T-minus 6: The Zann Consortium

"Everyone has a price."

Remark attributed to Tyber Zann before his arrest for crimes against the Empire.

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The Anaxsi known as Tyber Zann sat waiting in his prison cell on Kessel. All he had was time, but soon, very soon. He would be freed, and his enemies would pay.

Anaxsi were human looking, but Tyber's hair was so blond it was nearly white. He possessed a scar that ran from the left side of his forehead, down over the bridge of his nose. to his right cheek. He had acquired the scar from a fight with an enemy that he had made an example of. Reconstructive surgery could have removed the scar, but Tyber had kept it as a reminder of the first order of business: "Move well or die."

His solitude was interrupted by the cell door opening, allowing in a mouse messenger droid. He rolled his eyes and looked at the small messenger, and it activated its holoprojector. The image of the grotesque Jabba the Hutt appeared. Speaking in Huttese, Jabba smiled at Tyber cruelly. "How are you enjoying your time on Kessel, Tyber? I do hope I've interrupted something."

Tyber chuckled and shrugged slightly. "Thanks for the vacation, Jabba. I needed it."

Jabba laughed a deep booming laugh, and nodded. "Its good to see that you still possess your sense of humor. You will need it when I tell you that your time on Kessel will not be long. I've placed a large bounty upon your life. I look forward to hearing of the way you were butchered across the newscasts."

Tyber grinned as he stared back at the hutt. "Kill me Jabba, and you'll never get back your precious artifact."

Jabba's eyes narrowed menacingly. "Conversly, telling me where the artifact is could buy you your life back.:"

Tyber sighed and lay back on the bed, putting his arms back and relaxing. "And give up my only bargaining chip? You know me better than that, Jabba. The artifact is safe in trusted hands... and you'll never find it."

Jabba grew angrier, and nearly spattered the holo-camera with his spit. "You will die horribly on Kessel! Good bye, Tyber. Do yourself a favor and take your own life.. it will be easier for you."

Tyber yawned and shooed the mouse droid away. "Good bye Jabba. When I get out of here, you'll be the first to know."

The mouse droid deactivated the holomessage and left the cell... but Tyber realized that the cell door didnt close. He sat up on his cot and waited. "Well? Are you going to come in or wait for me to come out to you?"

The bounty hunter entered the cell, wearing elaborate armor, and carrying a wide range of weapons. "I've been paid alot of credits to make sure you die horribly, Tyber Zann."

Tyber shrugged, and looked at the time on the outer wall. "Well its about time. if you could hurry it up, I have places to be."

The bounty hunter looked at Tyber Zann like he was insane. "After I'm done with you, you wont be going anywhere."

Tyber looked at the bounty hunter with an annoyed expression. "What makes you think I asked you that question?"

The bounty hunter was confused for a moment, and then gasped out a breath when twin blades punched out of his chest. He collapsed wordlessly as a huge Talortai decloaked behind him. "About time, Urai." Zann said, standing up and catching the Rawk chopped special blaster Urai Fenn tossed him. "Is the prison riot beginning?"

The beaked Talortai nodded its birdlike head and spoke in a raspy deep voice. "Yes, Tyber. Even now, Administrator Moruth Doole has opened the cell-blocks. We have a direct path to the ship I hired to fly us out of here."

Tyber nodded, and checked his blaster. "Excellent. Lets get out of here. The decour is terrible, and the food is even worse."

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Corellian smuggler Dash Rendar stood near the hatch of The Outrider. "This is bad." he said, listening to the growing riot that was spreading through the Kessel Prison. "I didnt sign up for this." he said to no one in particular, but his partner, the droid LE-BO2D9...aka Leebo, actually laughed. "Actually sir, you did."

Dash slapped his hand on his forehead. "Dont remind me. This guy is paying through the nose...beak... nose.. whatever for me to fly someone off this rock. And he did deliver that shipment of spice as well as further incentive.. but I swear, if a bunch of hopped up prisoners storms The Outrider, Im buttoning up and blasting my way out."

Leebo practically jumped when Urai Fenn and Tyber Zann appeared to phase into existance before them. Urai looked to Zann and spoke. "Captain Dash Rendar, and his droid, Leebo."

Dash was about to speak, but Leebo spoke first. "Its always Dash Rendar and 'his' droid, Leebo! Why cant I for once hear. "Captain Leebo and his human Dash Rendar?"

Tyber Zann actually broke into laughter. "Oh now that is funny. I like your droid, Captain Rendar." Leebo's eye seemed to glow brighter. "Why thank you, sir!"

Dash looked behind Urai and Tyber, and heared more noises from the riot in progress. "Well, it seems that we're a little rushed, so if you'll come aboard, we'll get out of here."

Dash and Leebo ran aboard the Outrider, and Tyber Zann slapped his hand on Urai's shoulder. "Soon, everyone, Jabba in particular... will quake in fear when they hear that the Zann Consortium has returned."