Disclaimer: I do not own star wars or any of its character and while plot points are from various RPG games I take no credit for their origins only of their application in the story therein. This a labor of love and not for profit though if Disney or Lucas Arts would like to hire my creative brain I'd be more than happy to drop everything and come running. Please read and leave a review.
Episode 4: Mandalorian Captain Part 1:
Chapter 4: Fair Play
Aboard the Ferialis:
Jarek was falling through space. He cried out in surprise, his anger replaced by panic. He flailed his arms and legs as the world came back into focus and realized with great fear he had run right into one of the many stone cisterns that dotted the landscape. He was only briefly aware of the grey stone walls of the shaft before his small body hit the side of the tunnel. He instinctively tried to reach out to slow or stop his decent but found no purchase. Jarek tumbled and rolled down the tunnel grunting and gasping in pain as he bounced.
One second he was tumbling and then once more he felt the ground disappear and he cried out one last time before falling into darkness.
Just as quickly as the memory came, it faded, and Jarek realized he had indeed fallen, just not down into the cistern. Rather he had fallen head over heels down a flight of stairs along with an equally alarmed Deveronian. Moments earlier the pair of them had grappled at the top of the stairs only to lose their balance and land less than gracefully at the bottom.
Captain Gideon recovered first, using the time to put some distance between himself and his opponent. Jarek shook his disorientation away noting he may have suffered a concussion on the way down. He was beginning to appreciate the full protection offered by his helmet.
Staggering to his feet the Mandalorian was confronted with the sight of the pirate standing ten feet away grasping a cutlass in one hand and Jarek's beskad in the other. Unsure where he'd gotten the second cutlass from Jarek took up a defensive stance, palms open preparing to counter his attack just as he'd done on the bridge. To Jarek's surprise, Gideon tossed the short sword towards him. On reflex, Jarek caught the weapon but looked curiously at his opponent.
"I was wrong about you Mandalorian," he growled, his once sarcastic smile a bloody grimace. "You've proven your kind are hard to put down." He twirled the short curved blade expertly before taking a fighting stance.
"Why arm me then?" Jarek asked mirroring his stance and assuming a forward grip on his sword.
The Deveronian chuckled darkly before replying, "Reputation matters on the Rim, Mandalorian." The pair of fighters began circling one another as he continued, "Let it be said that Captain Gideon of the Ferialis always gave his opponents a fair shot before killing them."
Jarek scoffed stating, "You're a pirate. You ambushed and used us as hostages in order to steal our cargo." He gestured annoyingly at the Deveronian adding, "Suddenly now you have a sense of honor."
Gideon shrugged contemptuously saying, "It's an imperfect code." His cocky smile returned and he readied his weapon. "You still have a chance to surrender?" Jarek glared hatefully at the pirate and reaffirmed his grip and stance.
"You threatened my crew," he hissed angrily.
"Only a little," Gideon quipped before bounding forward.
Aboard the Krayt Fang:
"A valiant effort," the Cathar purred. "But I think we will be taking your cargo now." She smiled revealing a savage array of sharp teeth. "For your troubles," she said as she produced a familiar looking Mandalorian helmet from behind her back. "We'll be keeping your friends."
Madlyn clenched her fists and despite being unarmed and outgunned shouted, "What have you done with them?"
The Cathar chuckled and met the Alderanni's fierce gaze with a lethal one of her own. She ran a clawed finger across the dome of the helmet and down below its chin. "It's been too long sense Gideon allowed be to keep a pet," she crooned, tone dripping with condescension, "You're Mandalorian will make an excellent source of amusement."
"You sick hag!" Era yelled as she rose, seemingly recovered from the blow to her head.
The female pirate's eyes glowed with anger as they narrowed on the newly conscious Mirialin. "You must be his mate," she stated with a hint of realization in her voice. "No wonder he was so desperate to save you." Her smile grew more savage as she added, "Don't worry my dear." Her claws dug into the helmet scrapping away Jarek's new paint job. "I shall take excellent care of him after you're gone." As she spoke the other two pirates took that as their cue to reaffirm their aim on the three crewmates. Unable to reach cover or another weapon in time, Era, Madlyn, and Slick all stood defiantly, waiting for the end.
Two shots rang out and the three of them jumped in surprise. Reflexively they checked their torsos only to find they hadn't been shot. They looked back up in time to see the Weequay and human pirate drop to the deck, blaster burns in each of their backs. The Cathar whirled around in surprise only to come face to face with yet another familiar helmet. That which belonged to the former crewmate of the Krayt Fang; Gare.
Before the Cathar could say another word, the Gank seized her by the throat with his cybernetic hand and lifted. Gasping for breath, she dropped Jarek's helmet in order to claw at the metallic fingers. "Wh-what are you doing?" she choked out eyes, wide with genuine fear and shock, "We-we had...a deal."
Gare drew the Cathar in close but spoke loud enough for the other's to hear. "I got you onto the ship," he growled menacingly, "I never said I'd help you kill my crew." Before the pirate could make another comment or plea for her life, Gare gave his hand a quick twist. There was the sound of bone cracking, and the Cathar's body went limp.
Just as the Gank let the body fall to the floor, Madlyn rushed up and pressed the barrel of her reacquired blaster to Gare's head. "Give me one good reason I shouldn't blow a hole through your head," she snarled.
Before Gare could reply, Tersen stepped forward, blaster in hand. "Because he's been playing the pirates from the beginning," he commented. Madlyn didn't appear convinced and wasn't prepared to lower her blaster.
"How do we know he won't double-cross us?" Era asked as she scooped up her own blaster and slotted in a fresh charge. Without a word, the Gank turned his pistol over to Slick and raised both hands in the universal sign of surrender.
"I'd love to explain my plan in detail," he intoned, "But I think it should wait until after we've rescued, Jarek."
Ferialis Main Cargo Hold:
Jarek was a decent hand with a blade, whether it be his fighting knife or is beskad. He recalled the countless hours he'd spent drilling with his father in the heat of summer and stinging cold of winter. The repetitive forms of attacking, defending, and disarming were stitched into his muscles to the point he didn't have to think, only react.
The Mandalorian wasn't sure where Gideon learned to fight, but it was obvious he'd been professionally trained. The Deveronian moved with smooth deliberate grace and attacked with fine lethal precision. But between the hard fight in the bridge above followed by the rough tumble down the stairs, the pair of fighters were in less than perfect form. Yet this is where Jarek felt he had the upper hand. Every time he and Myler had sparred it had always been after a grueling workout or rigorous hunt. His father's philosophy was that a warrior is rarely completely prepared and fresh for any fight, and so must make do with what he has.
At that moment Jarek blessed his father's lessons and prepared for what would be the end of his bout with Captain Gideon.
The pair of fighters went in for a thrust at the same time and manage to catch each other's wrists. With both of them maintaining control, Gideon took advantage and used the force of his knee to drive the point of his cutlass into Jarek's thigh. The Mandalorian winced in pain but was able to keep the blade from piercing more than a couple inches into his flesh.
Jarek adjusted his stance and removed the point from his leg. They resumed their earlier stance, both struggling with each other's sword arm. Ignoring the pain, Jarek pumped his legs, shoving his opponent back. The pirate yanked his sword hand free and attempted a diagonal chop. Jarek blocked it with his forearm before forcing the arm down to the Deveronian's hip, then delivering a short punch to Gideon's chest.
The pirate grunted and staggered back a step, but still somehow maintained his grip on Jarek's sword arm. Gideon attacked again with a high angle downward chop. Jarek catches the attack before bringing it under his arm while twisting around. The pirate tried to maintain his hold on the Mandalorian's sword arm, but it only serves to tie up both of his arms. Without pause, Jarek leaned forward and threw Gideon over his shoulder.
The Deveronian cursed in alarm as he was flipped over and landed hard on his side. Much to Jarek's frustration the pirate recovered quickly, leaping back to his feet and facing his opponent before Jarek could finish him off. Switching his cutlass back to a reverse grip, Gideon advanced again. Jarek stabbed in order to ward him off, but the Deveronian deftly batted it away, continuing to press forward.
The wound on Jarek's thigh was throbbing with intense pain and he could feel the blood dripping down his leg. He wasn't sure how bad the cut was, but if he didn't finish the fight soon the blood loss would kill him before the pirate did. Fortifying his resolve he pushed the pain aside and prepared for the attack he knew would come.
Jarek stabbed again for Gideon's midsection, but the pirate was ready. Stepping off-line, the Deveronian caught the extended arm with his free and quickly slashed at Jarek's head. Jarek managed to duck at the last second. Just as he stood, Gideon brought his blade back around in a backhanded thrust, but Jarek was able to wrench his arm free blocking the attack forearm to forearm.
Gideon smiled savagely before swinging his arm down shoving Jarek's sword arm around and back into his free hand and trapping it once more. Jarek swore in pain and alarm as Gideon used the pommel of his cutlass to bash his hand once forcing his beskad from his hand. While also disarming the Mandalorian, Gideon created an opening to thrust toward Jarek's ribs.
Jarek managed to twist to the side and block the attack with forearm-to-forearm contact. Seizing the initiative, the Mandalorian wrapped the arm around bringing it up to his shoulder to gain leverage. Gideon still held his right hand, so Jarek used his knee to slam the conjoined hands and get his wrist free. Hand free, Jarek clenched it into a fist and punching up into the Deveronian's diaphragm driving the wind out of him before bringing it over the top and down like a hammer onto his shoulder. He'd hoped to weaken his hold on the weapon but to no avail. Undaunted, Jarek went for a shin kick. Despite the thick leather of Gideon's boots, Jarek's metal-plated toes caused him to wince and yell in pain.
Keeping the pirate off balance, Jarek flung Gideon around, before driving his knee up into the Deveronian's solar-plexus. Though Gideon jumped upon impact he still did not relinquish his weapon. Remarkably, the pirate managed to remain unfazed. He launched a fist up into Jarek's unprotected groin.
"Why, oh, why did I not put on the full suit of armor?" he thought harshly to himself as pain shot through his lower extremities. Staggering he shoved Gideon back. Still, in pain from multiple punches to the chest and a strained shoulder, the pirate wasn't eager to attack.
Jarek took several deep breaths willing the feeling to return to his legs. "Some reputation," he gasped trying to maintain a defensive stance.
Gideon shrugged switching his cutlass back around into a forward grip. "Pirate, remember," he retorted sarcastically and moved in again. Gideon came down with yet another downward diagonal slash hoping to catch his opponent off balance. Yet again, Jarek's honed reflexes saved his life. Despite the pain he managed to block with his right forearm, deflecting the strike away before administering a short chop to Gideon's neck. The Devonian coughed and gagged as he staggered back. Recovering quickly, Gideon came back with a backhand slice. Jarek met his forearm with his own, then came over the top with his other hand. The end result was he had Gideon's sword arm gripped in his left hand while his right seized the collar of his shirt.
The pirate countered by grabbing the front of Jarek's vest and pair wrestled back and forth trying to throw the other off balance. In the process, Gideon managed a quick shot to Jarek's ribs. The Mandalorian curled up to the blow, but the distraction allowed the Deveronian to use his own knee to free his sword hand. But before Gideon could take advantage of his freed weapon, Jarek grabbed his other arm, ducked and turned flipping the pirate over his shoulder once again.
Gideon landed hard on the floor, but just as Jarek moved in to finish him, the pirate slashed low with his cutlass. The curved blade glanced off Jarek's greaves forcing the Mandalorian to back off. Using the extra space and his opponent's off-balance, Gideon shot to his feet. As he stood he switched to a reverse grip once more. Using both hands he attempted to stab the cutlass down into Jarek's exposed collar.
Jarek blocked the downward strike with his left forearm, then used his right hand to grip Gideon's left wrist, stopping his assault cold. Gideon snarled at the foiled attack and pressed down, attempting to use brute force to drive the blade home. Using the pirate's on strength and momentum, Jarek twisted the weapon around until it was pointed directly towards Gideon's abdomen. The pirate swore and spat curses as he struggled to break the hold or even pull away, but Jarek held him firm.
The Mandalorian locked eyes with the now terrified looking Deveronian who looked as if he wanted to beg for his life, but Jarek wasn't prepared to hear any of it. "You threatened my crew," he growled before shoving the point of the cutlass up and into Gideon's torso. "That was a mistake," he added before releasing the handle of the weapon.
Gideon staggered back still clutching the cutlass protruding from his abdomen. He looked up at Jarek, eyes wide with surprise. A look of confusion crossed Deveronian's face before his mind registered what his body was telling him. He was dead. The pirate captain collapsed to the floor staring blankly ahead.
Jarek released a deep sigh of relief. He had survived. Jarek turned to go and find the rest of his crew only to wince in pain and stagger. It was then he realized he couldn't put weight on his left leg. Stumbling he leaned heavily on a crate. Gasping in pain he looked down and was shocked to see blood staining his left pant-leg. He could also feel it pooling in his boot.
"Oh feir'fek!" Jarek swore as his vision began to spin. The wound must've been deeper then he'd initially thought. Without the adrenaline from the fight he was beginning to feel the extent of the injury along with the effects of blood loss. He may have killed Gideon, but perhaps the pirate would get the last laugh after all.
"Jarek?" a voice called out and he looked in its direction. Standing in the doorway of the cargo hold was his entire crew. They were dirty, sweaty, and lightly injured in some cases, but at least they were all alive.
Although feeling a little light-headed Jarek managed to smile in relief. He would've greeted them except just then spots danced in his vision and he started to list. The floor rushed up to meet him, though he didn't feel the impact. Next thing he remembered was being rolled on his back and looking up at the concerned expression on an otherwise welcome a beautiful face.
"Hey, Era," he sighed his words slurring a bit, "I was coming to rescue you."