Was I man with good luck? Was I man with bad luck? Or was a guy with just plain old shitty luck? I am leaning towards shitty luck or I was until I opened my eyes and found myself using the Force Ability of Tutaminis to block the Saber.
I honestly didn't know who's more shocked, him...or...ME!?
Huh, maybe HK wasn't a liar after all, well, maybe not as much of a liar as I thought he was at any rate.
Quickly I Throw his Thrust Back and draw my Knuckle spikes, kinda a Wolverine Claw meets Mandalorian Iron. My Spikes go right across his eye.
Quickly dropping most of my payload to cover my escape, I bolt, but stop at the last moment.
''Oh, by the by, the names Artura Sol. Feel free to forget it.'' I say as I Quickly flee.
Shitty, that was my lucks angle, cause I walked out to find the Second Sissy had returned.
Tapping my helmet comms, I mutter something.
''HK? Meatbag Locker Protocol is in effect, Have T7 bring the thrust, but just make damn sure that you bring forth the thunder.''
''I assume that little alert was you, wasn't a bad plan, but I've seen better.'' Says Second Sister.
''Oh, I know that...Trilla.'' I say and Second Sister, well her anger doesn't have to be felt in the air to know it's there.
Pressing on my habit of stirring shit up, I continue to press.
''I know all about you, how your own master gave you up, how Cere gave you up.'' Before I can press the verbal attack she rushes me with murderous intent but the attack run is interrupted by missile fire. See Meatbag Locker Protocol was Hk-Speak for: I'm surrounded, light em up with missiles and rockets. I Quickly rush for one of The TIE's and get behind the stick.
I see a brutalized, bloody, burnt, painted, and furious Grand Inquisitor drag himself out as I begin to take off. Cheerily giving him a two fingered salute before flipping him off as I rocket out.
The Raider II-Class Corvette I Run my Ops from had scooped me up quickly and I was now watching the pit crew droids, directed by T7 take away anything that would become unfortunate later, like an Imperial Killswitch or Anti-Theft Tracker.
HK walked over to me.
''Statement: Master, The money has been wired to your accounts, and the purchases made, our safe havens now include Tatooine, Manaan, Nar Shaddaa, Hoth, Nal Hutta, Taris, Concordia, and Lothal. Confirmation: As per your instructions we're headed to Tatooine. Acknowledgement: I'm told that Jabba has agreed to see that our estate is protected from Imperial Meddling as recognition of your exemplary services.'' Says HK.
I nod my head silently, I'd been on Jabba's payroll for a few years now, Aside from Boba I was his best Hired Gun. Boba and me had a standing agreement, we don't interfere in each other's personal business or contracts unless a second contract forces our hand.
Boba and me spoke in Mando together frequently, We'd exchange stories here and there, share drinks, sometimes spar, sometimes hunt local predators, and sometimes do a contract together.
As for Jabba, he paid well, and I respected him.
I occasionally took jobs for the Pykes, Black Sun, and Exchange, but I was primarily a Jabba Man, I preferred the Hutts. I preferred them because if they'd end up fucking you over, They'd tell you before skipping a Vibroblade between your ribs.
The Safe House on Tatooine was a Moisture Farm, or at least topside it was. I'd paid Jabba to renovate the subterranean parts into an active Hanger for ships. I paid double to have the workers all killed after the fact.
I had to have a place to stow my more private collections that I don't want The Empire to know about or anyone really. In any event I sat at the table playing my Sabacc Hand as Boba, Jabba, and Craddosk all waited and watched me ready for victory or defeat.
It was our annual game, whosoever won the pot had to host it next time in a neutral location. I won last time, Boba won before that, and Craddosk before that, and Jabba had won the majority of today so far.
Craddosk was the Head of The Bounty Hunter's Guild, he ruled over the Affiliate Guilds and Houses, and occasionally brought some of the Heads as a guest for the Games. We'd had The Renliss Sisters, Old man Paramexor, Corvostan Benelex, and Lady Mantis have all had a seat at our table on more than one occasion.
But today was our four man game, no guests allowed.
''You lot hear about the that Horror sssshow on Alderaan? One man humiliated the empire.'' Craddosk spoke in a hiss.
''Don't have to tell me, Guy who did sold some of the stuff he took to me, got myself A fancy new TIE to add to my collection.'' I speak up.
''You sure that was wise? I hear the Inquisitor's were involved.'' Boba speaks up.
''Had the droids get rid of the nasty surprises bound to be inside, once the heat has gone I'll start working on it, get it just how I like it. After that we'll see.'' I say.
''Just so long as your careful.'' Says Craddosk.
''Part of the job.'' I reply.
Well, Jabba had won the pot, so he was hosting next time. I was busily looking over two different screens, one held Bounty Contracts, the other was a feed that kept me up-to-date on Rebel Activity.
The Second The Spectres got active I wanted to know about it, that would be my cue to await Mustafar. Until then, I had to wield two identities. Artura Sol and Cassus/Artus Rook. Artura would be fucking with the Empire, and when I was not doing that as Artura, my new true identity would be a true neutral character.
I was looking over a recent communication between Imperial Outer Rim Governors, when T7 came in blaring about an encrypted communication from an unknown sender. After having him scrub the thing of any viruses or malicious code, I had him hit play.
''Greetings Artura Sol, your a hard man to track down. I am Fulcrum and I represent a group who like you have no if any love lost for the Empire. If you wish to make a more meaningful Impact come to these Coordinates.'' Says The Holorecord.
''Well, looks like we're headed to Lothal a little bit earlier than I anticipated. T7, prep the engines for take off, we're headed to Lothal.'' I instruct my trusty little Astromech of quirkiness and stubbornness.
(Old Jho's Pit Stop, Jhothal, Lothal)
Myself and HK entered the Rebel Bar, and took a seat at the bar.
''Can I Help you?'' Asks Jho.
''Yea, Tell Jarrus and Syndulla the answers no, I've got shit that needs doing and it ain't time for my debut just yet.'' I say.
''Oh, is that right?'' A Voice, one that is somewhat motherly asks and I turn to find Hera Syndulla and Kanan Jarrus, with Sabine Wren and Zeb.
''Fuck off.'' I say.
''Fulcrum sent the report, your skilled so why not join up?'' Asks Hera.
''I'll tell you what, I'll reconsider if the hairless Wookie tells you he was more than a simple guardsmen and Mr. Dume comes out of hiding. Oh and miss Wren, you ought to know The Duchess will be up and running in a few years. Now then I have to get going I only stopped in to you now, I have a contract to fulfill.'' Says Ryu.
The three un question look uncomfortable, Surprised, and suspicious respectively.
''How do you know that Name? Caleb Dume is Dead.'' Kanan demands.
''So your saying a blood sample from you wouldn't set off an alert at Fortress Inquisitorus?'' I ask in a mocking state of being rhetorical.
''Query: Shall I Kill them Master?'' Asks HK.
''No, but perhaps Sabine would love to know the man who made you fucked over Mandalore in more ways than anybody in Galactic History.''
''Acknowledgement: Yes, Master. Greetings: I am the original HK Assassination Droid, I was first introduced nearly 4,000 years ago by Darth Revan in order to deal with the Mandalorian's of the time.'' Says HK.
''Revan was my ancestor, ironic since I don't particularly like the Jedi, or subscribe to their Code.'' I say.
''Your descended from a Sith?'' Kanan asks dangerously.
''Okay, save that intensity for nearly a decade, your beautiful and green little girlfriend right there will need it. Now let me rephrase for HK since he's not too bright in the Sensitivity spectrum. Do the names Meetra Surik, Satele Shan, and Bastila Shan ring any bells? Well they should after he fell to the Dark Side, Darth Revan was redeemed years later, and married Bastia, forming a powerful dynasty. Revan later died three hundred years later after as many years of Torture at a Thirteen Hundred Year Old Sith Lord's hands.'' I say.
I idly note the light blush on Hera's face, which could potentially mean that...oh boy did I just fuck it all up?
''Anyway, see you guys later. I have a Bounty to track down and I'm not getting paid for throwing colluding with Rebels to the Charges of Sabotage, Theft, Terrorism, Murder of an Imperial Cadet, and Desertion already on my record. But I still say that the murder charge is bullshit, I can't kill myself and be charged for it now can I?'' I say.
I get to my Docking Bay where a YT-2400 Freighter is docked. I kept it and a HWK-290 Light Freighter alongside a Mandal Motors Kom'rk Gauntlet and an Old Separatist Rogue-Class Fighter.
As for my personal armaments I always carried Twin Westar-34, Twin RSKF-44 heavy blasters, Twin double barreled Black Sun foot soldier blasters, and carried a Force Pile, Electrohammer, Electrobaton, and an E-22 Blaster Rifle. Much of this was stored in special slots in my Armor, I only carried this level of Armament when in an unknown environment where anything could possibly happen to me. It occasionally cause trouble with the Imps, but I usually wore my Mandalorian Armor to doubly scare them off.
I had yet to Join the BHG so I had to siphon Imperial Accounts for excess Credits in order to fund my Imperial Licenses to avoid any real trouble. This Bounty warranted the extra arms, Black Market connected, Criminal Syndicate, and wanted for a laundry list of crimes in various sectors by various people.
It was a Devaronian, with two horns, a dick, and yellow skin...on Lothal, one guess who it was? If you reckon it was Vizaggo, your right, if not, well you already know the answer to it.
"Look, what will it take for you to consider joining?" Asks Sabine.
"There's a buddy of mine on Tatooine, goes by Cassus, owns a Moisture Farm. He's Mandalorian, got dealt a rough hand, could use a bit of help. So I'm here to get the Guild of his back, but to do that I need to meet a man named Vizago. I'm guessing you know where he is?" I ask.
"Yeah, we know him." Replies Sabine.
"Cassus and I grew up together, attended the Imperial Academy of Mandalore together, we got split up after being sent to Raithal for a Semester. He went on to join the Imperial Army, become a Lieutenant, but he fell in love with the wrong local. Girl got collared as a local insurgent, to spare his unit any shame, Cassus resigned his commission, and went to Tatooine. Couple years later, turned out that the CO in the unit? He was dirty. Now suffice to say that when I found out and informed his unit? Not one of them was happy, went to ISB and they themselves were none too pleased at being made fools of. Damage had been done though, Cassus wasn't able to get any reparations. Now I get word from my buddy Boba, that someone from the Broken Horn is using Cassus's old Imperial ID to impair Guild Hunter's? The Bounty Hunters Guild out of respect to me let me run this down before making a decision." I Say.
"Boba? Why do I get the feeling I should know that name somewhere?" Asks Kanan.
"Jango Fett." I say, and Kanan tenses.
"Relax Old man, unlike the others, Boba was the only Clone not bred as a Soldier, see after miss Wren's old masters killed Jango's parents and kidnapped his sister, he was adopted by the Leader of the Mandalorian Faction of Warriors who opposed Death Watch. Became their leader after Tor Vizsla manipulated YOUR Order into killing them all." I say, poking Kannan's chest when I finish saying manipulated. "Jango got sold into slavery, got free, killed the man who sold out to Death Watch, then murdered Tor Vizsla for Mereel's death. Oh and Sabine? Tor was the wielder of a certain black blade before Pre, who lost it to Maul." I add.
"That means my family helped to inadvertently cause the Clone Wars." Says Sabine sadly.
"Hey Kanan? There's a kid here, like Cassus, got dealt a rough hand. In a few years time he will set off a chain of events that will change the Galaxy for millennia. Now then, as for afterwards, he killed Dooku's rogue Padawan and was deemed a worthy Template for the Clone Army. Now your probably wondering while I'm basically babbling, well because Jango was killed by a Certain Master, who trained Depa Bilabba. Anyway Vizago?" I say Snapping my fingers impatiently.
(Outskirts of Tarkin Town, Tarkin Town, Lothal, Outer Rim Territories)
I disembarked with the Ghost Crew, we were at the Outskirts of the pile of shit aptly named after another pile of shit, Grand Moff Tarkin. Tarkin Town was shit, named after a little shit. And Now Vizaggo was here, Ghost Crew needed information, so Vizago was here to see whether he could get a bit of compensation for helping.
"You Vizago? Your under arrest." I say punching him down.
"Wait, what?" Asks Zeb.
"Sorry, the stuff about Cassus was correct except the shit with this idiot's group." I say blindly firing my Heavy Pistol at his droids. "You owe Craddosk Money, you stole from The Exchange, you conned the Hutts, and you skimmed off the top of the Black Sun. All of them want you, lucky for you I'm working for Craddosk, now you have a minute to either fork up the credits, merchandise, or your life to pay off the debt.'' I say Blaster to his brain.
''My friend, we can work something out, yes? Cikatro Vizago always has a job on hand to pay off debts.'' Says Vizago.
''I'll speak to Craddosk.'' I grumble.
Craddosk was in a good mood and permitted me to undertake the job if it provided him with the means to forgive Vizago's debt. The longer the debt went unpaid the more Guild Supplies dwindled.
I still had a gun to Vizago's head though.
''The plan is simple, the Empire has confiscated a lot of contraband, all we have to do is steal it and my debts paid.'' Says Vizago.
''Alright, if the haul covers the remaining debt, what's left will be a 60-30-10 split. I'll take the 60, The married with children the 30, and you the 10.'' I say. ''Since this is to clear your debt consider it a compensation for me not executing you.'' I add when Vizago looks ready to complain.
''How do we play this?'' Asks Sabine.
''By pretending we're after something else, while also sabotaging elsewhere. My Astromech has been slicing the comms of two different Empire's since 3,750 years ago. He'll hack comms, while HK, The Princess, and Chuckles here raise hell just outside the city. Meanwhile Sunshine and Bigfoot here will lead a small group of my droids into attempting to steal Imperial Armory Supplies. While that happens, old Yellow Belly and me will be hauling ass to get the Contraband aboard my Freighter. Once Craddosk gets his cut, My Droid will divide the remaining spoils of theft evenly amongst us.'' I say, getting a few odd looks from the nicknames and an overall approval of my slightly complex plan of subterfuge and theft.
''It should work.'' Says Hera.
''It will work.'' I reply firmly and surely.
Everything was ready and we were poised to begin a major heist against Imperial idiots...