He could feel the other; the darkness that pervaded the area around the being would be evident to any force-sensitive organism in the area. It wasn't a noxious darkness, like that which was around the Demon being, but at the same time it was not something to be dismissed either.

Turning a corner onto a broadway street, Tobal saw utter confusion. A mass of people clawed at one another, trying to escape. Hover and tracked vehicles were smashed into a pileup a mile long, and here and there a few high-flying speeders zipped overhead. It was everyone for themselves here, the panic feeding panic, and generating more panic.

"It's VADER!" screamed an old man, sitting in the twisted remains of a car in the pile-up. "It's VADER!" he screamed again, his mind gone. He must have seen Vader at one time, or knew someone who had known the infamous ruler of the old Empire. Rumor spread rumor, and this man was beginning one right now, right here. Ears heard the cries of "Vader", and the word would spread.

Pulling his hat down, settling its crown firmly upon his head, Tobal pushed his way forward, into the fleeing crowd. People cursed at him, some larger people tried to run over him, but he pushed them aside. Like a rock on the edge of a waterfall, he stood unmoving as the cascade of people plowed into him. Shorter than the galactic standard by many centimeters, the source of the disturbance in the river of people might as well been a wrecked car, a car no one cared to climb over.

And then, they were gone. The last straggler in the wall of people passed Tobal, running for his life.

And there, he stood. For, it was a he. Often it was difficult to tell with the Force, distinguishing the sex of someone unfamiliar to oneself was a skill that came with great time, and dedication. The being before him had just finished killing a civilian with his ignited lightsabre, and behind him was the remains of his carnage. The bodies of a squad of law-enforcement officers lay behind him, proving to Tobal that the being possessed the basic fighting skills necessary to not kill himself with his lightsaber, but nothing more.

The being completed his killing and looked up at Tobal. From this distance the Tribal could not see the man's eyes, nor did he care to. A paper blew down the street, flying toward Tobal, whipped to speed by a breeze. It passed him by, and continued on its way in the wake of the fleeing crowd. The cloud overhead deepened in color, threatening to bring down rain at any moment.

Noktu turned to his opponent and spoke at the same time activated the abilities of his new android eyes, as they lit up to their blood red glow, Noktu spoke..."So you finally found me, I was thinking you would never show, it sure took you long enough to get here, I made sure you could not miss it" Noktu scanned the man his eyes glowing as he did a heat scan of the man locating his weapons and other interesting items... "You know, you shouldn't be carrying money on you, it'll just become fodder for the looters that will be coming here soon as they pick you dead body as they will the others"

Finishing his scan of the Jedi, Noktu brought his saber to bare making sure his other was hidden well, "well Jedi the people have all fled, do you wish to fight in secret so your defeat is in secret? Lets not have that..." Noktu used the force and suddenly the fleeing people halted as he called them with his will... then they turned and formed a giant ring around the fighters..."Well Jedi... I never did get your name... I am Darth Noktu, are you ready to battle?"

"Rather biased comment of you....Arix. I don't think I am the best, I know I am not. If I was I would have beaten Malice in our last duel."

*Janus eyed the Jedi wearily. It was obvious, from the man's general flow of feeling that he was not a true Jedi. No true Jedi would have ignited his sabers so readily, or, for that matter, sook out a man who as of yet had done nothing on the planet.*

"You intrigue me Arix, for you are not a sith, but you are far from a Jedi. So, what are you?"

*As soon as he asked he read the answer from his opponent's mind. Rouge Jedi...*

"Hmm, rouge? Can't say I've heard of the such, but a Jedi is a Jedi."

*Janus opened his mind deeply to the force, allowing it to flow completely through him. He held out his right arm, palm pointed forward, and started to form an invisible orb of the force from the focal point of his hand, surrounding Arix. Though he didn't need the focal point, and hardly ever used one, he figured it was best to make the Rouge Jedi think that he had to use a focal point.*

"So tell me Rouge, what is the difference between yourself and the average Jedi?"

*Janus spoke purely to confuse his oponent, to lower his guard. Talking usually helped with that. Not that he needed it, he could attack without lowering the guard, it was just easier, and alot more fun.*

Still standing in the same position as he had when the crowd swept by him, Tobal watched the other with a slight bit of disgust, and distaste. A voice drifted from down the street, the wind making it hollow and without resonance.

" So you finally found me, I was thinking you would never show, it sure took you long enough to get here, I made sure you could not miss it"

One of the impatient types then, and a kill-hungry one. But then, most of them were. They lusted after power, and believed the adrenaline rush they received while killing, or dominating to be that power, when it was truly not.

" You know, you shouldn't be carrying money on you, it'll just become fodder for the looters that will be coming here soon as they pick you dead body as they will the others"

Yes, most certainly an impatient type. He was adding a threat; confident he would win over an enemy he had yet to size up. A sometimes-useful tactic in demoralizing the enemy, but for the most part such behavior resulted in the termination of the taunter. The other continued to speak, and Tobal felt a movement in the Force about him. There was the desire to turn around, and come back, but he brushed it aside easily. The panicked people behind him, however, did not fair so well. Their fear making their minds easy prey, the other persuaded them to turn, and come back. His control was obviously shaky over the people as they milled around, gradually forming a circle. Standing there, they fidgeted and squirmed. Obviously they wanted to leave.

"Well Jedi... I never did get your name... I am Darth Noktu, are you ready to battle?"

Instead of answering, the Tribal simply began to walk forward. His hands hung loosely at his side, the tan colored clothing flapped at certain points with the wind, and the brim of his soft cloth hat bent down with the forward pressure. With even steps he continued to cover the distance between himself and the other. Each foot touched the ground for a second or so, before lifting and moving forward, and endless circle against the clean pavement.

When he was ten meters or so away from the other man, he stopped. From this distance he could see that the eyes of the other were a blood red, a signature trait of a few species. Another gust of wind whipped through the street, blowing against both the other and Tobal, and with that wind thunder rolled. The rain would soon

As the storm began Noktu just spirked as his eyes finished their mechanical scan of his opponant, as the Jedi approached Noktu just smiled and held his saber at the ready, the same time feeling his pockets full of vibro blades...

Without hesitating he pulled one out and threw it effortlessly at one of the bystanders, the crimson blade slicing into the mans neck and soon the ground was covered with crimson blood as he fell... "Now Jedi lets begin"

The dark being held the minds of the milling people with a fragile grip, Tobal could feel his lack of control through the Force, it felt confident – yet weak. Frightened people, though their minds may be more open to suggestion, by nature resisted outright control.

And then, it happened. The dark being reached into his pocket and grabbed something. With a whipping of his arm, he accelerated what appeared to be a vibro-blade into the neck of a bystander. Blood spurted out of the gash, pulsating at even intervals. The red liquid splattered over nearby people, staining their faces, and clothing with its color. The man attempted to scream, but it came out in a wheeze, a gurgling sound that faded rapidly as he died. His body landed in a heap, and his lifeblood continued to flow out of his body.

For a brief second, the blood soaked bystanders stood still. Then, a woman screamed. Another woman duplicated the scream, then another, and another. Soon everyone, including the men and children, were screaming hysterically. They began to push, to shove, and to run. In seconds, the uneven circle they had formed around the two men was even more uneven, and increasing in size rapidly - for the crowd was running, running away in every direction but toward the two in the center of the street.

Tobal gazed upon the dead body on the ground, and the running people with a passive face. Death was something that came to all beings; it could not be stopped, only delayed. He regretted not being able to save the man, but it wasn't something he would dwell on for a long time. He turned his head back to the dark being, and watched him. The humming lightsaber the being held suddenly sizzled, as a raindrop touched it and evaporated. A few more raindrops fell, pattering the ground and the two men.

He would let this dark being make the first move, it would be easier to determine his fighting style then. Tobal dipped his hand into his own pocket - pausing with raised eyebrows for a moment as the dark being seemed to ready himself for an attack - before withdrawing a few credit coins. Fondling the small bits of metal, he allowed them to clink together while he watched the other man.

Arix could feel the Force pulsing around him, and he knew that it wasn't his doing. Losing himself deeper into the Force, he could feel the darkness of the invisible shield forming around him. The Rogue Jedi knew that he had to act quickly. If he didn't, who knows what the Sith would do.

Losing himself completely in the Force, Arix reverted to his primal insticts, mixed with his skills in the Force. In such situations, this was always what the Jedi did. The primal instincts had one goal and one goal alone, to preservate his own life for as long as possible. Suddenly, he leapt impossibly high, barely clearing the rapidly growing Force barrier. Turning into a corkscrew, he landed like a cat on his feet, this time facing the Sith's back.

"I give you an advantage, and what do you do? You ask me questions! Just for that, I'm not letting you have this anymore!" Arix yelled in response to the Sith, presenting an impenetrable mental shield.

Arix could hear the not-too-distant screams, and he at first feared the other Sith was wreaking havoc through the streets unhindered. Checking quickly through the Force, he sighed with relief as he acknowledged the presence of the Shadow Jedi, who had apparently reached the Sith-after a little probing, he found his name to be Bane Nothos-and they were getting ready to duel it out. Returning to the fight at hand, the Rogue knew that he would have little time before the Sith countered his evasive maneuvers.

Preparing himself for a charge, Arix felt the raindrops begin to fall. Forming a better plan, he concentrated deeply, drawing Force from everywhere he could find it. A spark appeared at his fingertips, and then another, and another. They were growing rapidly, the raindrops feeding into the electrical energy. Unlike the black Sith lightning, an electricity of pure white spurted forth. It was a greater attack of the Rogues. The Spark of the Lightside, it was called. Arix shot it out at Janus, putting his other hand on his right hand's wrist, feeding into the power.

The Sith had by now definately turned, and was most likely preparing defenses, if they had not already been thrown up. Arix knew he had to work fast. He launched into action, following the SOTL (Spark of the Lightside) towards his opponent. Running impossibly fast for a normal human, dual blades struck out at Janus, one heading for the neck, the other straight for the thigh.

*Janus had his saber up, catching the lightning as it approached. As his opponent aproached, he felt no fear, only a fool attacks in a full frontal charge! In a flash, Janus had his other saber out, and caught both his opponents slashes, knocking his blades away.*

"You seem a little angry Jedi."

*When Janus had turned, he had brought the barrier in which he originally had the Jedi in around. The Jedi was now dead in the center.*

"Lets see how this makes you feel."

*Suddenly the barrier crushed down on the Jedi, weighing him down, increasing gravity's hold. The Jedi was caught, in a gravitational feild 5 times that of the planet they were on...*

Arix had been expecting something like this. He hadn't really expected his attacks to do much good. Instead, his actions had a dual purpose. To test the strength of Janus, and to wear the Sith down, presenting a vulnerable target that the Sith would put most of his energy into destroying. That is why he was not crushed by the Sith's attack. His Force Shield had bought him valuable time, but he could not hold it for long.

Easily finding debris on the street, most likely from the stampede of civilians who had fled the viciousness of Nothos, Arix sent it flying at Janus. The Sith, who expected him liquified by now, would most likely not be able to counter in time. Then the Rogue Jedi waited for it. Milliseconds went by, and his concentration on the shield grew strained. He began to worry, but then it came. A moment of faltering in Janus's concentration. That was all Arix needed. Giving a mighty Force push, he was soon clear of the crushing death trap Janus had constructed.

"Good. You are much better than I thought, Janus." Arix announced, hoping to catch the Sith off guard with the mention of his name. He had done a little mind probing of his own.

The Rogue once again took the offensive, and he went into another charge, closing the gap between Janus and him. The instant Arix felt the darkside well up inside the Sith, he played his card. Blinding Light was a technique that the Jedi had built into his greatly diverse fighting style. Since they were in broad daylight, it was easy to gather the energy needed. Soon his card was on the table, and Janus was surrounded in a ball of blinding glare.

Arix charged into it without hesitation. He didn't care. The light stung, so he closed his eyes. The Rogue had been trained to battle in all situations, including blindly. Enhancing his other senses, he could feel the vibrations of Janus's feet, and hear the swish of his arms. Lashing out, Arix worked the Sith in a rather laid back lightsaber combat, steadily working up high, the Jedi knew his Light would not last long. He then played the wild card. Striking down in a double thrust low, Arix gave the Sith another test. He gave Janus plenty of time to block the shot, but left his upper body wide open. If Janus were to strike at him and score a hit, he would likely decapitate the Rogue, but at the cost of one, more likely two legs. Arix switched concentration, pouring everything into his arms. If Janus decided to go high, the Jedi made sure his arms were fast enough to block.

He unleashed two more vibroblades into the fleeing crowd cutting down more of the bystanders... then he heard the clink clink clink of coins and turned to the Jedi...then withouth another motion he hurled his vibroblade at the man and charged his saber doing a cautious swing at the man...