Galen was in the middle of the storm.
Death was a whirlwind of slashes, cuts, strikes, and blows, twirling in and spinning from all sides, striking with amazing intensity and precision.
Galen fought back with everything he had in him.
He parried and thrust, and counter slashed, his lightsaber a twirling arch of green energy.
He counterattacked where he could, swinging from up high and down low, trying to get his opponent to stop his relentless attack.
Galen Zaun could not achieve that, his opponent was impregnable.
He summoned a blast of Force Energy and knocked his opponent back.
Death placed his hands in his side and then shoved back.
Galen flew through the air, surprised at the strength of his opponent.
He used the Force and straightened himself out like a arrow as he crashed into a window. Glass went everywhere, exploding out from the impact point, and cutting his face and his arms, drawing blood.
He could make out a half naked Twi'lek who just looked as though she got out of a shower, she turned around startled at him, and he smiled at the scene as he flew out the other window.
He fell down in the sand, his elbows being raked by the pebbles, he got up to his heals just in time to hear a loud yell of rage from over head. He looked up and saw Death hurtling at him, lightsaber pointing down as he leapt from the rooftop.
Galen rolled in the sand and out of the way, just barely, deactivating his lightsaber and then reactivating it as Death swung at him pressing his attack.
Galen bought the pommel up to about the left side of his chest, just barely blocking the blow.
Galen grimaced as the two of them pushed on one another, his own blade was almost at his elbow threatening to cut it off. Galen gritted his teeth and summoned all of his power and pushed back.
Death was knocked back and Galen twirled out of the way.
Bringing his saber up into a guard position.
He was so poorly trained for this. In Form III, even though he knew how to use it, he was by no means an expert. He relied too heavily on Form V, and it was costing him.
Large beads of sweat were permeating his brow. His beard tasted of dried blood. He rejuvenated himself with the Force just before the next onslaught.
Death raised his hands up and shot at him a bolt of lightning. Galen swung his saber up diagonal from about his hip, grimacing again and closing his eyes from the sight as the lightning struck the blade, and sizzled across it.
"Most impressive, out of all the Jedi I have battled, you are by far the greatest challenge."
"I am glad I could help." Galen said, catching back up on his energies, and then walking out, circling Death in a half circle, his palm out, and his blade almost by his ear but out a ways from his head.
"Though this has been the most fun and the most sport I have ever had." Death grinned, hardly seeming to be phased from the heavy combat.
But Galen knew it to be some sort of an act.
He egged his opponent on, stared him down, and glared.
Death went back.
"Well shall we begin?" He asked cockily.
Galen nodded and then lunged, but pulled back at the last second, causing Death to over step. Galen slashed twice at the midriff, both were easily blocked, and Death slammed the blade down on Galen's, trying to bat it away. Galen slashed hard from left to right, going from bottom to top, intercepting the blade and knocking it back.
Death spun out of the way, and faced his opponent. Galen pressed the first real advantage he had all day by charging his opponent hard, coming in with another slash.
Death blocked it easily, but Galen used the momentum and tried to strike at Death from behind. Death just barely shoved out his hand and whacked Galen across the back of the head, sending him flying through the air, flipping.
Galen landed in a crouch about ten meters from Death.
Death Charged.
Galen intercepted.
They engaged in a series of horizontal and slashing strikes and parries. The sounds of their lightsabers reverberating down the street corners, causing some people to look at them.
They were kicking up dust with their fast foot work and precise strikes, Galen was getting more and more on edge, he had to find a way out.
He kicked out, delivering a blow to Death's face, hearing the snapping of a breaking nose.
Galen spun back. His chest heaving, he tried to concentrate on the Force, and summoned the last reserves of his concentration.
The battle at that point had lasted for nearly twelve minutes, and in the hot sun, with him getting little rest in between, he was losing himself fast.
Death came on again, pressing his advantage.
Galen fell back, striking out again, doing a good job of parrying. Their blades met about mid way across Galen's body, and Death used his incredible strength to push it down, scouring the sand and the floor.
Then with even more surprising strength Death struck out with his left arm and caught Galen square in the forehead, knocking back, and nearly knocking him out.
He shook his head to clear it and stared glaringly at Death.
Death came on again, Galen held his saber in one hand and held it out, in Shiem. And still his enemy came on him.
Galen got down low and then swung his lightsaber around blocking and parrying despite the advantage.
Galen was being driven into the ground, again and again, a strike and a strike, slowly being driven all the way into the ground.
He grunted and moaned, but then summed up a force wave and knocked his opponent back, skidding on the ground about five feet through the sand, dazed and confused.
He got up in a whirlwind, smiling feral and with full rage and hate boiling in him.
It was in that moment that Galen Zaun knew, knew that he had a good chance of survival.
He was calm
His opponent was not.
For all intents and purposes, despite all the bruises, the cuts, and the injuries, he was mostly calm.
He raised his lightsaber up, at about chin high, and calmed his mind.
Death came on again. Swinging and feinting to one side. But, Galen did not fall for it, he nimbly fell back. Brought his saber in one parry after another, blocking easily. Trusting in his limited perception of the Force.
His opponent grew more and more frustrated, and more and more close quarters. He smacked Death across the face, Death punched him in the mouth, almost knocking out a few teeth, Galen elbowed him twice and then stepped on Death's foot.
Death pounced back and howled in rage, he swung his lightsaber in a sweeping arc pushing it at Galen. Galen flew back, hard into a wall, causing his back to explode in pain.
Galen slid to the ground, and then pushed himself up, holding his saber up defiantly.
Death came on, limping slightly, his face swollen.
He swung, over compensated, Galen threw his pommel out to the right straight up, and then swiftly to the left straight up, blocking both the blows.
He then slashed out, holding his saber in both of his hands as he pulled on it, across Death's chest. Death who had not finished his over compensation, fell into the blade.
Death's eyes widened in his shock as his flesh burned and was vaporized, ripping a great burn through the skin, making it black. Death collapsed on his knees, Galen snapped his lightsaber off and dropped to the ground, cradling his opponent.
Galen felt an odd rush of sympathy, affection, and familiarity. This was the first serious duel that had been fought in centuries, long, hard, and intimate.
"Well you won." Death said coughing.
Galen did not think of a single response to that. Death looked at him sideways, and then coughed, spluttering up blood, and pulling Galen down to his mouth, whispering the next words to him in a hoarse moan.
"My son." More coughing.
"You have a son?" Galen said surprised.
"Yes." Death said in pain.
"What is his name?"
Death smiled lopsidedly, "Named after me, but that is not important." He convulsed again. "They are coming for him, and if you thought I was bad this is nothing. Stop them, protect him, you are the victor, you vanquished me, this is your right, he is yours."
"We are Jedi, we do not take possession of people!" Galen said hotly.
"You may not have a choice, I do not want him to be used as a pawn. Protect him, do what you want." Death chuckled. "Even make him a….Jedi." That was his last word, as he slowly slipped into the great unknown, his eyes staring skyward.
Galen closed Death eyes with his hands, and then closed his own eyes, fading off into unconsciousness, as many people came towards him to check with him.
Master Mikal Skywalker's Office.
Galen stood before his Master. His lip was swollen, his eye was shut, and his wounds had closed but they were still tender.
Master Skywalker gazed at his friend, looking at him,
"Well, you won." He said.
"Yes, I did." Galen nodded to him.
The silence was uncomfortable and oppressive, Galen wanted to say so much, but could say so little given what he was considering doing.
"The other Jedi," Galen said suddenly remembering, saddened that it had taken him so long to get to it. "He died in battle, he deserves our respect."
"I will see to it, I am already sending someone out there right now as to attend to it. I also have to inform his family." Master Skywalker said.
"The worse duty of those with responsibility."
"Yeah, but at least his rein of terror is over." Mikal said decisively.
"For the moment." Galen said under his breath, so quiet that Skywalker did not show any indication that he heard him.
This is what he meant, this is what he felt before, since he was assigned to his mission.
Over the past few days as he tried to heal, and tried to get back into things, the feeling was growing. Unease with his own soul, and through the Force.
Or, at the least, this was going to play some part in the events that were happening before him. How large a part he could not have said for certain.
"Master Skywalker, I require rest, if this debriefing is over?"
Mikal grinned. "We here on the fringes are way too militaristic for my taste. Then he moderated it slightly, and nodded, "yes you may go.
Galen gathered up his hood and put it around him.
He had a decision to make.
