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.

Derek stepped down the steep staircasecarefully, but made sure to keep his eye on the odd-looking Togruta across the suspended arena. He felt a bit uneasy by not only the sickeningly yellow eyes of his opponent made even more sinister with the warm light of the sun, but also by the questionable stability of the platform she stood on. The young Battlemaster placed a cautious foot forward and then retreated as he felt it sway slightly.

“Um, I’m gonna stay over here, the platform seems to be violating several building codes,” Cinn stated with his smirk hidden behind his helmet. Tahiri didn’t smile but reached for her lightsaber. Its red blade ignited a sudden sound of pure energy.

“Woah now, already with the lightsaber? I like the color by the way. So how about we talk and maybe we can skip the fighting bit?” He suggested jokingly. “I mean come on, It was only a few hundred thousand credits, am I right?”

“Theft from Clan Plagueis will not be tolerated.” Tarentae hissed. Derek took this as a sign and reluctantly unclipped his saberstaff. The blades came alive and bathed the cobbled, weed-covered ground around him in their red glow.

“Interesting.” She stated before racing towards the smaller boy. Derek blocked the Togruta’s shot before twirling around to her left. Tahiri swung back around in time to dodge a swing by her smaller opponent. The two sabers met with glancing blows as both evaded and dodged the others’ swings.

“You’ll tire soon boy,” Tahiri said as Derek tried to unleash a barrage of fakes swings.

“I plan on you being dead before that happens, So you may need to revise your plan.” Derek spat as he blocked another blow from his Togruta adversary. While he was holding his own for the time being, The Palatinaean was never a fan of extended engagements. He had maintained his pattern of attacks and decided it was best to take advantage now before the yellow-eyed Sith found an opening.

With a quick swipe, he threw a fist-sized canister down sending a large plume of smoke on to the platform. Almost instantly he dropped, placing a charge on to the rocky ground. Tahiri was only surprised for a moment as she ran through the smoke. Her red saber caused the smoke to glow a pinkish color which gave the fourteen year old sith only the briefest warning. His jetpacked engaged and launched him up as the crimson blade of Tarentae’s saber sliced the air.

She looked down at the red blinking light on the denton charge at her feet and leapt back. She sprinted for the rickety wooden bridge that connected the adjacent platforms. In what seemed liked slow motion, Derek watched as the explosion crumbled the platform almost instantly. Tahiri vaulted and grasped the ropes that hung limply where the bridge once hung.

“Just let go!” Derek shouted as he flew over to her with his pistols out. His shots missed as she swung back and forth to evade the fire. Foolishly, Derek flew closer, still trying to finish his Sith opponent off for good.

Derek grunted as Tahiri swung forward,left the rope, grasped onto Derek, and landed her knee into his stomach. The two flew haphazardly as his jetpack struggled to hold the weight of the pair. With a final burst, the jetpack launched upwards and failed. As they fell back down towards the second platform, the two Sith traded punches and jabs in mid-air. They finally landed with a thud. The two rolled away from each other, groaning, as they caught their breath.

Tahiri spat out a wad of blood as she pushed herself up onto one knee. This kid is good, no wonder he is the same rank. But still young and cocky, especially with holo credit trails. The Togruta rubbed her bruised chin, and then wiped away some blood from the corner of her mouth. “Have to say boy, you do pack quite a punch for your size,” Tahiri smirked a bit as she glanced over at the kneeling, groaning figure of the fourteen year old.

After rolling away from Tahiri, Derek had tried to stand too quickly. Now he was curled up in a ball on his knees, hugging his midsection, where the Plagueian had delivered a few well placed punches, along with her knee. The Battlemaster coughed as he cocked his head to look at the kneeling Togruta. He slowly stood up, chuckling as he replied, “Thanks, you too Togruta. Now what do you say to leaving this little spat behind us, and we go our separate ways, hmmm?”

Tahiri smiled as she stood up and dusted herself off. Shaking her head, and made a subtle gesture with her hand, recalling her saber hilt from where it had landed nearby, replied with a sigh, “Unfortunately, I cannot let you leave until I either have back what you stole, or you.”

“Well, that is unfortunate,” Derek replied sarcastically. He reached for his blasters, but found them gone. Out of the corner of his eye he saw one blaster off to his right, several meters away.

Tahiri saw the hesitation and decided to press the advantage. She let the Force flow through her as she carefully wove it around herself and her opponent. Igniting her saber, the Sith Battlemaster sprinted toward Derek, taking him somewhat by surprise. He dodged and rolled away from her initial strike. As he sprang back up, the human ignited his saberstaff and swung wide at Tahiri. The edge of the Palatinaean’s crimson blade caught Tahiri, as she swung her blade in an arching overhead downward swing, across her midsection. She halted her advance, as she looked down at her torso.

Tahiri smiled to herself, watching off to the side as Derek stared at her ‘other’ self, slightly shocked, as there was no blood seeping from the wound that split her ‘figure’ in two.

Looking confused, Derek stood but stayed on guard for anything. The Togruta figure stood there with her saber at her side, and then with a twitch, looked up at him. With an impish evil grin, the woman laughed, making a move to attack again. The look on her face gave Derek the chills almost as he stepped back, ready to parry her incoming blade. However, her blade never came, at least not from the direction he thought it would.

Tahiri saw her chance to strike. Taking a low stalking like stance, she came in from his left, while he was distracted by her illusion, hoping to disable the human’s jetpack and injure him just enough so that he might yield. As the Battlemaster swiftly brought her blade up, letting her illusion fade, aiming straight the jetpack and Dereks’ left shoulder. However, her crimson blade met nothing but air, as the boy suddenly seemed to throw himself forward out of her reach.

“That not fair!” Derek exclaimed as he confronted her, standing at the ready.