Chapter 11

Darth Blade approaches the front gate of the abandon citadel only it's not abandon. Six Sith Troopers aim their blaster rifles at them but drop them and rise up into the air choking themselves. He enters the citadel followed by three dozen of his own men. The other Sith Troopers aim at them but a few rise up in the air choking Heath just continues walking towards the main building. The Sith Troopers continue to follow him with their blasters even though a dozen have been killed by Force Choke. Lord Horton looks at them they haven't moved. All of sudden Darth Malgus appears on a balcony along with three Mandalorians one of them holding Serena. "Kill them." Malgus orders. The Sith Troopers open fire. Heath blocks incoming lasers with his lightsaber and sends them back to their owners. His men open fire with Blaster Rifles, and launchers to silence the Laser Machineguns. His men job is to deal with Malgus Sith troopers while he, Commander Stone and twenty-six of his commandoes enter the main building and rescue Serena. A missile is fired at him but he uses the force to send it to a tower full of Sith Troopers firing down onto his men. Commander Stone kills eight enemy soldiers with headshots from his blaster. Eight Sith Knights move towards him but he cuts them down three are killed from Commander Stone's commandoes. They enter the building. Four Sith Troopers are there to meet them but Heath's commandoes take care of them. They have to fight their way through twenty of Malgus commandoes before they reach the great hall. Upon entering the great hall Heath sees four Sith Knights, eight Sith Troopers, four Mandalorians, and Darth Malgus.
"Where's Serena?" Malgus turns to one of the Sith Knights.

"Bring her out," he says in his cold voice. Heath sees Malgus I knows from the Imperial records he has to wear the respirator from injuries he sustain during the Great War. He knows Malgus is a skilled warrior and possess Sith lighting plus the ability to know what is opponent will do.

"Malgus release her now!" Malgus just looks at him.

"Kill them," he says. All of a sudden a window breaks and Darth Rune lands in the great hall. Four Sith Knights, 4 Sith Troopers and 2 Mandalorians rush towards him but he decapitates them. Commander Stone and the other soldiers shoot each of the Sith Troopers in the head. Only 2 Mandalorians are left one holding Serena. Rune approaches.

"Releaser her," Heath says again. The Mandolorian release her but Darth Malgus strikes both of them down and grabs her and places his lightsaber near her throat. "Malgus, release her and let us duel I know you been waiting to fight me." He pushes Serena out of the way Commander Stone grabs her. "Stone, get her somewhere safe." He nods and departs. Darth Rune looks at Heath and then at Darth Malgus. He nods to Heath and departs too. Darth Malgus and Darth Blade stare at each other. They're both don't want to make a move. Heath strategy is to get Malgus to make the first move and he's sure Malgus wants him to make the first move. Malgus sent a jet of lighting at him which he blocks with his lightsaber. However Malgus run towards him slinging his lightsaber at him, but he blocks the attack. They begin dueling each other using some of the same lightsaber forms. Once again Malgus sends a jet of lighting at Heath but he blocks it. Heath use Force Push to knock Malgus back, but Malgus stops himself and comes at him. They collide lightsabers again and continue their duel. Malgus taunts him but Heath ignores him or doesn't let it bother him. Malgus and Heath use physical augmentation to fight each other. Malgus jumps back. He thought I would give pursuit but he was mistaken and he uses Force Melstorm but I use a Force Shield which protect myself from his attack. "Malgus, I studied your tactics and learn a lot about you at the Sith Academy and I taught myself my forgotten Force powers. I have a destiny my father always said I was special. I'm more powerful than any Jedi or Sith."

"You dream Darth Blade, you will die today and your beloved Serena will be my slave," he says with a laugh. "I can fill the anger growing in you let it control you." Heath laughs. Malgus looks at him. Malgus attacks him again. They continue their duel. Malgus use Force Push to knock me backwards he knocks me on my face as soon as he got on his feet Malgus has object heading towards me. Heath puts his lightsaber away and use the force to move the objects out of his way. Malgus recognized the opening and attacks him he didn't have his lightsaber to protect him. Malgus picks Heath up and throws him against the wall. Heath use the force and sends his lightsaber at Malgus which he deflects and cuts the lightsaber in half. Heath gets on his feet. "Poor little baby lost his lightsaber," Malgus taunts. However, Heath brings out another lightsaber his duel-bladed red lightsaber.

"If you knew anything about me Malgus you would know I have more than one lightsaber." Malgus uses powerful blows against Heath but Heath parries them without any effort which surprise Malgus. Malgus knees him in the gut which causes him to go on his knees. Malgus once again thinks he has an opening but Heath uses a massive Force Push and knocks Malgus into the wall on the other side plus a spike is sticking out of Malgus chest. Eighteen Sith Troopers enter and fired RPGs at Heath. Heath deflects them. Two look like the hit him but as soon as the smoke cleared he's find not a scratch on him. Heath cuts them down before they knew he moved. Malgus removes himself from the spike. He gets back onto his feet. Heath knows Malgus is basically a walking tank and this battle wouldn't be easy. Malgus lightsaber is gone. He uses the force but Heath catches Malgus lightsaber. Blade throws Malgus his lightsaber. Malgus catches it. "Another thing you must no Malgus I fight my opponents with honor."

"Honor is for fools Blade," he replies. Malgus runs towards him. They collide their lightsabers again. They continue their duel. Heath manages to hit Malgus on the shoulder but Malgus armor protects him. He felt Malgus anger and was prepare for Malgus heavy strike. Malgus keeps hitting him with powerful strikes but Heath blocks them but is driven back towards the wall. He can feel Malgus anger and fury and he can also tell it by Malgus attacks trying to break through his defense. Heath uses the force to knock Malgus back, but Malgus counters and knocks him into the wall. The breath is knocked out of him. Malgus uses the force to keep him pin against the wall. Malgus didn't know Darth Blade knew how to use his mind to call upon the force most Jedi and Sith have to use their hands to channel the force but some have been able to use their minds. Debris attack Malgus which forced him to let Blade go. Malgus sent a lighting hurling directly towards him, but he dodge out of the way. Malgus attacks Blade again but he parries his blow but on the second attack Malgus hits him in the face with his free hand which he punches me in the face. Heath's lightsaber is drop. He attempts to summon it back to him but Malgus catches it and cuts it into pieces. "Blade, without your lightsaber you will die." He says with a laugh. Malgus attacks but Heath raises his hand and stops Malgus lightsaber strike. Malgus pushes forward but Heath pushes back. The lightsaber is stopped by the Force Malgus only seen this used before during the Great War. Heath manages to destroy Malgus lightsaber which also blast Malgus into a wall on the other side of the great hall. The force from the blast cracked Malgus armor plus his respirator but not enough to cause him trouble breathing. Heath knows the respirator is a weakness but so does Malgus. Heath pulls out two additional lightsabers. He throws his red lightsaber to Malgus who catches it. They both ignite their lightsabers for another time Malgus is shock to see Heath with a green lightsaber while his other was blue. Malgus attacks with fury which Heath hasn't seen him use during the entire duel. They fight up the stairs to the tallest tower of the fortress. Heath has to duck from several lethal strikes.

Meanwhile Commander Stone gets Serena onboard a transport and are taking her to the Empress were she'll be safe. Darth Rune and 12 soldiers remain behind to mop up the remaining of Malgus forces who didn't escape. Most of Malgus troopers escape to the tunnels beneath the fortress. They had no clue three battalions of Sith Soldiers each commanded by four Sith Knights are on their way to the fortress from Imperious sent by Lord Malak Hand of the Emperor. `They'll be at the fortress in under 46 minutes. Rune and the dozen soldiers loyal to his former apprentice and to him engage Malgus surviving soldiers. Only Darth Rune is left standing. Darth Rune sense the new comers so he heads to tell Heath.

Heath and Malgus are still fighting. They have finally reach the top of the stairs. This is the longest he has duel anyone in a long time but he can sense Malgus isn't tiring like he is. He ducks again to avoid a deadly cut. Malgus use Force Push to knock Heath into the battlements when he's knocked into the battles it takes his breath away but it also hurts his back. Malgus laughs. Malgus comes at him but Heath moves out of the way of Malgus over the shoulder strike and uses his own lightsaber and cuts both of Malgus arms off. Rune arrives just as he removed his adversary arms. "You've better kill me because I'll get new arms and I'll be back after you and your girlfriend and if you have kids I'll come after them too." He says laughing.

"No you want you will never harm an innocent soul ever again," Heath says and with that he cuts off Malgus head.

"Heath, we need to get out of here before Malak reinforcements arrive," Rune says to him. He nods and they jump off the tower just as 9 Sith soldiers arrive and open fire. "Follow me I'll take you to Malak so you can kill him and bring this Coup to an end." Heath follows after him. They reach the Imperial Palace hours later. Rune leads him to a secret passage into the palace. They follow the secret passage to the end. Rune goes first four Imperial Guards are patrolling the corridor Rune surprises them but recognize him. "I need to see Malak?"

"He has ordered not to be disturb milord," one of the Royal Guards tell him.

"It's involving Darth Blade," he says. Heath comes out of hiding. The four Imperial guards reach for their lightsabers but they rise in the air choking but Heath doesn't kill them he only chokes them with the Force until they're unconscious. Rune sense Heath's powers are growing. Rune opens the door and Heath follows after him. Heath recognized the area. They're in one of the throne rooms. Malak is sitting on the throne. Heath activates his lightsaber. However, a dozen Sith Knights appear along with a dozen Royal Guards, and two dozen Sith Soldiers. Heath uses the force and knocks them on the ground and he runs towards Malak. However something hits him in the back and he falls inches away from his target. He feel the heat from a lightsaber near his throat. "Should I kill him Lord Malak?" he recognized the voice.

"No Darth Rune, I have other plans for him," Malak replies. "Good work with the tranquilizer." Two Sith Troopers picks Heath up. He looks into their eyes before he passed out. He awakes in a cell. Rune is in there. He tries to attack him but realized he's chained.

"Relax," he says. Heath screamed at him calling him a trader and everything he can think of. Rune gets up to leaves. "You have a trial tomorrow." He leaves.

The next day Lord Heath "Blade" Horton is taken before Emperor Raven. The charges are read. Heath knows he's not guilty of treason. They have no witness except for Commander Stone and those who return with him. However they aren't ask to testify. Emperor Raven stands up. "Since there isn't much evidence but since majority of the council believe Lord Horton should be punish. I agree with them. Lord Horton, you shall be banish from the Empire for 45 years never to return until the 45 years are up and if you do you and all those who go will you will die."

"My lord, I challenge you to trial by combat I'll let that decide my punishment." Malak smiles everything is going according to plan. Raven accepts his challenge. He hears a voice in his head.

"We shall hold the challenge in 3 days to give your wounds time to heal." Malak is surprise to hear this but bows like the others. Malak tells the Sith Soldiers to take him back to his cell. They escort me back to my cell.