Chapter 11

 

I never said Kykkin was smart. But I never thought he was this dumb. 

As I raced at him, showering the area around him with laser bolts, he simply stood there watching me, every now and then twitching so one of my shots missed him.

He didn't think I could beat him. 

Well, I did it once, I could do it again.

As I got closer, Kykkin moved into his fighting stance, analyzing my every move. 

But it has been four years since we last met, and I had some new tricks up my sleeve. 

Behind me, Reyjin and Zenla had begun to engage the guards, so I didn't have to worry about them. Kykkin could have my full attention.

When I got within a yard of him, I feinted lunging to the left, then began to crouch. One of my old moves was to slide right between my opponent's legs. Kykkin had been the one who helped me perfect it, and he had me do it plenty of times, so I was sure he remembered it.

Sure enough, he snapped his legs together, blocking that way of attack. 

That wasn't my way today.

Using the Force, I leaped over his head and struck at his legs before he could respond. My blow caught him off balance and he stumbled forward, but Kykkin Tornyai isn't a martial arts menace in the Outer Rim for no reason. 

He caught himself and quickly spun to face me. "Maybe you have changed some. Hoping to be a Jedi yourself, hm?"

"Perhaps." I holstered my blaster and lowered myself into a crouch. 

He laughed derisively. "You can't actually be hoping to win, are you?"

Actually, yes, that was exactly what I was hoping would happen. 

Kykkin shook his head in mock sadness. "Don't make me kill you, Winera."

"You wouldn't have the guts to, you big coward." I spat out the words as I charged him again.

Kykkin sidestepped my wild lunge and grabed my wrist before my punch landed. I wrestled my hand free and flipped over him. As he turned around to face me again, I launched myself into a front walkover, looping my legs over his shoulders. He shoved at me, but I pulled myself down, forcing him to the ground. 

I stood over him, blaster once more drawn and pointing at his face. "You're beaten."

He stared at me with an expression of vague shock, but also satisfaction. "Am I, though?" He nodded to the left.

I turned to see the girl from my nightmares holding Reyjin in front of her with a blood-red lightsaber to my sister's throat.

She smiled evilly. "A remarkable display, to be sure."