Master Jedi - Luke's First Duel, Part 2
The unknown man charged Luke, and in a blinding moment had finished his attack. He Force-punched Luke in the stomach and sent him tumbling through the sand like a rag doll for at least one hundred feet. Luke managed to absorb some of the blow, but he was caught off guard by his attacker's incredible speed. Luke's midsection was on fire as he lay face down in the dirt writhing in pain. He struggled to get off the ground to defend himself, his body covered in sand and bruises, but only managed to get up on his hands and knees. He cradled his stomach as he coughed up large amounts of blood. I can't believe that after all my posturing he got to me before I could do anything, thought Luke. Someone with that kind of speed and power must be a Sith. Luke was hurt badly, and thoughts of defeat started to run through his mind. The Sith, as Luke believed him to be, began slowly walking towards him - confident that the battle was already won. At the moment Luke could not disagree with him. The pain in his midsection was suffocating, and for as much as he wanted Luke could not get up. I probably have some organ damage, Luke worried, but I don't have time to heal myself. I don't want it to end like this.
The Sith's footsteps crunched to a stop in the dry sand right in front of Luke. He glanced up when he could, but if he was going to die he didn't want to see it. The Sith stared at Luke struggling in pain for a minute before reaching behind him and pulling out an enormous lightsaber. It was the biggest lightsaber Luke had ever seen, almost three times larger than his own. Again the Sith looked down on Luke silently enjoying his pain. Grasping the lightsaber with his two huge hands the Sith slowly extended its violet blade taunting Luke as he sat helplessly. I can't die here, Luke argued, I need to do something! The future of all Jedi is in my hands, and I can't let it crumble so easily. I can't believe I'm supposed to be a master. I'm a disgrace to all the true Jedi masters who have come before me! The Sith slowly raised his weapon above his head preparing for the final blow when a familiar voice spoke in Luke's head, "Believe in your power and in the Force." Immediately he felt a hand on his shoulder and with it a rush of power he knew had to come from his masters. Luke trembled with Force energy that couldn't be suppressed, and with a tremendous roar Luke leaned back, spread his arms wide and unleashed the energy he had been given surprising the Sith and sending him twirling through the air.
He watched the Sith hit the ground hard in the distance, but knew that his window of opportunity was short. Luke stumbled to his feet, picked up his lightsaber and began healing himself - holding his left hand a few inches from his stomach. Already the Sith was up and walking towards him preparing for round two, but Luke was feeling better. Things are going to be different this time, Luke vowed as he watched the Sith slowly approach. He took his time, and was clearly not in a rush making Luke believe that he wanted a fight. Perhaps he wanted to give Luke time to think about his awesome strength. Whatever his intention it was clearly working to intimidate Luke. Tingling with relief, Luke's body was healing, and while he didn't have enough time to recover completely he felt ready after two minutes that felt like an eternity. The Sith was now thirty feet away standing motionless apparently waiting for Luke.
Luke extended his lightsaber taking a defensive stance. The first thing he wanted to do was feel his attacker out and observe his fighting style. It was the safest route considering the doubt in Luke's mind as to whether he could even keep up with such a skilled enemy, and his weakened condition. The Sith advanced again stopping ten feet in front of Luke and again stood motionless with his saber at his side. What's he waiting for, thought Luke, does he want me to make the first move? Luke didn't budge, though, exhibiting the kind of patience that Teresh Fenn might be proud of. The stand off lasted a good five minutes before Luke started to get stiff so he decided to lure the Sith into an attack by cracking a confident smile in the Sith's direction. It worked better than he anticipated as the Sith erupted in a violent rage. While violent and angry the Sith's attacks where direct and to the point that carried a tremendous amount of power behind them. Luke felt like an ant trying to hold off a boulder, but he held his ground in spite of being incredibly overpowered. Over and over the Sith reached back to swing his gigantic lightsaber with maximum potency, but no amount of strength could penetrate Luke's defenses. Luke was proud and gaining confidence, but he knew that defence alone was not going to win this fight.
The suns had dropped an hour's length of time before the Sith backed away to regroup. They circled each other slowly resting, planning out their next move. The Sith looked angry and frustrated as he snarled in luke's direction. He stopped to take off his long coat revealing his incredibly muscular physique. There were muscles everywhere on his body and they were all perfectly defined, bulging even when at rest. The Sith was a site to behold, and Luke wondered if he could even keep up with such a conditioned opponent. After letting his coat fall to the ground, the Sith ripped off his goggles and glared at Luke with pale grey eyes - almost white. His anger was more evident now than ever as he began flexing and stretching preparing for his next attack. Luke couldn't decide what action to take next. Defence wasn't going to get him anywhere, and there was no way he was going to outlast his fit enemy. It was time to attack, but how? Luke didn't have time to make up his mind as the Sith commenced his attack harder than ever. His blows, incredibly, were more powerful than before, and Luke found himself struggling not to be knocked down by them. He was back peddling hard now trying his best not to get knocked over, but the Sith's onslaught was unrelenting. After saving himself from falling for the tenth time Luke got an idea and readied himself for the next blow. The Sith cocked his saber back and swung from right to left using every muscle in his body. Luke feigned a block, but instead absorbed the attack and used it to help him spin low to the ground for a sweep kick. It caught the Sith on the ankle and knocked him to the ground as Luke followed up with his lightsaber, but as quickly as he fell the Sith flipped back up dodging the attack. This small victory encouraged Luke and made him more aggressive as the light at the end of his tunnel seemed within reach. He was no longer back peddling in defence. Instead both warriors stood their ground in the blowing sand exchanging attacks and blocks.
To Be Continued...
