Force connections

The biggest battle of all

The morning of my fight against Teekado was rainy. Dark clouds filled the sky and thunder rumbled ominously overhead.  I dressed, ate breakfast and then made my way to the training room, my aching arms protesting as I swung my saber over and over again.  I could do this, I just had to stay focused. 

It was late afternoon when I entered the main hall, passing the other knights, all of which I had defeated.  I noticed that they had become more afraid of me, especially when I wore my mask.  I stood in the centre of the room, my breathing steady, my mind calm.  Teekado entered then, a hood pulled over his head. I ignited my saber, the red crackling blade casting an aerie glow, thunder and lightning providing a back drop for our battle. Teekado ignited his saber then and I was surprised to see it lighting up green. As if reading my thoughts from behind my mask he spoke "Like it? I've been killing Jedi, got quite a collection now", I nodded but remained silent. Suddenly he dove at me. I easily stepped out of the way, swinging my own saber and connecting with his over and over again, sparks flying, both of us grunting as we struggled to take the other down. The fight raged on, neither one of us gaining the upper hand. Sweat ran down my face under the mask and rivers of it flowed down my back. My arms screamed in protest as I swung again and again, eventually catching Teekado's leg, making him curse and fall to his knees, the wound smouldering. As he stood I swung again but this time I missed and his saber caught my side. Under the mask I groaned, my hand flying up to touch the burnt, torn flesh and fabric. Teekado was already coming at me, his saber raised. He brought it down hard on me but I managed to hold him off, my arms shaking, how much more could I take I wondered.  Suddenly I felt a jolt of power go through my body which I recognised as the force.  I closed my eyes as I held him back, our lightsabers barred, held in a cross of green and red against each other.  The force filled my body with new strength and suddenly I was able to push back and send Teekado stumbling backwards, landing on the ground.  I wasted no time and in the blink of an eye I had him pinned there, the saber held to his neck.

I had done it! I now had a legion of men who would stand by me.  Satisfied I stepped back, deactivating my blade and offering a hand to Teekado who slapped it away.  I removed my helmet, pushing damp hair from my forehead.  Teekado stood for a moment, looking as though he were going to say something and then he spun on his heel and left.  "Ren!Ren!" The other knights began to chant and my heart swelled at their already growing commitment to me.  Teekado was a different matter I told myself, I would have to watch him.

I walked wearily down to the spring then and stripped off my tunic, wincing in pain.  I looked down at the angry red wound on my side and experimentally touched it, making me grit my teeth at the rush of pain that went through me.  It didn't look like it needed stitches.  Good job I thought, this was hardly like the First Order which was equipped with medical droids and the most advanced medical and surgical care in the galaxy.  I pulled off my boots and trousers, followed by my underwear.  I had given up trying to cover my modesty here, none of the others did.  I stood naked under the warm flow of water.  One of the knights called Solest had been out gathering supplies and now I was able finally to wash my body with soap, my hair with shampoo, clean my teeth and shave the hairs from my face.  I rinsed my clothes, using shampoo to wash them and then I rang them out, watching bubbles froth at my feet.  It started to rain as I headed to my room and lightening lit up the almost dark sky.

I wiped the mud off my feet when I reached the room and then pulled my naked body wearily under the sheets.