Duel on Jalias

### Cause

King Asolas sensed great power within the disguised Lux Knight and chased after him.

### Outcome

* Suezian tactical victory
* Tom Thompson is seriously injured by Asolas and is tossed into a river
* Asolas fails in his objective to find Tom Thompson's location

Strength| 1 Lux Knight of Alpha VI* Tom Thompson

The **Duel on Jalias** was a duel that took place between the disguised Tom Thompson and King Asolas, during the Second Ghost War in 2007. The inexperienced Thompson was ultimately outmatched against King Asolas and was defeated and seriously injured in the process.

## Prelude

Members of the Lux Republic took young Knight, Tom Thompson to Karyak Grove on a training mission. A member of the Lux Republic whom was a spy for the Ghost Empire, found out that Tom Thompson was in fact in the Lux Republic and with him. The member activated his tracking device so that King Asolas would receive the emergency distress signal to their location. On their way to Jalias, King Asolas and Admiral Skorpiuz took a Suezian squadron and headed for the planet.

The Lux Republic members approached Karyak Grove in their Lux carrier, unaware that the Suezian forces had been tracking their location since the spy activated his tracking device. They landed their craft without incident, and proceeded cautiously into the Grove. Later, as they prepared for their training mission, they encountered Admiral Skorpiuz and a group of Suezian forces who were tormenting a family of Netromorphs. Tom Thompson, hoping not to reveal his presence, quietly stalked the group for a short time until they disappeared from sight. As they prepared to continue through the city, Skorpiuz suddenly reappeared and attacked the Lux squadron. The squadron of Suezian forces reappeared and chased the Lux members.

Making their way through the forests and trees of the Grove, they eventually reached the highest point of Karyak Grove. Suddenly, as they ran up the steps, standing atop the flight of steps to the walkway above was King Asolas. Being surrounded, the Lux Republic members were captured and interrogated by the Suezians. Asolas and Skorpiuz demanded the Lux members for Tom Thompson's location, all of them denied. Asolas then ordered Skorpiuz to eliminate Captain Chambers, which he did. About to give himself in, Tom prepared to reveal his identity but were surprised to see Alpha VI had ambushed and attacked the Suezian forces. Tom broke free of the chains and ran to attack Asolas, and the battle began.

## The duel

Thompson attacked first, initiating two brief, unsuccessful strikes at Asolas' torso before regrouping. He then attempted to use an overhand power attack to overwhelm Asolas, but the Shadow King blocked the attack. Asolas then threw Tom to the floor, but Tom quickly recovered and advanced. Tom then engaged in an aggressive series of attacks and managed to drive Asolas back, surprising the King. However, Asolas soon counter-attacked, forcing Tom back to the head of the stairs. During a subsequent lull in the fight, Asolas complimented Tom on his impressing fighting proficiency, he also commented on the power that Asolas felt inside the Lux Knight. Before he had even finished speaking, Thompson struck at Asolas again, but Asolas deprived him of his weapon. Asolas followed up with violent fist and telekinesis attacks.

Tom managed to climb up onto the top of the tall building which towered over a large fountain and river. Asolas began hacking at Tom with a series of heavy overhand power blows. Tom, overwhelmed by Asolas' strength, was forced onto the defensive and driven back to the edge of the cliff. Asolas then grabbed Tom by the throat and asked once more for his own location. Tom then fired a blaster at Asolas' stomach, freeing him from Asolas' grasp. The angered Zathuram continued his relentless offense, blocking and shunting aside all of Tom's counters, eventually violently knocking him to the ground which injured him.

Bringing his blade to Tom's throat, Asolas declared the boy beaten, and stated that further resistance would result in his fate. In response, Tom defiantly drove Asolas' blade aside and regained his feet before attacking again. As their bout continued, Tom, in desperation, managed to slightly wound Vader with a strike on his left arm. Enraged, the Shadow King moved to end the duel and pressed his assault, he ended the duel by punching Tom with so much force that he lunged into the air and off the cliff.

### Defeat and revelation

As Tom Thompson fell down the waterfall and into the river, he landed onto dozens of large rocks with resulted in further injury and knocked him out cold. His body floated through the current of the river and onto a river bank. Alpha VI managed to escape the Suezian forces and get abroad the *Predator*, they quickly searched for Tom Thompson in the air. They located him knocked out on the river bank and quickly flew down to him. Lewis Parker picked up the damaged Knight and lifted him onto the ship. They then engaged in an aerial battle against Suezian forces as they left the planet's atmosphere. As they left the planet, they activated superdrive where they were able to escape from the Suezians.

## Aftermath

Asolas' revelation haunted Tom Thompson, but also motivated him, helping to turn him into a true Lux Knight like his father.