CHAPTER 5: A GUNGAN IN THE DARK

"Are we there yet?" Greedo whined. Madak waved his blaster rifle, and the Rodian quieted.

"How do we know we can trust this Madak?" 4-LOM asked Kast.

Kast shook his head. "It looks like we have no other choice. It's obvious that I could defeat him in combat, but I'd rather not waste any power in my blaster rifle."

"Wise decision, Fett," the droid said. "As wise as that of a Jedi Master. Have you ever considered joining the Jedi ranks?"

Kast stared. "Uh, no."

"I was once like you," 4-LOM said. "And then I saw the light. Now I am a full-fledged Jedi."

"I didn't know droids could be Jedi," Kast said.

4-LOM looked at him curiously. "I am not a droid. I am a Jedi."

"Okaaay...."

"There it is," Madak said suddenly. "The ruins of the old Guild. We will rest here tonight. Tomorrow we can continue on our journey." They climbed into the ruins and set down their bags. "Stay here and keep quiet," Madak told them. "I'm going scouting." He looked at Kast threateningly. "If you even think about running off with the DVD, I will personally hunt you down."

Kast muttered under his breath angrily as the mercenary strode off. "Who does he think he is?" He lay down on his sleeping mat. "I'm the best bounty hunter in the galaxy," he murmured, drifting off to sleep. "No one can talk to me like that...."

He awoke a good while later to see the other three bounty hunters huddled around some kind of glowing crystal. "What are you doing?" he exclaimed in horror.

"Showing the others how to construct a lightsaber," 4-LOM said proudly.

"We saved some parts for you, Mr. Jodo," Greedo added.

"Put it out, you fools!" Kast cried frantically. He kicked at the crystal, and it bounced off Boussh's helmet.

"Quioto, quioto!" the Ubese said indignantly, and his voice echoed off the hills.

"You've drawn the Kaadu-riders to our camp, you idiots!" Kast shouted at them. "Run!"

The four bounty hunters hurried to the center of the ruins. Seeing themselves surrounded, they stood back to back, terrified, as the monsters approached them.

"Wesa thinkin' yousa had better be givin' da DVD to us," the Kaadu-riders said in unison. "Or yousa gonna be bantha poodoo."

Greedo picked up a stick and jabbed it at them. "Back you devils!" They trampled him without a second thought. Boussh and 4-LOM leapt forward, appearing to be brave, but actually trying to dive between the Kaadu's legs. They were similarly trampled. Soon Kast was the only one remaining. He tried to run backwards, but tripped and ended up scrambling across the ground. Much to his dismay, he ended up trapped against a wall.

"Mesa da King of da Kaadu-riders," one of them said, riding up to him. He reached towards Kast, lost his balance, and fell off of his reptillian mount with a squeal of surprise. Shaking himself off as if nothing had happened, the frightening apparition stood up and began to stride towards Kast, who was huddled against the wall in terror. "Now mesa gonna annoy you into submission." He leaned towards the bounty hunter....

"Noooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Kast shrieked in anguish. "NOOOOO!!!!!!"

Suddenly, a bandaged-wrapped figure jumped in front of him, brandishing an EE-3 blaster rifle. Kast watched deliriously as Madak fought off the Kaadu-riders, demonstrating his mind-boggling skill. Every shot he made was dead-on, bring down one of the dark monsters. Finally, every one of the Kaadu-riders fled into the night.

Madak looked down at Kast, who was shaking uncontrollably and mumbling incoherent phrases under his breath.

"Mr. Jodo!" Greedo shouted in alarm. "Uh, I mean, Mr. Boba! Is he going to be okay?"

"He's been driven temporarily insane by the powers of the Kaadu-riders," Madak told the bounty hunters. "If his mind isn't purged quickly, he'll become just like the Deranged Fanboy."

"Help him!" Greedo cried frantically.

"We have to get him to Cradossk's Guild," Madak said grimly. "It's the nearest place with a bacta tank. Hurry!" He lifted Kast into his arms and took off running.