Big thanks to my beta, BiiiiiiiiigBellyTheDragon for looking over this chapter. This chapter is 10x better because of them.

Planting the Seed

Loud, lively music filled the air to overflowing. Couples danced to the rhythm of the synthetic bass, swapping spit as they let their hormones take full reign of their bodies. Some even partook in petty drugs that they unknowingly paid way too much for. All were having the time of their life at the new, sensational club on Nar Shaddaa.

Almost all of them, that was. Sitting alone in a booth and looking like someone shit in his cereal was none other than the bounty hunter extraordinaire: Ky Ventress.

Ky detested clubs, especially those entertaining his age group. All of them housed annoying people—sheep, he liked to call them—that somehow did not understand that they themselves were annoying.

He would've liked to say that he was too mature for such a scene, but he knew that wasn't true. Ky had gained a reputation for being the fun-loving happy-go-lucky hunter while he was proteging under his mentor, and then solidified it when he left his side to go solo. The truth, he believed, was that he had inherited his mother's quick temperament towards the foolish. It was far from the worst of her qualities, thankfully; he could've attained her lack of humor, which would have been a travesty.

"Hey, there."

Ky glanced to his right at a Zygerrian gal in a dress so short that he was sure it would have made Ahsoka blush. She had a hand on her hip, and her grin promised a fun, eventful night. Silver eyes gazed upon him like a cat inspecting a new toy.

"Wanna dance?" she asked, nodding to the packed dance floor. "Seems a better waste of time than spending it all by your lonesome."

Ky chuckled, shaking his head with amusement. He liked to flirt, and had done it plenty of times with the many soldiers, pilots, and the like from his father's budding rebellion. Nothing serious—just plain old fun to sharpen his game. In any other situation, and a different place, hell yeah—he would have snatched up the golden platter in front of him.

But he wasn't here for pleasure; tonight, he was all business.

He removed the pistol from his holster and placed it on the table. His eyes flicked up to her as he flashed a toothy grin. "Sorry, but I already got a date. They're just running a bit late."

No matter where a teenager was born, the sight of an actual weapon would make anyone hesitate. This girl didn't even flinch. Instead, she giggled at the sight of it. She took the seat across from him.

"Sorry to burst your bubble, but that's not the first time I saw a blaster." She rested her chin in her propped up hand, a teasing smirk playing on her lips. "Besides..." Ky felt a foot traveling up his leg, dangerously close to his crotch. "Wouldn't you rather spend your time with someone like me?"

Such forwardness was new to him. Most girls around his age either ignored the opposite gender or liked to be coy about their desires. The music changed to a loud, anxious drumming of electronic beats. He grimaced at the new tune playing in the club, a migraine beginning to form.

He guessed should reply with the same bluntness.

"Leave." He picked up the pistol and aimed it at her. "Now."

Her grin only intensified at his threat. Her foot nestled against his crotch. "Also not the first time I have a blaster aimed at me." She winked at him. "Based on ya outfit, I'm guessing you're a bounty hunter."

Ky raised an eyebrow at the lack of concern or horror in her tone. Most kids his age trying their hand in his field of work were wannabes who often used their status to pick up girls like the ones around him. Those who tried to make a real living as a bounty hunter quickly came to realize the horrors that came with the job. It was the minority that continued to thrive in his line of work, and it was even rarer for someone of that age group to actually have their name out there.

Ky was as rare as they came.

The Zygerrian looked unperturbed from the pistol staring at her face. Based on the glint in her eyes and the way she moistened her lips, his status as a true professional simply aroused her even further.

Ah. So she's one of those girls, he thought with a sigh.

Danger. Thrills. Excitement. The main attraction to a bad boy for a girl like her. She was probably tired of posers and the mundane folk of Nar Shaddaa, or wherever she was visiting from. Ky would not lie, he was one of a kind, and quite the catch if he said so himself. Contrary to popular belief, though, he was far from a bad boy.

His profession as a bounty hunter was simply a means to enjoy freedom, not some tragic story of hardship against the system or a middle finger to his oppressors which was why most hunters his age started this route. His childhood was a normal one with a loving father, an overprotective mother, and a kickass aunt. Well, normal besides the amount of time spent around people labelled as terrorists, but that was another story altogether.

"So, what do you say?" Her gaze was almost predatory. "Wanna show me some of your moves, bounty hunter?"

"Sorry, little lady, but he's taken."

Ky grinned as he looked up to see the big bad Duros himself, Cad Bane. He was dressed in similar clothing as Ky—duster, cargo pants, and a wide-brimmed hat, though in much better condition. A toothpick hung from his lipless mouth, his red eyes directed at the Zygerrian. His face wrinkled in annoyance at the girl who had yet to leave.

"I said," he removed the toothpick and flicked it at her head. "Get lost."

Ky chuckled. Her irritable look was more endearing than her sultry one. "I think you better leave." He put away his pistol. "Unlike me, my mentor doesn't have much patience."

The Zygerrian huffed, sliding out of the booth. She stuck her head up high as she walked away. Bane promptly took her spot, resting an arm on top of the booth. He fished out another toothpick from his duster and placed it in his mouth.

He grinned, flashing his yellow-blackish teeth. "I see that you're still a lady's man, Ky."

"I see that you're still an ass, Bane."

Ky closed his eyes, head throbbing from a headache creeping up on him. The music changed tempos again. Louder. Heavier bass. Thunderous cheers for the DJ.

Annoying. All of it was. Especially Bane's cocky grin. His mentor knew he detested these kinds of establishments; they could have met anywhere on the planet, and Bane had clearly taken care to choose the most obnoxious club he could find.

He inhaled through his nose then exhaled out his mouth. Tune out the noise. Focus. Just like Mom and Dad taught ya.

"Why did you call me out here, Bane?" Ky opened his eyes.

Bane snorted a laugh, eyes roving the raving club. "I can't check on my protégé?" His voice had a mocking tone. "Still struggling for change, Ky?"

"Like I said, you're an ass." Ky took off his hat and set it on the table, letting his hair breath. "And if you must know, yes. I am still in need of some credits."

While he was a professional bounty hunter with an already sizable list of clients who hit him up from time to time to take care of business, it hardly compared to when he was working under Bane. People would line up to hire the best bounty hunter in the whole galaxy, and by extension, him. Now, after a year of going solo, his current dry spell was a normal occurrence. While his name was out there and his status as a student of the legendary Cad Bane helped, being a teenager didn't inspire much confidence in potential employers.

"You know, kid, if you'd actually take what I taught ya to heart, then you wouldn't be scouring like a womp rat for a job." Bane spat the toothpick off to the side. "Do ya even remember what I taught ya?"

"That we don't do our job for free," Ky began reciting the words engraved into his head. "Nothing is too dangerous for the right price. And do not trust—"

"—anyone in our line of work," Bane finished for him. He huffed contentedly and nodded. "If you knew, then why do you keep breaking rule number one, kid?"

Ky heaved a long sigh. While tutoring under Bane, he had been taught three rules to live by as a bounty hunter. All of it was to gear him to become the next best thing after the infamous Duros himself. Probably want revenge against that Mandalorian fellow who took his title of "best in the biz" a decade back. His mentor wasn't as young as he used to be, though Ky wouldn't have recommended telling that to his face. His skills were still as sharp as ever; it was the main reason why he respected the man so much.

"Bane, it seems you forgot my rule." Ky's eyes turned fierce, lips pursed in a thin line. "Now, tell me why you called me out here, other than pissing me off by meeting at this kriffing place."

Bane laughed, loud and boisterous. It was earnest. Ky had heard it a handful times while they were together. He liked to think that he was one of the few who could make his mentor laugh like that; it reminded him of the stories his father told him about with his own mentor. He liked to believe that they had attained the same level of relationship as his father did with Trench.

"Glad to see you still have your bark, Ky," Bane said, calming down from his laughing fit. "But I guess—" he took out another toothpick from his duster. "—I should tell ya why I called you out here." He placed the pick in his mouth.

"And that is…?"

He grinned. "A job. A lucrative job."

Ky raised an eyebrow. "How lucrative?"

"Twenty-five million."

"Twenty-five million?!" Ky shouted, eyes as wide as saucers.

Apparently, he was too loud, because the DJ stopped playing his music. All eyes were on them. Curious. Annoyed. Frustrated. The flock's emotions were clear on their faces. Somehow, the silence made Ky's head hurt more than the obnoxious music and probing lights ever did.

"What are you all looking at?" he asked, lips reeling back to a scowl. He looked at the DJ. "Play your music and mind your own damn business."

"I think you better listen to him," Bane said with a chuckle. "Trust me. His bite is way worse than his bark."

The DJ visibly gulped as their shaky hands started playing music again. Ky huffed, focusing his attention back on his mentor.

"Back to the job, what is it?" he questioned. "For twenty-five million, it must be something wild."

Bane shrugged. "Maybe. I don't know yet. Client won't tell me unless I accept."

"And why haven't you? I know how you are, Bane. For that amount of credits, you would've accepted it, no questions asked."

"Heh, you're right. Normally I wouldn't hesitate." Bane leaned towards him, face forgone of all the swagger and cockiness he was known for. "But I've worked with this client before. To say he's dangerous would be a joke to the guy. To say he's the definition of lethal would probably make him blush."

"Then why not refuse?"

"Rule number two, kid." Bane smirked. "You telling me you wouldn't do the same?"

Ky rolled his eyes. His mentor wasn't wrong; he totally would do the same if he was in his shoes. But now that he knew the full story, he could put two and two together as to why Bane had contacted him.

"So you need a partner to watch your back in case it goes south."

"I knew you were a smart one." Bane relaxed in his seat, removing his pick then flicking it away. "So whaddya say? You in?"

Was he in? Like Bane taught him; nothing was too dangerous for the right price. He stuck his hand out with a big smile plastered on his face. "It's twenty-five million, Bane. Of course I'm in."

Bane shook his hand with mirth. What was a better reunion from them than to take a life-threatening job together? Despite the differences of how they operated, Ky did miss his mentor. It would be like old times.

"I knew you would accept." Bane released his hand. "Let's go meet our client."

Ky and Bane were waiting patiently onboard the Arc Robin—Ky's rundown hunk o' junk of a ship. The docking process with the client's ship was taking a long time to finish—a downside of owning a ship built before the Clone Wars. Everything either took forever to complete or was on its last legs and probably broken. Soon that wouldn't be a problem any longer. With the newfound wealth he was about to get from this job, he could finally afford a new beauty to cruise the galaxy in.

What should he call his new ship? It should be something cool, stylish, and more importantly, unique. He couldn't fly the skies in a starship with a name everyone else had.

"Your ship is still a piece of junk, I see," Bane joked.

"It was your ship."

"Exactly, was my ship," Bane retorted with a grin. "And if you'd stop getting involved with your family's drama, you could have had a new ship by now."

Ky tutted at the comment. "I told you before, my fam—"

"—caring for your family is always your priority. I know your fourth rule." He huffed, shaking his head. "You've got potential kid," he said as he stuffed his hands in his pockets. "You could take the mantle of the best from Boba if you really tried."

"Maybe." Ky shrugged. "But you know I don't really care about that stuff. I told you before why I wanted to be a hunter."

"Yeah, you did, and if it weren't for the money your pops paid me, I would have dropped ya on some random planet for that childish answer."

Ky laughed at that true statement. Bane didn't mince words, and he could appreciate that. Too many people in the galaxy just wanted to lie and play some elaborate game. Honesty like his mentor's was always nice to hear.

The hatch started to open. "Game face, kid," Bane muttered.

Game face? Ky always had his game face on. Two individuals clad in black cloaks with hoods draped over their faces entered his ship. He greeted them with a roguish grin and a nod. One seemed to be a giant while their partner was a bit of a lanky fellow.

The lanky one removed their hood, revealing the face of a male Zabrak. He had never seen one of his kind with red skin before.

He didn't know why, but he had a bad feeling about those two.

"Cad Bane," he greeted his mentor. His sickly yellow eyes flickered over to his direction for a brief second before focusing on Bane. "Is this the boy?"

"It is." Bane crossed his arms. "And delivered to you as agreed. Now, where's my twenty-five million?"

Ky's eyes widened in shock. "What?!"

He gritted his teeth, feeling the anger boil inside of him. Bane, his trusted mentor, the man who taught him all he knew, had betrayed him for measly credits. The relationship he thought that rivaled with the late Trench and his father, meant literally nothing to the Duros. For blasted sake, Ky had thought of Bane as an uncle!

Well, if he was going down, he'd make sure to take that fragging rakeweed with him.

Ky drew his pistol, aiming at the betrayer's head. Before he could pull the trigger and rid the galaxy of the kung, his blaster was ripped out of his hand by an unseen force. It hovered over the giant's hand, who crushed the pistol by forming a fist.

Whatever. He didn't need a blaster to kill Bane.

Ky tackled his shit excuse of a mentor into the ground. The two cloaked individuals didn't move to intervene. Good. Bane deserved all of his attention and rage.

He punched the scum. "How could you?!" He punched him again. "I was your crikking student, a friend!" Tears fell from his eyes as he landed another haymaker. "I trusted you!"

Bane struck his hands out, grabbing Ky by his head. He brought him into a devastating head-butt. He landed a knee strike to his side, causing the younger bounty hunter to roll off of him.

Ky cradled his head in pain, wincing. He looked up to see Bane hovering over him, his right arm raised and aimed at him and his finger teasing a button on his gauntlet.

Ky's breath stuck in his throat.

"Seems you forgot rule number three, kid."

"Bane, no—"

—was all Ky was able to say before a disk launched out of Bane's gauntlet, electrocuting him into unconsciousness.

Bane inspected the credits in the briefcase. With a satisfied nod, he closed it. Another easy, lucrative job accomplished. He flicked his hat up.

"Pleasure doing business with you fellas."

The giant sat Ky up, leaning him against the wall.

"We might have to request your service again very soon, Bane," the shorter Zabrak said.

Bane let out a short laugh. "Give it to someone else. I'm retiring." He walked past his client, stepping over the hat he had gifted to Ky when he went solo.

"Most surprising to see the legendary Cad Bane refuse a job." Bane stopped with a sigh.

"Did betraying your apprentice leave a bad taste in your mouth?"

He knew bait when he heard it and, having played the game as long as he had, knew better than to take it. He had never flinched in the face of danger and harsh words spoken to him before, and this was no different. He had stabbed a lot of fellow hunters in the back to get jobs done. Ky was just another on the long list of fools who were too trusting.

"No. I told him the rules of the game. Him not listening to them is his problem." He faced the Zabrak, his eyes narrowing into thin slits. "I just know that when his pops hears about what happened here, he'll hunt both you and me down. And I rather like living."

"Oh, you needn't worry about him finding out."

The Zabrak walked to Ky, stepping on the boy's hat. Bane's free hand balled into a fist.

"Once he wakes up, he will think it was all but a bad dream." He knelt down, staring at the unconscious boy with a demented smile. "Completely unaware of what we will plant," he tapped Ky's forehead, "in his mind."

"I see." Bane dipped his hat down to cover his eyes. "Well, good luck to ya, pal. I'm leaving."

He didn't understand their kind. It seemed like all they ever thought about was conflict and revenge. If he never met with the two again, it would be far too soon.

It's days like this I wish I didn't quit smoking.

Bane reached the escape pod. The hatch opened with the press of a button. He tossed his money in before entering the shuttle.

"Bane, one more thing." Bane grumbled under his breath; he didn't want to be here any longer than he had to be. He regarded his client with clear disinterest.

"Do we need to be concerned about you telling his father about our existence?" the Zabrak asked, igniting a red lightsaber. "Because that would be a very poor decision for you to make."

He rolled his eyes at the ridiculous question and the threat that came after. "Like I said before, pal—I rather like living."

Bane spared a glance at Ky's motionless form.

Sorry kid. Nothing personal.

With a two-finger salute, he bid his protégé farewell.

Author's Note: Nothing to say about this chapter other than I enjoyed writing my favorite bounty hunter Cad Bane. I belief I kept him in character in this chapter. The next one has the MC appearing.

Till Next Time