Luke and Leia - Rebels [2]

31: Reckoning (Pt 2)

The room in which Luke entered was dark except for the illuminated floors and one massive, dome-shaped window overlooking a seemingly bottomless chasm. Luke shivered at the thought of facing against the Dark Lord under such nerve-wracking circumstances but forcefully restrained himself from thinking about his own possible demise, only focusing on finding Vader and exterminating him.

The familiar breathing returned, and Luke whipped around and activated his lightsaber to reveal the massive Sith Lord slowly advancing. But he stopped suddenly, leaving Luke caught off guard as to what his next strategy included. Luke only further gripped his lightsaber, it's cool metal touch being the only reassurance he possessed.

A blaring through the Force sent Luke whirling behind him just quickly enough so that he could see a massive metal object detach from the wall and advance toward him at a dangerous speed. He swung his lightsaber and cut it in half right before it hit him, the now two parts spraying across the floor. Preoccupied by a small rush of satisfaction and yet another duel with the Sith, Luke was too late to recognize another flying object until it was too late.

Luke felt a fierce, fiery pain spread throughout his head, and he broke contact with the Sith to groan in pain. As he looked up he could see black spots start to dance over his vision, but nevertheless the youth struggled forward, his blue eyes filled with determination.

For the next several moments the Dark Lord watched with a sadistic glee as the youth was mercilessly bombarded with harmful, flying objects and chuckling inwardly at the fact that he had yet to only block one. However, the boy had moved out of the way of Vader's affirmed trajectory, leaving the last object to crash violently into the domed window and creating a merciless vortex of wind.

Unfortunately for Luke, he had been trapped in the violent wind cycle as soon as the window shattered, leaving him unprepared for the massive force that was exerted onto his body by the shattering. His already battered and bruised body was brutally thrown out of the window, and he just barely grabbed onto a jutted ledge stationed outside of the window before he would have missed it completely and become submerged in the treacherous and fatal fall below.

After just managing to grab ahold of it, the wounded hero dragged himself up onto the ledge before making his way to the only exit in sight within the strange platform he found himself stationed on. He walked through the dimly-lit hallway, alert for the Sith Lord and his lightsaber in his hand.

Meanwhile, Leia padded slowly through the carbonite chamber and stopped to look around with a frown. Where was he? She hesitated calling out just because she wasn't sure what she'd find, and instead listened for the skirmish undoubtedly going on near her.

From far away and below her a window crashed, setting her on her new course. Luke's presence ebbed and flowed in the Force near a colder and stronger presence she only assumed was Vader, and she hesitantly reached out to her brother.

The Force nudged Luke that his sister was near as he traversed through the hall, but before he could react it then blared a warning to Luke in time for him to activate his blade and duck just as a red blade emerged from the darkness and almost cut him in half. From there the two battled yet again, both of them feeling the affects of fatigue due to an already drawn out battle. Nevertheless, both foes refused to be defeated, battling mercilessly although their muscles screamed for them to stop.

"You are beaten; it is useless to resist. Don't let yourself be destroyed as Obi-Wan did." The Sith snarled threateningly, poised like a snake about to strike as his red blade grew dangerously closer to Luke's head.

The reminder of the youth's old mentor and friend filled him with a renewed sense of determination and bravery. Now Luke not only had to win this for the Rebellion and his friends, but also for Obi-Wan in honor of him. He scrunched his face defiantly and pushed the red blade aside with his own, and the two commenced yet another duel.