Dark Knight Over the Empire

Chapter 13

by Carycomic

TATTOOINE (22 BBY)

The holovid transmission that materialized before Jabba the Hutt was from his spy within the Xucphra Corporation on Thyferra. For just as its human CEO, Dryden Vos, was secretly a representative for the Crimson Dawn crime syndicate, his so-called 'Vratix' associate, Kitik Keed'kak, was actually a Yam'rii mercenary!

Jabba now glanced at Tot Doneeta and spoke tersely in Huttese, which the Twi'lek majordomo quickly translated.

"The Great Jabba bids you speak."

In response, the mantisoid simulated the sound of a throat being cleared via his interpretronic collar.

"Aurra Sing-has agreed-to hunt down-and capture-the Tusken renegade-who nearly-incinerated-the young Jedi. She is-on way-to Tattoine-as we-speak."

Listening to this, Junior Antarian Ranger Bruce Wayne, posing as Miralukan bounty hunter Bane Malar, did his best to remain as impassive as his traveling companion: Jonn Jonzz the Morseerian Manhunter. Still, he could not help flashing back to the briefing in the Jedi Council chamber on Coruscant.

"What happened to Anakin has united all the Sand People behind this mysterious warrior," said Mace Windu. "They regard him as a divine messenger sent to avenge their people and drive all non-Tuskens off Tattoine for good! If he is a previously latent Force-sensitive, as Master Yoda fears, we can't let the Sith get a hold of him first. Unfortunately, no other Jedi can be spared for this duty as all our resources are committed to the counter-insurgency on Geonosis. That's why you and Jonn will be accompanying Master Tomkin to Tattooine as bounty hunters of House Benelex. Your cover story will be that you've been hired to find Anakin on the suspicion that Aurra Sing kidnapped him. Hence, you are following her as she hunts for this super-Sandman."

"Does the latter happen to have a name?" inquired Jonn.

Windu shook his head. "Only the nickname awarded him by HNN, using the Basic translation of what the Hutts are calling him. Chief Brightburn!"

"Don't worry," Jonn assured him. "The gadaffi stick has yet to be made that can stand up to a wan-shen."

"Can even your Force talents harden your poleaxe beyond the normal melting point of durasteel?" countered Windu.

"We will just have to see," replied Jonn. "Won't we?"

The Morseerian Manhunter had been trained as a matukai by Ne'atfa'reek, the Pho P'heahian. But, two years earlier, he had broken off that training when he heard the tragic news about his long-time friend Zook, the Squib Jedi Guardian Gadzookz-thisjokeesolame. The latter had been patrolling the disputed Elbra System (the Ugors claimed it as 'Essebra', and the Squibs as 'Elliirad') in the Airam Sector, when his needleship was ambushed and boarded by Weequay space pirates working as privateers for the Holy Ugor Tax Collection Agency. With Aurra Sing serving as first mate- -in more ways than one- - to their captain, Hondo Ohnaka!

Since then, Jonn had been working for the Bounty Hunters' Guild. Dividing his time between House Salaktori and House Benelex, as there were rumors that the profit minded Ohnaka had sold a lot of other Squib captives into slavery. And now he had a perfect chance to find out if Zook was one of them! Providing he could get his hands (all four of them) on Aurra Sing.

Fortunately, the tension between Morseerian Manhunter and autocratic Jedi Master was broken by a trio of beeps from Bruce's comm-link. And, as expected, it was his field training supervisor, Ranger Sergeant Logunn of the Zehethbra.

"The ship's all warmed up, kid. You, Jonzz, and Master Tomkin all set?"

"Just leaving the Council chamber now, Sarge."

"Good!"

CHURBA SYSTEM (10 BBY)

At top speed, it took the ISD Devastator less than a day and a half to reach their next destination. And, naturally, when the captain had identified his ship, as well as its most important passenger, to the spaceport's head traffic controller, there was no hesitation whatsoever in granting Darth Vader's shuttle craft clearance to land! Furthermore, once the shuttle craft had left the hangar bay, the Sith Lord ordered his pilot to contact the Tisshar Consulate.

"Tell them I wish a personal audience with this Ra's-Al-Ghul. Emphasize the urgency of my request by using the phrase 'a matter of life and death'."

The pilot could not help gulping before replying, "Yes, Milord."

One hour later, the Tappratine arrived at Churba, with the Hawk-Batman once again asking for landing instructions in the name of Bane Malar. When his Bimm captive instinctively gasped at hearing that name, the costumed crusader merely turned around and smiled. "Didn't you know? A Shi'ido has many names."

When his right index finger pressed a certain button on the cockpit control panel, a second later Arnwes Kar was shocked unconscious by his stun-cuffs. Five minutes after that, the Tappratine landed in its assigned docking bay. The Hawk-Batman subsequently emerging in the holographic semblance of Bane Malar. And it was in that guise that he took the unconscious Bimm to the nearest administrative hub of the BHG.

"Kar, Arnwes: wanted on Bimmisari for second-degree violation of the Code of Business Ethics. Illegal telepathic surveillance! As he's a proven flight risk, I recommend cryostasis prior to his extradition."

"Confirmed and noted," replied the Nimbanel receptionist.

Upon being paid the promised bounty, 'Malar' made sure his next stop was a room on the top floor of the best hotel nearest the spaceport. A that point, he waited until he was alone before dropping the holographic disguise. He then sent a scrambled transmission to his astromech droid.

"Red? Keep monitoring this frequency. I'm off to the Tisshar Consulate. At the first signal from my 'panic button', you activate the autopilot and come flying to the rescue. Understood?"

The Hawk-Batman chuckled as Red's reply was deciphered into Basic across the versatile transparisteel lenses of his mask. "So-what-else-is-new?"

MEANWHILE, BACK AT THE SPACEPORT. . .

The chief traffic controller popped a minor-strength analgesic pill into his mouth before washing it down with a swig from his cup of vine-caf. Nor did his immediate subordinate fail to notice this.

"Headache, Chief?"

The older man nodded. "There must be some kind of interplanetary convention being held today. That's the third ship inbound from Nar Shadda in as many hours to request clearance and landing instructions! A Corellian freighter captained by some woman named 'Themiscyra'."

tbc

GLOSSARY

House Benelex: that branch of the Bounty Hunters' Guild specializing in fugitive kidnappers and hostage retrieval.