Star Wars: The Tale of Darth Aolroth Book III - Fall of Darkness

Chapter Seven

In the weapons factory, Commander Pierce leads Shadow Squadron through the factory. They soon found themselves pinned down by a droid automated blaster turret with several Imperial troopers setting up a defensive position. Commander Pierce pulls out an EMP Grenade and tosses it at the defensive position. The explosion takes out the turret while Shadow Squadron finishes off the remaining Imperials. Suddenly, Shadow Squadron find themselves surrounded and outnumbered by a large group of Imperial soldiers with their blasters aimed at Shadow Squadron. Commander Pierce readied himself for a fight as a voice calls out.

Voice: STAND DOWN MEN!

The Imperial soldiers then lower their weapons as the Commander of the Imperial soldiers stepped in and came face to face with Commander Pierce.

Pierce: Commander Arncar.

Arncar: Sgt. Pierce. It's been a long time.

Pierce: It's Commander Pierce now.

Arncar: Commander in a false Empire? How the mighty have fallen.

Pierce: Surrender Commander. The old Empire is dying.

Arncar: I'm afraid I can't do that do that Pierce. My loyalty is to the Empire. If you were any other, you'd already be dead. But considering that you were a good soldier, I offer you a chance to surrender.

Pierce: No. How about we settle this with a duel?

Arncar lets out a small laugh.

Arncar: A fight you say? What are your terms?

Pierce: If I win, then your men will surrender the facility to the new Empire.

Arncar: And if I win?

Pierce: Then my men will surrender to you. Treat them well.

Arncar: You have my word Sgt.

He looked to Shadow Squadron and gave them their orders.

Pierce: MEN! If I lose, honor my terms! Understood?!

Pierce says to his men as they accepted the potential orders from their Commander. Pierce and Arncar stepped into the circle as they removed their weapons.

Arncar: So how will this go down Sgt? A battle to the death?

Pierce: Yes.

Arncar: I cannot promise that your men will live. Angral will want them to suffer. I will see to it that they die quickly.

Arncar threw the punch as it lands in Pierce's face. Pierce throws a kick to Arncar's leg, but doesn't knock him down. Pierce and Arncar would both exchange one blow after another. The fight was watched in silent by both Imperial forces and the rest of Shadow Squadron. Arncar then kicks him to the ground and begins punching him.

Arncar: You've lost Sgt.

Pierce then uses his cybernetic arm and punches Arncar off of him and puts him in a choke hold. Arncar couldn't fight back.

Arncar: Looks like you win....Commander.

As Arncar says this, Pierce snaps his neck. After the grueling fight, Pierce gets up and looks to the Imperial Troops who laid down their weapons.

Pierce: I made a promise to Commander Arncar! I intend to keep it!

The Imperial soldiers then surrendered to Commander Pierce and Shadow Squadron. Meanwhile, Darth Xhax moved through the weapons factory in search for Darth Angral. After searching, she reaches an office room where Darth Angral was waiting for her.

Darth Angral: Traitorous filth! You killed my son!

Darth Xhax: He died a failure! Just like you!

Darth Angral laughs at Xhax's words.

Darth Angral: You have no idea what you unleashed on yourself! Your suffering will be the likes of which no one has ever known!

Angral lays out his threat as he activates his lightsaber. Darth Xhax activates hers as she keeps her eyes on the pacing Angral.

Darth Angral: I will deliver your head to your False Emperor. I will rout out his traitorous scum root and stem! I will unleash unimaginable suffering on all the systems who flocked to your Empire! And as for Aolroth, I will see to it that he's paraded through the streets of Dromund Kaas and present his broken corpse to Baras!

Talk all you want, but no matter what you tell yourself, your fate will remain the same! You will die here a failure! Arkous will meet the same fate!

Darth Xhax snarls as she lunges towards Angral. They clash blades with blinding speed. Angral then builds up Force Lightning and creates a whirlwind of Force Lightning, which pushes Xhax against the wall of the office.

Darth Angral: I remember hunting you Kaleesh like dogs!

Angral's insult, brought great rage to the Kaleesh Sith. Xhax then gets up and unleashes as series of fast and powerful attacks against Angral. Despite Angral's immense power in the Dark Side, he found himself barely to keep up against the female Sith's savage and precise attacks. Eventually, they crossed blades and exchanged words with one another.

Darth Angral: Do you think that an insignificant weakling like you can ever defeat me?!

Darth Xhax: How will you feel when this insignificant weakling kills you?!

Xhax shouts as she pushes against the Sith.

Darth Angral: You are nothing! Less than nothing! I am Darth Angral! Countless systems have fallen before me! You will not kill me!

Darth Xhax then uses Force Repulse to stun Angral and Force Pushes him to a wall. Xhax then lunges at the disoriented Angral and plunges her lightsaber into Angral's chest, killing him. As Angral's body collapses, Darth Xhax looks down on him and offers one final insult.

Darth Xhax: Die in shame and failure as your son did.

Darth Xhax then leaves the office, victorious in killing her target.