I didn't recognize the feeling then, but a chill colder than death rolled up my spine before I could even bring myself to answer the call.

"Ma'am?" asked the crew member behind the control panel.

"Send it through."

Buttons clicked across the control panel's board and a blue image began to come into view.

"My lord," I said with a bow. "The mere fact that you would meet with me is-"

"Do not flatter me, pirate."

The image finally came in clearly and the sound of the dark lord's mechanical breaths filled the room. "Of course, my lord." I rose to my feet.

"Entertaining calls from thieving scum is not something I do lightly. Pray that whatever information you have is worth my time."

"Yes." That chill still hadn't subsided. "I have brought you information about a group of Jedi hiding in the outer rim."

"The Empire is aware of many Jedi enclaves in isolated sectors of the galaxy. They will be dealt with, in time."

"But these have begun training new apprentices and will grow in number. I humbly offer my services to eliminate them, Lord Vader."

The dark lord took a beat, but just the sound of his breathing left an ominous sense of dread that filled the room. "What are you suggesting?"

"I have a crew of exceptionally trained men and women, warriors without equal. I have no doubt that with Imperial funding we could-"

My voice was cut off by an invisible hand grasping my throat. "How dare you come to me asking for credits. Has raiding Imperial trading ships become too difficult? Now you want to ask me to simply hand over plunder, you filthy scum!"

"No, I swear!" I cried out, gasping for air and clawing at my windpipe. "It's the Jedi. I want them gone."

The hand suddenly slipped away, but I didn't dare raise my eyes from off the floor.

"My lord, the Jedi are on Centrallis, deep in Hutt space. I only wish for the chance to serve the Empire by eliminating them, once and for all."

His demeanor seemed to change on a dime, once I got down and grovelled. "Very well. You will have your credits, as well as a substantial reward for every dead or captured Jedi who can be confirmed by Imperial records."

"Thank you, my-"

"Accomplish the task assigned to you, pirate," he said, leaning closer toward me and speaking in a voice that was deadly calm. "I advise you to not disappoint me."

The message cut out.

"Ma'am, the Imperials are transmitting a message asking for account information."

"You know what to do. Let me know once the transfer is complete."

"Yes, Huntress. Right away."

I knew my face was still white as a sheet, so after giving my heart a chance to finally slow to its normal rhythm I exited the comms room and stepped back onto the bridge of the Crusader-class vessel.

Crew members darted between stations and the pelts of great kills made by my officers hung on every wall, but most notable of all was the strange figure who stood at the Captain's console.

"These new Sith shall be taught the meaning of the dark side," it whispered through the force. Without any sort of mechanical speaker, it could only communicate using the ancient power it held, the same one that allowed it to puppet the mechanical form that roamed the ship.

"The credits will be here soon. Then we can begin," I told it.


The dark figure no longer hovered inches off the ground or awkwardly puppeted its hands to move in rudimentary gestures. The new mechanical form below the dark robes was a sophisticated and expensive feat of engineering.

But every time the Huntress saw it looking down at its hands, she knew that it just was not enough.

"This will not happen when I am complete," it said. "These Infiltrators must be executed publicly in the most brutal way imaginable."

"With pleasure."

"And get my soldiers ready. I want that planet subjugated, once and for all."

The Huntress still felt a pit in her stomach, when she thought about taking on Shilrakaen and especially the Rabble. Not to mention that the Mandalorian she had hired to kill the Jedi had been seen hanging around the Infiltrators right before they revolted. Their kind weren't exactly known for their loyalty.

"Once I return to the catacombs, where my power is strongest, all shall be me. All shall be of my blood!"

The Huntress stared down at the planet below her. "First Centrallis, then the galaxy."