CHAPTER 4: AT THE SIGN OF THE MOS EISLEY CANTINA

Shaking the sand from his boots disdainfully, Jodo Kast banged on the door of the Mos Eisley Cantina. The sooner we meet up with IG-88, he thought to himself, the sooner I can deliver this DVD and get paid.

The door opened a crack. A massive, humanoid creature stared out at them, then shut the door again. Kast banged again, and the door opened. "You'd better let us in," he threatened.

"Why should Tork let you in?" the bouncer said in a guttural voice.

Kast stuck his blaster rifle in the bouncer's face. "Is this a good enough reason?"

The bounty hunters wandered up to the edge of the bar. "What do you want?" Wuher asked grouchily.

"We're looking for someone," Kast said. "IG-88."

"Oh, yes, I remember him. Tall, spindly assassin droid with a big gun." He pursed his lips thoughtfully. "I haven't seen him for days."

Kast turned back to the others. "What are we going to do?" Greedo asked.

"Stay here," 4-LOM suggested. "Maybe IG-88 is just running late."

"Do you have any spare rooms we can rent?" Kast asked the bartender.

"Yes, of course, I can get you a room. Mr...."

"Fett," Kast said in a menacing tone. "Boba Fett. So make it snappy!"

A few minutes later, the bounty hunters were sitting down at a table, drinking away. "You surprise me, Fett," 4-LOM said. "I thought you did not drink."

"Of course I drink," Kast said angrily. "All men drink!"

"Mr. Jodo," Greedo whispered. "There's somebody staring at you!"

Kast waved his hand. "Hey, Wuher, get over here, NOW!" The bartender hurried to his side. "Who's that odd-looking man in the corner?"

Wuher shrugged. "He's one of them mercenaries. Dangerous folk, I say. I don't rightly know his real name, but around here, he's called Madak."

"Madak," Kast murmured thoughtfully. He watched the figure curiously. The man was clad only in an array of bandages, covering every part of his body but his eyes. He puffed away at a death stick, and the light illuminated his chocolate-brown, yet menacing eyes.

Meanwhile, Boussh had wandered to another table and was having a conversation with a Devaronian and an Aqualish. "Quioto, quioto," he told them.

Kast's eyes went wide. "Boussh, you fool!" he shouted, and ran towards the other bounty hunter. On his way there, he tripped, sprawling under the table. Somehow, the One DVD came out of his pocket, the case opening up. The DVD popped out of its holder and ended up on his finger. He stared at it in surprise, looking at all the pretty colors. "Oooh," he murmured.

There is no life without Star Wars, it told him. Only...reality....

Suddenly, a hand grabbed Kast's shoulder and jerked him to his feet. He looked up in surprise to see Madak glaring at him. "You draw far too much attention to yourself, Mr. Fett." He pushed the Mandalorian armor-clad figure up the stairs and threw him into a room.

"Are you frightened?" he asked.

Kast shook his head. "Boba Fett fears nothing."

Madak pulled out a blaster rifle. "Are you frightened now?"

Kast nodded ferociously. "Not nearly frightened enough," Madak continued. "Otherwise, you wouldn't have come to this cantina." He held his rifle across his bandaged chest like it was a baby. "That is no mere movie you carry."

The other bounty hunters burst into the room, Greedo brandishing a long, fluorescent lightbulb. "Stay back or I'll have you, Shorty!"

Madak blinked and considered shooting the Rodian, then decided against it. "You have a stout heart, little Rodian. But that will not save you. Not with what's coming."

"What's coming?" Greedo squeaked, suddenly frightened.

"More Kaadu-riders, servants of the Flanneled One," Madak said in a low voice. "They seek the One DVD."

4-LOM and Boussh turned to stare at Kast. "So you do have it!"

"I can fight them off," Kast said confidently. "Boba Fett is never defeated."

Madak raised an eyebrow. "I would gladly leave you here to fight them alone, but I cannot allow the DVD to fall into the hands of the enemy. You must go to Cradossk's Guild immediately!"

"What if I refuse?"

"Then," Madak said cooly, "I'll shoot you and take the DVD to Cradossk myself." He nodded towards the door. "Let's get moving."

"You know," Greedo said sheepishly, "those death sticks really aren't good for you."

Madak turned his penetrating gaze towards the Rodian. "That was not a real death stick. It merely added atmosphere to my entrance." He herded the bounty hunters towards the door. "I do not drink, or indulge in other drugs. They are an insult to the flesh."

"What kind of health-conscious freak are you?" Kast demanded.

Madak pulled out his blaster rifle again, and Kast hurried out the door.