Star Wars: Rising of the Union/Duel of the Greats

Duel of the Greats

Abeo engaged several Storm troopers on his way to the bridge, but no more Sith. When he reached the bridge he found it empty. “Strange. Nobodies here.” He thought to himself as he slowly paced forward. “What is that?” he thought a he looked upon large sphere in the centre of the room. The Sphere was obviously not of the same origin of the ship but it was still here all the same. Abeo placed his hand upon the sphere for a couple of seconds, and then removed it. “Nothing?” a voice asked from the shadow. Abeo spun around igniting both blades of his saber. “You’re a Jedi know I see. My you have come a long way since Omwat.” Pantene continued as he stepped into the light. “Pantene!” Abeo exclaimed through his gritted teeth. “You traitor! You should have told me you were Union!” “What makes you think I’m of the Union and not the Remnant?” Pantene asked with a grin on his face. “Back on Xerces. On the way to Ossus the word Union suddenly came to my mind, and yours I suspect.” “Mind-reading is a powerful technique. Not many Jedi know how to do it. Even fewer before they begin training. Like you!” Pantene added with a hiss. “But I’m guessing by the look on your face you cannot utilise it to its fullness yet. Or you would be able to tell me what is going to happen next, can you?” “You should know by know I’m not going to tell you that!” Abeo shouted with great anger. “I sense great anger in you Abeo. Enough to strike me down with. Forget my betrayal and join me. Together we can destroy Sinays and become joint rulers of the galaxy. Not even the Jedi could stand in our way.” “What must I do to achieve this then?” Abeo asked sarcastically. Aware of the sarcasm Pantene responded “You only have to do one thing. Destroy your Master!” he added with a shout as he pointed behind him and at Kendo Shan. “Go on. Just one strike and you will be on the path to galactic domination!” “Never!” Abeo shouted in response. “ I would never betray the Jedi like you did me!” Pantene gave Abeo a look of disappointment and sighed. “Very well. Then I’m sorry it had to come to this Abeo. You could have become a great Sith.” Pantene replied with his Lightsaber ignited. The beam was longer than that of a normal Lightsaber but was still red. Abeo could fell Pantene’s anger coursing through it, as could Kendo he was sure. Kendo was the first to strike with a shot to the head. Then Abeo with another strike, this time to the chest. Kendo responded with two strikes to Pantene’s back and chest while Abeo attempted to impale Pantene through the skull. Now Pantene counterattacked with a ferocity Abeo had never before seen. Pantene battled with such speed that Abeo constantly had to jump back to avoid instant death. Kendo seemed to be un-wavered by the attack despite their speed and agility.

Several minutes into the duel Abeo unsuccessfully attempted to avoid one of Pantene’s kicks and was thrown across the room an knock out. When he finally awoke he could see Pantene standing over Kendo’s body with his saber searing. Pantene seemed either unaware or not bothered with Abeo being conscious. As he struggled to his feet Pantene turned his head and gazed at Abeo. Without saying anything Abeo jumped forward across the room and knock Pantene from his feet. He then slowly paced forwards and began hammering Pantene until he could respond no more. He could sense Pantene whimpering, despite having covered his eyes. Then he felt something strange. Something he had never felt before. Something… evil. It flowed around him and within. He could feel its power, its desire for power. He could feel its presence. Then it appeared.

A great smoke appeared and from it came a being. It was wearing a cloak so it face was covered and it arms were crossed. It was looking down on Pantene. “Pantene. You disappoint me.” It hissed. “I would have thought you would be able to defeat a puny Jedi Padawan, granted you had to fight his master also but still…” “I’m sorry my Master.” Pantene whimpered through his sleeves. “It won’t happen again. Just let me eliminate him.” “No! As for you!” It spoke now turning its gaze to Abeo. “You have meddled in my affairs long enough. Now you die!” And from its fingers great bolts of lightning hit Abeo square on the chest knocking him across the room. “Pantene! Return to the flagship. I will deal with you there!” It shouted. “Yes Master Sinays.” Pantene responded. As he left he span his head slightly to look upon Abeo’s agony as Sinays tortured him. Abeo could feel Sinays anger as he struck Abeo harder and harder with the force. As Abeo endured this torture he could see his Master lying motionless on the floor. Sinays attacked him unsparingly until he could sense Abeo had given up resisting at which time he stopped.

“Now you see the power of the Darkside Jedi! It is beyond anything you could ever imagine. Not even Revan could have imagined that I would become this powerful.” Sinays said with a grin. “The Darkside will never defeat the Light. I will destroy you. I promise!” Abeo shouted back. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep Jedi!” “Be gone Sith!” Abeo shouted as loud as he could. “Very well. Goodbye Jedi Padawan.” He replied with a slight laugh. Sinays raised his fingers once more and shot two great bolts of lightning from them. Abeo could feel his anger swelling inside. He gripped his Lightsaber and pulled it to his chest. Sinays refusing to ease down continued his attack.

When all hope had been lost and Abeo had given up resisting Sinays stopped. Abeo turned his head to see what had happened. Sinays was no longer looking at him, but at the doors to the bridge. As Abeo staggered to his feet he could sense the presence of another Jedi in the room. He looked at the door again and this time saw someone. “Surrender Sinays. You cannot defeat me!” Luke Skywalker said calmly. “Me Surrender? You Jedi have the strangest sense of humour if ever I’ve seen one. I will destroy you like I will the rest of your Jedi Order!” Once more great bolts of lightning shot from Sinays finger, this time heading straight for Luke. Just in time Luke raised his ignited Lightsaber and deflected the attack. From his own hands Luke attacked with a great stream of fire which Sinays only just managed to deflect with great difficulty. Luke then launched a second stream of fire upon Sinays, this time hitting him in the stomach and knocking him back. Sinays glided across the room until he had reached his previous position. “You are powerful Jedi. I grant you that. Now, if you will excuse me I have some pressing matters to attend too. Goodbye.” Sinays spoke with a grin. After he had finished the great smoke which a spawned Sinays’ had disappeared with him. Luke distinguished his green blade and walked up to Abeo. “Are you feeling alright?” He asked. Abeo nodded in reply. “Good.” “What about Master Shan?” Abeo enquired. “He will be fine. Pantene just stunned him. Come, we must get off this ship quickly. Help me lift Kendo.” Abeo ran towards Kendo and lifted his lifeless-like body over his shoulders. He then raced after Skywalker until they reached Xerces Airlock. “Get in!” Luke shouted, he then closed the Airlock and detached the ship. Abeo put Kendo against the wall and then ran to the bridge. When he arrived he could see the Imperial vessel slowly shrinking until it exploded.

Next: War