[Sleepy Ranger]

Orth-Tank, Showdown

And so it would end, Saruman had acquired certain glowy swords he called lightsabers, one for Grima and one for himself. With these weapons they would face the Balrog and his evil dorc army. Grima's eyes burned with revenge, those Uruk-Hai that died... the Balrog would pay.

The two headed down to the basement, standing before the giant double doors that seperated them from their foe. "Come!" Said Saruman and the two shoved the doors open. It was time... for honor, glory and vengenace.

The Balrog throws switches on a control panel. His Interbasement Wing Ship is guarded by a squad of super battle dorcs. The giant double doors open.

Dorc Captain: Your excellency!

The Balrog turns as Saruman and Grima run in through the giant double doors. They draw their lightsabers. The dorcs raise their weapons.

The Balrog: That won't be necesarry, Captain. Stand down and leave them to me.

The dorcs lower their weapons and back off to the walls. The Balrog looks at Saruman and Grima with slight amusement.

Saruman (To Grima): We move together, you slowly on the...

Grima: I'm taking him now!

Saruman: Grima, no!

Grima: You'll pay for all the Uruk-Hai you killed today Balrog!

Grima charges across the open space at Balrog, who smiles faintly, watching him come. Grima raises his lightsaber. At the last moment, Balrog thrusts out an arm, and Grima is lifted up, hurled across the room, and slammed into the opposite wall. He slumps to the foot of the wall, semi-conscious. Balrog moves toward Saruman.

Balrog: Saruman, isn't it? As you can see, m Ring power are far beyond yours. Now, back down.

Saruman: I don't think so.

Saruman lifts his lightsaber. Balrog smiles.

Balrog: Ah, but if I must.

Balrog draws his lightsaber. He and Saruman start to circle each other.

Balrog: I have spent the last ten hundred years learning to use the power of the One Ring. It gives me infinitely greater power.

Saruman: You fool, thats my role. I know everything you're going to do but I'll lose anyway just so that we have an excuse to end this in a cool way.

Saruman comes in fast, swinging at Balrog's head. Balrog parries the cut easily. As they fight, it quickly becomes clear that Balrog is the complete swordsman - elegant, graceful, classical - a master of the old style.

Balrog: Grand Istari Saruman, you disappoint me. Aule holds you in such high esteem.

Balrog parried another cut.

Balrog: Surely you can do better...? (parries) No, I'm surprised. Has Istar swordsmanship degenerated so quickly, or are you trying to make fun of me? (cuts) Which is it?

Balrog thrusts. Saruman steps back quickly, panting for breath.

Balrog: Come, come, Master Saruman. Put me out of my misery.

Saruman takes a deep breath, gets a fresh grip on his lightsaber and comes in again. For a moment, he drives Balrog back. Then Balrog's superior skill begins to tell again, and he forces Saruman to retreat.

Balrog increases the tempo of his attack. Saruman is pushed to the limit to defend himself. Balrog presses. His lightsaber flashes.

Saruman is wounded in the shoulder, then the thigh. He stumbles back against the wall, trips, and falls. His lightsaber goes skittering across the floor.

Balrog raises his lightsaber. Saruman looks up helplessly. Balrog's lightsaber flashes down and clashes against... Grima's lightsaber! Balrog and Grima stare eyeball to eyeball.

Balrog: Thats brave of you, boy but foolish. I would have thought you'd have learnt your lesson.

Grima: I tripped...

And Grima charges at Balrog. The force of his attack catches the Balrog slightly off balance. Grima's lightsaber flashes. Balrog draws back, putting a hand to his arm. He takes the hand away and looks at the smear of blood whee Grima has nicked him.

Balrog: You have unusual powers, young fool. But not enough to save you this time.

Grima: How do I get myself into these messes?

Saruman: GRIMA!

Saruman uses the Ring to catch his lightsaber and he tosses it to Grima. With two lightsabers, Grima attacks. Balrog parries and ripostes. It is no contest. Grima is driven back against the wall. He loses one lightsaber. Finally Balrog, in one flashing move, sends Anakin's arm, cut at the elbow, flying still gripping his lightsaber. Grima drops to the ground in agony. Balrog draws himself up to deliver the coup de grace.

Suddenly, the great doors slide open. The dorcs turn fast, raising their weapons. Through the thick smoke, emerges the heroic figure of Aule. He stops on the smoke-filled threashold, four dorcs lined up on either side of him, bows pointed. Meanwhile Grima reveals he had his hand hidden inside his shirt and it was only his sleeve that got cut off.

Before the dorcs can get off a shot, Aule raises his hand, and the dorcs are flung against the far walls and crash to the floor in heaps of smoking metal.

Silence. Balrog steps away from Grima to face the Valar. His lightsaber whirls in a formal salute.

Balrog: Master Aule. At last we shall know who is the most awesome.

Aule draws a miniature lightsaber out of his cane. He salutes formally.

Aule: Balrog. I have no interest in contests foo'!

Balrog charges across the space at Aule. He rains down blows upon the tiny figure. Aule doesn't budge an inch. For the first part of the contest, he parries every cut and thrust that Balrog aims. Nothing the great swordsman tries gets through. His energy drains. His strokes become feebler, slower.

Aule attacks! He flies forward. Balrog is forced to retreat. Words are insufficient to describe the range and skill of Aule's speed and swordplay. His lightsaber his a humming blur of light.

Balrog's lightsaber is sent cartwheeling from his hand. He staggers back, gasping and spent, against the control panel. Aule jumps onto Balrog's shoulders, and is about to drive the lightsaber into the top of the Count's head.

Aule: End o' da line, foo'!

Balrog: NNNNNNOO!!!!!!!

Balrog raises his arms and knocks Aule off his shoulders and then, with all his might, he uses the Force to pull on one of the cranes in the hanger. It comes crashing down on Saruman and Grima. But in the blink of and eye, Aule is under the crane, holding it up, using the Ring. Aule closes his eyes and concentrates.

Grima is hungry, and Saruman tries toget out from under the crane. The fallen crane trembles and starts to life. Behind it, the sound of the Wing Ship's engines are heard starting up.

Aule concentrates harder. Slowly, the crane rises. The sound of flapping wings increases. Aule exerts every scrap of his powers. The crane lifts clear of Grima and is thrown to the ground. Balrog's wing ship takes off. Saruman and Grima struggle to the exhausted Aule, but it's too late. The Wing Ship rises into the air and flies away...

It is now time to carry on, they shall head north-west, towards Isengard...
Begun the Mount Zoom Challenge has...