The punch felt like someone had just hit him with a chunk of ferrocrete, and lights exploded in his brain. Raezyr felt himself falling backward as his vision wavered and darkness threatened to close in. He reached out to the Force and wrenched a firm hold on the Dark Side, helping him maintain his tenuous grip on consciousness as he stared into the lights on the ceiling of the hangar.
Trychon reacted instantly to Zanz' attack and threw his palm out, extending a wave of Force engergy intended to throw the ex-Sith commando backward, but Dianna's first mate was expecting it. His years of fighting had turned him into a wily veteran, not easily defeated, and his service in the ranks of the Sith Army had given him first hand experience in Sith tactics.
Expecting that reaction, he dove to the side just in time to avoid Trychon's Force push. He hit the floor, rolled to his feet and came up firing the blaster he had drawn.
A bit over confident in his initial attack, Trychon had been slow in drawing his lightsaber. He ignited it just in time to deflect the incoming laser beams, but was off balance and out of position to re-direct the bolts back at his attacker.
Unaided by the Force, Raezyr would have been unconscious, and even with it, he was still disoriented. He rolled over and struggled to his hands and knees. Through the cobwebs in his mind he registered that Zanz was firing a blaster at... someone. Reaching across the bay with the Force, he gripped the blaster and tried to pull it to him. Unable to focus, the pull was just strong enough to cause Zanz to lose his grip on the weapon. Zanz fumbled with it for only the briefest of moments before regaining control again.
It was only a momentary break in the barrage of fire, but it was all Trychon needed. Augmenting his speed with the Force, he closed the gap between them instantly. The thrumming beam of energy of Trychon's lightsaber sliced the commando's blaster in half. He then kicked out, his boot landing squarely in the center of Zanz' chest, and watched as the Force augmented blow sent them man flying backward.
Trychon heard the first mate's wind leave him with a grunt as he landed on his back, and arrived shortly after. He stepped on Zanz' chest with one foot and lowered his blade to within mere millimeters of the former soldier's neck.
He leaned over and spoke to Zanz in a low menacing voice. "At this very moment, there are only two reasons your head is still attached. One: Raezyr and I did not come here to kill. Two: This time, I'm going to allow Raezyr to decide your fate!"
By this time, Raezyr had gotten to his feet and shook loose of the remaining effects of the blow Zanz had landed. He stalked over to where Trychon had the ex-commando pinned on the floor. Rage filled every centimeter of his soul, and he struggled to keep it in check. Reaching past Trychon's blade, he grabbed Zanz by the throat with one hand and hauled him up onto the tip of his toes, the Force lending Raezyr more strength than he knew.
Zanz grasped at Raezyr's wrist with both hands, struggling to get free and gasping for breath. Raezyr snarled as he spoke. "You caught us off guard once. Never again." He clamped down harder and listened to the commando gurgle before continuing. "Remember this, worm: Every breath you take for the rest of your life, is a breath that I allowed you to take."
Raezyr released his grip on Zanz' throat and he fell to his hands and knees, coughing and gasping for air. He looked up at Raezyr with hate blazing in his eyes. "You better kill me," he rasped hoarsely.
"You'd be dead already, except we still may have some use for you," Raezyr said flatly, then aimed a kick at Zanz' head which connected solidly. Raezyr and Trychon turned and began walking away as the ex-commando's unconscious form crumpled to the durasteel floor.
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