Chapter 53

Valin slams his blade against Ben's again. Reveling in the sound of the two sabers crashing together, the constantly shifting thrum as they swing their blades in an endless series of strikes and parries.

The sheer joy of the battle.

Of besting the murderer of his sister.

Of avenging her.

Of killing Whitesun.

It is that thought, that emotion which drives him. Valin pushes out all other considerations. He ignores the babbles of the murderer. He ignores the slight stitch in his side from the exertions of this battle.

He even ignores the rain of turbolaser fire which surround them, tearing huge gouts out of the Temple and the town which surrounds it.

It is all just distractions.

Attempts to keep him from doing what the Grand Master ordered.

Attempts to keep him from exacting his revenge for Jysella.

Calling upon the Force, he strikes and batters away at Whitesun. He can feel the sneer stretching his features; he can feel the hate giving him strength and power.

A wave of Force energy picks him up and tosses him away from Whitesun. He slams against a wall, crumpling to the floor, and lets a growl out, as he picks himself up from the ground.

"Stop it Valin. We need to go help Sannah and Jysella, not fight out here."

Valin can feel his rage erupt anew. How dare this whelp act as if he was worried over Jysella. "You killed Jysella!"

"I don't know what you're talking about Valin."

"Liar!"

Valin dashes forward, his blade reigniting, as eh comes in for a killing stroke. Ben is able to get his blade up in time. Then Valin shifts his saber around, knocking Ben's away. Then he snap-kicks Ben in the stomach.

Valin grins, as Ben stumbles backward, clutching at his stomach. He steps forward, lifting his blade once more for a killing strike. He slams his sword down, and finds it once more connected against Ben's.

Then pain explodes in his jaw, the impact of Ben's fist causing his teeth to click together. Ben spins, swiping Valin's feet out from under him, then with a touch of the Force, he flips backwards landing on his feet.

Valin struggles to his feet, watching as Ben sets himself into a mid-guard ready stance.

Valin rushes forward, his saber slicing in fast towards Ben's stomach. Ben catches the blade, and falls back, stepping out onto a thin railing wrapped around the side of the building.

Valin growls as he follows Ben onto the walkway, the turbolasers still falling from the sky, burning through the city which surrounds the Temple.

Ben comes to the end of the walkway, his back pressed up against the waist high railing, his saber raised in a defensive posture. Valin grins at his trapped prey.

And then strikes. A powerful overhand blow, which Ben easily catches on his saber, and overbalances Valin, so he stumbles off to the side. Their locked sabers slash into the connection of the railing and the wall, slicing through it.

Valin cuffs Ben in the face, knocking the younger man backwards, against the railing. Valin straightens, and slices towards Ben again, who ducks which allows Valin's blade to slice through the railing causing a huge section to fall away to the ground below.

Ben once more assumes a defensive stance, and Valin rushes him. Ben knocks his saber up, and Valin is unbalanced, slipping off the side of the walkway.

He is falling.

The grasp of a hand around his wrist snaps his arm tight, stopping his fall. He looks up to see Whitesun hanging over the edge of the walkway, holding tightly to him.

Anger wells up in Valin's chest, and he swings his saber at the walkway, slicing through a support strut. With a wrenching sound, the walkway tilts and Ben starts sliding forward.

Valin looks on with a grin as Ben drops his saber to get a better hold of the grating of the walkway.

"Are you insane Valin! Get up here, so we can go rescue your sister."

Valin doesn't answer, just snaps his saber onto his belt, and then allows Ben to pull him up so he can get the necessary leverage needed to get himself back on the walkway.

A few minutes later and he is lying on his back, staring at the sky above. Then Ben slaps him on the shoulder. "Now come on. We got to go find Jysella."

Valin grabs the hand and slams Ben against the wall, pulling his saber and pushing it against Ben's temple in one smooth movement.

He allows a grin to settle on his lips. "And now I get to avenge Jysella's death."