Paid in Blood
So second story, woot! As usual hope you enjoy.
Chapter 1
2 ABY
Alex Copono's scar was hurting more than usual today, especially the fact his guards were dead, only one was still alive and walking, and that was because he was a Mandalorian. That little addition on Scar's cheek was one of the few things he absolutely hated, the others being a bad alcoholic drink, anyone who interfered with him getting a profit, and the nickname Scar. Right now, he was debating whether he should take Vader's deal or not. Scar hated it when Vader came down into his office, and started demanding bounty hunters, contraband, or something. He finally looked the dark lord in the eye and said, "Hey you can't do much when all my competent help is dead."
"Unimportant, will you deal with the Rebels I told you about or not?"
"Well what in it for me?"
"I told you already, Scar, freedom, you post this bounty, you get to keep running your smuggling ring here on Coruscant."
"Come on Vader, every criminal with, well what I like to say perfectly legal money making schemes, owes me and my gang a favor, Jabba or Xizor will get me out in a week."
"Fine, no Imperials will do anything to your shipments, and you can finally punish that bounty hunter that ran off from working for you." Darth Vader just wanted this crimelord to put a bounty up, so he could finally get a clone that had eluded him for so long. Some of the Empire's best assassins went up against Prudii Squad and came back in failure or dead. Even the Mandalorian, Davik Kyram, had been humiliated by Jedi Commando and Prudii Squad more than once. Vader knew that this specific crimelord had access to some of the best bounty hunters alive. Vader could tell that Scar liked the idea. "Well, you got yourself a deal, dead or alive?"
"Alive."
"Come on you trying to bankrupt me? I mean alive adds to the price of the bounty, and how come you can't do this yourself?"
"It's not that important to the emperor, just the Empire and me, to a point."
"Well how much are you willing to shell out for him?"
"10,000 credits."
"Vader you can't be serious!"
"Why not?" Scar looked over at his last surviving guard, Jaster Kani, a mercenary. "Jaster please explain why you can't get Jedi Commando for 10,000 credits."
"Gladly boss. Well you see Lord Vader we bounty hunters and mercenaries are in it for money, and nothing else. Well maybe I do it for some glory being Mando'ade and all, but I like the money. Anyway 10,000 isn't enough to get a merc or bounty hunter, unless they have some Imperial sympathies, to risk their shebs…"
"Just say ass, no one else here speaks Mandalorian you idiot." Jaster was good, but his pride got in the way, Scar had to remind Jaster that he was just hired help, or else he'd run off with the credits like another Mandalorian in his hire.
"Ok, risk their ass to catch a clone of Jango Fett, who lived up to the fighting ability of that name. They know he'll kill them, even without the rest of his squad, all Mando'ad… sorry Mandalorian, and even if they win bring them back to the core alive. It's just not worth the risk."
"Thanks Kani, so if you want him, you need more."
"How much?"
"Well Vader, I wouldn't put a Solo on him, too much, but I think 35,000- 40,000 should be good."
"Very well, I will leave, post it and keep me informed." Vader stalked out. Scar looked over to Jaster again. "Can you believe this; I'm getting the Imps of my back! I mean now profits will soar!"
"Aren't you concerned about what Vader will do?"
"Hell no, Jedi is a favor I rather get rid of, and I can finally get Dosii back, to give him a well deserved beating for quitting and taking my money. Maybe then Dosii will finally shut up. I just want to know why Vader wants Jedi so bad, I mean, Skywalker blew up the Death Star, he hasn't pulled a Solo on Vader, and for the most part the clone's just an average commando."
"I don't know and don't be surprised if Boba Fett won't take it. We Mandos, we don't betray each other." Jaster spoke from years of growing up on Mandalore, all the training to be Mandalorian.
"I don't care, I just want Vader to stop coming down here, killing my guys, and using the Force on me sometimes. Still… why does he need Commando?" The question eluded his normally quick mind. Why a clone? Why a number? There were too many questions. Either way he ended up rich. "I'll post the bounty after I do some other business."
"Which is?"
"None of yours. Now go get me some new help, some that Vader won't squash like bugs."
"Sure I'll get you some Geonosians…" Jaster rolled his eyes. Getting new help from the slums of Coruscant was harder than one would have expected. To find some scum that wouldn't turn you in or kill you for money was nearly impossible. The only way they were "taught" to be loyal was through him or Scar giving them a beating that kept them in a bacta tank for a couple hours. Not Jaster's favorite choir.
"No sarcasm and I said no bugs. No someone is alone waiting for me, go!"
"Oh, Now I get it. I highly doubt she's alone sir."
"She better be, only on missions can she do that with someone else. Now do you want to live?" Again, Jaster was good, one of the few people Scar trusted, but he knew too much, and was somewhat nice, as in loathed beatings to get loyalty or credits. That trait didn't bode well for someone in the criminal underworld. "Just go!"
"Yeah boss, and good luck with her, you're gonna need it, a lot." Kani walked off, leaving Scar chuckling to himself, before also walking off in another direction.
Notes:
Mando'ade: Mando'a for Mandalorian
Shebs: Mando'a for butt.
That's all for today, folks, join us next week, for something.