The Egg
Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars; this is merely a fanfiction.
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The twin suns set over Tatooine, casting a blood red glow across the evening sky.
Blood red. A perfect description.
A cry of terror echoed throughout Beggar's Canyon. The man, covered head to foot in wrappings to protect from the brutality of the desert, scurried through the crags and rocks, looking behind him in terror.
No sign of his pursuer.
But that didn't mean he could slow down for even a second.
He charged forward, then stopped short. He was at a precipice, with a one hundred foot drop. He looked down, desperately scanning the cliff face for any footholds that he could latch onto.
He spared a glance behind him and gasped.
His pursuer was several yards away, standing patiently, hands clasped, head tilted curiously. Waiting to see what his quarry would do.
The man gulped, and began his desperate descent down the cliff face. He grabbed an out-cropping, and struggled to stretch his foot towards the nearest foot hole.
The pursuer chuckled. Gotcha!
A well-timed explosion on the cliff face several yards away nearly threw the struggling man off the side. He screamed, as it set off a chain reaction on the cliff-face, as he realized - in utter horror - that the entire cliff-face was rigged with mines.
He had fallen into his pursuer's trap.
The resulting chain reaction blew the man clean off the side of the cliff.
He fell.
Time seemed to slow down as he dropped the hundred foot drop. His eyes splayed upward, glancing at the shrinking surface of the cliff. The pursuer stood at the top, watching.
Thunk!
The man crashed - hard.
At first he thought he was done for. He saw blinding white light, burning into his retinas. Then his vision swam into focus. He was lying at the bottom of the cliff face, his body sprawled. He struggled to crane his head, to look at his legs. They were bent at odd angles.
Broken.
Blood dribbled out of his mouth, and he gasped for air.
Footsteps.
He slowly craned his eyes to see that the pursuer had somehow effortlessly descended the cliff face and was approaching him.
The man flopped himself onto his stomach, and struggled to move with his useless legs. He reached out, grabbing a rock, pulling himself along. Crawling away. He gasped for air, and coughed. Dots of blood flecked the sand with each cough.
The pursuer was on him in a matter of seconds. With a booted foot, he turned the man onto his back. "Still alive, are we? I was sure the explosion and resulting fall would've killed you..."
The man coughed up more blood. "Just ... end this ..."
The pursuer shook his head. "Oh, I will. But while I have you here, in this position, completely helpless and at my mercy, maybe you'll answer a question for me?"
"Never!"
"Come on, be reasonable. I can end your pain in a moment. Or ... I can PROLONG IT!" His boot came down hard upon the man's broken legs, grinding into the disjointed bones. The man screamed in agony.
Another cough.
More blood.
"Why ... why can't you guys ... just leave nature alone? ... Those animals have done nothing to you ..."
"No, but my client sure finds them amusing. And they keep the cash flowing."
His boot STOMPED onto the man's clavicle. The man screamed. The blood was flowing. Through his pain, however, the man managed a small scoff. "Credits. That's all that ... matters to ... to you bounty hunters ... Not life. The beauty of ... nature. The universe can BURN for all you care!"
"I'm not here to debate ethics with you." The bounty hunter checked his rifle. "Tell me where the egg is, Rylie. Tell me, and I end your agony."
"You'll ... never ... find it ... The Sand People ... will protect it for ... me ..."
"Ah, the savages. And you think they are a match for me?"
"They'll ... tear your kind apart ... in a minute ... They know ... the desert ... They'll ... turn the ... environment ... against you. They will ... break you ... You may have caught me ... but you've failed your employers, Khaji."
"We shall see. Well, Rylie, I see I won't get anything further from you. And my offer to end your pain is retracted." The bounty hunter began walking away. "I leave you here to expire naturally. I hear the predators come this way at night. Then you can be food for those beasties that you love so much, and you can do your part for nature."
The bounty hunter disappeared into the night, leaving Rylie to his unfortunate fate...
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"Galen ... it's no use ..."
Juno is lying on her back, darkness shrouding all of them. A battle-worn Starkiller, his body riddled with cuts and bruises, his clothing torn, falls to his knees beside her. A few feet away lies a body in black, its face indistinguishable; the vanquished foe's lightsaber lies inches from his contorted fingers.
Starkiller places Juno's head on his lap. This is Kamino all over again ...
"Juno ... it's not too late ... I can still ..."
She shakes her head. "No ... you have ... to let me go ..."
Juno's eyes close ... and she breathes no more. Starkiller gently shakes her. "Juno?" No response. Starkiller presses his forehead against hers, tears dripping down his dirt-ridden cheeks, splattering softly against her porcelain ones.
A shadow falls over him. Mechanical breathing. Starkiller looks up, feeling the rage building. Darth Vader stands there, before calmly igniting his lightsaber. Starkiller spits in fury "I WILL KILL YOU!"
Summoning the lightsaber from the dead body on the floor, Starkiller ignites its crimson blade, along with one of his blue ones, twirling them in a fiery display. The Dark Lord is helpless against the rage-induced frenzy of the young Jedi. He barrages Vader, driving the Sith Lord to his knees, before severing both his hands.
Vader kneels before Starkiller, as he did once before at Kamino. Starkiller crosses both blades at his neck. Vader's voice betrays no emotion. "Do it. Fulfill your destiny."
Starkiller's rage takes over. With a flick of his wrists, Vader's helmeted head snips free of his shoulders, rolling to the young Jedi's feet. Starkiller looks down at the helmeted head curiously, as if expecting to see the man behind the mask.
BZZZT.
Starkiller lets out a cry of agony as he feels as though pure fire has erupted from his stomach. A red blade protrudes from his gut. He peers behind him to see the Dark Apprentice, slowly but surely burning away his insides with his lightsaber.
"Wait!" A voice. Like gravel. "He will be more useful alive." Starkiller blacks out, the sound of evil cackling erupting through the chambers.
The nightmare has only just begun.
Starkiller finds himself strapped to a gurney. His whole body feels different. He can hear breathing from a respirator. He tries to open his eyes, but only sees a mechanical similacrum of the world. He can make out the shapes of the Dark Apprentice, and a hooded figure - Emperor Palpatine.
"Yesss," the Emperor gloats. He turns to the Dark Apprentice. "You have done well. You shall take Lord Vader's place at my side." Those gleaming yellow eyes then turned back to Starkiller, who was thrashing against his bindings on the gurney. "And you ... you shall serve as my private assassin ... my lovely Sith Stalker!"
Starkiller screams from behind his new mask, his cries of anguish mixing with the Emperor's horrid cackling ...
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Starkiller's eyes fluttered open. Sweat dripped from his chin, and he panted on all fours. Swallowing tightly, he staggered to his feet.
These visions ...
They'd been occurring entirely too frequently. But were they harbingers of the future? But wasn't the future always in motion?
Or was the Force trying to send him a warning?
Could this quest ultimately lead to him becoming consumed by the Dark Side ... a slave to the Empire all over again?
Shaking the thought from his mind, Starkiller turned towards the door of the meditation chambers. He was about to exit, when he heard a voice from the shadows.
"More visions, eh?"
Starkiller turned to see Zarbina emerging, gathering her prayer shawls around herself. He shook his head. "Still spying on me, eh?"
Zarbina did not smile. "This quest ... this foolish errand. It may be all our undoing."
Starkiller smirked. "Feel free to take your leave at the next port."
This time, Zarbina smiled back. "Tatooine's desert wouldn't do much for an old lady's already sallow skin, would it?"
Starkiller surveyed her appraisingly. "Why did you choose to come with me?"
"There is no longer any place for me on Dxun. My sister is defeated. There remains only one thing for me now."
"Your Master?"
"Indeed." Zarbina wrapped her shawls ever tighter around herself, her lips pursed. "This journey of yours ... I sense that it will bring you into direct conflict with him. And I can finally end his madness, once and for all. Wash away the stains of my past."
Starkiller nodded. "I sense a final battle with my old master as well. But ... what can you tell me about your Master?"
Zarbina looked away. "He is an enigma wrapped in a mystery, coated with a riddle. Ever elusive, in the shadows, striking just outside of everyone's view."
"Do you not even know his name?"
"Several of them. He has so many different identities that it is hard to tell which is the real him. I doubt he even remembers who he is at times. He warps men's minds with smooth speeches. He has ensnared the Mandalorians ... warriors who have been ensnared by the forces of darkness time and again."
"I've encountered Mandalorians," Starkiller remarked. "I can't imagine them being hoodwinked so easily. There's got to be something to this ... there's got to be a reason the Mandalorians have sworn loyalty to your Master."
Zarbina shrugged. "All will be revealed in time. But he hunts for you, young Jedi. In time, he will reveal himself to you, urge you to join his crusade to eradicate both the Rebellion and the Empire. He will tempt you, play on your weaknesses. You must remain firm."
Starkiller nodded. "I will."
"Even if he offered you the power to save Captain Eclipse's life?"
Starkiller opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. Would he sacrifice himself to the forces of darkness for Juno? Would his vision come to pass after all?
Zarbina chuckled softly. "Your silence is answer enough." She glided past him, heading for the exit. "Every man has his price, young Galen. Every man."
"And what is your price?" Starkiller snarled after her.
She stopped short. There was a moment's silence. Finally she whispered, "I've already paid it." And with that, she swept out of Starkiller's meditation chambers, leaving his already confused brain reeling.
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"Haha! I win again! Read 'em and weep!" Kota was sitting at the game table in the Rogue Shadow's lounge with Proxy, Pooja and Kaden. The old Jedi spread his cards across the table.
Kaden sputtered, before tossing his cards away in a childish rage, folding his arms in annoyance. Pooja was humming to herself, looking at the cards in her hand. "This game makes no sense ..."
Kaden had an odd gleam in his eye. He scooted closer to Pooja. "That's because you don't know how to play. Come, let me teach you." He leaned right up close, his lekku dangling down her shoulder.
Pooja played innocent. "Now, Kaden, don't get any ideas. When I asked you guys to show me how to play sabaac, I didn't mean as a way for you to hit on me." She winked at him, before holding up a card. "So, the object of the game is to get as close to 23 as possible?"
Kaden leaned closer. "Yup. And with that hand, you'd be pretty dang close."
Pooja played dumb. "Oh wow. I'm learning so much ... Could we do another game?" She looked up at the Jedi Master sitting across from her.
"You got more credits?" Kota asked.
"Charge your winnings to the Naberrie estate on Naboo!"
Kota thought it over. "Deal! And Kaden - no helping! This is me and the girl, one-on-one!"
"But - I wanted to teach her -."
"Bah, the girl knows enough, she doesn't need you wrapping your tentacles around her shoulders! Beat it! Do something useful and fetch me some Correllian spiced ale!"
Grumbling, Kaden moved on out. Starkiller kicked back, watching with interest as Pooja played her one-on-one round with Kota.
In five minutes, she had cleaned Kota out. The old Jedi sat there, mouth slack. "But - how? I? What? You don't even know how to play!"
Pooja put on the most innocent look she could muster, as she placed her index finger under her lip playfully. "Oh? Did I say I didn't know how to play? What I meant was that I'm an expert player. I'm very well known in the Naboo tournament scene. They call me Pooja the Pulverizer!"
Kota was sputtering.
Pooja grinned. "I'll be expecting my winnings once we return to Naboo." She kicked back in her chair, hands behind her head victoriously, clearly enjoying having conned the old Jedi Master.
Juno and Wedge emerged from the cockpit. "Well, we'll be coming up on Tatooine soon," Wedge announced. "Couple hours or so."
Juno pressed herself against the wall, hacking up a cough. Starkiller sprang up instantly, placing his hands on her shoulders. "You okay?"
She looked at him through blurred eyes. "Fine," she lied. "Just ..."
And with that, her eyes rolled back into her head, and she collapsed on the floor, right in front of everybody.
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Juno's chest rose and descended, as several body sensors swept up and down her body. She was lying on a table in the medbay of the Rogue Shadow. Unconscious. Anesthesia pumping through a facemask. Starkiller was standing over her, along with Zarbina, Pooja and Kota. Zarbina was holding her hands over Juno's chest, eyes closed, mumbling soundlessly.
Starkiller was becoming impatient.
"Well?"
Pooja was looking at the readouts on a computer monitor. "Nothing. The scanners aren't detecting a single thing wrong with her!"
Starkiller turned towards Zarbina. "And what about you? What have you sensed?"
Zarbina's eyes slowly spread open, and she shook her head. "I cannot detect any physical defects, but ... something seems out of the ordinary. I have my suspicions." She turned to Kota. "You don't happen to have any midichlorian scanners handy, do you?"
Kota rubbed his chin. "Well now that you mention ... I did save one. After Order 66 went down and the rest of the Jedi went into hiding, I figured that if the Empire were ever defeated we would need to rebuild. Kept it handy, in case we met any Force Sensitives."
"Bring it," snapped Zarbina, as she swept her hands up and down Juno's chest.
Kota stormed off, grumbling about being ordered about. Starkiller joined Zarbina's side. "What do you think is happening?"
"I'm not sure ... I want to do a midichlorian count."
Starkiller cocked his head. "You think Juno's Force Sensitive?"
"No, but even non-Force Sensitives will have a certain amount of midichlorians present."
"But I don't understand -."
"Just wait."
Kota returned, handing the scanner off to the older woman. "Here you go," he replied curtly. "Anything else you want to order me around for?"
"Stop your complaining, this is serious." Zarbina pricked Juno with a small needle. The unconscious captain shuddered as it was withdrawn from her arm. Zarbina fiddled with the scanner, checking the readouts. Starkiller lumbered over her shoulder.
"As I thought," she sighed. "Diminished."
"What does that mean?" Starkiller demanded.
"I don't know," she replied. "It's as if ... there's a virus in her. A virus that can't be sensed. A Force virus that's slowly but surely ... eating her midichlorians."
Starkiller raised an eyebrow. "Eating her midichlorians?"
"Yes."
Kota's face paled. "That's not good." Everyone snapped their heads in his direction, staring at him intently. "All life has a symbiotic relationship with the midichlorians. Each life form has a certain amount. The more one has, the more attuned one is to the Force. We all need a certain amount to stay alive."
"Stay alive?" Starkiller could feel the tension rising. "And what exactly happens if a person's count drops below their threshold?"
"Death."
Starkiller could feel his fists clench.
"Is there any way to reverse it?"
Kota and Zarbina looked at each other, at a loss. "This is ... unheard of," Zarbina replied. "Never in my journeys have I seen anything close to this."
"I've read about Force viruses in the Jedi archives," Kota answered. "But one that devours midichlorians - No Jedi has ever run across something like this. I wouldn't know where or how to even begin to fix this!"
Starkiller could feel the tension in his jaw. I have to find Anakin Skywalker. He's my - Juno's - only hope.
Wedge Antilles appeared in the doorway. "Hey," he said awkwardly, not wanting to interrupt this somber meeting. "I just thought I'd let everyone know we're coming up on Tatooine. Proxy's already bringing us out of hyperspace."
Starkiller nodded. "Good. Land us on the outskirts of Mos Espa."
"Very good." Wedge exited, followed by Pooja, Zarbina and Kota. Kota placed his hand on Starkiller's shoulder. "I really hope your hunch about Anakin Skywalker is correct, kid. For Juno's sake."
"So do I, General."
Kota brushed past him. Starkiller spared a glance over at Juno, before he made to exit.
"Galen ..."
Juno's raspy voice stopped the young Jedi in his tracks. He turned around to see Juno coming out of the anesthesia. He moved over to her, brushing her blonde hair out of her sweaty face. He removed the face mask so she could talk freely. He stroked her cheek.
"I'm here, Juno."
Juno moved to sit upright. Starkiller gently pushed her back into a reclining position. "You need to rest."
"No! I ... I need to get us ... to Tatooine!"
"Wedge is taking care of it."
"Galen ..." Her voice seemed strained from more than just a Force virus. "Galen." Her hand reached for his. Sweat trickled down her face; her veins were translucent. "I need you to promise me something ..."
Starkiller intertwined his fingers with hers. "Anything."
"Promise me ... promise me ... you won't ... put saving my life ... before saving the galaxy ..."
"Juno, I -."
"Galen." Her voice had that stern quality to it. "I need you to promise me. Promise me, that if you found a way to defeat Vader and the Emperor ... that you wouldn't put saving me over it. Promise me ... that if necessary ... you would let me die to stop them. Promise that you would sacrifice me ... for the greater good."
A dark look came over Starkiller's face. "No. No, I can't."
"Galen ..."
"No! I would never - How could you ask such a thing?!"
"Because ... I know you're the hero. That's ... who you are. But there will come a day ... you have to let me go."
"Never!"
He wrenched his hand out from hers. He stalked back and forth. "If it came down to that ... no! I would save you, or die trying! And if you died ..." He clenched his fist. "I would make Vader's, the Emperor's and that clone's death all the more horrific! I will torture them to within an inch of their lives. And Vader's death will be the most horrific of them all!"
Juno sat upright with much difficulty. "Galen ... don't talk like that!"
"Don't tell me what to do! Don't you understand you mean everything to me? If it meant saving you ..." His voice went lower. "I would hijack the Death Star itself and destroy every planet that stood between me and your salvation. I would annhilate the galaxy itself for you!"
"Galen ... don't you realize how you sound?"
Starkiller stopped in his tracks; his mouth was practically frothing. He lowered his head, ashamed. "I'm sorry, Juno. I'm afraid for you. And that fear ... fear is the path to the Dark Side. I have to conquer it. But I promise ... I will save you and bring peace to the galaxy. Those goals don't have to be exclusive."
Juno shook her head. "Don't lose yourself in the process, Galen."
Starkiller turned away. "I've already lost myself."
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The Rogue Shadow kicked up dirt and debris as it landed in the dusty outskirts of Mos Espa. Starkiller threw a poncho over himself, before heading back into the recreation area of the ship. Juno was up and about after her latest spell, though she was moving more slowly and methodically. Starkiller looked over at Kota. "You'll keep an eye on her, General ... er, metaphorically speaking?"
"Yeah, yeah, I get it, I'm blind. But I'll make sure she's okay."
"Good. Wedge and the others'll watch the ship. Proxy, I'll need you to come with me."
Proxy saluted. "At once, Master."
Starkiller pointed over at Kaden. "And you - you're coming too."
"Aaw, come on, do I have to?"
"Yes," Starkiller answered curtly. "According to Maris, this Watto fellow is a real smooth operator. So I need someone just as smooth."
Kaden nudged Pooja. "You hear that? He thinks I'm smooth."
"Please don't touch me," Pooja replied.
Kaden stood up, following Starkiller and Proxy. Pooja made to follow. "I'm coming too!"
Starkiller rounded on her. "I don't think so!"
Pooja placed her hands on her hips. "My aunt braved this place. I can too! Besides, you promised to help me find out what really happened to her!"
"I don't remember promising anything of the sort!"
"Okay, so maybe I made that up! But still - I'm coming!"
"Best not to argue, boy," Kota chuckled. "Let the girl go!"
"Thank you, General." She beamed.
Starkiller clenched his fists. "Fine. We can pretend to be a family. You'll be my sister."
Pooja bleched. "Please, with those crows feet of yours ... and those forehead wrinkles forming ... I can pass for your daughter!"
Starkiller's fists clenched so much, one could hear his knuckles cracking. "Fine! Whatever! Let's just get a move on!"
And he stormed out, with a chuckling Pooja, a complaining Kaden, and an apprehensive Proxy in tow.
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Mos Espa was as bustling as it ever was when Qui-Gon Jinn first set foot in it, lo, those many years ago.
Starkiller held up a small datapad, examining it. So immersed in it was he, that he almost was stepped on by a ronto; the Jawas riding the ronto shook their fists at him. "Ooo Teeeeni!" they shouted.
"So according to Maris' intel, Watto's shop should be somewhere ... around ... here." They stopped, looking up at the beaten up old shop. "Funny," Starkiller groused. "I would've imagined Anakin Skywalker's old stomping grounds to be a little more ... grandiose." He shrugged. "Let's go."
The foursome entered the old, dusty store. Old parts and pit droids lay scattered across the floor. "Hello?" Starkiller looked around. There was no one in sight.
"There doesn't appear to be anyone here, Master," Proxy stated.
"Thanks for that, Captain Obvious," Kaden said.
"You're quite welcome ... ooooh, that was sarcasm wasn't it?"
"Maybe we should check out back?" suggested Pooja.
But Starkiller moved towards the old counter. He placed his hands on it, as though feeling through time. He closed his eyes.
"Are you an angel?"
A tow-headed little boy is sitting on the counter, facing a beautiful young woman. A woman who looks remarkably like Pooja.
"Hey, I think there's someone out back!" Pooja's voice broke through the vision. Swallowing tightly, Starkiller nodded and followed Pooja through the broken parts to the back lot.
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Starkiller, Pooja, Proxy and Kaden waded through the lot. "Oh, I would hate to be the guy that has to clean all this up," Kaden remarked.
Pooja held a finger up to her lips. "I hear voices," she whispered.
"Why are we whispering?" Kaden asked.
"Shhh."
Up ahead, they could see a Rodian talking in Huttese to two humans in peasant clothing. One, a weather-beaten man in his late twenties. And a younger girl, in her early twenties; quite pretty with sandy hair. Kaden immediately began salivating at the sight of her.
"Face it, Wald," the man was saying. "Rylie's been gone too long. Khaji has got to have gotten to him already. Oh, I told Watto that getting involved in all this animal fighting was trouble!"
"Not to mention unethical," the girl replied.
"I know, I know," the Rodian called Wald replied in Huttese. "I tried reasoning with him as well, but you know how he is with gambling."
The human male suddenly became very alarmed. "Look sharp! We've got company!"
The three turned to see Starkiller and co., standing there awkwardly. Wald broke into a grin. "Well, hello! Welcome to Watto's Parts! We have the finest accessories ..."
"I'm looking for Watto," Starkiller said simply.
"I'm sorry. Mr. Watto is not in, but I am more than happy to assist ..."
"I need information. From Watto!"
"I'm afraid that's not possible," Wald sighed.
"And why is that?" Starkiller snapped.
"Because Mr. Watto has been kidnapped and is being held for ransom!"
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Wald leaned over the counter, serving hot drinks to his guests. "What exactly did you want with Mr. Watto, anyway?"
"I'm looking for someone," Starkiller answered.
"A name would be nice ..."
"His name is Anakin Skywalker."
A faraway look came across Wald's Rodian eyes. He dropped his cup, and his two human associates jumped in shock. "Annie ... You ... you're looking for Annie?"
"You know him?"
"Know him? He was only one of my best friends! Well, besides Kitster of course."
"Can you tell me what became of him? Where he went after he left Tatooine?"
"Beats me. Annie was swept up by some Jedi, and that's the last any of us ever saw of him. Except Mr. Watto. Swears Annie came back, looking for his mother."
"His mother ..."
"Yeah. Shmi. The nicest lady. Got sold to some moisture farmer ... oh, I can never remember his name."
"Can you tell me where this moisture farmer is?"
"No can do ... unfortunately, only Mr. Watto has that info in his records."
Starkiller motioned with his hand. "And you can't access those records because ...?"
"Only he has the passcodes to open his log."
Starkiller slumped in his seat. "Always a hitch. Okay, you said he was kidnapped. By whom?"
Wald looked at his two human associates. "Can we trust him?" the female asked.
Wald turned back to Starkiller. "What are you, some kinda bounty hunter? If Annie truly became a Jedi ... how do I know you aren't some kinda Jedi hunter for the Empire?"
"I need Anakin's help," Starkiller answered. "I will do nothing to harm him, I promise."
"I wouldn't trust him, Wald," the man said.
Wald motioned. "Relax, Asar. I think I have a way to gauge this man's intentions."
"Name it," Starkiller spat.
"If you truly mean to help the Jedi ... you truly mean no harm to Annie - if he's still alive that is - then I need a token of your goodwill. Mr. Watto."
"Let me guess - you want me to free him?"
"Smart man. You see, podracing used to be Mr. Watto's gambling hobby. But a new one has recently come to the Tatooine underground - Beast Battling."
"Beast Battling?"
"It's barbaric," Wald's female associate interjected. "It's led by a slimy Quarren crime boss, Darrus Vislusk. He and his network of buddies find the rarest animals and force them to fight - to the death. They rake in millions, and the Imperials turn a blind eye to it because Vislusk gives the local Moff a cut of the earnings."
"Let me guess - Watto got on their bad side."
Wald nodded. "As my associate Shay," here he indicated the female, "has so aptly described, Vislusk heads a network of animal fighters. Shay and her brother here, Asar, are zoologists. They also head a team determined to put an end to Beast Battling."
"And trust me," Shay cut in. "When we say Watto got in with the wrong crowd, we mean it! Our friend Rylie went missing recently. Vislusk put a price on his head. Khajir probably got him."
"Khajir?" inquired Kaden. "Don't like the sound of that."
"He's a nasty piece of work," Asar replied. "Been stalking Rylie for over a month."
"And what does this have to do with Watto?" inquired Starkiller.
"Just wait," Shay said. "Recently, my brother and I found a very rare treasure. A krayt dragon egg!"
Kaden's eyes gleamed. He nudged Starkiller. "Do you know how much a krayt dragon egg's worth?!" Starkiller glared him into silence.
"The egg was alone ... who knows where the mother was? But krayt dragons are very aggressive when it comes to their young. She's probably out there, frantic for it. Rylie was tracking her, trying to return her egg. But Vislusk had other plans."
"He came to Rylie," Asar said, picking up where Shay left off. "He demanded the egg. Nothing like a krayt dragon, bred and raised for combat. Vislusk would make a killing having a krayt dragon fight a bull rancor!"
"Rylie refused," Shay said. "So Vislusk put a bounty on his head. Sent one of his top men, Khaji to get Rylie to talk. Rylie couldn't track down the mother dragon ... so he did the next best thing."
"Gave the egg to the Sand People," Wald finished.
Starkiller raised an eyebrow. "And the Sand People didn't bash his skull in the second he came to them?"
"Rylie was one of those rare people," Shay answered. "He respected the desert. He respected the wildlife, and he respected the Sand People. He stayed out of their way. And ... he saved a Tusken who had nearly fallen into a Sarlaac pit."
"Why would he give the egg to the Sand People?" inquired Pooja.
"The Sand People have both honor and fear for the krayt dragon. One roar of the beast can send the most hardened Tusken running. But they know the lairs. Their trackers will do Rylie the honor of returning the egg to his mother. Rylie told us as much before he vanished. The Tuskens last had the egg guarded in their sacred burial grounds."
"And what does this have to do with Watto?" asked Starkiller.
"Vislusk knows Rylie was working with both Asar and Shay. And he knows Asar and Shay are good friends of mine. He abducted Mr. Watto and is threatening to feed him to his nexu. Or one of his rancors. Unless we produce the krayt dragon egg!"
Starkiller stood up. "It's simple, then. I just find Vislusk, and intimidate him to release Watto."
Shay's eye twitched. "I-intimidate ... a crime boss?"
"Trust me," Pooja replied. "He can be quite intimidating."
"Listen," said Wald. "If you rescue Mr. Watto, I'm sure he'd allow you access to his logs! No question!"
"Where can I find Vislusk?" asked Starkiller.
Asar sighed. "He has an underground compound, out in the Dune Sea. Miles underground. Military grade. That's where they hold the Beast Battles. Good luck finding it."
"Don't worry," Shay said. "He'll find you. Odds are, he already knows you're here."
Wald rubbed his hands nervously. "He's got the store bugged. I found most of them, but I can't find the last few. That's why Asar, Shay and I were whispering out back."
Starkiller gaped. "But you just spoke everything in the open right now in the store."
A gleam appeared in the Rodian's eye. "Like Shay said - he'll find you."
"You wanted him to hear us?"
"Be patient," Shay replied. "He won't kill you. He knows talent when he sees it. He'll probably try to recruit you to help him find that egg."
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Starkiller, Pooja, Proxy and Kaden leaned against a wall in a dark alleyway. Starkiller was fuming. "No leads. No anything! No one we've asked seems to know anything about this Vislusk!"
"Give it some time," Pooja remarked. "That Shay girl said Vislusk would find us."
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Up above, on a rooftop, the human bounty hunter known as Khaji grinned. "Indeed, girl. Indeed." He activated a small device over his eye; Starkiller's face and image appeared, with scores of data.
"Ah, a Jedi. How convenient for us."
He pulled out a rifle, attaching three barrels at once. He loaded a tipped dart into each barrel, before taking aim. The device on his eye picked up each organic target. He grinned to himself as he pulled the trigger.
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Down below, the Force screamed a warning to Starkiller. He grinned. It worked!
Kaden yelped, and his hand went to his neck, before he keeled over. Pooja collapsed next to him, and Proxy held his arms upright frantically. Starkiller did not move from his spot. He felt a tiny prick in his neck, before allowing the nuerotoxins to spread through his body.
He lost consciousness.
But yet, there was a grin of triumph on his face.
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Starkiller awoke with bindings on his hands. "Ah, he's waking up." Starkiller sat upright, to find himself in what appeared to be a large throne room. The bounty hunter, Khaji, propped a gun to his back.
The young Jedi looked around him to see a motley crew of bounty hunters, pirates and other vagabonds. And there, seated on a loft, drinking a foul concoction from a gold cup, was a Quarren. Two large Hutts sat on either side.
"Ah, the Jedi has awoken."
Starkiller smirked. "You must be Vislusk. I've heard a lot about you."
"Oh, you've only heard the half of it, I'm sure," the Quarren gloated. "Though, I would've thought a Jedi would've been harder to capture."
"Unless the Jedi wanted to get captured." Starkiller's smirk grew.
Vislusk, the two Hutts, and the entire throne room erupted in laughter. "Actually, I was counting on you to allow yourself to get caught. You Jedi are so predictable, so quick to play the hero! So play the hero!" Vislusk waved his hand, and a computer monitor on the wall sprang to life.
Inside a large cell, chained to the wall - were not only Pooja, Proxy and Kaden, but also Wald, Shay and Asar.
"Honestly ... how stupid is that Rodian and his human friends? Blabbing all over the place about you being their hero to save that Toydarian. They were counting on you to get caught ... but they weren't counting on me to round them up as well. Their plan blew up right in their faces, it appears."
Starkiller was unimpressed. "Oh yeah, because I totally can't break into those cells and free them!"
"Do it," hissed Khaji in his ear. "I would love to go up against a Jedi!"
"How did you know I was a Jedi?"
"Uhh ... if you're going to go out in public, it's usually a good idea to cover your face! Especially since the Empire's put a nice big bounty on your head, Starkiller!"
Starkiller cursed himself for his oversight.
Vislusk held out a hand. "Now, now, no need for hostilities. I have a proposition for you, Jedi. I'm willing to let all your friends go ... heck, I'm even willing to forgive that Toydarian his debt and let him go as well - if you do something for me."
"Let me guess ... you want me to break into the Sand People's sacred burial ground, find the krayt dragon egg and deliver it to you."
"You have until sunrise. Then I feed all of your friends to my bull rancor."
Starkiller sighed. "I've got no choice, have I?"
"None. But this egg is too valuable for me to trust just to you. Khaji here will assist you."
"You mean he's here to make sure I don't double-cross you."
"You Jedi are perceptive. One sign of you failing in the mission, and your friends are lunch meat. But Khaji will not be the only one. A team of three I think will be enough. After all, the Sand People are going to be more than slightly annoyed that you're desecrating their sacred burial site. I've already sent another bounty hunter ahead of you two to scout. He'll meet you in the Dune Sea."" Vislusk flicked his wrist at them. "Go. And don't come back without that egg.""
Khaji pressed his gun into Starkiller's back. Starkiller thanked the Force that Vislusk was allowing him his lightsabers. He turned to the bounty hunter behind him. "When this is over, I'm coming for you."
Khaji smiled. "I wouldn't do anything foolish, Jedi. For your friends' sake."
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Khaji's landspeeder came to a stop in the midst of the Dune Sea. The setting suns cast a bloodred glow across the landscape.
A harbinger of the coming battles with the Sand People.
Khaji pointed his blaster at Starkiller, and motioned for him to get out.
Ahead, Starkiller could see dozens of canyons, plateaus and natural archways. Within each canyon there were holes and tunnels. It looked almost like the inside of a beehive. "This matrix of tunnels is built to confuse outsiders," Khaji explained. "The Sand People want heretics who desecrate their land to become hopelessly lost. Once lost, disoriented, confused and exhausted, they strike."
"Great. Any idea where this egg would be?"
"We've mapped out most of these crags and tunnels. There's a main chamber, several miles underground. That's where the chieftain of this particular tribe resides. My guess is the egg is with him."
Starkiller nodded. "Good assumption. Shall we move then?"
"Our scout will meet us at that canyon. There's a tunnel in the main canyon wall that'll eventually lead to the main burial chamber."
Nodding, Starkiller walked casually, Khaji's blaster leveled at him the whole time. "So who is this associate we're meeting?"
"The best in the business," Khaji remarked. "You'll see."
They walked towards the canyon for what seemed like fifteen minutes. The suns had set, and now the only light nearby was from what appeared to be a torch in the distance. As Starkiller neared it, he saw that it must've been set in place by the Tuskens themselves. It was a wooden stake with a human skull on top. The skull was on fire, filling the air with the acrid smell of burnt flesh and hair.
"Lovely, isn't it?" Khajir mocked. "Designed to scare people off. Good thing we don't scare so easily, isn't it?"
"S'at right? You don't scare easy?" came a voice. Starkiller cocked his head. That voice was familiar.
Khaji turned around at the approaching scout. "Here you are! I was worried we'd have to go in without you."
"I agreed to a job. I'll see it done. This the guy? Well I'll be damned!"
The man stepped into the light of the burning torch, and Starkiller felt absolute shock. Shock that turned into rage. "YOU!"
Boba Fett stood before him, hand casually wrapped around a rifle, his Mandalorian armor shining in the light of the burning skull.
But what was Fett doing here? And why would he agree to a job that amounted to an egg hunt?
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Miles away, a shriek of anguish tore through the night. A large creature, it's legs splayed out from its sides, its mammoth tail shaking from side to side, stalked the night.
It let out a guttaral cry.
It was crying for its child.
The krayt dragon mother continued, mounting a dune. It threw back its head, roaring. A roar of anger.
It's egg had been missing for a while. It's baby, soon to hatch, would need its mother. The krayt dragon flicked its tongue out, smelling the air through it. No hint of her baby.
But there ... in the distance ... city lights.
Krayt dragons hardly ever ventured out towards the cities.
But this one was bent on finding its offspring.
And so, with the determination of a mother hell-bent on finding her child, the krayt dragon moved slowly but surely towards Mos Espa.
And she would destroy everyone and everything that stood between her and her baby's egg ...
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