Built from the shell of an ancient foundation, the Arx Colosseum has undergone renovations to allow multiple new configurations for battle. Its spectator setup remains largely the same, with high walls, tall enough for even the most savvy Jedi to find unscalable that lead up to spectator chairs which are divided into nearly organized sections to accommodate several thousand people. At the center, an elongated platform “box” contains a central throne of stone with various seats of smaller scale lined beside it in both directions. Two large holo-projection screens are set up on each side of the Colosseum, offering different angles of the match bia holocam drones.

Today’s setup is known as The Elements.

A singular large circular platform sits in the center of the arena elevated just off the main arena floor. Floating walkways jutting off to smaller platforms floating above the central one. At first glance, this setup appears simple, solid ground beneath your feet, nothing to worry about beyond falling off to the arena’s floor and the dangers of your opponent.

Yet once the match starts, that story changes. The landscape of the platforms shifts and changes cycling at random through vortexes of strong wind, rushing water geysers, shaking and rumbling earthquakes, and vents of fire.

Watch your foot, as each step might signal a change of the elements.

Selika steeled herself for whatever fresh hell Idris had in store for her on the other side of the arena doors. Combat zone slums, blast furnaces, vertigo-inducing drops, and oppressive plant life each had confronted Selika each round in turn, so she expected nothing different this time. However, the doors revealed something far more mundane than any prior rounds as they slid open. A floating walkway curved lazily away from the doorway towards the floor below, stopping just short of the ground where it met a large central platform. Standing at the center of the platform below was a figure clad in robes, with armor-plated limbs showing from beneath the dark folds of zeyd-cloth. Kamjin "Maverick" Lap'lamiz, Justicar and former Emperor of Scholae Palatinae.

This was something other than some washed-up former Clan leader or upstart equite like her prior opponents had been. This was the physical embodiment of one of the power axes around which the Brotherhood turned, second only to the Grandmaster himself. Rumors persisted about the horrors found within the cells of Tartarus. This space station prison saw the worst traitors to the Brotherhood as its residents. And this Justicar was, in another life, an unreconstructed Imperial from a service that took pride in their ability to torture their prisoners. Selika smiled as she descended the path towards Kamjin, knowing that this battle would be different.

"Selika Roh," Kamjin called out as she reached the platform. "I have come to duel you and end this madness! I am unrivaled, standing here as Justicar. So, Dread Lord, do you accept my challenge? Or do you bow to the whims of my majesty?"

"Finally, somebody gets it!" Selika said with a dark smile, holding her arms out to each side. Bring forth your divine providence, mighty Justicar. And let us upheave the arena with our battle!"

"Then it's time to duel!" Kamjin responded, theatrically throwing his cap from his right shoulder while raising his arm forward to point at his opponent. Then, he hesitated, looking Selika over as if looking for something. "Where's your deck?"

"My deck?" Selika asked, momentarily confused.

"Yes, your deck. I mean, we could duel digitally, but I do prefer analog," Kamjin answered as he pulled out a deck of cards and began to shuffle. "Though I did bring Goblin to project the holograms." A barrel-shaped R2 unit rolled out from behind Kamjin, twittering away in binary with a self-satisfied tone.

"Is this a prank?" Selika asked with a chuckle. "Did Idris put you up to this?"

"I'm trying to duel you," Kamjin explained. "In the CCG."

"See see… gee?" Selika repeated, obviously not quite following what Kamjin was putting down.

"It's a collectible card game," Kamjin went on. "Ancient Sith loved it."

"Kriff it, I'm down," Selika offered. "How do we play?"

"What do you mean my Hoth rebel base is blown away?" Selika angrily demanded.

"Look, right here on the Commence Primary Ignition card, it tells you," Kamjin said, holding the card out for Selika to read.

Swiping the card from his hand, Selika read. "Ha, right here! I have four of the seven markers, the docking bay, and the war room in play! That means you fail!"

"No, because I have nine Death Star sites, and you have no presence at any of them," Kamjin went on in exasperation. "And I drew a destiny of six. So, my nine sites plus six destiny minus your six sites is nine. Which is greater than eight. Which means, per Commence Primary Ignition, Hoth is blown away."

"But what about this!" Selika interjected triumphantly, almost talking over Kamjin's explanation. "The Hoth: Main Power Generators card says that Hoth Energy Shield Rules are in effect."

"Doesn't apply to the superlaser," Kamjin offered helpfully.

Selika sputtered as she looked down at the cards in play, searching for hope and a path to victory. Seeing that all of her best cards in play would be lost, that she was down to her last legs with only a few cards remaining in her reserve deck, a plan formed in her head.

Selika called the Force towards her and slammed her hand onto the table Kamjin had provided for their gameplay. The telekinetic wave that rippled forth from the impact sent cards flying in all directions, knocked Kamjin out of his chair, and sent the R2 droid, projecting the holographic representation of the systems of their game, sliding backward and off the platform to the ground below. Channeling the Force again, Selika tossed aside the table and chair that separated her from her opponent. Her lightsaber leaped into her hand from where it hung on her belt, the violet blade sparking to life as it lanced toward Kamjin.

"But what about the game?" Kamjin demanded.

"As I've told so many others over the years," Selika said with a grin, "I cheat."

Just as Selika was about to reach her opponent, the ground that separated them birthed a pillar of fire that drove them apart. Selika swore as she instinctively backed away, her arm held up to shield her exposed face from the flame's heat. Selika could just imagine Idirs standing in his box, smiling as he pressed one of the many hidden controls there.

"All right, so I guess a fair fight it is," Selika observed grumpily.

Kamjin cursed as his prized original edition foils, in sleeves, went up in flames. He’d have to check after the battle if any survived but he swore an unholy revenge upon Idris for this betrayal. This was a unique battle and it required unique skills. Skills that he hadn’t used for several decades but had studied in his youth. They were a delicate set of skills that would just as likely end Selika as it could end him in his advanced age.

He eyed the pillar of flame as he heard Selika, the proud and powerful Dread Lord, demand a fair fight. Kamjin steadied his breath. Deep in, slow out. His eyes sparkled as they reflected the flames. In his head he began a measured count. Five…

The orange embers cast haunting shadows over the purple robes that exposed nearly too much of Selika’s olive skin. Six…

Selika held her saber casually in her hand. The purple blade hissing as vapors from the flame pillar encroached upon her. Seven…

With one final inhale, Kamjin could tell that the time was now. He threw his cloak back over both his shoulders and, raising both of his hands, he prepared himself. Eight…

As the pillar of flame collapsed with a mighty woosh, Kamjin boldly stepped forward. Selika raised her right hand with her saber to strike, but Kamjin’s hand slipped right between the uniquely forged hoops of the hilt. His left hand entwined with hers, causing her to drop the saber as his right hand found her hip. Continuing the measured count in his head, five, six, seven, eight, he took the lead and began to lead the Dread Lord.

“What is all the star systems are you doing?” Selika demanded as she struggled to free her right hand from the Justicar’s firm yet guiding hand.

“My dear, the most dangerous battle of them all…the Talus Tango. That mystical dance that was danced during the time of Revan while the city burned,” Kamjin replied, though the measure of his speech made it clear he was desperately trying to keep count as he swept his leg behind Selika’s, drawing it down her thigh before arcing out in a dramatic sweep that turned the two combatants towards the spiraling staircase.

Selika could almost hear the music as the Justicar’s heart thudded in his chest. For all his political and mystical power, it was clear it had been a while since he had exerted himself in this manner. Sweat was beading on his forehead. Selika could feel the intensity as her own chest heaved as she fought being led up the staircase.

An autumn breeze blew through the arena as Kamjin held Selika close and twirled her up the flight of stairs. The long flaps of her dress fought against being entangled with the Justicar as he dipped the Dread Lord low over the edge and then, with an unnatural strength, pulled her upright and close to his armored chest.

Despite herself, Selika felt her heart begin to beat in time with the unheard music. “I am not accustomed to being led,” she said, and caught herself laughing at the ridiculousness of the situation.

“Who said you were being led?” Kamjin replied with a smirk. Selika kicked her leg out, reaching nearly up to the Justicar’s head. Then, taking a long step forward, she took control. Now the Justicar was put on the tips of his toes as Selika led them higher upon the spiral. The autumn breeze began a summer storm as the winds picked up and warm droplets of rain began to fall. Selika’s hair was matted back and she smiled as Kamjin’s face showed a hint of vulnerability as he had lost count and the rain slicked sweat fell into his eyes.

Selika felt a mighty gust of stormy rain surge, another frustrated intrusion by Idris no doubt, and she sent the Justicar spinning. “You dance well, Kamjin. Perhaps in another place I could be impressed by such a display,” Selika said, reaching out her hand lazily and calling her downed hilt back to her. “But, alas, you can’t flirt your way out of this.”

"Who says I can't?" Kam offered back, a grin tugging at his lips.

"I do," Selika replied mischievously. "We both might have spent our time around Imperial courts and while they often saw the tango as a duel as much as a dance, we know that the real noble duel is fought at the end of a blade." The lightsaber that had found its way back to her hand sprang to life once more, the rain drops that intersected the flaming hot blade flashing instantly to steam to form a halo of violet-tinged mist around it. "Care to join me for a dance with a bit more risk? I promise to only use the blade and not twist your mind into knots."

Kamjin pulled his own weapon from his belt as Selika held her saber out in a ready stance. "I guess we should, after all, give the people what they want." The Justicar pulled apart his staff, securing one of the halves back at his belt as he ignited the other. The red blade, held in the classic low guard favored by Niman practitioners, fought with the violet of Selika's own to light the arena.

The combatants slowly circled one another for a full rotation before the taller Councilor struck first. Their two blades met in a flurry of quick slashes, each probing the other without much force behind their blows. With a slight smile, Kamjin struck out again and forced Selika back a few steps. Her own blade moved mostly to parry his, her head ducking below a slash of the crimson weapon of her opponent. Meeting his blade once again, Selika blocked his blows while keeping her own movements almost purely defensive.

"Ah, you are using Kenobi's defense against me," Kamjin observed with a smile, thrusting his weapon to see it parried aside by the Dread Lord.

"I thought it fitting, given the shifting terrain," Selika answered, moving slowly backward up one of the ramps leading to another platform.

"Naturally. You must expect me to attack with Machetero," Kamjin continued, still on the attack.

"Naturally," Selika echoed, maintaining her defense. "But I've found that Juyo cancels out Machetero, don't you?"

"Unless the enemy has studied Exar Kun," Kamjin said, focusing a wave of Force energy into Selika's midsection that drove her to the ground. "Which I have."

Selika pushed herself back to her feet, finally finding the end of the path and the platform she had sought. The Justicar once again pressed his attack as Selika kept up her guard. "You are wonderful," Selika said, appreciating her opponent's skill.

"Thank you," Kamjin responded.

"I admit it; you are better than me," Selika said, shaking her head with a dark smile.

"Then why are you smiling?" Kamjin wondered.

"Because I know something you don't know," Selika said with a raised eyebrow. "I am not right-handed."

Kamjin stopped for a moment, confusion evident on his face. "I'm fairly certain you are, Mindwalker."

"Not when it comes to a lightsaber." Selika released her hand from her saber hilt, leaving the weapon seemingly dangling in the air before her. Before the Justicar could react, Selika reached out her telekinetic grip and yanked his second weapon from its place on his hip. The blue blade flashed to life and joined Selika's own violet one. The former took up a guard position before the Plagueian Consul as Kamjin's own weapon pressed the attack.

The violet, wood-inlaid hilt of Selika's saber held to a conservative Soresu guard as she drove the blue blade of Kamjin's saber forward in aggressive Juyo strikes. Now, her opponent was on the back foot, trying to fend off the weapon seemingly animated of its own accord. Retreating in front of the relentless assault, Kamjin moved up a spiraling ramp towards yet another of the floating platforms with which Idris had populated the arena. Selika calmly followed after him, her hips causing the purple fabric of her robes to sway slowly as she walked.

"This doesn't seem like the kind of duel you offered," Kamjin said as sweat joined raindrops to bead on his forehead. Finally reaching the platform he sought, Kamjin channeled the force through his legs and leaped backward several meters to put some distance between himself and the weapons controlled by his assailant.

"What, you think I should have fought like one of them?" Selika asked, her hand waving to take in the assembled audience. "Not a chance."

As Selika drove her weapons toward her opponent, the platform they stood on shifted again as a geyser of water burst forth and enveloped the twin blades. Selika's saber sputtered and sparked, the blade vanishing as water forced its way deep into the hilt's innards. The Justicar's blade, however, still glowed blue from within the rushing water. Taking advantage of Selika's surprise, Kamjin leaped forward into action. He drove his own crimson blade into the rushing water, holding the bottom of the hilt up and at the ready. Suddenly, with a click that he felt more than heard, the two halves of his saberstaff were joined together once again. Gone were the mismatched red and blue blades, the two colors blending into a vibrant purple.

Kamjin pulled his weapon back from the water geyser, and both halves of the reunited weapon were back under his control. Selika's weapon dropped uselessly to the ground as the water subsided. Seizing the initiative, Kamjin drove toward his opponent and slashed his saberstaff blade down toward his now-defenseless opponent. Selika brought up her forearm to shield herself from the blow, much as she had previously from the heat of the flames. But, much to her opponent's surprise, the weapon met her arm and stopped dead against it.

"Emperor's black bones," Kamjin whispered to himself in astonishment.

"Don't get your robes in a twist," Selika said haughty, "It's nothing quite so impressive." The air rippled around her as the illusion of her robes dissolved to reveal the alchemically treated armor she had worn from the beginning. Selika's other hand, this one now seen to be clad in a gauntlet that matched the one Kamjin's blade had met, drove forward into his midsection. The telekinetic force that accompanied it knocked Kamjin back, dropping him onto his back atop the raised platform.

"You said you weren't going to, ahem, twist my mind into knots!" Kamjin complained as he rose back to his feet.

"I should have said 'again'," Selika explained with a shrug. "I wasn't going to twist your mind into knots again."

Kamjin's eyes narrowed in frustration.

"Besides, I already told you," Selika went on. "I cheat."

Selika gathered the Force to her once more, intending to blast the Justicar with a rush of electrical energy. However, before she could do so, their platform vibrated sharply as the texture beneath their feet changed. Selika looked down and had just enough time to realize it had become sand before she started to drop through it, almost as if it were no more solid than a heavy fog. Feeling her stomach lurch in protest as she entered free fall, Selika passed through the sand completely and dropped towards the main platform that formed the arena's base. Barely able to twist her body in such a way as to minimize the impact, Selika slammed into the ground several meters below with enough force to drive the wind from her lungs. Gasping for air, Selika rolled onto her back to face the sky above and took stock of any injuries. Nothing seemed broken, but a dip into a bacta immersion would be called for later.

"Flame spurts and lightning sand?" Selika said with a cough. "What's Idris throwing at us next, womp rats of unusual size?"

"Don't give the man any ideas," Kamjin answered in a pained tone, pushing himself up into a sitting position from where he had landed several meters away.

“You have, however, given me an idea, my dear Selika,” Kamjin said, closing his eyes in concentration. Kamjin put his fingers to his temples. His face screwed up in concentration. “How did you phrase it? Twist your mind in knots?”

Selika’s vision was already swimming from the fall. Spitting out more sand, she uttered, “What are you?” before her world went dark. She blinked her eyes rapidly as light started to creep back in. The world was fuzzy as she heard the Justicar’s voice…singing? That couldn’t be right. The music seemed to come from within her own mind.

It’s only forever…
Not long at all…
Lost and lonely…
No one can blame you…
For walking away…
But too much rejection, uh-huh…
No love injection, no…
Life can be easy…
It’s not always swell…
Don’t tell me truth hurts, little girl…
‘Cause it hurts like hell…

Selika grabbed her head and screamed into the void. “Get out of my head, Kamjin! Get out!!” For a moment she saw the pit and the beam of light from above causing the flecks of sand to sparkle as it danced through the air. She could see the Justicar standing before her. He had thrown back his hood. Had his hair always been so long? Did he normally wear such outlandish eyeshadow? Her finger names racked over her helmeted head. Her eyes went wide when she felt her hair. She looked at her hands. Hands! Not gloved but bare. “I hate you! I will get myself away from this awful place!”

Selika’s anger seethed. She knew how to win. She’d have to be quick. She’d have to make sure no one knew. Who would know? No one really cared for the Justicar. An Imperial Emperor who now controlled the whole Brotherhood’s judicial system. No one would miss him and she was loved. Loved and feared and adored as the Dread Lord, and she had friends. Oh yes, she had friends in powerful places.

“Say the right words,” a voice came to her head and she knew it would be so easy. Yet, what if they said she cheated? Her inner voice challenged her. “Knock it off. I’ll say the words,” Selika retorted to her inner voice. “Yes, she’s gonna say them. Shhh, listen,” the voice sounded further away in her mind now.

“I wish Kamjin were defeated.”

“That’s not it,” the voice replied. “What rubbish, it doesn’t even start with ‘I wish’.”

Selika shook her head. Her resolve waivered. I wish I did know what to say, she thought, and the voice answered. “I wish Idris would come take you away right now!”

“I wish…” Selika was finding it easier to say the words. “I wish…. I wish Idris would come take you away…right now!” Lightning cracked above her and silence filled the void. She threw back her head away from the light in the darkness. She pushed herself up and peered into the sinkhole. “Kamjin…” she uttered softly. “Kamjin…no more mind games.” She saw his cloak upon the ground and gingerly picked it up. There was no one hidden and with a whoosh of gail wind she felt herself transported to another place and time.

The pillar of seasons had transformed itselves into a labyrinth of staircases. As Selika took one delicate step, the staircases fractured and transformed into a nightmarish landscape. Selika screamed as she fell upon another platform as the inky black darkness pressed in upon her and the remains of the staircase dimension. From one of the splintered archways Kamjin appeared. With ridiculously poofy hair that looked like a cotton ball and then flowed down to his chest. Garbed in a flowing white cloak and white skin tight pants.

Selika smirked. “I guess those do leave something to the imagination,” she quipped. Kamjin, looking down quickly, covered himself with his feathery white cloak.

“I have been generous up until now, but I can be cruel.”

“Generous? Idris was to have killed you. I said the words!”

“I overtook him. I have reordered time and turned the world upside-down and I have done it all for you. I could be offering you your dreams, yet you cower before me!”

Selika laughed out loud, a mirthless and hollow laugh. “My will is as strong as yours.”

Kamjin began to back away. “Stop! Wait! I ask for so little. You could have everything!” Kamjin mentally conjured a crystal orb in front of him. As Selika advanced, Kamjin tried to bait her by flicking it around his fingers and hands, but he let it slip. “Kark,” Kamjin cursed as it shattered upon the stone platform.

“You have no power over me!” Selika screamed as the facade crumbled.

“This story is weird,” a small child said.

"It’s a mind game. They’re fighting in their minds,” Idris said, putting his finger inside the large book he was reading. He stared down at the child, who was propped up on pillows in his bed. A warm compress was upon his forehead and his cheeks were flush.

“Well, for the likes of Selika the Dread Lord and Kamjin the Justicar, this was a very big battle,” Idris said, staring into the child’s face.

“Well…maybe it’s good for them, but it’s not the same as a lightsaber fight or Force Lightning.”

“Perhaps I should stop for now…”

“You can read a little more if you want to. I don’t mind,” the child said, tapping eagerly on the book’s cover.

“Okay, so Selika had just fallen into the inky black dark…”

“You were past this part.”

“...my mistake, forgive me…”

Selika had broken her way free of Kamjin’s twisted mind game. Before her stood the Justicar, in his slate gray robes with his fingers on his temples, grimacing with concentration. “You son of a nerfherder,” Selika cursed as she punched the Justicar hard in the nose. The ancient Sith armored gauntlet was no match for the bone and cartilage of the Justicar’s nose, and it crumbled before her might.

“You broke my nose!”

“You messed with my mind!”

“You messed with mine!”

Selika screeched as she launched herself at the Justicar again. She raised her fists, in the hallmark of her Broken Gate preferred fighting style, and began to jab at the Justicar’s face. He brought his own arms up to block and Selika knew she had him. She kicked out from her side a powerful blow that connected with the Justicar’s solar plexus. As the Justicar’s guard dropped she spun around in a fluid roundhouse in his sternum. The air rushed from Kamjin’s lungs as Selika’s uppercut connected with his jaw, shattering it.

His body arched back as it flew through the air. With a thud it landed on the sand-dusted ground. “Next time buy me dinner before you try to kark with my brain.”