I don't own Star Wars, this is a fan fiction only. Edited by Mandalore the Freedom.


As Jack and Mako got off on the space port. He took a deep breath and slowly let it out. Mako began to wonder what was the matter he seemed a little tense. This was hardly like his usual behavior.

"You are probably going to laugh, but when I was a kid, I often believed that if I stepped on the a world rule by tyranny like the Sith, I would instantaneously burn till I was nothing but ashes. I kid you not. I swear I can practically see words on the ceiling that say 'Abandon all hope who ye enter here'."

This was not meant to be a joke but she did laugh at his comment. "Next thing you are going to say that you dreamed this place was guarded by a giant three headed dog, that breaths fire." Jack shrug, he did thought of that when he was much younger. The two made their away out of the hanger before coming towards small market area in space port.

They were unaware of a young woman with fair skin, dark hair tiled in pony tail, she wearing robes and a beautiful headdress that seemed to cover her eyes. A big hulking creature behind him with armor and a melee weapon strapped to his back. It looked like a giant double bladed sword.

'That human more smart that he gives himself credit. Khem can also see that on the ceiling. It is a mystery to Khem why he can actually read it however.' thought the woman as she glazes at Jack, curious if he was Mandalorian cause of the armor, but she notice something off about him.

She looked at him and smiled. "I can see through the force and I have no idea what that says, but this one bounty hunter clearly does. Looks like we will have some fun here Khem."

She walked fast to catch up to him as they registered their arrival on the terminals. "Excuse me, bounty hunter, I would like a word with you and your friend." Jack turned around and saw that she was a member of the Miraluka race. His mother often told him about other races, so he knew their affinity to use the force to see.

"I have no problem, we could spare a few moments don't you think so Mako? I am Jack and you are Ms?"

She forgot to introduce herself. "I am Rurika Kallig, and the big guy behind me is my good friend Khem. Say hello Khem, no need to be so quiet." Jack raise a brow at the large hulking humanoid front of him, Mako couldn't help but be on guard.

Khem just walked closer to Jack and smelled him. "Darkness, rage, vengeance, a divided spirit. This one knows pain like few unlike Khem knows. He also has a smell to him that makes him smell delicious to Khem. I would almost say this one is a Jedi." Jack was now put on edge, Khem was starting sound like some Sith spawn creatures his heard about from his mother.

Rurika put his edge on rest. "You have to forgive Khem, he finds you fascinating as do I, truth be told. You seem to possess a lot of force energy but the color is a bit odd. I can tell the color it shifts to quickly to actually tell."

Jack asked that they talk about this later and in a more secure place. Mako didn't like the sound of it, she heard enough things about Sith from Braeden that made her wary of them. Rurika actually looked forward to it. They could meet at a local bar. She was sure that his story would be fascinating. Rurika blow at him and left the hanger bay.

Rurika and Khem got on a speeder bike and left the area. Jack and Mako were about to do same thing before a Imperial Officer near the speeders, tried to get his attention.

"Bounty Hunter, I have a situation, the landing beacons are causing the beasts around the area to attack commuters. I need you to find each landing Beacon and regulate their power output."

Jack didn't like to be ordered by an Imperial in such a tone. So he decided to make a comment. "I don't know, I bet you Imperials taste great with a little ketchup and hot sauce."

The officer didn't like the sound of that, but Mako began to laugh.

Jack then spoke again. "I am just saying that the beacons could only be part of the problem and that the landing beacons are just making them more aware of their hunger."

The officer had to admit that it could be since the attacked commuters had been completely devoured. "I will take your advice in consideration for future reference."

Mako smiled as Jack pulled out his blaster. "Come on Mako, that was a long trip and I need to give my trigger finger a good workout." the two made their way where the beasts were at, seeing some very large beasts.

Mako was amazed how he could basically pull the attacking creatures into a big ball and slammed them hard against the ground. This left them disoriented which gave them plenty of time to blast each once in the head.

The beacons were influencing their appetite as he believed, but this could only mean one thing. This was an act of deliberate sabotage. "Does this seem like it was made intentionally to vibrate as a specific frequency. These creatures must be influenced by the sound they are emitting."

Mako took a scan of a dead beast and she saw that he was indeed right. "It is stimulating the section of the brain that controls hunger and appetite. We must tell the officer that someone is doing this. If this person tries again hundreds of innocent people will be at risk." the two returned to where the Imperial officer was at.

The officer in truth, had wanted the two of them to be eaten for Jack's previous statement. "Well I got good news and bad news. The good news is we fixed the landing beacons, the bad news is that the beacons were used as transmission towers for a signal that would make any beast in the area feel that no matter how much they eat they were always hungry. This is sabotage plain and simple."

Mako gave him one of the devices that had been attached to one for the landing beacons. "This is the device they used. With luck and a good tech team, you should be able to find out who did this. My suggestion is employ imperial intelligence on this."

The officer thanked them both and asked them since they were headed to the city, if they could deliver a letter and the device to imperial intelligence. He didn't trust his soldiers to handle such delicate materials.

"From muscle to a Hutt to an overglorified delivery boy for the Empire. I am so glad mother can't see me like this. I would feel so embarrassed if she did." Jack could only image how she would react to seeing him like this.

Mako touched his back and in an act of support she pulled him around and gave him a hug. "I am sure if she did, she would be proud that her son just saved the lives of countless of innocent people."

Jack thanked her as they walked over to the next station where they could take a speeder to Kaas City. It must be a very busy day since they couldn't find one by the space port exit.

As they walked near a lake, about 5 Mandalorians in blue armor saw them. "So another vode thought he could take us on? well let's go!" they must have assume Jack and Mako were Mandalorians because of their armor, without warning they opened fire on them.

Jack and Mako were force take cover, Mako took out his blaster pistol and started return fire, Jack also taking out his blaster pistol. They were able hit three of the Mandalorians in their weak spot of their armor. The last two decide charge on, they toke out viroswords from their backs and charged Jack and Mako,

Jack surprise the two when he toke out his lightsaber. "OYA!" charged one of the Mandalorians, Jack's lightsaber met the virosword, the Mandalorian attempted slice Jack forward, however Jack twist his body enough dodge it, he attempted cut the Mandalorian on his helmet, but the beskar metal protected him from the lightsaber.

"Gonna take lot more then that cut through beskar." the other Mandalorian actives a homing device before he moved in help his fellow Mandalorian, but Mako uses her jetpack charge in on him, knocking him down the hill before Mako threw a grenade, killing him.

Jack decide change his tactics and sweeps the leg of the Mandalorian, knocking him down before brought down his lightsaber to his neck, killing him. Jack took moment breath. "What the freaking hell was that about?" Mako shrug, "beats me, but by the looks of things, they must have mistaken us for challengers of some kind."

However the two then heard something coming down, the two looked and saw another Mandalorian came dropping out of the air using his jet pack, glaring at Jack as he walked close to him, he was dark skin, tall and large with muscle, wearing blue and silver Mandalorian armor. "You killed my men, mind telling me what the hell is going on? cause I ain't the type who forgives people who do that."

Jack returned the glare."I didn't bother your men. They shot at me, thinking am some challenger. You fire at me, and you will die. Make no mistakes I have no problem doing so."

The man smiled at him, he had guts he'll give him that. He went explain that he and another Mandalorian name Vort Norman decide make a bet. The bet was to see if anyone had the balls to stand up to him and his men in combat. He said that being surrounded by the Imps has made some Mandalorians weak in his opinion. "It was your armor that made you a challenge. Now I will fight you and when I win I will avenge the deaths of those men that died by your hands."

Jack and Mako then noticed more Mandalorians coming in, at least a dozen, but luckily they didn't seem be there fight them, just to watch.

Jack waited for the man to take out his weapon. It was a massive chain blaster machine gun. The man grinned when he loaded his machine blaster gun up. "The names Deth Kregg by the way." Jack didn't flinch as Deth open firing on him, he quickly brought his lightsaber out.

With uncanny speed he deflected every shot right back at him. surprising Deth, he dodge out of the fire, Jack used this time charge in on Deth, he attempted use his machine gun hit Jack but he slices the top of blaster, Deth whips his head back dodge another slice, he grabs Jack's wrist and kicked him in face. "OGH!" Jack winces, luckily his helmet protected his face but he was still seeing stars.

Deth threw away Jack's lightsaber and close in distance, scoop up Jack and threw him down on ground, slamming him hard, his men cheered him on while Mako looked worried, she was getting ready step in. "You're good, but am better!" Deth took out a knife and went in for kill, but Jack used his crushgaunts grab the knife, crushing it, before Deth knew it, Jack grabbed his neck and snapped it.

SNAP!

Deth dropped dead right there, his men look on in shock, Jack looked at the Mandalorians, before he grabbed his lightsaber and raise it in air. "OYA!" the other Mandalorians also cheered, Mako couldn't help but doing the same.

One of the Mandalorians step forward, he was a blue skin Twi'lek in green and purple Mandalorian armor, he looked impressed. "Impressive, didn't think anyone would be able take Deth Kregg down until now, much less that fast, might I ask why you killed him and some of his men? you didn't know about the bet."

Jack looked at him with a look that said what he would say next it was dead serious. "First, they drew first blood right here on my face. Second they shot at me, thinking me and my friend were part of challenge, and finally third they tried to kill Mako for what look like entertainment and no one harms Mako and lives."

The male Twi'lek looked at Mako and was shaking his head. "I don't know what to tell you. One the one side I want to congratulate you for having such a caring boyfriend, Lover, husband whatever. One the other, I see he cares about you enough to kill. I wish had a woman that loved me like that but it still must be quite frightening for you, so I would say get used to it and do it fast. Your man doesn't seem like the kind of man who changes his opinion or policies often or ever."

Jack nodded to him, he looked at the Mandalorians that were once Deth's men. "So what happens to you guys now?" the Twi'lek Mandalorian was already head of him. "I'll take over this group, rather not waste their promise. If you ever need me and them for something, don't be afraid call us." he then throws a suitcase to Jack, he catches it.

"The names Vort Norman by the way, that case contains couple thousand credits for winning the bet, it was building up for quite a way. Ret'urcye mhi." he and his men left the area, returning to camp at the lake. Jack and Mako nodded to each other before making their way to small outpost with speeder bikes. "Damn you had me scared there Jack, though at least got us credits." Jack nodded, however his face then frowns, there was something that has been bugging him for while.

Mako noticed that look. "What it the matter Jack? You look like something is bothering you."

"... Mako I can't still imagine what could have turned my brother Malak into the monster everyone saw him as. I do however understand the need to protect those precious to me. Could it be that my brother had someone he loved but he was unable to keep this person safe? Could this be the reason why he turned into the mass murderer everyone knows about? I just don't know."

Mako could see that he really cared about Revan and Malak. He kept those precious memories alive inside his mind after all. It was unexpected from someone who could leave a corpse riddled with blasters holes be so sweet and tender at times.

The two fixed yet another sabotaged system as they got near the city gates, passing few Imperial patrols. It was a wonder that any infrastructure worked at all. The lightning spires was how the city and surrounding area kept the people safe from the constant thunder storms and also were a key energy provider to many of the cities homes and businesses.

They made their way to where taxi leading to the Enclave was at, not paying mind to some shop owners they pass that try get them buy their stuff.

They finally took a speeder to the Mandalorian Enclave, that is when they saw a Mandalorian Devaronian bounty hunter wearing blue and silver armor, he was looking rather nervous. Jack was curious why this guy looked and behaved like that.

"Hey, are you alright? What's eating you?" the Mandalorian looked started. "What you want? you here because of that fat ass human?" that made Mako and Jack confused and they ask what was going on.

The Devaronian Mandalorian introduced himself as Renegin. "I did a job for a bunch of Sith and some blasted human is making a major stink about it. How was I supposed to know those Sith were killing the people I tagged. When I confronted them, they said Sith have a duty to get rid off the weaker members if the population." Renegin shook his head in disgust, he should trusted his gut when something felt wrong there.

Mako didn't like the sound of that, Jack flat out called it disgusting and bullshit. "There is no honor in killing the helpless. I got a friend who might help us out making these scum pay. Let me call her and see if she is willing to work with us on this." Renegin nodded and kept an eye for them, he was still wary if someone will try kill him because of that fat ass.

Jack called the inquisitor he met through his communication. "Rurika, Jack here. I might need you help with a little problem I and a fellow bounty hunter we are having." Rurika from her end raise a brow, though she was alright helping Jack out if it means getting hear his story, she was still wondering what the hell was going on.

"Jack, sure I will help, but I need to know the details. For you to call me must be something out of the ordinary. Sounds like fun."

Jack told her the situation and much to Mako's astonishment she was as angry as Jack and Renegin.

"Those sick bastards, I got the idea of what is going on. It's not duty and it is not encouraged. It is a sick game of Sith that want to artificially make themselves better respected by boosting their kill count. Useless in my opinion which is the reason it is not encouraged." Rurika may be ruthless in her own right, she at least made sure it was someone who had it coming.

Jack told her of his plan and for once Khem actually sounded like he agreed. "OK, we will keep an eye on those you tagged and when the sick bastards try to kill them, we will kill them ourselves. Let's see how they feel when they have a taste of their own medicine. Thanks Jack, this sounds like fun."

Jack closed the communication and walked towards Renegin shaking his head. "OK, my friend is in. We both tag two groups that are close together. My friend will take care of it. "

Renegin asked if his friend would get in trouble for doing this. "Of course she will not get in trouble. She is a Sith herself. You just said it yourself Sith have a duty to get rid of the weaker members of the population didn't you?" Renegin grinned, looks like those bastard's words was about bite them in ass.

"Thanks, you know you might make a good Mandalorian yourself one day, you already got the armor and skills." Jack raise a brow, now he thought about it, he never thought he would wear the armor of his former enemies, but after meeting few Mandalorians, he was starting see more about them then the ruthless warriors he fought against in Mandalorian Wars.

".. I'll think about it, you can make it through from here?" Renegin said he can, he would stay at Mandalorian Enclave till the fat human will stop spreading those words around, Jack nodded and he and Mako went off to tag the Sith.

The two of them tagged targets that were easy to keep an eye on. Sure enough, the psychopaths doing the game showed up and they were cut down by Rurika's and Khem's blade. Khem in particular seem almost happy to do so.

In the end Rurika managed to pick up a better focus crystal for her lightsaber. The thing that caught Jack by surprise when she tossed him a pretty nice focus lense. "For your lightsaber Reaper. Can't have my friends edge grow soft on me now can I? You be sure that I will call you if I need some help." Jack narrow his eyes,

"How you know am the Reaper?" Rurika grinned, "not many have the same skills as you Reaper, much less as ruthless, you tend leave a blood trail behind you. Besides, I study you before while in Sith Academy, you're stance is the same as you were taking there." Mako didn't like sound of Rurika's voice, it made Mako want go up and kiss Jack right on the lips show his not going for anyone else.

Mako blush and shook her head. 'Come one Mako! snap out of it.' she was so damn glad she was wearing her helmet, now she understand why Mandalorians wear helmets, makes it harder for people see what their thinking.

Jack told her he would be there, she helped him in this matter afterall, he didn't see why he couldn't do the same. They parted ways after that, Jack and Mako made their way towards the Mandalorian Enclave, passing by Mandalorians as they walked.

Mako couldn't help but let her eyes wander, she never seen so many Mandalorians before, they were all kinds of different races here, wearing different color armor, though mostly blue.

They walked in main hall way, seeing a older woman within her 30s, she was slightly taller then Mako, fair skin, her red hair tiled in mohawk, wearing light green armor. She was talking to a blue armored Mandalorian male.

"... And then I told him, 'You think that's cold? you should have seen what I did to the Gamorrean." the woman laughs hard at this, while it seemed the Mandalorian was impressed, not amused but impressed. "I never saw a rodian run so fast in my- whoa. Hello handsome, you here sweep off my feet?" Mako was scowling behind her helmet, what the hell was with all other women trying hit on Jack?

The Mandalorian saw this and laughed. "Carefully Crysta, the little verd has spank on her." Crysta raise a brow at Mako, sizing her up, the armor though made her look bigger, she was still smaller. "What's this? got yourself a pet? little sister maybe?" she brings her hand to her chin.

"She looks tough in that armor but not enough hold a real man's interest anyway." Jack stepped in this. "Mako here is the most important person to me in this whole damn galaxy." Mako couldn't help but blush behind her helmet, the Mandalorian was giving an impressed look, he always did approved of those who treat their partners with respect.

"Really? wow, I mean wow." she felt very touched there, Crysta shrug. "Oh well, you're loss." Crysta then got little worried here about something. "Your probably ain't gonna like what am about tell you but you need understand I can't do anything about it, understand?" the Mandalorian decide it was his time leave. "Alright sounds like my time leave, see ya Crysta." Crysta nodded to him.

"See ya Doraun, say hi to your wife for me would ya." Doraun nodded and left the room, Crysta turned to Jack and Mako. "There's one spot left in the Great Hunt and over three dozen other hunters who got sponsorships." Jack shrugged, lean on his hip.

"Those other hunters can go home, because that spot is good as my." Mako nodded, no way their about back down, Crysta nodded, good he had courage. "It's yours if you can get it. Lots of folks will be thinking the same thing though." Crysta then pointed to the other room.

"The Huntmaster himself will explain things how things are gonna be sorted out here. Head in main roomand show him respect. When the Huntmaster is done talking, head on back in here, I'll be handling things out for ya."

Jack nodded, Mako and Jack made it to the opening ceremony and the briefing room. There were couple dozen bounty hunters in various of armor or species. Jack was very surprised to see a Wookie was the hunt master, he was light brown in color, wearing chest, shoulder, and thigh armors of Mandalorian, colored brown and green.

It made sense to Jack now, in a way hunting on the forest floor of their home planet was a true testament of the Wookies skills as hunters, he can clearly see this was a highly experienced warrior front of him. There was lot of talking among hunters before a male bald human in light blue and silver armor got their attention.

"Quiet! quiet you dogs!" everyone stops talking, Jack was getting the feeling this man had a very bad night cause he looked very grumpy right now. "The Huntmaster is about speak, and pay attention and show respect once in your lives. Or I'll be showing you how dangerous a Bevii'ragir can be." he points to a large metal spear leaning on the wall, no one spoke after that.

The Huntmaster leans forward, his voice boasts throughout the room. "You have been called to participate in the great tradition of the Great Hunt. You are some of the best hunters the Galaxy has to offer. Since there is so many of you we have decided to hold a final melee tournament. You will be given a series of bounties, those that complete these bounties will be allowed to participate in the final melee."

"I expect you all to conduct yourselves with honor and professionalism expected of a hunter participating in the Great Hunt. " The wookie slammed his fist on the top of the desk making it crack." Or so help me I will rip the arms off the idiot that dares to disgrace this novel tradition and I will beat that person to death with his own arms. I better not hear that happened or you will find out that I am not one to joke about this matters."

The bounty hunter next to Jack, a dark skin human wearing light combat armor and a cloaked mask, was not liking the sound of it. "Hunting bounties on the Imperial capital is asking for too much trouble, you want us hunt here while Imperials crawling around, or Sith for that matter." he was not liking this one bit.

Jack looked at him."If you're too scared, the space port is thataway." he points outside the room.

The assistant hunt master was laughing as he heard Jack. "That is the spirit. Just what I wanted to hear. For all of you cowards and boot lickers, we installed a handy dandy chicken hatch for your use. My advice to you use it now and maybe pick a different line of work." about 5 hunters leave the room, the bounty hunter next to Jack however stayed for a bit.

The assistant then looked at the hunters who didn't leave. "The rest of you, the real hunters, go to you're handlers, their get you oriented on the planet and assign you three unique bounties." he gives a very sharp look to them.

"Anyone who takes down all three bounties get a place in final melee. But anyone who doesn't get all three bounties, is out!" he stops there, letting all the bounty hunters leave the room. The bounty hunter next to Jack shackles his head.

"Hunting on Dromund Kass? that's suicide. Am grabbing first shuttle out of here, I suggest you do the same friend." Jack simply gives a hard stare at the man. "There's no god damn way am leaving, do I look like a coward to you?" the man eyes him.

"You look like a fully battle ready Mandalorian, maybe is the armor. But you also got fire in your eyes, the kind that sometimes gets you killed." the bounty hunter has seen his share of hotshots who got themselves killed with that look in their eyes.

Jack shook his head. "Am getting into the Great Hunt, no one is standing in my way." Mako nodded, she'll support Jack all the way through. The man nodded, he knew he couldn't change Jack's mind. "Then watch you're back out there, it's not the jungles that are dangerous, it's the people, they may act nice but it's all a lie, don't fall in it."

He brings his hand down. "Am done here, may you're enemies fall in battle against you hunter." he leaves the room, something told Jack and Mako that was not last time their see that man. The assistant gave the two a look.

"Well? what you standing around for? you ain't gonna win Great Hunt standing here, back to you're handler! that means you new blood." Jack nodded and he and Mako soon left.

The Huntmaster was in deep in thought when he glazed at Jack, there was something telling him that this new hunter will prove himself better warrior then these other hunters today.