Chapter XXI

Vader had chosen to fight Arthan while Taria dealt with Keroth.

The Sith Lord spun his lightsaber outward and brought it back to his body, keeping the Jedi Master at a good arm's length from him. Arthan was a Master Ayua Form VI, more on the side of lightsaber defense, however a slight gradation in form could have lethal effects on the enemy.

Arthan used the Force to throw the Sith Lord back rushing toward him as he stumbled, Vader brought his blade up to parry and rolled backward, with a small flick of his blade he aimed to impale the Jedi Master.

Arthan leapt back at the last moment, and spun his blade downward, knocking the Sith Lord back down.

Vader stretched out his hand and tried to use the Force to grip the Jedi Master's throat, Arthan a master of Ki-Yak, the Force Meditation technique against Force Attacks remained standing and his body repelled the Sith's Force manipulations.

"Surrender Lord Vader, you cannot possibly win," said the Cerean through clenched teeth, he spun his lightsaber on his wrist as Vader rushed toward him again, red lightsaber against green.

Arthan parried his attack and drove Vader back, the Sith Lord was taken aback at the Jedi Master's strength and used the Force to steady himself, he swept his blade upward and slanted his body, hoping to slash the Jedi Master under the arm.

Arthan swung his body away and pulled the Sith's toward him as well, both fell into a tumble and fell deeper into the caverns.

Taria was facing Keroth, her former friend, "Come Keroth, do not do battle with me, you shall surely lose,"

Keroth knew this, he and Taria sparred many times in the years when they were apprentices, and Taria always won the Apprentice's Tournament, as well as the Lightsaber Gala.

Taria was a master of a sub-division form of Form V, Sakis, by utilizing your opponent's weaknesses, even the weakest and worst swordsman can defeat the greatest of champions.

Taria's yellow blade shot from its handle and the Dark Jedi sped toward Keroth. She was greeted by two similar yellow blades, that intersected in front of Keroth's body.

The Dark Jedi leapt back and grit her teeth as she let out an onslaught of attacks against the Jedi Master, her blade flowing breathlessly, arcs of yellow light until all that was seen was a pure yellow ring that surrounded her entire body.

Keroth's blades always blocked her attacks, and she noticed that he had indeed gained some improved skill with his lightsabers, Master Ikit and Mace Windu had commented recently on his improvement and the young woman started to wonder if she could really get by his defenses.

Keroth made a misstep and Taria took her chance, in well executed Vi-Chon, she slashed the top of his left handed lightsaber, its emitter clattering to the floor and the handle now useless, was hurled at her as it exploded.

Taria swept her hand forward and deflect the incoming explosion; the lightsaber had a self-destruct sequence she realized as she climbed back to her feet, her eyes and ears ringing from the blast.

She shook her head, clearing her mind and let go of herself into the Force, allowing her anger to become a gale of wind that swept Keroth off his feet.

The startled Jedi Master grappled helplessly but was thrown into one of the access tunnels leading out, Taria cursed herself for not finishing him off and turned to see her Master and the Cerean Jedi Master both stumble into one another.

She leapt toward them to join Lord Vader in the fight.