On the plains of Spain, General Maximillion was arrested by police at his estate. His mansion had been burned to the ground, his wife and son burned and then crucified at the gate. Max wore ragged clothing, clearly having lost his mind. He was put on trial and convicted of double homicide. Such a conviction would be an automatic immediate execution but criminal policy at this time was in flux. Instead, he was sent to Algeria under the jurisdiction of Madrid. In those days, all of West Africa from Algeria to Chad to Benin was united with Spain and Portugal. In accordance with Kara's wishes, the human population steadily migrated out of Western Africa to above the 30th North parallel.

Max was placed under the supervision of an old disgruntled prison warden named Antonius. He was assigned a recent batch of criminals to be used in the games. His task was to train these prisoners in combat for a good show. It was also his responsibility to train vicious animals like lions, tigers, and bears.

"I am Captain Proximo. I shall be with you until the last of your miserable days. I did not ask for your company and I do not profit off your death. I'm simply doing the job I was assigned to do. When you die and die you shall, it shall be to the transition of applause. You are now gladiators," Antonius informed them all in the training yard.

Antonius had all the convicts show their fighting skills. The losers were placed in one category while the winners were placed in another. When it came to Max, he defiantly refused to train. Antonius made no move against him, not giving a shit whether Max lived or died in the first match. While betting for or against gladiators in the black market was prohibited with heavy penalties, many did it anyway.

Just before the match, Antonius addressed his gladiators. "Some of you are thinking you won't fight, that you can't fight. They all say that until they're out there. Thrust this sword into another man's flesh, and they'll love you for it. In the end, you may begin to love them in return. Ultimately, you're all dead men. Sadly, we cannot decide how but we can decide when."

In the arena, the Algerian crowd watched with glee as they saw two gladiator teams fight each other with swords, tridents, clubs, and nets. Max, for his part, did fight for his life and got some good hits. With Juba, a fellow convict as his wingman, Max was able to make short work of his opponents and survive to live another day.

Rome

While Kara occupied herself in the Thanagarian minefield, Mon raced back to Earth to sack it. In a grand military parade, Mon and Imra were driven through the streets like conquering heroes. Mon wore his ceremonial Insane armor and a Roman crown on his head. As he came to the capital steps of Italy, Mon embraced his son, Kon, who had been waiting for him. He then turned to the Italian government.

"Your loyal subjects bid you welcome, Your Majesty," the Italian governor said to him.

"Thank you, Governor Falco," Mon said pleased.

"All Rome rejoices with your return," Italian Senator Graachus said to him.

Mon gave him a condescending cynical look but nodded nonetheless. Mon then entered the Italian Senate with Imra at his side. "I have decided to move the capital of Earth to Rome where it should have been from the very beginning. This planet is now mine as its Insane emperor. Should any of you try to plot against me, Saturn Girl will know of it and then you're...fucked."

Mon eyed all of the Italian senators suspiciously. "I delegate to you the mundane details of governance. I not only have to babysit this planet but several other colonial worlds. Unlike my predecessor, I do not intend to micromanage you. However, I have an important reform to make to this world. The murderers, the rapists, the child molesters, the fraudsters, the thieves, the corrupt are all executed rather than languishing in prison, fed and cared for by the state like a zoo animal. This is all well and good. But is it...the highest good?"

The Italian senators gave wide-eyed looks wondering what he was on about. "I think not," Mon concluded. "Executions are a private affair in some dark room where only the family of the victims are able to watch. Why should this be? I think these men and women should be executed in the arena as gladiators for all the world to see and enjoy. We execute people as if we're embarrassed by the whole thing. As if it were a necessary evil that we are ashamed of. This is not true justice. Justice, my friends, delights in truth. And the truth is this: When we all get to heaven one day, we'll look down on the damned, suffering eternal punishments and torments, and we shall smile at it all. We shall smile because it is God's will and whatever is God's will is worth smiling about."

"Your Majesty, such displays of violence and depravity could corrupt good people. It could be desensitizing," Graachus protested.

"Good," Mon nodded. "It will bring the human race one step closer to becoming a warrior race."

"Your Majesty, some would say violence begets more violence," Senator Gaius said boldly.

"Does it?" Mon doubted. "If one murderer kills one hundred murderers, give me the math on that. Rest easy, Senator. I will be that murderer."

"Your Majesty, the FCC won't allow a broadcast of this nature without parental controls and warnings," Senator Lucius said.

"Fuck the FCC," Mon said seriously. "I leave it up entirely to the parents to decide whether their children should watch or not. As for me, I do not remember a time when I was too young to witness slaughter. I am the father of this world and the people are my children. I shall decide what my children are exposed to."

"Prince Mon-El is tired. Leave your concerns with me and they will be done," Imra said, breaking the tension.

"My Lady, as always, your telepathy commands obedience," Senator Graachus said, self-aware he was being manipulated.

Imra followed Mon into the Roman palace Mon had set up for himself. "All those fucks do is talk. It should be just you and me," Mon said irritably.

"Don't even think it. When Kara comes back, she's going to kick your ass for this," Imra warned.

"It takes an emperor to rule an empire. Kara doesn't qualify because she's a girl...a Supergirl," he said mockingly.

"Of course, but leave the humans their...traditions," Imra said lamely.

"I have a vision to change the hearts and minds of these people. Maybe, one day, when they're properly prepared, they can intermix with the Insane race and make hybrids. What do you think about that?" Mon asked her.

"Is this all about your ego? Your desire to have the humans love you?" Imra quizzed.

"That would be pathetic. I don't give a fuck what these people think or want. All I know is that what I'm doing right now is the Insane way," Mon said seriously.

"You're a fraud, Mon. You're a rational calculating completely sane individual. You just do fucked up things every so often to persuade others that you're a true Insane. Well, I don't buy it. It's all pretend," Imra accused.

Mon gave her sunken dangerous eyes. "You have a strong spirit, Imra. If only you were my sister."

"Why would that matter?" Imra rolled her eyes.

"If you were, I would most certainly take you to bed," Mon said thoughtfully.

"Well, okay then," Imra said freaked out, and then left the room.

Algeria

Gladiator battles in a God-forsaken Algerian desert were one thing, Mon brought the fights to Rome, itself, and had them televised around the world. Despite uneasiness from the Italian government, the gladiator games were brought to the grand arena where both versions of football were played.

Out in Algeria, Max was surviving. Using his military training to good use, Max was not only able to defeat his opponents but also make a name for himself. He was now the most popular wife and child murderer in all of Algeria. Antonius noticed Max's fame and brought him into his office. "The fuck you want? A girl? A boy?" he antagonized.

"What the fuck?" Max wondered.

"You're good, Spainard, but you're not that good. You could be magnificent," Antonius said. "You've been promoted to the Rome arena. The Insane emperor has arranged a series of games to honor his wife, Kara Zor-El. I find that amusing since it was Kara, the wise, the all-knowing, that closed us down. Now, instead of gladiator battles being for-profit like it was before, it's state-sponsored. So, finally, after five years of being stationed here, I'm finally going back to where I belong. In Rome, seventy thousand spectators and the entire world will be watching every movement of your sword."

"What's the point? I'm never going to get my freedom," Max shrugged.

"If you're really good, this Insane emperor may pardon you of your crimes. Or, you can live long enough to see your appeal reverse your conviction. Isn't that worth living? Isn't that worth killing for?" Antonius asked.

"I want to stand before the emperor and fight him," Max said seriously.

"Then listen to me, learn from me. Win over the emperor and you'll win your freedom," Antonius told him.

"I will win him over. I will give him something he has never seen before," Max pledged.

In the training yard, Max had a conversation with his wingman, Juba. "Somewhere out there, my wife is preparing food. My daughters carry water from the river. Will I ever see them again? I think not," Juba said, keeping it real.

"Do you believe you will see them again after you die?" Max asked.

"I don't know. I slaughtered men, women, and children with a machete in a blood rage. I was part of a gang that hunted and killed people because they looked and talked slightly differently than us," Juba admitted.

"So, you're thinking you're totally going to hell?" Max asked curiously.

"Maybe, if God forgives me, I'll go to purgatory. And then I'll have to wait a fucking long time to get into heaven. My family will have to wait a very long time for me," Juba considered.

"My wife and son are already waiting for me," Max said hauntedly.

"You will see them again. There is no sin God cannot forgive," Juba assured him. Mon, Juba, and many others were then transported over to Rome.

Rome

Mon looked upon his sleeping son with pride and disgust. The boy was incredibly strong for his age, a Super Insane. Yet, there was so much of Kara in him as well. His Insane tendencies were accidental. He didn't savor the kill or even enjoy the fight. He only desired to have the highest score like a human child with ADHD playing a video game. Mon wondered if maybe Imra was correct. Did he follow the Insane ways out of tradition? Was his son truly Insane on an instinct level, an ultra-instinct level? Mon pondered these things as Imra came to see him.

"He sleeps so well because he's a spoiled brat," Mon concluded.

"Well...yeah," Imra agreed.

Mon went over to his desk, cut up some powdered cocaine, and then snorted it. "I'm thinking it's time to announce the dissolution of the Galactic Federation Senate, the Earth Senate, and this Italian Senate. All senates must go in honor of me. Do you think I should? Do you think the people are ready?"

"I think you shouldn't be making such heavy decisions while high as fuck on cocaine," Imra advised.

Mon was uncertain of this. "Will you stay with me, tonight?"

"Fuck no," Imra refused.

Mon nodded. "Good," he said and then dismissed her away.

That evening, Imra went to see the Italian nobility, Senator Graachus and Senator Gaius. "Your ability to erase memories and control minds ensures I live a little longer," Graachus said dryly.

"Alas, it is too risky for me to use it on Mon-El. He'll destroy me instantly the moment he notices a foreign thought enter his mind. I have to influence him in telepathic waves rather than a precise laser," Imra said.

"He's expanded the list of people that can be executed. It's not just murderers but falsifiers, sowers of discord, fraudsters, thieves, hypocrites, barrators, sorcerers, simoniacs, flatterers, seducers," Senator Gaius listed off.

"As well as those who destroy art, those who commit sodomy, those who attempt suicide, and heretics," Graachus added.

"I'm afraid to go out in the dark," Gaius admitted.

"You should be more afraid of your activities during the day," Graachus insulted.

"Fuck you, man," Gaius said peeved.

"Mon-El has an army of drone spies. What's his deal anyway?" Graachus asked Imra. "What is he planning?"

"He plans to send the planet's food supply to other worlds to increase his leverage. Either the people submit to his Insane rule or they starve," Imra revealed.

"The Earth must know this," Gaius said resolved.

"How?" Imra asked skeptically. "He's going to dissolve all legislative bodies. The fuck you going to do about it? Make a speech on the floor of the Senate denouncing him and then see yourself in the arena?"

"So...we're fucked is what you're saying?" Graachus detected.

"I've been living in fear every moment I am on his ship and in his presence. All because he sees me as next in line should Kara Zor-El perish," Imra said reflectively. "I have to kill his ass."

"We'll be back to square one with disunity and civil war across the globe. The drones will take over completely," Gaius objected.

"Cut off the head and the snake cannot strike," Imra pressed.

"Until we take care of the drones, we cannot strike," Graachus shook his head.

"So, we do nothing?" Imra asked incredulously.

"We wait for Kara Zor-El to come back. She is our only hope," Graachus said somberly. "Then, we will act. Then, we will strike. Until then, we are docile, obedient, treacherous."

The next day, at the prison, Kon surveyed the gladiators about to fight in the arena. He motioned for Max to come toward him. "Are you the one they call the Spaniard killer who burned and crucified his family?" Kon asked curiously.

"Yeah," Max nodded.

"They said you were a giant. That you can crush a man's skull with one hand," Kon said.

"A man's? No, a boy's, maybe," Max teased.

Kon smirked at him. "Well, not my head. I like you, Spaniard. I'll cheer for you."

"The fuck? You're allowed to watch the games?" Max asked incredulously.

"My father says it will make me strong," Kon said vaguely and then walked away not revealing his name to him.

The gladiators were then brought to the arena using an elevator shaft. The field, normally filled with green grass was just dirt. "When the emperor enters, raise your weapon, and salute him. Face the emperor and do not turn your back on him. Go, and die with honor," Antonius said to them.

The gladiators then came out into the arena packed with spectators and broadcasted live to the world. The gladiators were given helmets, chest armor, shields, spears, and swords. The crowd cheered with an awesome roar. Mon was in his private box with Imra and Kon at his side. "Today, these wretched men fight for our entertainment. They fight to redeem what little honor they can scrape. For it credits a man to bring God's wrath upon evildoers and it credits a man to die for the sake of his friends. We do not judge these men but we will be sending them to God's courtroom shortly," Mon said to the crowd.

The Roman gladiators entered the arena on hover vehicles and rotated around the Algerians. Every so often, the Romans would throw a spear or fire an arrow into one of the Algerians on the outside. The Algerians quickly wised up and formed a united block with their shields overlapping each other. With the Algerians forming a block, the Romans weren't able to smash through them. On one pass, the Algerians toppled a hover car sending the Romans to the ground. In the chaos, the Algerians began to fight back by throwing spears at the hovercar drivers. The hovercars slammed into each other and toppled over. The Algerians then slaughtered the dazed and confused Romans. Max, the leader of the Algerians, stole one of the hovercars and began slicing up the Romans with his sword. The Romans were eventually decisively defeated by the Algerians. The crowds roared in jubilation at the gory scene.

Mon then appeared on the arena floor alone and met with the surviving Algerians. Kon was at his side, completely enthralled by the fight. The gladiators all took a knee before the emperor and crown prince. "Rise," Mon commanded them and then focused on Max. "Your fame is well-deserved, Spainard. I don't think there's been a gladiator that's matched you. As for this young man, he insists you're Hector or Hercules from human legends," Mon smiled. Max said nothing to that.

"So, what's your real name, asshole?" Mon demanded.

"My name is Max," he said vaguely.

"You were once general of the armies of the north, weren't you?" Mon recalled.

"I was," Max admitted.

Mon turned to Kon. "This man burned his wife and son to death. Then, he hung their bodies at his gate for all to see, and let their bodies rot in the sun. He burned down the house and field that we so generously bequeathed to him. His son would have been your age."

"Brutal as fuck," Kon smiled adorably.

"Yes, well, maybe I should handle this personally," Mon said as he raised his hand to Max. A glowing sphere of energy appeared on his palm. Max stood his ground even as the other gladiators got distance from him.

The crowd roared with disapproval of Mon executing this man. "Live! Live! Live!" the crowd chanted.

Mon held out his hand in front of Max as the crowd cheered even louder. He hesitated for a moment but then gave Max the thumbs up. The crowd roared with approval. Max then lifted his helmet to the crowd in gratitude. Max and his gladiators were then sent back to their cells for another match.

Mon brought Imra to his office after the matter. "I must say I'm quite vexed, terribly vexed," he admitted. "Did the crowd want that murderer to live because they have learned the Insane ways or is it simple defiance against me?"

"Why not both?" Imra suggested.

"What did you feel after seeing that battle?" Mon asked curiously.

"I felt nothing," Imra admitted. "I don't really give a shit about all this drama you have with the humans."

"According to the trial, this man is guilty. But what if he's innocent? How can I respect the judicial system if he's innocent?" Mon questioned. "And if he is innocent, doesn't that lead to the conclusion that the judicial system should be overthrown? Shouldn't I make all decisions and judgments for this world?"

"Holy fuck," Imra said softly.

"Find out for me," Mon ordered.

Imra went to see Max in the prison. "I knew the emperor would send torturers. I didn't think he would send his best," Max said dryly. Imra telekinetically dropped his restraints, having no fear of him.

"Your family was burned and crucified while they were still alive," Imra said to him.

"I knew nothing," Max denied.

"Don't lie to me," Imra scolded and then telekinetically choked him. "I am a prisoner of his nonsense just as you are." She then searched Max's mind and withdrew. "You have to trust me."

"What does it matter if I trust you?" Max asked.

"God has spared you. Today, I saw a convicted murderer become more powerful than the emperor of this world," Imra told him.

"God has spared me? I am at His mercy with the power to only amuse a mob," Max said skeptically.

"That is power. Humanity is the mob. Listen to me. Mon-El has enemies in this world, in my world, in the entire galaxy," Imra said to him.

"I could die in my cell, tonight. I could die in the arena, tomorrow. What possible difference can I make?" Max asked incredulously.

"You were once a military man, a leader, a man of principle who loved his world. You served this world well," Imra pointed out.

"That man is gone," Max shook his head.

"Let me help you," Imra offered.

"You want to help? Never come back here," Max told her off.

The next day, Max was brought to the arena to fight Mon's gladiator champion. This would be a one-on-one battle that would also introduce tigers that would arise from the floor. The tigers messed with both fighters equally. After a furious fight, Max subdued the champion and brought him to the ground with an ax to his throat. The crowd chanted "kill" repeatedly. Mon gave Max the thumbs down to kill the champion. Max then proceeded to behead the champion to the crowd's jubilation.

Mon then came out to meet with Max on the arena floor. "What am I to do about you? You simply won't die," Mon said jokingly. "Were you thinking that if you pleased me enough, I'll let you free? Do you want the honor of fighting me? Is that it?"

Max said nothing to that. "There's no honor in fighting someone like you. Your son's mouth was wide open as if he were screaming as you burned him. You brutally raped your wife. We're not the same," Mon said to him.

"No, we're not. You're worse," Max said to him.

Mon simply stared at Max realizing he was being goaded into fighting him. He kept his cool and then ordered Max back to his cell for another fight.

At the Vatican, Mon finally came by to have a chat with Pope Barney who had been closely monitoring the situation. "What would you have me do? As emperor, I have the power of the sword to bring God's wrath and vengeance upon evildoers," Mon said.

"Is it really God's wrath you bring upon these criminals? Or is it your own? Or the people's?" Pope Barney questioned. "The execution of criminals must be done professionally."

"And it still is," Mon insisted.

"Do not confuse the letter of the law with the typical practices of the law. Yes, scripture has many laws in which a man may be executed. However, there must be witnesses, evidence, a proper trial, and even then, it was considered a tragedy if the Sanhedrin executed more than one man per generation," Pope Barney said to him.

"Max was given a proper trial. He fucking did it," Mon said confidently.

"The evidence was circumstantial. He probably did it, but there is room for doubt. If you execute an innocent man in the gladiator arena and it is proven that he is innocent, you will shame the world. That is why executions are done behind closed doors," Pope Barney said.

"I had Imra interrogate him," Mon pointed out.

"Did she confirm or deny his guilt?" Pope Barney asked knowingly.

Mon was stumped, assuming that Imra would have told him if he were innocent. "The bitch is trying to undermine me," he realized.

"This man is dangerous to you. Exile him, disappear him, and end these games," Pope Barney told him.

"The violence of this race must be channeled into something," Mon insisted.

"We can find other ways, together," Pope Barney offered. "At my whim, I can order the people to stop attending the games under pain of excommunication. Don't compel me to embarrass you."

"Alright, one last fight," Mon allowed.

Imra came by while Mon and Kon were having a father-son chat about women. "Sometimes, royal ladies behave very queer and do very queer things in the name of love," Mon said.

"I think it's silly," Kon expressed.

"So do I," Mon agreed. "Imra, join us. I've been reading to Kon, here."

"I've been reading, too," Kon interjected.

"Yes, you'll be a fine grand emperor one day," Mon said condescendingly. "One day, I'll tell you about your grandfather and how he was betrayed by those closest to him."

"If you're going to accuse me of betrayal, just say it. I don't have time for your bullshit," Imra rolled her eyes.

"You're betraying me," Mon accused bluntly.

"As usual, you're paranoid as fuck," Imra said dismissively.

"Am I?" Mon questioned. "You know whether Max is guilty or not. You know if any of the other gladiators are, too. You want to embarrass me by having an innocent man get brutally killed in the arena? Is that your play? You want to make me look like an asshole? How could you sink so low as to support a man who murdered his family just to make me look foolish?

"If he's guilty," Imra said, giving nothing away.

"He had a fair trial supervised by Barney. He was convicted by a jury of his peers, and his automatic appeal failed. He fucking did it," Mon insisted. "And even if he is innocent, God will protect him. That's what trial by combat is all about," Mon argued.

"God seems to have protected him quite well," Imra mocked.

"I can have all the gladiators executed tonight if I wanted to. That's what everyone else does. They disappear people in the middle of the night or they send them away to some camp. Or they execute them in a prison with few witnesses, hidden away from the world. Where's the integrity in that?" Mon asked.

"It's to keep the people from becoming blood-thirsty barbarians," Imra countered. "When you kill a man, even when it's justified, it taints your soul. The killer instinct deep in our subconscious rises closer to the surface. And after each kill, it keeps rising and rising until all you are is a killer. And it won't matter, at that point, if the victim is innocent or guilty."

"That's bullshit. I've killed countless people and have total control over my wits," Mon doubted. He then got a text message that every gladiator had been executed except Max. "Okay, I've killed all convicts in the middle of the night hidden from the world. You happy now?" he asked her.

"Really?" Imra shook her head dismayed.

"Nothing pleases you," Mon said disappointedly. "Am I not merciful?"

The next day, Mon went to the arena and met with Max before the big fight. The crowd cheered for Max for various reasons. For some, they wanted to root for a human being, a man of bravery and tactical skill. For others, it was to oppose their Insane emperor. Mon went up to Max before the arena floor in the elevator shaft.

"They call for you," Mon said referring to the crowd. "A general that became a convict, a convict that became a gladiator, a gladiator that fought the Prince of all Insane. Your career has been quite a roller coaster, hasn't it?"

Max said nothing to that, totally defeated. "Now, the people want to know how the story ends. If you are innocent, God will protect you...from me. Even if you are guilty, what a glorious end to die at my hands," Mon said to him.

Max smirked at that "Do you know no fear, human?" Mon asked him.

"I just don't give a shit," Max clarified.

Mon nodded and then signaled for the elevator to go up. In the arena, Imra and Kon were together in the emperor's box. Mon casually threw a vibroblade on the ground at Max's feet, a blade so hot it could even slice Mon's skin. As the crowd enthusiastically watched, Mon took the offensive with expert swordsmanship skills. Max was forced to stay on the defensive and then Mon sliced into his leg. Mon became overconfident and aggressively went after the injured Max. The two were brought into a bind and then Max sliced Mon's arm open, disarming him.

Max dropped his sword and then went over to Mon with just his fists. He elbowed Mon to the face as hard as he could. He then punched Mon to the face four times in combination and then kicked him in the chin. Max withdrew with injured hands as Mon simply stood there unaffected. "Take up your sword. God helps those who help themselves," he told him.

Max reluctantly took up his sword from the ground. Mon did the same with his left hand. The two battled it out once more with Mon having the advantage. Suddenly, Mon noticed Mara was in the emperor's booth watching the fight. The blood drained from his face as he saw her there. She had never been to a gladiator fight up to now. Mon noticed Imra smirking, realizing she had brought Mara to the fight to fuck with him. Mon became conflicted and distracted by Mara's presence. Max put Mon into a bind and then sliced his throat open. Mon backed away stunned that a human was able to get the better of him. Was this a sign from the heavens?

Mon clutched his neck and stopped the fight. He gave Max a thumbs up indicating he would live. Kon stood up, stunned to witness his father defeated. The crowd cheered at Max's victory and Mon's humble defeat. The crowd then came out onto the arena, hoisted Max up into the air, and carried him out of the arena as a hero. Mon shook his head in amusement and walked the other way.

Spain

Now a free man, Max went back to his burnt-ass house where his family had died. Not far from the house were the graves of his wife and son. "I will see you again but not yet," Max said to the graves. "Not yet."

Author's Notes: In this take, it's left ambiguous as to whether Max was truly guilty or not. As with most eccentric races, it begs the question of whether an Insane warrior is instinctively Insane or just following tradition. Are Klingon warriors assholes by nature or by tradition or both? This episode focused on capital punishment on how to appropriately administer it or even have it at all. Imra's role is an interesting one for me because she's trying to make the best of a bad situation in her own way.