As he sprinted through the crowds, Barbagar started to focus himself and draw upon the Force, working to locate the Dark Jedi who had killed Master Treemba. He was easy to find.
The Dark Jedi was leaping through the air and cutting at his head.
Barbagar ignited his green lightsaber and twirled it, blocking the Dark Jedi's unanticipated blow. Under better circumstances, Barbagar would have liked to parry, but he hadn't the time. He took two steps back and looked at the Dark Jedi, who was smiling again.
"Did I kill your friend?" the Dark Jedi asked.
"You did. You will go to prison for that."
"Oh, what prison can hold me? Metal breaks and minds bend under the Force."
"Have you ever heard of the Shelter? You go there, and you do not return, no matter how powerful you are."
For that, the Dark Jedi had no response. His attack, rather, was his response, a blur of red sweeping towards any spot Barbagar had exposed. The Jedi Master, however, was an expert with the blade, spinning his weapon in one hand and gracefully deflecting the red with his own shaft of green. Barbagar's Makashi style made his bladework even more efficient than his skills would have allowed on their own.
"You cannot stand against me," Barbagar said. "I am the Light."
Eiron smiled back at him. "I am the Shadow. I consume." He reached out and grasped for Barbagar's arm. His right hand clenched Barbagar's left at the wrist and for a second the Jedi Master reeled, the color fading from his cheeks. Eiron smiled, strengthened by the Master's strength, reinforced by his power.
Then, Barbagar brought his blade around and removed Eiron's hand. The muscles severed, the fingers slacked and the hand fell.
Eiron reverted to his own Makashi style and fought with one hand, barely acknowledging that he had lost his limb. The wound was cauterized and did not bleed. Barbagar did not acknowledge his victory, either: it did not mean victory in the fight, and to dominate Eiron's will through gloating would be a Sith art and was frowned upon.
Eiron's moves became quicker, faster, Barbagar dancing in and out of his reach. They were near-equals, each one tipping the balance in their favor before the other rallied and righted the scales.
Barbagar pressed on, slashing at Eiron's head. Eiron held his blade up and blocked, standing firm.
"You are cast away," Barbagar said.
"Victory here means nothing," Eiron replied. "My legacy continues, whether I die or not."
Barbagar shrugged. "So be it."
He attacked. Eiron, instead of blocking, back-flipped. The blade passed through empty air.Eiron landed several feet away. He jumped onto a hovertram and was gone. Barbagar had lost his trail within two minutes.
The Padawans were dead. During the moment when Eiron had sapped his powers, Barbagar had known this to be true. Le-Ek...he might be saved. The Dark Jedi...or Sith, rather, for the warrior spoke of legacies and knew the strange powers of the Sith...would be found again. Now it was time to rescue his friend.
Barbagar powered down his lightsaber and returned to save Le-Ek.
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