So, it's been many months since I updated. I kinda broke up with someone and work has been crazy and I'm still looking for a full-time job… Not going to lie, I came very close to cancelling this story, but… well, just planning the full thing has actually reinvigorated me, so expect more frequent updates. I'll try to write every other day, but in the meantime, let's see how Ruv's getting on…

Zeffo, Zeffo System, Outer Rim Territories

15 BBY

The cold, wet gravel crunched beneath Ruv's feet as the smell of salt filled his nostrils, the spray of the sea upon his green skin. He pulled his poncho over his head, glancing over to Pocra, who scanned the horizon through his electrobinoculars.

"You see him?"

"Not yet…" Pocra handed the binocs over to Ruv, who gazed through them to study the settlement in the distance. Beneath the heavy clouds of rain and mist that straddled the waves, some small stone structures could be seen. It was a fishing village, most likely. It definitely matched the past few locations their target had been spotted in…

"There's no-one there," Ruv said, lowering the binocs.

"They're out fishing," Pocra replied.

"So, we… what? Wait until they come back?"

"Ug-Nez is a slippery little bugger…" Pocra straightened up, drawing his rifle and peering down the scope. "We'll get closer and find a position."

"And then?"

"Then I provide overwatch, and you get in close and slap some cuffs on him."

Ruv turned to Pocra with a black eyebrow raised. "I will?"

"You're a lousy shot. You'll probably end up shooting Ug-Nez."

"I'll shoot you in a second…" Ruv murmured.

They hiked down the hill, with Pocra holding out his arms to better balance as he scaled the sharp black rocks they traversed. They leant forwards, slowly making their way to the top of the large black rock that loomed over the village like a watchful protector. To the right, a narrow, long staircase snaked down the rocks and towards the small gravel beach. A thick plume of smoke rose from the side of the staircase, obscured by the sharp, black stone.

"Still can't see anyone," Ruv said, squinting at the village.

"It's a fishing village – they go and fish… it's not that complex, Ruv."

"All of them?" Ruv asked. "That doesn't strike you as… strange?"

"Believe me, kid, you roam around the galaxy as long as I have, you realize there's no such thing as strange."

Ruv glanced around, biting his lip. "So, what? Should I look here for Ug-Nez?"

"He could be hiding in one of those huts…"

"Or down there, with whoever's causing that smoke…"

Pocra sniffed the air. Something was charred and tender – crackling and crisp like pork or poultry. "Cooking dinner, maybe? Caught some more fish than usual, I reckon…" He glanced to Ruv, who shrugged. "Go on, then, before they finish eating…"

Ruv groaned and began to descend the stalagmites until he slid onto the flat plateau overlooking the tempestuous darkness cut apart by the white froth of waves. Ruv readjusted his blue jacket to hide his blaster pistol as he pulled up the hood over his head. His black hair ceased whipping across his face and into his eyes and Ruv approached the hut on his left.

He heard chatter. Not from inside the hut, however. It was chatter down from the steps. There was something there… a hollowness. A rift.

Death was down there.

"I'm checking out the smoke…" Ruv said into his comm on his jacket.

"Why didn't you eat before we left the ship?"

"It's not that!" Ruv snapped. "I think he's down here with the others."

"You're just going to stroll up and ask for a seat at the table?" Pocra scoffed. Ruv climbed down the stairs, turning to see Pocra scrambling across the rocks with his rifle. Ruv shook his head and carried on walking down until his foot fell upon the last step. His green eyes grew still as every crease in his face opened up.

Charred and blistered and strewn in a scattered line were the bodies of roughly twenty – humans, most likely. Ruv's eyes roved over the small remains buried inside a man's arms. A father's arms – his body now cradled a pile of ash.

Ruv looked up to see the gleaming white armour of the Stormtroopers. He ground his teeth as his hand reached back behind his coat and lightly pinched the diamond-shaped pommel of his lightsaber hilt.

"Trespasser in Sector Seven," one of the Stormtrooper's intercoms crackled as the soldier next to them held up a hand as he marched closer.

"Trespasser, under article nine-oh-seven, sub-section C-"

Ruv felt no conflict. No doubt. He was certain as he was angry. He removed the hilt of his lightsaber from his belt, dragging his left foot back along the floor and taking a side-face stance.

Ruv's thumb hovered over the switch as he closed his eyes. He felt the spray of the sea, the smell of burned flesh hung from his nostrils, the whirring of the blasters rang out across his ears. He pressed the switch down and the troopers panicked.

"It's a Jedi!" One of them shouted.

"Shoot him- shoot the Jedi!"

A flurry of blaster bolts soared towards Ruv, who stood there, deflecting each of the shots with quiet dedication. His emerald lightsaber crackled as the bolts ricocheted back towards his opponents. One of the troopers howled out in pain as a bolt pierced his armour. Another cursed as his rifle burned hot and a third screamed from the sizzling hole in his arm.

Ruv began to approach, still parrying each shot. He could feel the rising sense of panic in his chest, but did his best to press passed it: He was feeling the Force, he had to let it act through him…

Suddenly, Ruv hissed with pain as a blaster bolt skidded off his lightsaber and singed his neck. He panicked, keeping his lightsaber in front as he stumbled down and quickly got back to his feet. Ruv stopped simply blocking the shots and began to bat the scarlet streaks back towards his attackers. They fell to the ground, desperately cowering from their own attacks that Ruv had redirected.

He took a step into a trooper's space and sliced his rifle in two before swiftly striking through his torso with grace and simplicity. He turned towards the second shooter, who scrambled for his rifle. Twirling into one block and another, Ruv spun past the trooper, sweeping his lightsaber down from shoulder-to-waist.

Facing the last man, Ruv held out a hand and wrenched the rifle from his foe's arms. The trooper leapt forwards to grab his rifle from the ground, but Ruv lunged forwards and knelt down, his lightsaber burying into the trooper's back as a shot fired off into the atmosphere.

His breaths were shuddering – he tried to control his breathing, just like Master To-Gollo taught him. Ruv turned around to examine his trail of bodies leading to the base of the steps, where he saw Pocra, slowly descending the stairs, with his long rifle in-hand.

"Ruv? What the hell hap-" He eyes fell on Ruv's green blade.

"I think they were after the same bounty," Ruv said, gesturing to the pile of ashes as he walked back towards him, "they massacred the whole-"

"Don't come any closer," Pocra said sternly. Ruv paused as he saw Pocra grasp his rifle with both hands.

"Pocra, it's…" he frowned. "What are you doing?"

"You're one of them."

"No, it's… we didn't do what they said we did, it was a lie-"

"The whole Republic lied?"

"You don't understand," Ruv said, walking back towards Pocra, who fired a shot into the ground by Ruv's feet. Ruv held up a hand, his palm facing Pocra. "I'm not going to hurt you-"

"What's that, another Jedi lie?" Pocra scowled. "I trusted you, Ruv."

"I've not done anything wrong!"

Pocra shook his head as he began to climb the steps once again. "You stay away from me or I'll kill you, you hear me? I'll damn well kill you!" Pocra scarpered up the steps as Ruv stood there, mouth agape and brow furrowed.

"Wait…" he said quietly, "Pocra, wait!" He darted up after his friend, trying his best not to slip on the wet stairs.

As Ruv reached the village, however, a crimson streak rocketed towards his face. Ruv flashed his lightsaber against it and heard a gasp. He looked over to see Pocra standing there, a sizzling hole in his throat as he watched Ruv with a mixture of fear and confusion.

Ruv deactivated his lightsaber and ran over to the bounty hunter, who was crawling away.

"Pocra, wait, I can help," Ruv said, trying to turn him over onto his back, "I can help!"

Pocra pushed Ruv's hands away and reached for his rifle. Ruv tried to turn him on his back when a blaster bolt pierced the air, ringing out across the water. Ruv looked down at Pocra's hand, still clutching the small blaster pistol. Ruv's chest began to rise and fall as his green eyes found the wound on his stomach.

He let out a strangled gasp as he fell backwards, trying to grasp the wound, but the pain was immeasurable. He let out a long groan as he dragged himself back, trying to sit up. His hand slipped and he felt his arm crack as he fell down the steps back towards the beach and corpses.

He hit the gravel, feeling it scrape against his cheeks. Water washed up against him, soaking his pants and shirt. His eyes began to close as he heard something soar overhead…

Remember to drop a review and say what you thought. Expect another update today / tomorrow.

R.