I don't own Star Wars, this is a fan fiction only. Edited by Mandalore the Freedom.
As Jack walked over to the throne room, he knew something was wrong as he saw the body of a bodyguard outside the room, a male green Twi'lek in light armor was riddled with holes as if he was shot multiple times at close range, bits of blood leaked out of his body.
Mako was waiting for him by the entrance of the throne room looking rather impressive in a gray Mandalorian armor with red and blue strips, interesting enough with a X visor, not the traditional T visor, it amazed Jack how the Mandalorian armor designs changed so much since Mandalorian Wars. Her blaster was in her hip and she looking through something on her armor glove terminal. She nodded to Jack.
"Hey Jack, nice to see you're still alive, how you like my new armor?" Mako had to take the bigger shoulder guard plates off make room, while leaving smaller ones on. Jack looked over it, it looked good on her. "It looks good on you, I think Braeden be proud know it's going to you." Mako smiled, happy hear that coming from Jack.
The two then walked in, they saw a very upset Nem'Ro screaming at his guards. "If this sort of thing happens again. I swear that I will have the lot of you killed and replace you. You better hope Jack will not become angered, he is not as forgiving as I am." The guards looked at each other, they pray that Jack will not blame them.
Jack knew that he was not going to like this one bit. He walked over to Nem'Ro and he waited to hear what happened to make him so upset. Nem'Ro wasted no time as he knew Jack hated wasting time.
"Jack you did a marvelous job. I found all traitors and have been dealt with. The problem is I was going to give you the token as promised. I would be proud to have you represent me in the Great Hunt. The thing is one of my bodyguards got a ton of credits from a person named Tarro Blood."
Jack glared at the body on display and wished he was still alive, so he could do to him what he did to the beast master, only ten thousand times worse.
"He was told to give the token to one of the Bounty Hunters that Tarro paid off. The man is a Trandoshan name Rarsk. I honestly didn't think that would ever happen. I told the idiot what good are credits since he was going to die? I have talked with Juda and tripled the reward for the last Bounty as an apology to you. I do hope this doesn't cause hard feelings between us." Nem'Ro hoped he would lose an useful ally here, Jack had completed his bounties where no one else has.
Jack smiled and told him not to worry. "It was not your fault. I have the best slicer this side of Genonosis. I will find this Joker and you can be assured that he will pay for this."
One of his advisers, a large Twi'lek, then told Nem'Ro that it was highly likely that Fa'athra was behind this. He would since Fa'athra hated the idea of Nem'Ro being able to sponsor someone to such a famous event and he couldn't do that himself.
"Before you go could you do me a little favor? I know I have no right to ask you after this, but I hear Fa'athra has gotten his hand on a live rancoor egg. It is the dream of every Hutt since they are a child to have their own Rancor. Just kill the other beasts and bring me the egg. I would be very happy to pay for this favor of course." said the Twi'lek adviser, hoping get his hands on a Rancor egg to get more points with Nem'Ro.
Jack towards the exit but as he did he told him that it was no problem at all. He would get his pet rancoor on the way. Most people would never expect this from a crime boss, but Nem'Ro was actually smiling like he just received the happiest news of all times.
Juda gave him his pay and he watched as she looked at Mako. "So who is this person? You been pretty cozy with the Red Blade. So it is kind of surprising to see you with this armored woman." Mako could almost swear she was hearing a particularly jealous tone in her tone of voice.
"The Red Blade is an old friend of mine, and this is Mako and who is she? She is the most important person in the entire galaxy to me." This made her sit down looked almost sad, Mako herself was glad she was wearing her helm, otherwise people might think she would set off the fire alarms since she was blushing so much.
Mako followed him as they left the audience chamber and stopped at the bar. "You know all most of the thugs working for Fa'athra have a Bounty on them and since we are going there anyways, why don't we.."
Jack predicted want she was going to say. "It would be a shame if we let all those bounties go to waste. Why don't collect them while we are there?"
Mako smiled behind her helm. "Yeah, that is exactly what I was thinking. Right behind you big guy." Jack then decide get info on Rarsk, he might as well get as much as intel on him.
"So Mako, the Trandoshan we'll hunting, Rarsk, what you know about him?" Mako soon frown at name, she heard things about him and they were not very nice things. "Well Rarsk is probably one of the most violent Trandoshans you're likely gonna met, he has a ruthless streak following, he always brings his targets dead, even one time while hunting on Datooine, he burned entire village to the ground, left no survivors because they had no info on his target." Jack frown in disgust, it sounds like this guy had taken too much of a liking towards killing.
Jack might be called the Reaper and had killed people in brutal ways, but they were people who did had it coming, besides, he never enjoy it, fighting yes, but killing was a different matter.
As they walked out the palace, they saw a rather shifty looking guy wave at them trying to get their attention. They decided to see why the clear sign of desperation.
"Good, you came over. I knew you are just the type of person I am looking for?"
Jack and Mako reached for their blasters. "And what type would that be?" Jack asked aiming his blaster at his head and Mako surprisingly enough was aiming at a lower and much more painful place. The man saw that, and was sweating, he was likely assuming she was a Mandalorian given the armor.
"The type that likes to get paid for doing an honest person a favor. I have a friend and no its not that kind of friend. He is named Oren Ward and he is this big time Mandalorian Jedi killer. The thing is he got tricked into stealing something valuable from the vault of Fa'athra. It was an obvious trap and now my friend is frozen in Carbonite and on display by the same scumbag that tricked him. I want you to free him and I will pay you."
He was going there anyways so why not. He told him if he didn't come through he would wish he was the one in Carbonite instead as they both put their blasters away. They both walked away and began to walk towards their destination. They finally came towards where Fa'athra's palace was at, seeing at 5 dozen or so guards around. Along the way they came across some guy who wanted help with hacking some droids within the palace for intel, since they were heading in, Jack so no problem of doing so.
The bounties themselves were well paid and that was the only thing he could say nice about them. They were pathetic. He could kill them all in a single fight and still not break a sweat, they were all like rest, just thugs who think themselves as big shots. "Honestly Mako, this is asking for a good worthy opponent too much to ask? I feel like I am the bully picking on elementary school kids. I want a worthy opponent, one that can be a real challenge of my skills."
Mako laughed as she told him to be careful otherwise people would start believing that he was a Mandalorian if they heard him say that. "We can hope that Rarsk is going to be a better opponent. I know that he is going after the Bounty on a republic scientist. My plan is we get the scientist, set an ambush and when he shows up."
Jack understood the notion pretty easy. "We'll take him down and get our token back."
Fa'athra's palace must be in serious need of cleaning that was the thoughts that went trough their minds as they turned the odd smell blocking option on in their helms. "I would not be able to eat anything smelling that, how in the world can he live with that stench?"
Jack just answered that it was probably bad taste as he pointed at the massive statue he had right in the entrance foyer. It was a giant statue of himself pointing straight up and looking rather smug.
The thugs were not that many and those that were present could be described in one world, crazy. The accountant really did ruin Fa'athra's finances it seems. This had a mixed reaction by both Mako and Jack. For Mako it was a fun walk through a somewhat badly decorated palace. They were able get the info from cleaning droids they passed by as they fought through the palace.
For Jack it was just another day on the job. "Mako one of these days you will have to explain to me one thing. If Fa'athra is in financial ruin why are these nutcases still working here?"
Mako smiled and looked rather happy to say what she said next. "Do you think any mental cases would find any other place to work?"
Jack had to agree that it was very unlikely that Nem'Ro would hire the people he was fighting.
As they made it to the place where the guy was at, they agreed to rescue was hanging on the wall like a modern piece of art work. "Mako did I ever tell you I spent quite a few years in carbonite freeze myself?"
Mako looked surprised. "No, you actually haven't talked with me much about your past come to think of it."
Jack looked at the man and began to shake his head. "Yes, a lot of time and now I wonder how many people looked at me like we are looking at this once proud warrior?" Jack actually felt bad for anyone in that situation, being trap and not being able get out.
Jack began to push the buttons and the Carbonite began to melt releasing the man, he fell to the ground to his knees, coughing, waving his arms around. He was human, fair skin and had short dirty blonde hair, there was a large scar across his face, it looked like it came from a lightsaber. He was wearing gold style Mandalorian armor with some silver shoulder and knee guards.
He glared at Jack and Mako's direction, though not being able see clearly, he could make out shadowy figures.
"I don't know who you are but keep away or I will kill you! Why the hell can't I see?"
Jack couldn't stand it, he remember when this had happened to him when he was awoken. "It's the effects of the carbonite freezing, I spent hundreds of times more in that state. You will be regain your sight soon. You big cry baby."
Mako had to try really hard not to laugh as she saw him say that. Oren Ward didn't like that, he fought through the pain and got himself ready for a fight.
"You are Oren Ward right? Your friend sent us to rescue you."
This made him relax somewhat as he cleared his head. "He might not be the most kind guy but he is dependable to a fault. The lock box is in the other room it seems. I will meet up with you later. It seems you guys took care of most of the enemy."
He turned around and promised them to have something nice as a thank you present before leaving the room.
"I never pictured a publicly recognized Jedi Killer to be so nice. I have to admit I half expected him to be a monster or a psychopath." Jack began to walk and Mako followed him.
"You be surprised Mako. The guy who is responsible for the destruction of Taris, was a guy named Malak. I can tell you things that would have to laughing so hard that you have a hard time breathing."
This made her curious and asked him to give him an example. Jack felt generous so he did. "He used to love old music, he loved to sing and dance like the people who used to sing the song. He had a collection of one group. His favorite song was YMCA by a group called the village people."
This made her ask how could he have that? The supposed group was a group from a planet call Earth before the human race became a spacefaring species, but lots of that info was lost over the years. "I have no clue how he had it but he did. He used to love to sing songs by that group. Family heirloom, pricey purchase at an auction but he had the music and a few video reels." Jack began miss him and Revan, he couldn't believe some of the things he heard Malak did in Jedi Civil War, whatever happened to him that turned him into the monster most people made him out to be?
The two made out of the room, they came across the door leading to where scientist was, Jack kicked down the door, he saw the very much afraid scientist. "Relax, We are not going to harm you. You are safe. We just need your help with something." She of course looked at them in a rather doubtful way.
"Sure I will help but mind telling me what you need? I am not a Jedi, I can't read minds." she was being very warily with these two armored figures, they looked like Mandalorians, they did not had a nice history with Republic, she become very worried here.
Jack told her neither could most Jedi. "We need you to stay quiet and act scared. We need you as bait to catch this Trandoshan hunter scumbag that's coming to collect a bounty on you're head." that caused the poor scientist become even more scared, her eyes were wide.
It would have been funnier if she didn't do that, because Rarsk soon came in the room, which is exactly what happened, Rarsk smiled, showing his teeth were actually red, likely from eating something. "Well hello soft things, I see you have killed many of Fa'athra, thank you for the meal." that almost made Mako throw up there, she did not realize Rarsk had a habit of eating people, that was just so wrong. Jack must have agree cause his glare just become very harden there, he stood front of the Republic Scientist.
"Mako what species is this guy again? I never fought someone like him before, unless his somekind of Rodian." Rarsk did not like that, he hissed, glaring his deep red eyes at Jack, Mako smirked and answer Jack.
"Trandoshan, usually rhymes with dead meat. They have this faith that focuses on gaining points on a celestial score board being maintained by their goddess."
Rarsk was a little more than upset. "Tarro Blood was right in asking me to kill you both. The score keeper will reward me with many points for killing heretics such as you "
Jack was shaking his head as he pulled out his blaster and Mako did the same. "Looks like he also planned to use the scientist as bait. I guess we really should stop questioning his intelligence don't you think so?" before Rarsk knew it, Jack used the force flash right knew him, side kicking him back, sending him flying across the room, Rarsk's men, two male Abyssins in light armor, picked him up from the ground.
Jack told him they could talk about philosophy and social appropriateness later. "Look Mako we can talk at the bar back at the Palace while we have a nice drink, but for now Blast the stupid reptile we still got that Rancoor egg to pick up and I think it is going to be heavy."
The two Abyssins were taken care off rather easy as Mako shot them down, Rarsk attempted fight back ,he shot wildly at Mako and Jack, the Scientist screamed, she took cover behind a box. However just before Rarsk reached them, he was shot a lot by both Mako and Jack, to Rarsk credit, he was able reach them at least couple inches from them before he fell down death.
"Alright, now that is over. Now that I think about, Mako doesn't this woman have a Bounty on her head?" the Scientist become very worried, why can't she catch a break here?
Mako didn't look happy as she heard him say that. "We aren't going to collect it, are we?" Mako know the money was important for the Great Hunt, she rather not have to break her moral code.
Jack finished taking the armor off one of the corpses. He even took a blaster. "Of course not Mako. You know I would never do something to make you unhappy. I was thinking that she needs this armor for a disguise and a blaster she can use to protect herself. Lefts face it wearing a lab coat is a dead giveaway."
The scientist had to agree that it would make her feel safer. "So here I think this guy is pretty much your size and here is a nice blaster too. He even had enough credits to purchase travel tickets back to Republic space imagine that."
The scientist took the thing and went behind the near wall to change. Jack of course turned around to respect her privacy. This made Mako smile. "You know as well as I do those thugs didn't have two credits to rub together. You gave her the money for her to return to Republic space didn't you?"
Jack didn't turn around but he told her not to say that too loud. He had a reputation to keep after all. This made Mako laugh as the scientist finished getting dressed.
"Thank you both for saving me and doing all these things. I will never be able to thank you enough for doing this."
Jack told her it was all in a days work. The scientist left with a smile on her face.
Jack walked calmly as he searched Rarsk and sure enough, he took the token. "You are a complete mystery sometimes. You can be cruel one minute, funny the next, and sweet and tender in another."
Jack smiled and told her he was simply honest. Jack left the room and headed back to the elevator to go down to the beast pens.
What he found there was sick, the guards of the pen had actually killed the beast master and most of the adult beast and had begun eating them as the two walked into the beast pen. "I know these guys are hungry and all but cannibalism? I mean the beasts I understand but the beast master was the same species they are." Mako was disgusted, she was very glad her helmet was able keep the smells from getting to her noise.
Jack didn't even bother answering that, he just blasted them with his flamethrower and they dropped dead from the injuries they suffered. He walked over to the place he considered the pen's nursery.
The Rancor egg was very colorful and even made him smile. "If you have to wonder it is this, how can something that comes out of such a colorful and delicate thing grow up to be able to swallow an adult man in a single gulp?"
He picked up the egg container very carefully and the two made the Journey back to the palace, leaving behind quite a mess of the palace, bodies and burned items filled the area. They were able make it to friendly control area, they took a speeder back to Nem'Ro's palace, stopping to Oren's friend.
The guy who asked them to rescue his friend unlocked a lock box with him, inside it was a top of the line blaster. Jack told him that it was for Mako.
Oren Ward must have liked that because he gave Jack a box as well, he was now wearing a Mandalorian helmet, with the traditional T visor. "I hope you get as much use from these gloves as I did. I know you will put them to good use."
Jack opened the box and he was speechless. He had seen gloves like this during the war but he never figured that he would one day own a pair of his own. Mako looked into the box and could not help but to say what she was thinking. "Holy cow, those are crushgaunts. These babies are made from Mandalorian iron. They are extremely rare and they look beautiful." Mako had heard quite lot of things about those, she even heard that they can catch lightsabers.
Oren had to laugh as she said that. "Yeah, they are and they do after I got done cleaning them." Oren had great memories with those crushgaunts, he once used them defeat a Jedi knight doing Sacking of Coruscant, the look on Jedi's face when he caught his lightsaber was priceless, it helped that the said Jedi had killed some of his friends that day.
Jack immediately put them on and was amazed at how comfortable they were. "Don't you worry Oren, I will definitely put them to good use. I might need to ask how to clean them." Oren laughed and said he left a manual inside the box just in case.
Mako had a very nasty suspicion as to what he planned to do with such things. Oh, well of things get out of hand she would be there to see patch him up afterwards. They said their goodbyes to Oren and his friend before they headed inside the palace.
As they made it into the cantina, Talia was waiting to see Jack. "Jack I have to tell you. I had a much easier time dealing with Fa'athra's goons after you went through the place. The way dome of them talked you made me feel sorry for them."
Jack looked very serious as he looked at the Chiss woman smiling at him."That job is not for the weak or easily frightened. If you can't stand the heat stay out of the kitchen, right Blade?" Mako was not liking the familiar tone in this conversation one bit.
She pretended to clear her throat. Jack then realized something here. "Oh, that's right. I haven't introduce you to each other have I, sorry about that. Mako this is my good friend, most call her the Red Blade for obvious reasons." He then turned to Talia. "Blade this is my partner Mako, good shot and even better slicer. I get all my info straight and to the point thanks to her."
The two women pretended to be civil, they shook hands. To other women present and even some men they looked like they were ready to beat each other's skulls in. "Blade it is a pleasure meeting one of Jack's old friends." Talia smiled and said she felt the same.
"Blade I am sorry I can't stick around to chat. I got to get this token activated, get my instructions for the Great Hunt and finally leave Nal Hutta. As much as I like this planet I got places to go and people to kill." Talia nodded and let the two pass.
Talia hopped she will see Jack again, she was starting take quite a liking towards him, too bad Mako was gonna make things harder for her.
