Chapter 1: The Meeting
Bastila sighed as she and her companions walked down the streets of Taris' Lower City. They were headed for the base of the swoop gang; The Hidden Beks. The leader of the Beks, one Gaddon Thek, had agreed to help them get off the planet after they had aided in making the Lower City safe again by wiping out the terrorist swoop gang; The Black Vulkers. It hadn't been easy but she and her ragtag group had managed to kill the leader of the Vulkars: Brejik. Bastila glanced at her companions, they were certainly an odd group: Mission Vao: a 14 year old Twi'lek who was a master slicer and a fair technician, Zalbaar: a Wookie who was a very good scout and very handy with a bowcaster or a vibrosword, Carth Onasi: a middle aged human who was an expert pilot and a fair shot with his blaster pistol, Canderous Ordo: An older Mandalorian that was an expert with both his vibrosword and his heavy repeating blaster and had served alongside the ex-hero of the Republic; Revan, there was also Trask Ulgo: a young, somewhat greenhorn republic soldier but a fair shot with a blaster rifle. And then there was her: Bastila Shan: a 21 year old Jedi Sentinel Padawan who was a practitioner of the double-sided lightsaber and the only living Jedi to have a Force power known as Battle Meditation; a power that bolstered her allies' moral and weakened the moral of her enemies.
She was skilled but even she was not invincible; she as well as Carth and Trask had been lucky to survive the surprise attack that had put them in their current situation. They had been on a scouting mission aboard the republic ship th Endar Spire when they had been ambushed over the Sith controlled planet of Taris. The attack had been so perfectly executed that Bastila, Carth, and Trask had barely made it to the escape pod in time. After crash landing, the three had set out to find a way off planet. Along the way they had met Mission and Zalbaar in the Undercity and had saved them from Gammorian slavers (Zalbaar had very nearly swore a lifedebt to Bastila but she had managed to convince him not to. Even so, the Wookie had decided to stay with them. Mission had stayed with her friend and the three became five.). After forming an alliance with Gaddon Thek, they had run into Canderous who had recognized Carth and much to Carth's joy and Bastila and Trask's displeasure, Canderous stuck with them and had saved all their lives on more than one occasion during their quest to take down Brejik. Canderous and Carth trusted each other with their lives which Bastila found odd considering that Canderous was a Mandalorian and the Republic had just ended a brutal war with his people. Canderous had been the only Mandalorian who had defected to Revan's side, believing that the Mandalorian clans were acting without honor and disgracefully. His information had helped the Republic win many a battle. But after Revan and Malak had disappeared, Canderous had found his way to Taris, refusing to take part in the current war against Malak. Revan had not returned and Malak had returned with a seemingly unstoppable armada bent on conquering the Republic.
"Thinkin' about something Bastila?" Carth asked, bringing Bastila back to the present.
"Just remembering how we all came together." She answered. As the group turned around a corner they came across a scene of conflict: A clean shaven man dressed in a grey overcoat with short cloak coverings over the sleeves and back, a wrist comlink was covering one sleeve wrist, holding the sleeve so that it didn't get in the way, a wrist personal shield emitter did the same on the other wrist, a lightly armored spacer's outfit, and a grey wide brimmed hat was standing off against several rough looking thugs.
"Exchange muscle." Canderous said as he hefted his repeater. "Hmm, six against one. It ain't gonna be pretty."
"What do you mean, Canderous?" Trask asked.
"Those fools are trying to shake that man down." Carth said, "But I'd wager that they've bitten off more than they can chew."
"What do you mean by…" Bastila said as the stranger suddenly exploded into action. Punching the closest thug, a rodian, in the gut, the man used the doubled over alien as a spring board and launched himself into the air, drawing a pair of strange looking blaster pistols from their quick-draw holsters on his thighs at the same time, and blasted his 'springboard'. Landing away from the thugs, the man casually proceeded to gun down all the thugs, while dodging all the blaster blots and sword strikes that were thrown at him. Bastila gasped in surprise; the man was using the Force! As the last thug dropped dead, the man spun the blasters around his trigger fingers twice and holstered them. He then proceeded to examine the dead bodies as Bastila and her group approached.
"Have you no respect for the dead?" Trask demanded as they approached.
"They ain't gonna need credits in the afterlife." The man said without looking up. "Besides, I won so their valuables are mine now."
"That was a most impressive display." Carth commented. "Where did you learn to shoot like that?"
"In my business you either learn how to shoot good or you don't last long." The man said as he pocketed the credits and stood up. Bastila had to restrain the urge to gasp; the man was Handsome! But… NO! She had to resist. She was a Jedi and as Master Vrook had always told her: emotions were what caused Revan and Malak to ignore the wisdom of the council and go to war.
"Well, well, well." The man let out a low whistle. "A Wookie, a Twi'lek, a Mandalorian, two Republic officers, and a Jedi! That's something you don't see every day on Taris."
The whole group tensed; Carth's hand drifted down to his blaster pistol, Bastila reached for her double-blade, Canderous hefted his repeater, Trask fingered his rifle, Zalbaar reached for his vibroblade, and Mission reached for her blaster pistol. All prepared to attack and were completely unprepared for the man to start laughing. "Easy, easy." He chuckled, "I ain't about to tell anyone about ya. But you might want to put a little more effort into concealing who you are, especially you Princess."
"How did you know that we're with the Republic?" Bastila demanded, her hand grasping the hilt of her lightsaber.
The man snorted, "That rifle and pistol are only issued to Republic troops. Malak hasn't left any of his Dark Jedi on this planet that I know of, so that makes you a Jedi. Also those comlinks are standard issue Republic Navy. The Sith here are really dumb if they couldn't figure it out." He shrugged. "It ain't my business what you're doin' but if you want my advice; you might want to do a better job at hiding who you are." The man turned and walked off towards Javyar's Cantina. "I wish you luck though. The Republic needs it's ace in the hole back and fast." He said over his shoulder.
"What!" Bastila and the group were stunned. The man had recognized Bastila and if some random spacer could, who else might be able to?
"We'd better get to Gaddon and fast!" Bastila said.
"Should we kill that man?" Canderous asked, "He knows too much."
"No Mandalorian." Bastila said with a shake of her head. "I doubt he will tell the Sith."
"Why do you say that?" Mission asked.
/I agree with Canderous. That man knows too much./ Zalbaar also expressed his concern.
"That man was Force Sensitive and I doubt if he wants to attract their attention just to claim a small reward." Bastila said "Besides we need a way to get off planet and Gaddon mentioned that he knew someone that might be able to do it."
The group set out once again, reaching the Bek's base with no more incidents. Once they were inside they made their way to Gaddon and his overzealous bodyguard; Zaerdra. "You've returned! Did you manage to kill Brejik?" Gaddon asked.
"Yeah, Yeah, we took care of that insolent bastard." Canderous snapped, "Now it's time for you to fill your end of the bargain. You said you knew someone who could get us off planet. Well who is it?"
"I did say that didn't I? Well the truth is I know someone who might be able to get you off Taris." Gaddon said.
"You mean that we had to be your thugs and you don't even know if this person can get us off this huttspawn of a planet?" Trask practically screamed, drawing the whole base's attention.
"Stand down Trask, that's an order!" Carth commanded.
"My apologies, Gaddon." Bastila attempted to defuse the situation. "But what did you mean by your statement?"
"Well this man is the best pilot I know." Gaddon said, "He's got the fastest ship in the galaxy or so he claims. He's absolutely deadly with those blaster pistols of his, a little rough around the edges, but there's no one better to have guarding your back."
"Cut the crap Gaddon!" Canderous ordered "Where and Who?"
"You'll most likely find him in Javyar's Cantina about now." Gaddon said, "I don't know his real name but he goes by the alias 'Captain'. Just ask the Bartender and he'll point you in the right direction. A word of warning though, he's not to be taken lightly, I've seen him take out an entire battalion of Sith soldiers by himself with nothing but his two blaster pistols."
"Thank you Gaddon Thek." Bastila bowed and the group left the base.
Gaddon leaned back in his chair, watching the group exit. "Do you think it's wise to send them to him for help?" Zaerdra asked.
"You know as well as I that he's their best chance, Zaerdra." Gaddon sighed "Besides, I have a feeling that they're gonna need help that only he can give."
"I just hope you haven't sent Mission to her death." Zaerdra said "You forgot to mention that he was the one who killed the most dangerous assassin on Taris and took out Davik Kang both in the same week."
"I know, but those feats are or were supposed to be impossible. If he could do that, I think getting them off Taris will be easy for him."
"Excuse me. Could you tell me where I might find the man known as 'Captain'?" Bastila asked the Bith bartender.
The Bartender was so startled that he dropped the glass he was cleaning. /And what might you want with the Captain?/ he asked slowly and in a hushed voice.
"That's none of your business." Canderous snarled, "Just tell us where he is."
The bartender shook his head. /I'm sorry but I cannot tell you anything./
Bastila sighed and waved her hand ever so slightly. Drawing on the power of the Force, she said in a monotone, "You will tell us what you know."
The Bith repeated in a similar monotone /I will tell you what I know./ The Bith glanced around to make sure that no one was listening /I probably shouldn't tell you this, but you just missed him. He left for the Under City not too long ago. He mentioned something about helping the Outcasts with a problem. Your best bet is the Outcast village./ The bartender glanced around again. /I don't know what your business is with him but when he says anything about taking care of a problem, it usually means trouble for someone. Be careful./
"Thanks for the info." Carth said as the group headed for the door.
"Now what could be so important that this mysterious 'Captain' had to go to the Under City?" Bastila wondered aloud as they headed for the elevator that would take them to the Under City.
"Well we're gonna find out, ain't we?" Canderous said.
"Commander one thing bothers me." Trask said.
"Shut up fool!" Canderous hissed, "Do you want to bring the Sith down on us?"
"Sorry." Trask said sheepishly, "But don't you think it's odd that Gaddon's bodyguard flinched when Gaddon told us about this 'Captain' person? Also the bartender was scared to tell us about him."
"I see what you mean but we don't have any other choice." Bastila shook her head. "We're running out of time. The longer we stay here, the greater the chances are that we'll be captured."
"Bastila's right, we don't have any other options." Carth said "But I really hope that this guy'll be willing to help us."
Once they reached the Outcast village, they were shocked to find it empty. The outcasts were gone and the village gates were open.
"What happened here?" Mission asked as they stared at the deserted village.
"Do you think the Sith took them?" Trask asked as he gripped his rifle.
"Don't be an idiot boy." Canderous snorted as they walked through the empty village, "If the Sith did this then they would have used force but do you see any signs of a struggle? I sure as hell don't"
"You've got that right Canderous." Carth agreed as he placed his hand on the butt of his pistol, "But something happened here."
"Strange." Bastila said, "Do you think that this 'Captian' we keep hearing about had anything to do with it?"
Suddenly Zalbaar sniffed the air /Someone is coming./
The group tensed. "Is it the Sith?" Bastila asked as she grabbed her lightsaber.
Zalbaar shook his head, /No it is only two people and they don't smell like Sith./ He pointed in the direction of the gate. /There they are!/
Everyone looked in the direction of the gate to see two figures entering the village. Unfortunately they were too far away for anyone to make out their features. Once they were closer Bastila called out. "Who are you?"
"Miss Bastila!" The voice caused everyone to freeze. The voice sounded like the young Outcast girl they had met when they had first traveled to the village.
"Shaleena is that you?" Carth asked as the young 19 year old girl ran towards them with her companion following behind her, but he stayed in the shadows.
"Yes it's me!" Shaleena said excitedly, "It's so good to see you! But what are you doing here?"
"We could ask you the same thing." Bastila said, "What happened here?"
"Oh the village decided to find a new place to live." Shaleena said happily, "It turns out that Rukil's stories about the Promised Land were true." Carth, Bastila, and Trask smiled at the memory of the kind old man. Admitted he had seemed a little crazy when they met him. "Anyway Gendar decided that the village would be better off if they went to the Promised Land. Actually it's thanks to the Captain that Rukil was able to find the entrance." Shaleena noticed the group's reaction to her words. "Did I say something wrong?"
"Shaleena, did you say 'Captain'?" Bastila asked slowly.
"Yes why? Is he a friend of yours?"
"No but we need to find him." Bastila admitted.
"The look no further Princess, cause you found me." All eyes went to Shaleena's companion and Bastila's group gasped as the mysterious 'Captain' stepped out of the shadows.
"It's you!" Bastila exclaimed, "The spacer who recognized me!"
The spacer smirked, "Ya got that right, Princess."
"I'm no princess!" Bastila exclaimed in high indignation. Behind her back though, Carth and the rest of the group barely managed to conceal their smirks and snickers. During the entire time on Taris, Bastila's arrogance and royalty like manner had gotten them into more than one fight.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever." The 'Captain' shrugged, "So what do you want with me, Princess?"
"I told you I'm not-"
"We need to get off Taris." Carth cut in, "But no one seems willing to try and run the blockade."
"And someone told you that I might be able to do it." 'Captain' grinned, "I might be willing to help you but my help has a price."
"What do you mean?" Trask demanded, "Will you help us or not?"
'Captain' looked at him and sneered, "Watch yourself boy, better men than you have challenged me and died." He turned back to Bastila, "It's not that people don't want to help you, it's just that no one can outrun the Sith's automatic targeting system. I managed to break the blockade and land here and that was only because I needed to refuel but before I could leave, the damn Sith upgraded their automatic targeting system. My ship's fast enough for you Princess. I've outrun Sith ships without breaking a sweat." His eyes glinted, "So here's the deal, you help me get the launch codes from the Sith base, and I provide you with the fastest ship in the galaxy: the Ebon Hawk."
Carth gasped. "That's the ship that made the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs a year ago!" He looked at 'Captain'. "Were you the pilot?"
'Captain' smirked, "You bet that blaster of yours I was." He extended his hand, "So, do we have an accord?"
Bastila looked at her companions and sighed, why did this infuriating man have to be their only hope of escape? It didn't help her any that he was drop dead handsome. "Very well Captain." She shook his hand. "We have a deal."
"Good." 'Captain grinned, "Now if you don't mind, I'd prefer to discuss our plans in a more secure location. C'mon Shal, let's get out of here." He strode off towards the elevator with Shaleena right beside him. Bastila and her companions and sighed; why did she feel an impending sense of doom?