Wilhuff Tarkin, now a Grand Moff, looked at Lord Vader. It had been nearly a month since Tarkin and Vader had defeated Berch Teller and his insurgents. Many Imperials rose through the ranks of the Empire, Tarkin being the first Grand Moff.

"What is that you need, Lord Vader?" Tarkin asked patiently. They were in Tarkin's office on Coruscant."Did the Emperor send you?"

"No." Vader answered simply."Do you remember that favor you owed me?"

Tarkin nodded. During the occupation of Mon Cala, Tarkin had wished to show King Lee-Char the destruction of his underwater cities. He had asked Vader to find the King while the Sith Lord was dealing with a Jedi. Vader had captured the King of Mon Cala but Tarkin owed him a favor.

"Well, what do you want me to do?" The Grand Moff asked.

"Kill me...if you can."

It had been nine days since the hunt had begun. At first, there were twenty men, including Tarkin himself. Now, only eight remained.

"He's out there, Tarkin." Said Yerga, a human female Hunter that Tarkin had hired. Tarkin was sitting on a rock when Yerga came to him."Sissian just picked him up. To the northwest. But something's different."

Tarkin looked at her, interested."How so, Yerga?"

Yerga handed him the macrobinoculars."See for yourself."

Tarkin grabbed the optical device and looked through the scope.

In the distance, he saw his prey. He saw Darth Vader.

"You saw the skin he's wearing?" Yerga asked.

The Grand Moff nodded."Yes. Taken from a valath."

"Hey, boss," Said a hunter named Gil."We found someone. She was near our camp."

"Let go of me!" Yelled a young woman trying to get away from him. Gil held her shoulder, pointing a blaster pistol to her head.

Tarkin studied the woman. She wore clothing that made her look primitive, showing that she was a native to the planet."You speak basic." Tarkin noted.

The woman looked at him, confused."Who are you?" She then noticed the two Chadra-Fans, Hardhear and his grandson, Sissian."And what are those two?"

"We should just kill her." Suggested Eighty-One, a droid hunter that had the head of a BX commando.

Tarkin thought about it for a moment before he shook his head."No, we'll need her. She might know the region better than us." The Grand Moff looked at her."What is your name?"

She was silent for a moment."Nita." She answered."I am looking for someone."

"Well, Nita," Tarkin began."We need someone who knows this area. If you can help us, we will help find who you're looking for. Do we have a deal?"

Nita stared at him for a moment, unsure. Finally, she nodded."Okay." Nita looked at the lightsaber hilt that was hooked to Tarkin's clothing. It was Darth Vader's lightsaber that Eighty-one had taken."What's that?"

"It's nothing." Tarkin then looked at the rest of the hunters."The valath skin would let him hide. If he chose to. He wants us to see him, to know he has it."

"I agree." Said Yerga."I'm really starting to hate this guy."

"Just starting, Yerga? I was hating him, like, eight days ago." Nej Vinis, a human male hunter with cybernetic implants, said with a smile.

"It's time to move." Tarkin grabbed his rifle."Gil and Eighty-One, take point. Sissian, Hardhear, stay alert. With his lovely new cloak, he could come from anywhere. Your ears are our first line of defense."

They moved through the forest with Gil watching Nita to make sure she didn't run away. Tarkin was still wondering how they could defeat Lord Vader. Even without his lightsaber, he could still kill them using the Force.

"Sissian, Hardhear." Tarkin said to the Chadra-Fan."At the slightest sign, sing out."

"Who are you running from? A bear?" Nita asked the Grand Moff.

Before Tarkin could say anything, Hardhear stopped walking."Dark Demon...he here."

"Direction, Hardhear?" Tarkin asked.

"I...can't tell. Dark Demon...he...he all around us."

Tarkin looked at his hunting team."It is time to run."