Chapter 22

Demon's Battle Cave, Second Day, Second Fight

Ryu and Rothen warily circled each other, sizing each other up; neither one ready to commit to an attack.

Ryu said to himself, 'He's got a tight defense. I don't see any openings. He's good.'

Ryu looked for the Ki to indicate where the first attack might come from but saw no specific telltales. Suddenly, Rothen moved forward but instead of seeing just one leg or arm being led by the path of light, Ryu saw a miniscule flicker from all of Rothen's limbs. Never having seen this exact permutation before left Ryu with the smallest of holes in his defense just long enough for Rothen to slide in and connect with a four hit combination left high, right low, left low, and right high. The two high hits would've connected with Ryu's chin in a one-two effect, but he just managed to move his head back enough that Rothen had to change direction mid-punch and the two high hits connected with Ryu's chest instead. Both low hits in turn connected with Ryu's abdomen but he tightened his abdominal muscles at the moment of impact, thus enabling him to absorb and internally dissipate most of the energy of the impact itself, then the shock gear did its job and caused Ryu to fall backwards. In mid-fall, Ryu did a break-fall and turned it into a reverse rollaway. Rothen moved forward again to press his momentary advantage, but Ryu got back to his feet and lunged forward with a leaping knee strike to Rothen's chest. At the moment of impact, the two fighters seemed almost to be suspended in the air, irresistible force versus immovable object, Rothen's forward momentum to Ryu's counterforce. Ryu then fired off a short left jab that connected squarely on Rothen's jaw, splitting his lower lip and delivering the shock from Ryu's handgear. Rothen fell back this time and performed the same break fall-reverse roll to get back to his feet that Ryu had only moments before. Wiping the blood from his lip, Rothen broke with the mold of the emotionless Chiss by smiling and nodding his head in acknowledgement of the clean hit. Ryu chose not to press for advantage this time and waited as he moved back to the center of the platform.

Again, the fighters circled each other, looking for an opening, no matter how small. Looking to the Ki, Ryu saw the same light track from all of Rothen's limbs again as Rothen grabbed the front of Ryu's gi, but instead of going for the throw as Ryu expected, Rothen instead wrapped both legs around Ryu's causing him to fall back again and hit the platform on his back with a solid thud. Ryu kept his head up to prevent impact and the probable concussion to follow as Rothen unwrapped his legs from Ryu's in an attempt to get into a better mounted position to grapple, Ryu was able to bring both knees up underneath Rothen and in a jackknife-like motion, kicked up, sending Rothen over the top. Rothen, too good a fighter to be caught offguard put both hands down to simultaneously catch himself and guide the energy of the throw into a forward somersault that allowed him to get to his feet in one fluid motion. Ryu too had gotten back to his feet by this time. As he turned to face Rothen, he nodded his head this time to acknowledge a good technique, countered though it was, but a good technique all the same.

The two fighters came back into range and Ryu slid forward this time and attempted to deliver two short right round kicks to Rothen's thigh, like he had done in his fight against Gondo Krel. His first kick connected but Rothen turned his shin and blocked the second kick. In the seeming split second it took for Rothen to get his blocking leg back on the platform, Ryu lashed out with a high right round kick to Rothen's head which was ducked. Ryu followed through with the missed kick and his left leg that had been his support leg became a low sweep at the ankle. Rothen's ankles were caught by the sweep and as he went to the ground, Ryu threw a left hook that landed on Rothen's cheekbone. As Rothen hit the platform, the roars of the crowd got louder and louder, and Ryu stepped away from his fallen opponent and seeing that he was still conscious, stood back and waved at him to get back on his feet. When Rothen did, the crowd became louder still.

Rothen edged in slightly, staying out of Ryu's kicking range. Rothen shifted leads left-right-left-right. As Ryu changed leads in time to match, Rothen moved forward and seemed to almost fly horizontally in a scissor that caught Ryu. Rothen's left leg was low on Ryu's legs below the knee and Rothen's right leg was high at Ryu's waist. The sudden shift in leverage was unrecoverable and Ryu slammed down on the platform yet again. Rothen extricated his left leg and levered up on it to bring his right foot down and connect with Ryu's face. Ryu's head was just starting to come up when the kick connected. The distance between the back of his head and the platform being so short and the very thin padding of the platform were the only things that kept Ryu from bouncing his head off the mat and into a severe concussion, maybe even knock out. Even so, the shock from Rothen's footgear almost put him down for the count.

In an almost mirror of Ryu's earlier gesture to him, Rothen got back to his feet and moved away, motioning Ryu to get back to his feet. Ryu rolled over and got to his feet. Saying to himself, 'I'm getting too old for this dianoga swill,' and got back into stance when a possible finish occurred to Ryu. Both fighters were bloodied by this time. Ryu thought to himself, 'He expects patterns and sees counters, it's time to change it up.' Sliding into range again, Ryu performed two spinning heel kicks. When Rothen dodged these, Ryu knew just what to do next. As he recovered from his second kick, he made as if to sweep Rothen's legs again. Rothen seeing this went to jump over the sweeping leg but instead of following through with the sweep, Ryu changed the sweep into a back spinning knife-edge kick that landed squarely in Rothen's gut. The double hit of the kick and the shock from Ryu's foot gear broke through Rothen's guard, forcing all his air out in a loud 'whoosh' that could be heard clear into the first three rows of the tiered seating, and practically wrapped Rothen around Ryu's kick. Ryu felt through his kick some of Rothen's lowermost ribs give way along with his air supply. Rothen flew away and back from Ryu's kick to slide across the platform almost a meter.

Instinctually Rothen clutched at his tortured abdomen and fractured ribs after he landed, his glowing red eyes locked onto Ryu's hazel ones. Walking over to where Rothen lay, Ryu bowed and said only for him to hear, "You fought well Mindor'oth'enures. I was honored to fight one such as you. Thank you."

Rothen placed a fist into his open hand and bowed at the neck and said, "It is you who honors me, Master Jedi. Thank you."

Helping Rothen to his feet and then assisting him down from the platform as Rothen's support team entered the arena to see to their fighter caused on even greater round of roars and applause throughout the tiers of seats filled to capacity with fight fans.

Xoran had come down from his special box by this time and turning on his amplifier; he grabbed Ryu's hand at the wrist and held it up to officially acknowledge his victory. Ryu was too tired and far too sore to object as Xoran said, "Once again our guest fighter shows his mettle and why he is the galaxy's strongest! Let's hear it for our winner, Ryu Jayks!"

The crowd noise was louder than ever. Even some of Ryu's detractors were standing and cheering as Ryu stepped down off the platform to stand next to Nirri and strip off his gloves and foot gear but instead of going back to the fighter's rest area, Ryu stepped into the reserved seating area located a short distance from the platform side where two empty seats were found. Ryu and Nirri remained silent as the fight between the Dresselian and the Gank resulted in a double knockout.

After the two unconscious fighters were taken away, Nirri looked over to Ryu and said, "Why aren't we going back to the rest area?"

Ryu answered, "Truth be told, I'm expecting this next fight to be a short one. You were with me when Barab said that he wouldn't fight me, but his own fighter's pride won't let him throw the match. I don't know if Xoran will let him forfeit and Barab also said that he would tell me what I needed to know about the attack on my son."

Nirri said, "Speaking of information, the moment you won your fight, a MSE droid rolled up and gave me a datacard. I tried to skim through it but it's been encrypted. Do you think it might be the information Barab mentioned?"

Ryu said, "It's possible but we'll look it over once we're away from Xoran's influence here in the Cave and have the decryption code for it, which, unless I miss my guess completely, Barab will give that to me after his fight. Here he comes now. This could get interesting."

The fight went longer than it needed but Ryu could tell from early on that Barab would win, that he was doing little more than playing with the Zabrak, Tomar Ooth, more to keep the fans happy than for any real challenge.

After Tomar's unconscious body was taken away, Xoran walked out onto the platform and waved Ryu back up onto the platform motioning for the crowd to settle down. After he did, Xoran activated his amplifier, held up one of Ryu's arms and one of Barab's and said, "Our next to last fight, scheduled for tomorrow at 1200 standard hours will be Barab versus Ryu Jayks!"

Barab yanked his arm out of Xoran's grip and said, "Told you! Won't fight Jedi! Forfeit I say, forfeit!"

Xoran turned off his amplifier and said, "If you forfeit your fight over some ancient and petty vow, you will never be allowed to fight in the Demon's Battle Cave again! And I'll have your name and image blacklisted. You'll never work in this hemisphere of Coruscant again Barab! Think it over!"

Barab hissed again in the Barabel equivalent of laughter and said, "Nothing to think! Honor have no expiration. I leave now but will watch wise Jedi make gundark bait out of you."

Barab left the platform then amid loud booing from the audience. Recovering his poise quickly, Xoran turned on his amplifier again, "For reasons lost to history, Barab the Barabel has decided to forfeit!" The crowd let their opinion of that be known very quickly.

Xoran continued, "That being said, and in accordance with the rules of the Demon's Battle Cave, Ryu Jayks has earned the right to fight me for ownership of the Cave. I have accepted his challenge! Tomorrow at 1200 hours Coruscant Standard Time, two fighters will face off here, and only one of us will be leaving!" The crowd was louder than ever in anticipation of the next day's fight. Slowly the crowd broke up and left the arena. Turning off his amplifier Xoran turned to Ryu and said, "Prepare yourself Master Jedi. I was not just telling the crowd what they wanted to hear. Originally, I had no intention of killing you . . . yet, now, consequences be damned, I do. Tomorrow on this very platform. For tonight, as a gesture to a dead man, dine with me in my private residence and I'll answer all your questions . . . not that it will help you or your reason for coming here since you'll be dead after tomorrow."

Ryu shook his head and said, "My cousin told me a Klingon proverb that fits this situation exactly."

Xoran chuckled mirthlessly and said, "What would that be?"

Ryu answered, "Drink not with thine enemy. To be honest Xoran, you are not my enemy but all the same, you must be altered or something to think that I would enter your private residence to accept a dinner invitation when you've just told me that you were going to kill me tomorrow."

In answer, Xoran held up his wrist with its attached controller, entered a code sequence in and moments later, the support frame with the Ysalamiri was retracted into the ceiling. A few seconds after that, Ryu felt the Force return to him.

Xoran said, "Scan me if you like Master Jedi, and you'll find that I don't need to poison you or hinder you in any way. My invitation is an honest one, just as my intention to kill you is."

Ryu took the opportunity and did as Xoran offered and was truly surprised to find that Xoran was being totally honest.

Xoran said, "The Ysalamiri that was in the arena will be moved into my Residence, a few floors above us here to keep you as honest as I have just been. Acks will come for you at that dump of a hostel you're staying in at 1800 standard tonight." Motioning to Ryu first then to Nirri, Xoran said, "Wear something other than a blood-spattered gi, and leave your servant at your hostel."

Because of the clearly audible derision in his voice at the mention of Nirri, Ryu played a hunch and expanded his Force sense to include both Nirri and Xoran and found something somewhat surprising as Ryu countered with, "Nirri is not my servant, but she is my manager for this event. If she wants to come with me later, she can, as far as I'm concerned, but I rather doubt she will; until later then Xoran."

Ryu left the platform, grabbed his bag and tossed it over his shoulder. As he and Nirri left the arena, she said, "What was that about back there Ryu? Why did he put the Ysalamiri away?"

Once they were well away from the Cave, Ryu answered, "Xoran has informed me of his decision to kill me in tomorrow's fight but before he does, he invited me to dine with him where he would answer my questions. He says it won't do me any good but I don't believe him. He put the Ysalamiri away so that I could do a Force scan of him to determine if he was telling the truth or not. He was being honest about the invitation as well as his intention to try and kill me tomorrow."

Nirri said, "You're not actually going to take him up on his invitation, are you? What's this about killing you?"

Ryu said, "Yes, I will listen to him and he has his reasons, or so he thinks and the operative word here Nirri is 'try" to kill me. I've no intention of letting him kill me nor do I plan on killing him, so don't ask. He doesn't want you there though. I didn't speak for you except to say, you probably won't go. Is there some kind of bad blood between you two somehow?"

Nirri said, "After a fashion. Xoran might and I stress might be my biological father but even if he is, I want nothing to do with him or his operation. He tried to recruit me a couple of times as an informant since I know the low places that he would never go himself. I turned him down and since he hasn't been told 'no' very often since he came to power down here, he didn't take it too well. After that, I made sure to dig up all the dirt I could find on him and use that as a kind of leverage. He leaves me alone to do my own thing and I keep the information in a safe place with some redundancies put in place so that if anything happens to me, the information I have goes public. Xoran may not act like a normal Falleen when he's announcing for the fights in the Cave, but when he's not doing that, he is the quintessential Falleen in all other business dealings, feudal to the core and obsessed with his social standing among other Falleen. That's why he told you to leave me at the Hostel which suits me fine since I have other things to do right now. So, as your manager, I'm telling you to get a shower, something to eat and get into your Rest Trance. I'll go ahead and send the data I've got on H.A.T.E. after I get the decryption code for that datacard that Barab gave me, to your wife. When I'm done there, I'll pick up some nicer clothes for you and get both sets of your fighting clothes cleaned and ready for tomorrow."

Ryu nodded his head and said, "Fair enough Nirri. Before we split up, I can sense that you want to ask me something. Go ahead and ask."

Nirri was silent a few steps and said, "Two things actually, first, if I go with you to the Temple will you teach me how to fight like you do? Second, how did you do those flip kicks against the Blood Carver? I thought you couldn't perform techniques like that without the Force."

Ryu said, "To answer your first question, the Council will have to decide if I would be the best choice as your Jedi Master. Whether I am or not, sooner or later, you'll end up in a Teräs Käsi class at the Temple with other Padawans or at my dojo specifically where my son Kenod teaches. But keep in mind that Teräs Käsi is just one path of many possible paths in the Force. But yes, if you want, I'll teach you something of the art of fighting, not only so you can fight when you need to, but also so you can learn how not to fight. To answer your second question, while the Force does augment my physical abilities considerably, muscle memory is what allows me to perform the basic technique. My father, Ronin Jayks, taught me Teräs Käsi from about the age of five standard years old, long before the more specific training in the Force he gave me before I went away with Master Skywalker to finish my Jedi studies."

Nirri said, "Muscle memory . . . that sounds familiar. Something I've read somewhere or other. Refresh my memory please."

Ryu answered, "Muscle memory is what allows you to walk, run or input commands on your PADD without thinking about it."

"Ah, aha." She replied.

After getting back to the hostel, Ryu asked Nirri to help him by running his medical tricorder over his entire body, front to back. When she was done, she handed the unit back to him where he input some separate commands and read off the prognosis, "As I thought, slight concussion, several contusions and even with my mouthpiece in, some of my teeth were knocked loose with that kick I took on the ground. Nothing some time in a healing trance can't fix after a few hours. Since I've got about six hours until Acks comes for me, I've got time for a protein shake to give me the energy I need for the heal trance to do its work."

Nirri said, "I'll go and get it for you while you hit the shower, then I'll take your fighting clothes to be cleaned for tomorrow, pick you up something to wear other than a gi for your meeting with Xoran later as well as send that data packet to your wife."

Fitting action to words, Nirri did as she said she would. When she came back, Ryu was out of the shower and wore a pair of sweat shorts and t-shirt, downed the shake in a few swallows and stretched out on the bed in his room and entered Healing Trance moments later. Picking up his things to be cleaned, Nirri left to get word to Ryu's wife as well as the information she had collected to that point for the investigation that Ryu had mentioned to her.

Later, after Nirri had collected her winnings for the bet she placed for that days' fights and picked up both sets of Ryu's gi, she went to a clothier and walked out with a casual dress pair of pants, shirt and boots for Ryu for his meeting. Out of the corner of her eye she thought she saw something on one of the public news screens scattered about the area. Not really understanding why, she got the distinct impression that she should wait for the video to recycle and when she saw a news piece that made her decide to skip the detailed data transmission that she'd planned on sending and instead opted for a short message for Shaznia Dree-Jayks and then going back to Ryu's hostel and waiting in what passed for a lounge area to scrutinize the data stream on her PADD while Ryu finished his heal trance.