticed was the hand placed on a lightsaber. In response, Kah nodded politely while never taking his eyes off the man’s hand.

“Mesa tinkin’ mesa all alone out here,” said Kah. “That bein’ dah hope at least.”

“Perhaps you should have covered your tracks better. My time is precious, and how much of your time I take up is entirely up to you.”

The Gungan clicked again, the frustration practically smacking the air as it came from him. He motioned his hand for the man to continue, tapping his foot as he did so.

“What would you say if I could provide you with what you want, the names of the people who hired the slavers that killed your family, if you provided me with something I want?” said the man, his blue lips curling into a small smile as he saw the expression of the Gungan go from frustrated to intrigued.

“And whatsa be dis ting you want?” asked Kah.

“You to follow your heart. I can feel the struggle inside you, the anger you hold onto and the vengeance you wish to taste. Start by ridding yourself of those that chain you.”

Kah nodded his head, his fingers rubbing his bill as he looked at the person in front of him. Kah knew what the Chiss was; the Gungan knew that his own criminal record was public knowledge across the galaxy, and it wasn’t hard to guess what Kah burned for most of all. Those weren’t the answers that the Odanite wanted. What perceived chains did this stranger see?

“Mesa tinkin’ mesa gon’ pass hard on ya offa. And metinks yousa won’t be leavin’ dat answah alone, hm?” said Kah, his muscles tensing as his prepared to defend himself.

“I’ll give you one chance to reconsider. You aren’t prepared for this battle, and I don’t care how strong you think you are, preparation always trumps brute strength. You won’t survive this. Plain and simple.”

“As long as yousa die, mesa no bothered.”

Sabers hissed into life and the soft glow of cyan and red covered the two opponents. Kah clicked aggressively, and readied himself for an attack. Wasting no time, the Sith burst forth with a flurry of strikes and slashes but the Jedi dodged his attacks as they came at him. Kah lunged to the side to give himself some distance, and then used his powerful frog legs to propel himself to other side of the platform. The Chiss charged at him, attempting to land a strike on the Gungan’s shoulder or bicep, only to be blocked by the azure blade of his enemy. Kah pushed hard against his opponent, forcing the Chiss onto his back foot, and making him give ground.

Capitalizing on this, Kah struck back with a fury unbecoming of a so-called Jedi. Again, and again, the Gungan struck against the red blade of his foe, each attempt parried by the Plagueian. The Odanite started to smile; perhaps he had finally found the person who would end his suffering. Perhaps, in a way, the Chiss would help him remove his chains after all.

Brimstone countered each of the Gray Jedi’s strikes: A slash to the left, a parry to the midsection, a thrust to the right. Each was countered to perfection. Vapaad was an unusual style, but only those who had mastered it knew the intricacies of countering each aspect of that fluid motion. In the hands of a light sider or even a gray, it helped them tap lightly into the dark side of the Force. To a Sith, like himself, it opened him fully into a deadly weapon of power. The Chiss knew he was facing it, hence why he was able to counter it. As they battled, he studied his opponent's movement. He knew he was relying on brute strength only.

Kah, while in mid attack, quickly jerked vibrodagger from his belt a in an attempt to slit one of the Chiss’ wrist. The attack failed as Brimstone sensed the attack coming through a tremor in the Force, allowing him to slice the dagger in half with a flick of his saber. This momentary distraction at the loss of the Vanguard’s dagger made him unaware of the Chiss grabbing a hold of his left elbow. With a twist drop of his hip, the Gungan was sent with a jolt and hurled into the ravine. A noticeable splash, unlike before, was heard as the Odanite hit the water, dropping his lightsaber into its depths.

The Plagueian turned off his lightsaber and placed it back on his belt, all while taking a kneeling crouch. He then pulled out one of his blasters, a chromium plated WESTAR-35. With its hair trigger modification, he knew the Jedi, once he returned, would expect a delay in the shot. Brimstone knew this split reaction was the difference between catching an opponent off guard or not.

Meanwhile, in the water, Kah found his lightsaber, flickering its green blade due to the water seeping within. He reached out to grab its handle, turning it off. As he slipped it to his belt under his now waterlogged robe, he swam back up to the water’s edge. With his bulbous eyes, he peered out to see the Chiss pointing a blaster towards him, waiting. The Gungan knew his lightsaber wasn’t going to deflect any incoming blasts due to the water within it. Kah thought for a second. He decided to see what the Chiss had to say about the slavers that he mentioned before. “Anything is better than dying after a blunder meesa fell for” he thought to himself.

As the Vanguard stood, Brimstone watched him shake the water out of his elongated ears. Noticing that his weapon wasn’t in his hands, he removed his finger away from the trigger and replaced hit pistol back into his sheath on his left hip.

“So I see yousa are ambidextrous, Plaguieian” spoke the Gungan.

“I’ve learned through war that one must use all his extremities to the fullest extent” replied Brimstone with a slight smirk. “Now that you have learned quickly that brute strength isn’t the answer, perhaps you are willing to consider my offer before our sparring session you wanted.”

Brimstone stood back up. As he looked around the surrounded landscape of the former Massassi Arena, he spoke to him. “This planet was once a haven of slavers by the Empire during the post-Republic events. Our military had run ins with many over our time. To be honest, I don’t care for slavers.”

Kah snorted out a chuckle.

“What’s seems to be amusing?” asked the Chiss.

“Only that Plagueis is well known for using slaves for their benefit and yousa here claiming yousa don’t like those who enslave. Hypocritical meesa think?”

Brimstone smiled. “Good reply. So I guess instead of fulfilling your thirst of revenge, you’d rather end your life here and by another’s hand because you are a coward. And here I thought you were the Scourge of Lianorm, the thorn in the side of the Empire.” Brimstone felt the rage build within his adversary. As he tapped both of his blasters on his sides, he continued. “Your choice. We can fight here and you die as you are, a nobody or we can go kill some slavers nearby and you live as you once did, the Scourge, Gungan.”

The Gungan stared up at the Chiss, hearing Sithly words come from him and wiggle into the ears of the Jedi. He stared for but a moment and then nodded enough for it to be visible, pretending he had reconsidered the offer the Plagueian had laid out.

“Yousa right, boyo. Mesa not be da ting mesa once was. It be high time mesa change dat,” shouted Kah.

Victory. Brimstone seemed to relax, and that was exactly what the Odanite wanted. When he saw his opponent’s hands go limp and move away from their weapons, Kah reacted. He reached out with his mind and unleashed a burst of raw power centered at his enemy. Sensing it coming, Brimstone was able to dodge the brunt of the attack only to be struck in the shoulder and sent spinning to the ground.

The Gungan wasted no time, reaching out once more with mental tendrils to grip the various rocks and boulders one at a time that surrounded him. Different sizes and shapes flew from him one at a time as he gazed up at the platform, aiming at precise targets. He hurled them at the various branches and supports that kept it stable, and with little effort the stone structure crumbled and gave way. The Chiss fell with the crumbling rock and into the depths below. Kah launched himself into the air over the water with his powerful frog legs, using the momentum from his descent to pierce the surface and spear tackle the Sith further into the depths. The Plagueian fumbled for a moment, trying to grab his saber, trying to pierce the heart of the Scourge. But it wasn’t there, an inconvenience from the fall. Kah smiled, watching bubbles pour out of the Sith’s mouth as he uttered something negative.

The Odanite delivered a series of blows to Brimstone’s side, eventually kicking the Plagueian away from him. Brimstone reached for his blasters as he propelled through the water, firing at his target with murderous intent, only to have Kah dodge each one with ease in his natural environment. Another inconvenience from the fall. He cursed himself for kicking his opponent into a home field advantage, angry for creating such a tactical blunder.

Kah swam towards an outcropping of rocks, placing his legs against it and propelling him back towards Brimstone. When he reached the Chiss, his hands laced around his throat and began squeezing harder. The Gungan smiled when he watched the Sith struggle, hitting the Odanite’s arms first in an attempt to break the hold. But the Scourge was stronger than his opponent. Kah smashed his head against the Plagueian’s and smiled as he saw blood from the blue nose of Brimstone begin to mix with the water. Harder and harder, Kah’s grip squeezed the windpipe of his enemy.

It was at this point, Brimstone realized he was losing and made a last ditch effort to preserve his legacy. He summoned all the anger and rage inside himself and expelled it through beautiful arcs of lightning. As the lightning ripped from his fingertips, it encircled both he and the Gungan. Pain rippled through both of their bodies, and yet the vice grip the Scourge had around the Plagueian’s neck did not budge. More rage, more anger, more pain. The lightning continued for a few more moments, the Gungan feeling the dark energy of the Sith ripple through him.

And then, as quickly as it started, the lightning ceased. Both men rose to the surface of the water, backs breaching the surface and beginning to bob as corpses do. Blistered skin and a strange aroma peeked out from the water, until finally Kah’s head whipped upward. He looked frantically to his left and right, eventually seeing the lifeless body of Brimstone. He swam over, grabbing the armor that once belonged to the Chiss, and dragged him to the shore.

“Huh. Yousa don’t change color when yousa get strangled. Interestin’,” said Kah, as he dragged the Plagueian through the sand.

He nudged the corpse onto its back, kneeling down and removing the cowl of the Chiss. He grabbed the dagger he still had sheathed on his belt, and dragged the blade hard against the soft flesh of Brimstone’s neck, bringing it to his mouth and lightly dragging his tongue against the blade. He leaned closer to the defeated corpse and whispered in his ear.

“Yoursa clan be next.”

Kah thought about it for a moment, contemplating the Chiss’ offer. “Meesa think I can take care of the slavers meesa self, so the answer is no.”

“I am discouraged that you decided that. Too bad!” retorted Brimstone.

Before the Vanguard can do anything, Brim raised his hand and forked out blue-green lightning at the Gungan. The impact lifted and tossed him backwards against the embankment. Kah’s robe smoked and smelt of sulphur in his nostrils.

”You little runt. I am giving you a chance to fulfill your destiny and you want to waste my time being here” sneered Brimstone, “Now you will die as a runt Gungan that you are or perhaps I’ll just turn you over to the slavers here to be their pawn.”

This pissed him off. Kah used his powerful legs to kip up, grabbing his lightsaber and bringing it to life. “Never again” yelled the Gungan as he leaped towards the blue skinned alien. Brimstone fired off another blast of lightning at his opponent, but this time he was ready and caught it with his blade. Kah closed the distance between two. As he went to strike down, The Plagueian threw up a barrier in time, blocking the lightsaber in a glancing blow. Kah struck time and time again while the chiss concentrated. Brimstone knew he wasn’t going to keep his protective barrier up for long from the powerful blows.

The Chiss made a sweep of his right leg, but Kah felt it coming and leaped backwards in a somersault. As he landed, Brimstone pulled out both of his lightsabers and took a Jar’kai stance, They both ran towards each other. As the drew close,The odanite dove with a strike, but the Chiss flipped over him, blocking the strike in mid form. As he landed, he swung both blades back at the Gungan; Red blade to his head, Purple blade to his sternum alternately. Kah tried with his strength to stand his ground, but the relentless attack was overwhelming. Brimstone dropped his purple bladed lightsaber and in the same moment of distraction, blasted the Gungan with another strike of lightning, hitting him in full impact. As the Gungan was sent backwards again, Brimstone telekinetically hurled his dropped lightsaber at Kah. Before he can get his bearings, the blade struck true into the Jedi’s chest, impaling him fully, making him gasp and drop his weapon into the sand.

Brimstone, with his other blade in his hand, walked over to the limp body of his foe. Freeing the blade out of his chest, he looked down on his victim. “Gungans never learn the true art of the fight” he exclaimed. He then replaced his blades to his belt and walked off.