Chapter 32
"Back there! In her quarters!"
Julian directed the alerted temple guards while he pushed the girl along. He wanted to be back there, fighting. But he knew that his main objective was to get the Shul to safety.
Julian heard Adia whimper something beneath her breath, as he noticed that she was shaking all over. But he pushed her on charging into the one of the Temple's main open areas.
"Alert the prophets! We need to alert the prophets!"
Julian had barely shouted when suddenly the passage they'd just emerged from exploded. Its force so fierce that it knocked them to the floor.
Julian staggered to his feet, diving for the closest Cesta stand he grabbed the first weapon he saw as, with sphere on hand, the Warrior burst into the area.
The Gungan skidded, eyeing off the girl who stood behind Julian.
"Yes." Julian sneered. "You're going to have to get through me before you get to her you scum of the Shadows!"
The Warrior's lip curled into a dangerous leer as with a wave of his hand he sent the sphere spiralling up into the air.
"We shall see about that Guardian."
The sphere twirled sending him a blast. Julian ducked, deflecting the blow with his Cesta.
The Warrior hissed his disapproval but was unable carry on with the little game as from all bends at once; prophet and guard alike hurriedly approached. Realizing that he was severely outnumbered the Gungan gazed at the tiny stone and immediately a burst of energy exploded from the sphere, creating a force field that came down around the entire area. The Temple's inhabitants skidded to a halt, trapped on the outside.
Julian's stomach made a lurch downward as he suddenly realized that he was to face the warrior alone.
The Gungan grinned, detecting his uncertainty. Pulling out his scythe he advanced.
Julian stood at the ready, making sure that Adia was out of his way before throwing himself into battle.
The situation seemed all too familiar to Adia as her mind suddenly diverted back to Er Shua defending her mother in the bubble city.
All around prophets dashed about on the outside, desperate to break in, but their attempts proved useless.
Adia needed to do something! But what? Frantically the girl looked around for something to aid Julian with. But they were locked in a force field! There was nothing!
Then she spotted the sphere. What had they said? She was the stone's master. She had to know how to use it somehow!
The girl closed her eyes, directing her mind to the tiny jewel, willing it to somehow dissipate. But the warrior's grip upon it was strong. She had no effect on it except that of a slight waver.
That was enough to gain the Gungan's attention though, as for a brief moment his gaze turned to the girl. He knew that she was somehow trying to gain control over it, he wouldn't let that be the case. The Warrior directed more of his mind to the sphere, strengthening his grip. But it also made him a slower fighter against Julian. That was his weakness. That was the sphere's disadvantage, Adia suddenly realized.
Using the jewel took up concentration, and so did fighting. Concentrating more so on one element meant that it lessened on the other. That was why the Shul had a Guardian, so that both elements could be at the best of their potential.
Adia pushed her mind onto the sphere. She could now feel the energy that pulsated from it. Power that was capable of wiping out the entire planet core. She let that power drain into her. She could feel her mind beginning to take grip over the sphere as she pushed the other away.
The Gungan faltered gaining the Guardian a window of attack. The Guardian swung his Cesta around, swiping him across the chest and again in the face. The Gungan howled, falling back into the field. Loosening his mind's grip from the sphere so that for a brief moment there was a waver in the field. This gave him enough opportunity to twirl when the Guardian came in for another attack, get behind him and kick him through.
The Guardian fell back into the arms of prophets.
"Julian!" The Shul dashed forward.
But it was too late. The field had already closed over. Her Guardian was trapped on the outside.
"No!" he screamed, scrabbling to his feet, beating his fists upon the force field.
The Gungan ignored him turning back the girl and instantly she swallowed, backing up. She was alone.
Wiping the blood from his mouth he threw his scythe aside, issuing the challenge. This was not to be a battle of weapons, but that of the mind. All would soon see who the sphere's true master was.
The girl backed up further at his advancement, searching the room for some kind of escape. But it was useless. With nowhere to run to and no Guardian to protect her, she was trapped and cornered.
Like a helpless child, the Gungan grinned.
Closing his eyes he took a deep breath, drawing in the sphere's energy only to release it upon the Shul's feeble mind. The girl screamed clutching her head as with the force of a storm, wave after wave of heated energy blasted through her.
With every passing second he could feel her weaken. Her life force faded as it was literally forced from her body.
The Gungan's fire ceased, mocking her, daring her to fight back but the Shul slumped, passing out on the ground.
