Author's Notes: So, you all liked Rise of Skywalker, eh? Good to know! Now, did you really think I would leave you all hanging with just one Christmas present? Sillies, my Santa-sack is full of goodies for you all!


-Chapter 72: Meet The Titans-

Location: Coruscant

"There is always more to a person."

"Give me one reason why I shouldn't turn around right now."

"Because I have a pocket full of sand and I will shove it down your robes if you do."

"Fine."

Anakin was none too happy about this assignment, even if it was a minor one. He and Obi-Wan were tasked with representing Chancellor Palpatine and the Jedi Council in a meeting with the mercenaries hired by the Republic to hunt down and defeat The Wraith.

The group better known as the Titan Conglomerate.

With the mercenaries having left a sour taste in his mouth, Anakin was extremely reluctant to have anything else to do with the Titans apart from the usual battle-based encounters. Obi-Wan was not fond of them either, but tolerated the likes of Corsair due to his limited engagements with the Titans as a whole. He was planning on keeping Anakin in line for this little venture... even if he also wondered if his own limits might be tested. "Honestly, Anakin, your temper regarding these Titans is truly worrisome."

"If you spent the same amount of time with them that I'm forced to, you'd feel the same." His friend responded.

"Perhaps so, but do try to keep them in check. The last thing we need right now is a meltdown." Obi-Wan told him.

"Yeah... right now..." Anakin mumbled, giving his thoughts a brief once over before voicing them aloud, "What in the hell is happening these days? Troublesome super-soldiers, the Chancellor openly employing mercenaries, half a dozen Subjugators running amok... the galaxy's a far cry from what it was when I first joined the Jedi."

"Indeed. The galaxy is both divided and in a state of turmoil. I doubt even Master Qui-Gon saw this coming." Obi-Wan agreed. "All we can do, I suppose, is adapt to things as they arrive."

"Something of a delayed reaction if you ask me." Anakin remarked.

"Yes, you'd prefer it if we took these matters head on." Obi-Wan responded. "The problem with that is how costly it is."

"You can lecture me about it later. Right now, we unfortunately have something more pressing about to happen." Anakin pointed out. Their airspeeder suddenly left the city skyline of Coruscant behind, exchanging it for the open expanse of a mostly-empty airfield. The only vessel on it was a heavily modified GR-47 medium transport, designated Stolen Horizon. The Jedi knew it was parked here to act as a home base and were told the Titans used it to jump from planet to planet to use as a sort of orbital base, but hadn't really seen in person. The Jedi could see the forward loading ramp extended and resting on the ground, clearly waiting for them. Obi-Wan drove their airspeeder right up and landed at the foot of the ramp, expecting to see Corsair waiting to meet them.

Instead, Theris was standing at the foot of the ramp, leaning against one of the extending pistons.

The Jedi hopped out and strode over.

"Theris, isn't it?" Obi-Wan greeted.

"That's right." The Mando affirmed with a nod.

"I take it you're here to greet us?" The Jedi hesitantly wondered.

"You were expecting Corsair?" Theris shot back, sound overtly disinterested. "He's inside, busy working."

"What? Couldn't come out and greet us himself?" Anakin remarked.

"We don't necessary operate on niceties around here, General." Theris pointedly and bluntly stated. "But he's here, in case your wondering."

"Then if you wouldn't mind taking us to him..." Obi-Wan politely asked. Theris gave a quick nod and turned on heel.

"I can't believe we're deferring to mercenaries." Anakin muttered in a hushed voice.

"Careful what you say, Anakin. Because I think these mercenaries might have words for you in turn." Obi-Wan cautioned.


Corsair was bent over a table, resting his hands against the edge. Before him was the tattered remains of Wraith's duster, retrieved from Takodana. Having placed a few explosives within it, Wraith had ensured the majority of his armored attire had gone up in flames. But the remnants that hadn't burnt had been salvaged by the Titans to be studied. Showing a rare moment of thoughtful contemplation, the Titan leader examined the ruined uniform before him, it's destroyed contents lined up to one side.

Corsair was a short man, but sturdily built with a hardened look and an aloof personality. His salt-and-pepper hair was partially shaven right to the skin along the sides of his head but was largely hidden behind a black bandanna, leaving only a small flattop to cover his scalp. His longer goatee was tied up by small metal clasps and the twin scars that crossed his forehead and his eye completed the look of a life-weary mercenary. Corsair truly was a man who'd seen it all and lived to talk about it... but he likely wouldn't, even if you paid him handsomely.

It was in this moment of collectedness that the Jedi found him.

"Boss. Got a couple Jedi for you." Theris stated, his hazel gaze perking up from his work. He eyed the Jedi with a passive look that did not indicate disdain... nor a welcoming attitude.

"Well now... General Skywalkah and General Kenobi. Welcome ta Stolen Horizon. I know it's no fancy-schmancy Temple..." He greeted in his usual snarky tone.

"Yeah, it looks like it needs a maintenance droid... or six." Anakin quipped. Corsair snorted, ignoring his remark entirely.

"Where's yor Togruta?" He asked.

"Ahsoka's had a rough couple of days, getting stranded twice. I figured she didn't need another headache." Anakin bit back.

"At ease you two, we've got better things to do than be at each other's throats." Obi-Wan mediated, coming between them.

"Like what, General?" Corsair asked in a distant tone, leaning against the table and crossing his arms.

"I'm sure Chancellor Palpatine informed you about our visit."

"That he did. Why, I don't know."

"It's simple: we're here to conduct a... performance review, if you will." Obi-Wan explained.

"Of a couple a' dirty mercs?" Corsair scoffed. "Don't ya have better things ta do? Like meditate on tha mysteries of tha universe?"

"The Chancellor is concerned that the Titans are not providing enough results when it comes to their directive to stop and capture The Wraith." Obi-Wan calmly replied, looking past Corsair's attempted insult. The Titan leader stroked his goatee.

"Is that right..." He thoughtfully said, almost mockingly so. Then, reaching for his belt, Corsair withdrew a piece of equipment. "Here, picked this up on Sluis Van, a little compensation while we're workin'." He explained, tossing it to Kenobi. The Jedi caught it and looked over the small cylindrical device.

"A voice recorder." He said aloud.

"Ten creds says it's 'is, one a my boys says it fell outta his belt or somethin'. Haven't listened ta it myself, but there's bound ta be somethin' incriminatin' on there."

"Potential intel." Obi-Wan summarized. "I suppose this will suffice."

"Still waiting on the big catch, though." Anakin interjected, arms crossed.

"Ya can't exactly steamroll through things like this, Jedi. It takes a lotta plannin' and tact." Corsair stated.

"Something you have in spades, I presume?" Anakin sarcastically responded. Corsair smirked.

"Mate, it's comin' outta my ears." He shot back.

"We'd like to have a word with you about how you plan to proceed with such an observation." One-Wan politely said, taking over again.

"Shor, 't's what I'm gettin' paid ta do. But walk n' talk, Imma busy man." Corsair instruction, already moving.

"Busy doing what?" Anakin asked as he and Obi-Wan tailed the Titan.

"Checkin' in with tha team."


Following Corsair led them through the narrow corridors of Stolen Horizon, taking them past modified rooms of all sorts on a sort of impromptu tour of the ship. They eventually found themselves in a room where every wall was covered in spare parts and tools. The floor was strewn with bits and pieces of broken and useless machinery as well as puddles of varying fluids.

"Toolie! Where are ya girlie?" Corsair called out. He soon got a response when a pink-skinned Theelin poked her head around a corner.

"The kriff you want Corsair?" She demanded with a frown.

"Ah, caught ya on a good day, I see." Corsair mused with a smirk. "How's Hatah comin' along?"

"That bucket of bolts is more trouble than he's worth. But if you want to know so badly, why don't you see for yourself." She grumbled, disappearing behind the corner again.

"She's a charming one." Obi-Wan quietly mused.

"Like I said, this is a good day." Corsair responded.

"I'd hate to see a bad one..." Anakin muttered to himself as they followed Corsair around the corner to where the Titans only HK model droid lay on a metal berth, multiple cables attached to his head.

"Whatever that Seppie hit him with fried his primary circuits. I had to reboot the whole damn CPU." Toolie informed them. "By the way, don't touch anything." She instructed the Jedi.

"We won't." Anakin and Obi-Wan replied in unison. With that settled, Toolie went back to work.

"I can bring him back online, but I had to do a hard reset. The tech in this damn thing is a mix of old and new, it's like oil and water sometimes."

"Yet yor tha genius that makes it all work." Corsair replied. The Jedi weren't sure if his response was genuine or sarcastic. "Switch 'im on." Plugging a few commands into a nearby data pad and then triggering a switch at the top of Hater's head, the droid's yellow photoreceptors slowly powered on.

"Startup functions initiated. Status: unit H-Eight-R online. Reboot cycle completed." It droned.

"Well, glad ta see he's workin'." Corsair mused, checking him over.

"Barely." Toolie grumped. "I'll get his combat programs reinstalled."

"Thanks Tools." Corsair responded with a grin. "We'll get outta your hair now."

"Don't let the door hit you on the way out." The Theelin muttered as she got back to work. The Jedi dutifully followed Corsair out into the hall. "And KNOCK next time!" She shouted after them.

"Ya can feel right proud a' yorselves Jedi. Ya just survived an encountah with tha legendary Toolie! Most men can't say tha same." Corsair sarcastically applauded them.

"Any idea why she's like that?" Obi-Wan innocently asked. Corsair shrugged.

"She's been around long before me, or so I'm told." He replied. "But I don't ask. Her business ain't mine."


Their trip led them down to the ship's cargo hold, where the Houk brothers were busy moving various crates. As soon as they saw Corsair approaching, one called out to him,

"Hey boss! Where do ya want this stuff?"

"Wherevah ya got room, I don't give a kriff." The merc bluntly replied. The Houk's went back to work as Corsair sighed. "Ya give 'em a simple job and they still need dahrections..." He muttered. Obi-Wan sensed something amiss and grew curious.

"What's their story?" Obi-Wan inquired.

"Block an' Stock? They used ta be guards fo' a Hutt. Now someone put out a right massive bounty on that fat slug's head, an' we took 'im down. Those two had nothin' bettah ta do and joined us." Corsair explained.

"That's it? Nothing elaborate?" Anakin wondered.

"Not everyone's got a sob-story like you, Jedi." Corsair pointedly remarked. Wandering over a specific crate, one branded with multiple warning signs, the Titan leader pride open the lid with a knife and grinned at the contents. "Ah, what a beaut'!" Reaching in, he pulled out a single silver object, one cylindrical in shape. "Feast yor eyes on this, Jedi. This 'ere's tha key ta takin' down that bloody supah-soldiah." He said, passing it off to Obi-Wan. Anakin recognized it first.

"A cartridge?"

"One packed fulla disruptah-level energy." Corsair proudly elaborated. Both Jedi looked up in alarm.

"These are illegal within Republic jurisdictions!" Obi-Wan stated.

"Told yor Chancellor I needed ta up my game. He signed tha permits." The Jedi shared worried glances. The fact that Palpatine willingly signed off on such a dangerous weapons shipment...

"We're... going to have to take a look at those." Anakin slowly responded, determined to make sure it wasn't a fake document.

"Ya want my medical records too?" A snarky Corsair asked.


Corsair then led the Jedi to a common room overseeing a training facility. Below, Theris was busy practicing her skills on some holographic dummies, working up a sweat while practicing her expert melee skills. Corsair had come here for some caf and maybe a smoke break and didn't really care if the Jedi wrinkled their nose at his less-than-professional demeanor or not.

"So what's the story behind the rest of your crew?" Anakin wondered.

"Why so interested? Do ya care about us?" Corsair cheekily replied.

"No. But this is a performance review, so we need to know who we're dealing with." Anakin flatly responded, crossing his arms and trying to not sound annoyed with the mercenary's attitude. Corsair chuckled to himself and didn't immediately reply, too caught up in getting a cup of caf into his hands.

"Not much ta tell." He eventually said. "Maro used ta run with a no-name gang 'til they folded an' he joined us. 'Bout tha same for Jammah, Araa an' Boomstick."

"'Boomstick'?" Obi-Wan wondered with a raised eyebrow.

"Ugnaught. Our demolitions specialist. The mine he was workin' in closed down so he got a job with us makin' and usin' explosives." Corsair elaborated. Just as he was pouring, a Sullustan approached him.

"Hey Boss, did that new engine part come in yet?" He asked in his native tongue.

"The bros are sortin' out tha shipment now. I'm tellin' ya, Speed, ya don't need it! Tha speedah is fine!" Corsair responded.

"No it's not! I won't be satisfied with it until I'm moving at breakneck speeds! I used to be a podracing champion in five different systems, you know!"

"Would ya jus' shaddup about that?!" Corsair snapped. "Go bothah tha Houks already!" The Sullustan, putting on a snooty air of indifference, turned and walked right past the Jedi on his way out. Obi-Wan and Anakin took in Speed and, both of them familiar with Sullustese, understood the entire exchange.

"Let me guess, he's a podracing champion in five different systems?" Anakin repeated.

"Yeah, an' he won't shut up about it!" Corsair affirmed, rolling his eyes with a sigh. "That's 'is tagline an' he don't hesitate ta remind ya." The Jedi fell silent for a moment as they contemplated this member of the Titans.

"You know, I won the Boonta Eve Classic when I was younger." Anakin quietly mused.

"Yes. And you won't shut up about it." Obi-Wan jokingly added. Suddenly recalling Speed's involvement on Takodana, Kenobi voiced a new question, "What about his partner?"

"Freak? 'E's pretty basic." Corsair replied with a shrug. The merc took a long swig of his caf before continuing. "He was a back alley bloodsport fighter. One match went south when someone dumped acid on 'im. We patched 'im up an' took 'im in. He's good with a rocket launcher."

"So I've seen." Anakin mumbled.

"And they work together?" Obi-Wan queried.

"Yup. We fitted tha back a' Speed's ride with a turret for Freak. They go tagethah on every job so we jus' stahted callin' 'em SpeedFreak." corsair answered.

"Nice play on words." Anakin said, a bit louder than he intended.

"Aw, startin' ta like me, Skywalkah?" Corsair teased in his trademark irritating manner.

"I never said that." Anakin retorted with a frown. A laugh from a far corner drew the Jedi's attention to a group of Titans, their attention focused on one in particular. He was clean shaven with neatly cropped black hair and dull blue eyes, yet a fleeting sparkle seemed to appear as he told them a tale with animated hand gestures.

"That's Cagah, one a' my field team leadahs." Corsair explained, seeing the object of the Jedi's focus. "Formah prison guard... though even I doubt that."

"Why?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Jus' listen." Corsair instructed. They did.

"So there I was, trapped at the end of a hall with no lights-" Cager was saying.

"Didn't you just say the lights were on and you saw them coming?" His partner Arro wondered.

"Well, yeah, and then the lights went out." Cager explained. "And all I had was a fork from the cafeteria-"

"Didn't you say it was a spoon?" Another human asked.

"...Okay, it was a spork." Cager corrected.

"He keeps changin' his story. Quite frankly, I take 'im for a nobody tryina be somebody." Corsair quietly explained, sipping his caf and making for the exit. No smoke for him yet, maybe in a while.

"What an eclectic group." Obi-Wan mused as he lagged behind.

"If it weren't for the profession, you'd think they're almost... normal." Anakin added.

"Almost not too far removed from Clones." His friend added.

"I wouldn't go that far." Anakin countered with a shake of his head. "Nor would I say that out loud." Obi-Wan chuckled

"Jedi! Someone else for ya ta meet."

"Seraj Liner." The woman greeted.

"Our resident pilot from Corellia. Best in tha business." Corsair explained as the Jedi shook hands with her, who seemed really out of place among this motley crew.

"The best, huh?" Anakin wondered, knowing he'd often been referred to as the galaxies greatest pilot.

"I used to smuggle stuff. Learned all kinds of tricks in that life." Seraj calmly answered.

"What kind of 'stuff'?" Obi-Wan inquired with a raised eyebrow.

"Oh, you know, this, that and the other thing. Stuff I'm sure Jedi wouldn't care about." She told him with a smile, one that suggested to both Jedi she had something to hide. She turned to Corsair, "You'll excuse me boss, I need some caf." The Titan leader downed the rest of his mug.

"Ya can take this with ya." He said. Seraj did and went on her way, leaving the Jedi and Corsair to watch Theris back on the training floor. She was executing downed holorenders with point blank blaster shots right between the eyes. Corsair took note of the Jedi's concentrated, yet concerned stare.

"Wraith got tha best of 'er on Sluis Van. She's determined not ta lose again." He stated.

"Is she a perfectionist?" Obi-Wan absentmindedly wondered.

"What's her story?" Anakin chimed in. Corsair shrugged again.

"No one knows. All we do know is that she came ta us."

"Really?" Obi-Wan turned to him. Corsair nodded.

"Back in tha day, there were plenty a' Titan recruiters out an' about. 'S how I got on." He stated. "But her... she don't like ta talk much 'bout who she was or what drove her inta this life. None of us bothah ta ask, neithah do I." The Jedi were left to ponder the enigma of a woman, even as Cager continued to try and recollect his story.

"So, there I was, taking on six cons all by myself-"

"Ya said it was five las' time!" Corsair loudly remarked from the doorway.

"Well... it was going to be." Cager weakly defended.


The trio ran through the majority of Stolen Horizon after that, Corsair checking in on all sorts of Titans, the members ranging from black-painted, reprogrammed B1 droids to humans and other organic sentiments of varying species. Corsair also took time to point out the facilities available aboard the GR-47, including the small Theta-class T-2c shuttle dubbed Horizon's Edge that contained the Titans' mobile command centre for grounded operations. Given the extensive work done to the ship, the Jedi noted with mixed emotions just how capable these Titans really were... and how elaborate their numbers were.

"I must say, you have quite the colourful cast." Obi-Wan mused as they made their way towards the entrance.

"That we do, Jedi. Thing is, we ain't pristine, we ain't perfect. We ain't Jedi an' we ain't Clones an' we know it." Corsair replied. "We're just a buncha lowlifes who got thrown togethah. But we're determined an' hard-workin'. Ya don't have ta like our methods, but we'll bag The Wraith. That's a guarantee." The merc proudly promised. "We were jus' feelin' 'im out befor'. But now that we know what 'e's capable of, we'll be shor ta get him."

"We'll take you at your word, for now." Obi-Wan replied.

"I take it yor little 'performance review' is ovah?" Corsair continued.

"Yes, I suppose it is." Kenobi relented.

"Great! Then let's getcha off my ship." Corsair said with a mirthless grin. Anakin and Obi-Wan exchanged knowing looks, Anakin rolling his eyes, as they silently affirmed that Corsair wanted them gone. The Titan leader led them through an adjoining room where another Titan, Binary, was busy polishing his weapon. "Keepin' 'er shiny?" Corsair asked as he passed.

"Yes sir." Binary affirmed.

"Good man." Corsair patted him on the shoulder, moving on.

But the Jedi stopped dead in their tracks. Binary's accent, stature and physical appearance struck a familiar chord with them. The Titan sniper looked up from his rifle to find both Jedi staring at him.

"Master Jedi?" He wondered.

"You're a Clone. Aren't you?" Obi-Wan stated.

"Not anymore I'm not." Binary answered, going back to his work.

"You're a deserter, right?" Anakin pried, crossing his arms.

"I just know what I'm not, sir." Binary quietly informed them.

"Oy! Jedi! Hurry it up an' quit botherin' my crew!" Corsair shouted from the opposite hall.

"Corsair, a moment please." Obi-Wan asked. The Titan leader returned.

"What tha hell ya want now?" He demanded, looking none too pleased.

"Would you care to tell us how a Clone trooper is among your crew?" Anakin retorted.

"Simple story, right Binary? One o' our recrutahs picked ya up."

"That's right boss." The Clone affirmed.

"Let me guess, you used to be CT-Ten-Ten. Is that correct?" Obi-Wan asked. Binary suddenly looked up, his eyes indicating fearful surprise. "The tattoo on your forehead," Kenobi pointed out the inked numerical set running above his left eyebrow, "it just has an extra 'one'." It did read much like binary computer code, leading Obi-Wan to deduce a correlation between his name and the number.

"I added it." Binary confirmed. Something else to note was the circular scars surrounding the left of his scalp, narrowly missing his mohawk and resembling a stitching pattern.

"You had a surgery?" Anakin wondered. "Was it cranial?" With a sigh, Binary set his weapon down. It seemed like he better tell his story...

"We were on Saleucami. A tank found my patrol. I took a bad hit and there was no medic around. My... teammates took me to the nearest town where a local doctor patched me up." Binary opened his mouth to say more but immediately shut it. The Jedi sensed he had something more to say, but had chosen not too. "Before that surgery, I was as loyal to the Republic as the rest. Afterward... I didn't believe in anything anymore." He finally said.

"Why this life?" Obi-Wan queried.

"Believe me, I want nothing more than to live alone in peace and quiet. But that takes credits, and I needed a job that could make me some." Binary replied.

"So ya said yes when one our recruitahs approached ya." Corsair summarized. Binary nodded as his boss turned to the Jedi. "Anymore questions ya wanna ask?" Anakin made to say something, but Obi-Wan interrupted him.

"We're good for the moment."

"Good. Now let's get ya both tha hell off my ship." Corsair firmly stated, jabbing his thumb towards the door. The Jedi took the hint and followed him, leaving Binary alone with the memory of waking up from his life-saving surgery...

And seeing the remains of the bio-chip the doctor had shown him.


Anakin and Obi-Wan stepped onto solid ground as they left the GR-47 and Corsair on the ramp.

"We appreciate your cooperation, Corsair." Obi-Wan thanked him.

"Glad I could be of bloody service," Corsair sarcastically remarked, "now kriff off, I got work ta do."

"Hold on." Anakin stated, turning around, "You've told us all about your crew, but what about you? What's your story Corsair?" The merc crossed his arms and leaned against the nearby hydraulic.

"Oh I've got plenty a' stories Skywalkah. But ya ain't hearin' any of 'em today." The merc replied with a narrow, knowing look. So far, all the Jedi knew about him was that he was a rough, careless man who hated the Order due to something in his past.

Other than that, Corsair was a total mystery... one that wouldn't be solved today.

As the Jedi returned to their speeder, a black-clad Rodian walked up behind Corsair.

"Boss, we got word from one of our sources. Mid Rim. They might have something for us." He stated. The corner of Corsair's mouth turned up in a smirk as he turned and followed his employee back inside the ship.

Just as Anakin and Obi-Wan climbed into their speeder, Stolen Horizon lifted off with a sudden woosh from its powerful repulsorlift engines before jetting off into Coruscant's sky. The Jedi watched it leave in confusion, eyes straining against the light as they watched the Titans depart.

"They didn't mention anything about taking off." Anakin noted.

"If they did, do you think they would tell us?" Obi-Wan wondered.


Author's Note: Now y'all know about the Titans... most of them anyway. Corsair's story shall remain unknown... for now.