First Blood

[Volgang Hawool]

Once more Volgang's tantrum served to throw him off of whatever coordination and finnesse he might have displayed per his more refined training and experience. The Shistavanen Master's lightsaber strikes were unrefined and put more emphasis on raw strength, thus easily leaving him open for a well timed counterattack. While there was next to no technique in his onslaught, the raw power was more than enough to drive the descendant of his hated enemy back.

Raw power was not, however, without its trade off. Volgang's lightsaber strikes were strong, requiring him to use more energy than one would otherwise use in a duel. His delusion and adrenaline combined blinded him to one obvious truth: His body and mind were draining at an alarming rate, and unless he either killed Lan-Dai or composed himself Volgang's mind and body would collapse, and chances are his desires of retribution with them.

From out of nowhere, a glimmer of sanity befell on the Shistavanen. It was short, but long enough to see a faint opening. Lan-Dai to this point was focusing more on defense and in not blatantly attacking he at certain intervals could leave himself open to a surprise unarmed strike. Even in their damaged state, Volgang's prosthetic arm and leg were capable enough to land one or two punches or kicks. To Volgang's advantage, Lan-Dai's armor was at this point heavily damaged, if not mostly useless against blunt force trauma.

When Volgang's punch landed on Lan-Dai's upper chest by where his heart was, Lan-Dai's facial expression was more than enough to snap him out of his composure. The last act he performed while in control was a follow-up kick to the already badly cracked abdominal part of his armor. A curdling roar overwhelmed him as Lan-Dai was sent back, a sadistic pleasure made him drunk. Against any sane judgment, Volgang took a few seconds to wallow in this small triumph as his adversary reeled backwards in visible pain.

Walking toward him slowly, his left hand extended as it released a barrage of Force Lightning. While Lan-Dai was able to block most of it with his lightsaber, it still penetrated enough to cause a considerable amount of discomfort. At this point any thought of sanity was gone as in Volgang's eyes his long sought after vengeance was at hand.

 

[Lan-Dai Navras]

The duel's final and defining stage was underway, both duelists involved sensed it without any anticipation involved. Blocking every incoming lightsaber stroke from his new opponent, Lan-Dai Navras found himself struggling to stay alive while simultaneously seeking out the key to defeating the Shistavanen Dark Jedi that stood before him.

Suddenly it dawned on him: Volgang's psychotic rage combined with his desire for a painful and humiliating revenge were in fact, the very factor that could be used against him to possibly turn the tide. After looking back at key moments throughout the duel, Lan-Dai realized 2 things: The first was that Volgang more than once seemed to lose his composure if not his sanity, possibly as a result of centuries trapped in carbonite or simply catalyzed by his release and chance at retribution. The second was that Volgang's goal isn't simply to kill him, but to make him suffer for as long as possible before he dies.... It was in those moments in which Volgang apparently had the upper hand against Lan-Dai that Volgang became sloppiest and most deranged. That was the key.....

The instantly formulated plan was risky, but circumstances forced his hand. Purposefully feigning a degree of carelessness, Lan-Dai baited Volgang to attack him in a specific fashion, trusting that he wouldn't misread the signs to clearly laid out in front of him in his currently sane state of mind. The plan had worked so far, and Volgang took the bait by punhcing him in his chest then sending him backwards with a kick. Suddenly there it was as expected, Volgang visibly began to lose composure once more and proving Lan-Dai's theory correct. Walking towards him and sending out a barrage of Force Lightning, Volgang intended to torture Lan-Dai to death publically. Lan-Dai was able to block most of the lightning with his lightsaber, yet time was a factor and a countermeasure needed to be implemented in seconds.

The barrage ceased as Volgang now stood over him, gloating over seeing his adversary apparently helpless. The Shistavanen could not refrain a gleeful roar over his perceived victory, a glee that came before a fall. Only one hand was being used to hold his lightsaber aloft to block the lightning, the other hand was too close to his holstered S-5 for comfort.

All it took was a slight Force pull to send the holstered gun into Lan-Dai's free hand, and just as quickly fire a shot at Volgang's prosthetic right arm which was then followed up by random shots to his torso, leg, and hip. These were more than enough to harm and disorient Volgang to the point where Lan-Dai could quickly switch the S-5 to fire its grappling hook and then launching it towards Volgang's right shoulder. Launching himself up by mustering whatever strength that still lay within, Lan-Dai counterattacked by way of a shin kick to Volgang's groin and a slash of his now deactivated lightsaber's handguard across the chest and another to his face. Another punch to Volgang's face and a roundhouse kick later, it was now Volgang's turn to lay sprawled on the floor not far from the feet of his adversary.

Aiming his S-5 to end things once and for all, Lan-Dai was suddenly caught unaware by fire from a ship that sought to get his attention or make him run for cover. The only thing he managed to see was that the ship was being manned by members of the same gang that had done security for Volgang, and that they used a magnetic harpoon gun to reel Volgang in as they then made their escape amid Volgang's loud and psychopathic protests and roars.

Watching them fly away, Lan-Dai slowly holstered both his S-5 and his lightsaber. His breathing becoming heavy as he surveyed the scene, the wake of the duel he was forced into. Beyond his control, he lost his breath and slumped to the floor as he lost consciousness, the injuries and overexertion now beginning to take their toll.

Far too weakened for anything else, Lan-Dai had no choice now but to relinquish his fate to the will of the Force.

End?