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 3: Mandalorian Fugitive

Chapter 14: Loose Ends

Gantry AA7:

Once their plan to oust Teemo to Jabba the Hutt was laid out before the Duke, Piddock was more than happy to allow the crew the use of the Lucky Guess as a means to sneak back to Mos Shuuta. The Nova Courier was originally supposed to transport the order of B1 Battle Droids but now would be shipping an entirely different cargo.

Jarek was right to assume they wouldn't have time to circle back to the Krayt Fang for supplies. As soon as Dimmock agreed to the plan he was adamant they pursue their joint agenda, warning that should they fail then he'd have their heads to adorn his wall. Gare had assured him that if they failed then there wouldn't be much left to have.

Stepping out onto the platform the crew saw the Nova courier waiting, engines silent. The Vio siblings were in the process of doing preflight maintenance when the crew arrived. Jarek wasn't sure how much they knew of the change in plans but figured some explaining would be required.

As they stepped out of the lift Jarek was filled with a mixture of relief and anxiety. They had successfully wrecked Teemo's influence on two planets, killing a large number of his bounty hunters, enforcers, and mercenaries, costing the Hutt untold amounts. Now came the time to bring it all home. It was time to take the fight to the Hutt's very doorstep.

As they moved across the gantry Jarek started to realize something was missing. He looked about and noticed none of the Geonosian workers or warriors they'd seen earlier were present. For some reason, it reminded him of a time on Kalevala. Right before a storm broke on the valley, the wildlife would sense it coming and vanish. It always struck him as odd how the base instincts of animals were more acute than those of so-called "civilized" sentients.

Suddenly Jarek felt himself being yanked to the side. Caught off balance he crashed behind a crate. He looked up into the disconcerted expression of Slick. Before he could demand what he was doing he heard Madlyn Shout, "Grenade!"

A split second later, an explosion rocked the platform. Jarek swore as shrapnel plinked off the metal crate. He looked to his left and right and was relieved to see every member of his crew alive and well though in mixed stages of shock and apprehension.

Jarek scrambled to a crouching position and drew his blaster. Looking over the lip of the crate he saw the Vio sibling lying prone but alive. They looked around in a state of alarm. Wex Vio was about to call out to them when several blaster bolts slammed into the side of the ship near their position.

Jarek looked in the direction of the blaster fire and saw a large robed figure stepping out from a concealed position. The new arrival shouldered a massive Verpine Blaster rifle and continued laying suppressive fire into the side of the Lucky Guess. Jarek couldn't tell if he was trying to kill the crew or disable the ship but neither choice was acceptable.

Just then Jarek recognized the bulbous insectile head beneath the armored helmet. Vrixx'tt the Gand he and Era had spoken too at the party. He wore the same ropes as before but they were covered in a series of overlapping plates. After a few more shots fired, Vrixx'tt turned his attention back to the crew. That was when he saw a bandolier of grenades drabbed across his chest along with a belt of extra charges for his rifle.

Suddenly the Gand's abrupt departure made sense. He was a Findsmen and a bounty hunter. The transmission he'd received must've been the warrant for the crew and despite their disguises he had learned of their identity. He must've withdrawn to his quarters to acquire his gear and somehow tracked them to Trellik Hive.

Just as Vrixx'tt leveled his weapon, Jarek opened fire with his own blaster. The pistol barked three times and three times the bolts hit home on the Gand's armor. The yellow plasma bolts exploded on impact but other than a few scorch marks they did little damage to the Gand himself. However, it did cause the hunter to stagger which gave the rest of the crew time to bring their own weapons to bear. Three more pistols and two rifles fired away forcing Vrixx'tt to take cover and return fire.

With the bounty hunter distracted, Jarek turned to the others. Pointing at Slick he motioned him to the left while ordering the crew to maintain covering fire. Receiving nods words of understanding Jarek moved to flank the Gand. Running hunched over the Mandalorian circled around to come up on what should've been Vrixx'tt's blind side only to find the Gand aiming his weapon directly at him. Shocked, Jarek fired from the hip and was able to get a glancing shot on Vrixx'tt's shoulder. The Gand staggered long enough for Jarek to close the distance, draw his beskad and swing. Vrixx'tt managed to block with his rifle. The quality metal of the Verpine deflected the edged weapon, but the force swept the rifle to the side. Jarek followed up by kicking him square in the chest. The Gand stumbled back and Jarek followed up by pistol whipping him across the head. Vrixx'tt didn't even act as if he felt it. Instead, he swung his rifle around and clipped Jarek under the chin. The Mandalorian head snapped back as his feet left the ground. Dazed he crashed to the floor dropping his blaster. He started to rise only to have a large boot slam onto his chest. Instinctively he attempted to swing his sword only to feel a second boot pin his wrist. Looking up he saw the wide mouth of a blaster barrel filling his vision.

Vrixx'tt had him dead to rights and slowly shook his head. "Disappointing," the Gand drawled mirroring the same phrase he said earlier at the party.

Jarek was at the Gands mercy. They were standing behind a crate so he doubted any of the crew had a clean shot. He tried to pry the heavy steel-shod boot off of his chest but to no avail. He was pinned with his fate mere inches from his visor.

Before Jarek could even contemplate his own mortality a third figure flew in from behind Vrixx'tt and slammed a rifle butt into the back of his helmeted head. Once more the hunter barely flinched. He swung a gauntleted hand around and clocked Slick in the jaw. Like Jarek, the Pantoran flew backward in a parody of Jarek's own fall. Without the benefit of a buc'ey, the blow left him an unconscious heap. Vrixx'tt started to return his attention back to Jarek when a series of blaster bolts slammed into his flank. The Gand staggered shielding his head as plasma bolts splashed across his armor. The others must've found a new angle of attack!

For a brief moment, Jarek hoped the distraction would allow him to wrench himself free but the hunter was as immovable as a mountain. Even as the bolts impacted, Jarek saw the Hunter palm another one of his grenades and lob it in the direction of the blaster fire. He couldn't see it, but the Mandalorian felt the explosion through the metal plate beneath him. The blaster fire abruptly ceased.

Panic coursed through Jarek as images of his crew's bloodied corpses laid out on the landing pad flashed through his mind's eye. Tersen, Gare, Madlyn...and Era wounded or even possibly killed. And it was his fault. His fault for not acting sooner. Not seeing the ambush coming.

The guilt bubbled up nearly drawing tears to his eyes...and then the rage filled him. He wasn't sure where the strength came from but suddenly he heaved upwards. Vrixx'tt squealed in alarm as he fell backward slamming into the side of a crate. Suddenly Jarek found himself on his feet and roaring in anger. He took two steps and leapt lifting his beskad in two hands above his head.

"OYA!" He roared at the top of his lungs.

At the apex of his attack just as he brought his blade down on the hunter time seemed to slow to a crawl. Vrixx'tt reacted instinctively. He attempted to block with his rifle again by raising it above his head. Jarek had put so much into the attack he couldn't redirect the blow. He was committed to the strike. The Mandalorian brought the weapon down with greater power then he thought he could muster. The edge met the Verpine halfway up the stock. Sparks flew as beskar iron split the durable Verpine alloys, cleaving straight through the weapon. The blade continued and Jarek caught a brief glimpse of terror in Vrixx'tt's eyes before the curved edge of the beskad bit deep into the Gand's head.

For the briefest moment, Vrixx'tt sat still as if he hadn't registered what had happened. Grey-green ichor and matter spilled from the jagged gash and down the front of his armor's impervious surface. Then his arms went limps dropping the rifle halves to either side of the body. The Gand slumped and suddenly the platform was quiet.

Jarek's mind finally caught up with him. As he took in the scene before him he felt a sense of revulsion at the amount of fluid oozing out of the Findsman's carapace. It wasn't the first time he'd killed, but the savagery of the action-filled him with angst. It wasn't until Slick shook his shoulder did jump out of his thoughts.

"Jarek!" he shouted gaining his attention, "The others! C'mon!"

The words 'The others' reminded the Mandalorian of the grenade explosion mere moments before. With panic coursing through his system he ran towards the crates the crew had utilized as cover. Fear gripped his heart when he saw that where the shipping containers had once been was now a blackened twisted mess of shattered platisteel. Through the acrid smoke of its still burning contents, he made out four humanoid shapes. All lying prone. All lying still.

"No," he breathed his heart catapulting into his throat.

He and Slick rounded the wreckage just in time to see Gare and Tersen starting to stir, but Madlyn and Era remained motionless. While Slick B-lined to check on his girlfriend, Jarek dropped to his knees next to Era, ripping off his helmet. Rolling her over Jarek breathed an instant sigh of relief. The motion had caused the Mirialin to cough violently before swearing copiously. Jarek sighed again before looking over at the other crewmembers. Tersen and Gare nodded that while jarred from the explosion they were ok. Slick was cradling a conscious Madlyn who was clinging to him in return. They were all ok.

Jarek looked down at Era only to find she was looking back up at him. Green eyes met purple and he smiled reassuringly. "I take it we won?" Era asked groaning as she propped herself up on her elbows.

Jarek nodded but didn't reply. He merely looked at Era, still reveling in the fact she was still alive. After looking a question at him he shook his head saying in a mixture of relief and disbelief, "I thought you were dead."

Era stared at him for a moment, and he saw a small spark of mischief danced in her eyes before replying, "Be'jahaala." She smiled at him, "Next time check for a pulse."

The phrase took him back to the brief moment they'd shared in the rock field near the lylek den. Hearing his own words parroted back at him drew an unexpected snort of laughter from the Mandalorian. She laughed with him and for a brief instant, he entertained the idea of hugging the archeologist and perhaps even kissing her. Fortunately, he still had some self-control left. Rather than embarrassing them both Jarek helped his crewmate to her feet.

Just as they started to help the others Wex and Orpa Vio came running around the corner each carrying a blaster. They skidded to a halt at the site of the six crewmembers of the Krayt Fang. Recognition dawned on them at the sight of Jarek, Era, Slick, and Madlyn, but they were at a loss when it came to Gare and Tersen. Recognition turned to confusion when they saw their rather rugged clothing and blasters.

"Someone want to tell me what the hell is going on?" Orpa called out even as she and her brother moved to start assisting the crew.

"Pain," Madlyn groaned rubbing her side. She jerked a thumb at Tersen who clutched an elbow, "that's discomfort," then at Gare who limped, "he's soreness," and lastly at Era who gripped a shoulder, "she's aching." At the lost expressions on the sibling's faces, Madlyn started to glare. "Oh in the name of..." she shook her head in annoyance, "we just got blown up saving your hides! Do you have a med-kit?"

That at last seemed to dawn on the sibling what she was implying. Wex pointed back at the Lucky Guess answering, "Yes, on the ship."

"Convenient," Slick said as he made sure Madlyn could stand on her own, "Because that's exactly where we need to go."

Bewildered the siblings attempted to halt the crew with half-hearted protests but were gently shoved aside. "But we have a delivery to ship for Duke Dimmock!" Orpa declared still trying to wrap her head around recent events.

"We are the delivery," Gare stated flexing his cybernetic arm, testing its functionality. When the Vio sibling started to question him, the Gank interjected, "Contact the Duke if you like. He'll confirm the change."

Wex did and after a few mumbled questions he looked at his sister and nodded. With the news confirmed the sibling's attitude shifted focus. They each moved to assist the more injured members of the crew. As they passed the wrecked form of the bounty hunter Wex jerked his chin in his direction. "Wasn't that the Gand monk from the party? The one trying to elevate his kind or something?"

"The very same," Jarek said not allowing his eyes to linger on Vrixx'tt's still leaking body. Even as he recovered his blaster it was all he could do not to feel sick to his stomach at what he had done.

Wex shook his head sadly saying, "I kinda liked the guy." Before boarding the Lucky Guess Jarek heard him mumble, "Disappointing."