It's been a while since I updated because… well, work has been hectic. But I'm here – I'm going to make my way through this. We'll see how popular it gets, but it seems there's a demand for other stories so… we'll see, I guess? I really don't want to abandon stories – especially when those who are reading really seem to enjoy it.

A little shout-out to Lawrence Cartwright and Mister Cydonia who are awesome writers about the Star Wars universe – I'm sure most of you are familiar with their names.

Anyway, I know this one's short, so I'm going to write and upload the first chapter now. But before that, let's enjoy our first chapter with Dax.

Dax I

15BBY

Lokori, the Gaulus Sector

Everything was coming into focus. The orange rock, the flickering of the pale blue light. Shapes were still hard to make out, but Dax could distinctly make out a figure sitting in front of him. He groaned as he moved forwards, rubbing his scalp and parting his dark hair, feeling a large bump on his head.

"Using a laser-sword," a woman's voice crooned, "pushing people without touching them. Not keeping secrets from me, are you, Dax?"

Dax's dark brown eyes focused on the figure in front of him. He recognized the voice well enough. "Jai, great to see you…" he winced. "Or… I imagine it would be. That bump on the head is-"

His cheek stung. It took a while before he realized that he's been struck across the face. Maybe it had knocked his brain back into place, or maybe it was the adrenaline, but he began to see clearly. Across from the stone table was Jaikil – green, monolid eyes fixed on him in a stern glare, dark ponytail resting on her faded purple pauldron.

"Thanks," Dax groaned before facing her again. "You were saying?"

"I want the Jedi."

"You mean Corrin?"

"Jedi fetch a good price."

"Well, I'm willing to negotiate…" Dax said, only to have Jai strike him square in the face. He was looking up at the ceiling, clutching his nose and hissing out a breath before looking down at her hand. Made up of dulled scrap metal and resembling a rudimentary gauntlet, seared into her elbow.

"You'll bring me the Jedi."

"Yeah, sure, no problem," Dax said, his voice muffled by his cupped hands. "Always happy to help, Jai."

"My name is Gauntlet."

Thank God Dax had covered his mouth and nose with his hands – they muffled his scoff. "Hey, Gauntlet," he said, rubbing his nose, "I'm 'Glove'."

A thick hand gripped his shoulder. Or, rather, the scaled fingers and razor claws of a hand did. Dark green and thick like cast iron, a Barabel stood there, a low rumble escaping between his sharp fangs.

"Runt doesn't have much of a sense of humour," Jai said. "I've seen him tear a man's arm off for a joke about his tail."

"Yeah…" Dax said clearing his throat and hoping it wouldn't break, "some things, you just don't-"

"I want the Jedi."

"And you'll get him," Dax said, "I know where he lives, I know where he works…"

"You told me he works at Minzi's."

"And you told me you don't pay for drinks," Dax replied. Jaikil's eyes narrowed at him. "Do you know who Minzi is, Jai-" Dax was cut off by Runt's low, rumbling growl. "Gauntlet?"

She leant forwards, he sharp, metal fingers scraping against the stone table, leaving four long lines as her hand curled into a rusted fist. "You're taking me there. You're going to watch as I skin and gut Corrin before we hand him over to the Empire."

Dax nodded. "Yeah, sure, no problem, sounds like fun- like bonding. So, you have a speeder? Or, are we going to ride Runt, over here?" He tried to stand up, only to have Runt's talons squeeze his shoulder and push him back onto the stone chair.

"How do I know I can trust you?"

"Because Runt will eat me if I turn on you?"

Jaikil nodded to Runt, who released Dax. She stood up and rested a hand on the heavy

Double-barrelled blaster pistol that sat in a holster. It's silver frame catching the synthetic light as she reached behind her waist and produced a small, battered blaster pistol roughly the size of Runt's claw.

"That's about your size."

"Guess again," Dax said. She took a step closer, staring into his eyes. "You try and turn that on me or anyone else, and Runt will do more than just eat you." Her leafy green eyes transfixed upon him. "You understand me?"

"No…" Dax confessed, "but I get the gist."

She nodded. "Good." Jaikil turned around and gave a small chirrup of a whistle. Figures emerged from the shadows – four Humans, two Trandoshans, a Kaleesh, a pair of Vodran, a Devoranian man and a pair of idenetical Twilek women emerged, each with rifles and heavy blasters. "Let's go hunt a Jedi."

So, that's it for now. In the next chapter, we'll properly be starting the story. This was more of a prologue, but yeah. Review, follow, whatever - you know the drill.