Chapter 36
The Prisoner, The Hostage, The Gladiator
HUTT SPACE
Imperial Star Destroyer, Destiny
The three rebel prisoners were locked in a far less pleasant accommodations this time, and a familiar one for Sabine and Ezra, an Imperial brig aboard a star destroyer after, escaping the Militia, and then getting captured by the infamous Doctor Aphra and handed over to the Empire. "So…" Ezra said sitting on the floor.
"Don't say it." Sabine said arms crossed laying imperial cell bench, Ahkilleon sat next to her.
Ezra looked at her "Don't say what?"
"You were about to say, how could it get any worse, don't say it." Sabine chastised him..
Looking like he'd been accused of a great crime, "I wasn't going to say that…. Exactly."
"But something like it, and that's tempting fate." Sabine said accusingly.
Ahkilleon leaned his head back "No bounty, you two have bounties but I don't…"
The two of them snapped their heads to him, as if that was a real problem. Ezra and him were handcuffed with fore dampening handcuffs, Sabine's leg was still wrapped up and enough time had passed that her bandages needed to be changed. After Doctor Aphra was let go from the ship they were taken to the cell, they had to have Sabine lean on the two of them again so she could hobble her way to the brig.
Ezra held his handcuffed hands up "Look all I was going to say, was that maybe instead of us trying to escape we do the opposite."
"What?" Both Ahkilleon and Sabine asked him, "We keep trying to escape, and we keep getting caught, maybe we uh… trust in the force?"
Sabine gawked at him "How hard did you get hit?" she asked.
"Alright, we need a new plan." Ahkilleon said aloud.
They looked at him, "What was wrong with mine?" he asked. "Ezra you escaped the Empire dozens of times, Sabine you were a former cadet, this is a cakewalk for us." Ahkilleon said optimistic.
"And how will we escape with you two having to carry me, I can barely walk on this leg let alone stand" Sabine said glaring at her leg like she wanted to cut it off, and knowing she probably would if she could.
"Alright, alright well we'll get our moment, these Imperials are always so over confident that's when we do our best." Ahkilleon said, getting up and pacing the floor.
Ahkilleon was thinking, thinking, thinking, "Alright yeah, all we have to do is get free, then we make a break for the hangar, steal a ship- one with enough fuel this time, and we get back to the fleet."
"Right, cause that worked out so well last time and…" Ezra stopped himself "Oh, sorry, I forgot." Ezra said.
Ahkilleon had his back turned, his mind weighing on Proxy's sacrifice, he hadn't had time to mourn the droid when they were caught by Doctor Aphra, "Proxy knew what he was doing… and so do we."
The door to the brig opened and stormtroopers walked in, "Get up." He growled at Ezra and Sabine, Ezra stood and Sabine made a glowering look at him "News flash bucket head- bum leg!" she snapped.
"You two, help her, the Admiral wants to see you all."
Later, Ezra with Sabine on his right and Ahkilleon on her left her arms wrapped around their shoulders as they held her up, but couldn't do much more with their hands bound making the walk extremely uncomfortable. Hobbled their way with stormtroopers guarding them deeper into the Star Destroyer. They were shoved in an elevator and raised higher, Ezra noticed Ahkilleon looking at him and Ezra shook his head to signal this wasn't the time to try something. The doors opened and they were led out into a narrow corridor in a darkened circular room with black panels on the walls with lights behind them giving it a ghostly visage inside they saw it was an office attached to the bridge. There was a desk laden with work utensils and the walls had art and priceless antiques adoring them but behind the desk was Admiral Greenlax along with Prince Xizor talking to him.
"I assure you all will be in order when-." Prince Xizor said but cut himself short when the rebels were brought in.
Admiral Greelax stood up "To be continued."
The stormtroopers forced the rebels to their knees, and even Sabine who fought back her urge to yelp from the pain "Leave her alone!" Ahkilleon snapped, which got him the butt end of a stormtrooper's blaster to his back, sending him down.
"Now, what to do with these three." Admiral Greelanx said, striding out around his desk, hands behind his back, "Ezra Bridger, Lothal, wanted for acts of terrorism against the Empire, Sabine Wren, former Imperial cadet, bounty hunter, also wanted for terrorism against the Empire, and this one…" Greelanx came over to look down at Ahkilleon. He turned to one of the stormtroopers, "Have his face run throughout the ISB database, he's most likely the same."
The stormtrooper nodded and walked off, Prince Xizor pressed his long nails together scanning their faces, "If it were up to me, I'd have you all shot for your crimes, however seeing you are all listed in the ISB as people of interests for your ongoing rebel activities."
The teen trio looked at one another, "What don't want to take all the credit yourself?" Ezra asked.
Admiral Greelanx turned to him, "Oh I'm sure some favor will be given when the Inquisitorius arrives to take you." Ezra went quiet hearing this "Yes, we know who and what you are, you're their problem now."
Then he faced Sabine, "As for the Mandalorian traitor, a court martial followed by swift execution will suffice, after your interrogation of course."
"No!" Ahkilleon jumped to his feet but the stormtroopers were quick to push him back down and hold him there, even as he struggled "Hmmm that leaves this one."
Prince Xizor cleared his throat and stepped forward, "Admiral if I may?" he asked bowing slightly, waving his hand out, turning his long nailed hand over as if to give his suggestion freely.
"Speak your highness?" the Admiral said promptly.
"Surely the Inquisitorius will get all the information on their rebel friends from the Bridger boy, why waste the effort and paperwork on the Mandalorian, they are trained to endure great pain, even the great ISB agents would have a challenge breaking her." he said his voice flowing like smoke from the mouth of a great wyrm, The Admiral scratched under his chin actually considering it, "While here, these three represent a rare opportunity for our partnership."
"That is a private matter, they need to know nothing of it, Prince." Admiral Greelanx said back to him.
Xizor gave a slight head tilt, "And they shall not, give me the Mandalorian, as a sign of our continued partnership, I will extract the information from her, keeping anything she may know for your ears alone instead of the Inquisitors."
"Hmmm." Was all that came from behind Admiral Greelanx's lips, "And what of the half breed?"
Ahkilleon tensed at the insult, Prince Xizor smiled at him "A halfbreed yes, but look at those eyes."
The Admiral locked eyes with Ahkilleon, the brown looking into the boy's emerald green ones filled with something, Xizor walked around Ahkilleon, "Young, strong, not a bad looker either, a few years who knows what will come out of him. Have him disposed of, yes, but smartly, we are near Nar Shaddaa, give him to the Hutts as a gift of goodwill."
There was a long silence that filled the air, Admiral Greelanx was thinking it over, "... Very well, take the Mandalorian and the boy, give him to the Hutts with my compliments."
"You slimy-" Ezra started to insult him but was hit in the back again by the stormtroopers, Admiral Greelanx knitted his brow, "You rebels forget you are not in the Lothal Sector anymore, here in this sector I speak for the Empire, and we have more important things to deal with them rebel scum."
He waved at his stormtroopers, "Stun them, no point keeping them awake."
Before the rebels could react, stun rings hit each of them in the back knocking them out, Greenlax shook his head, "I cannot believe that Admiral Konstantine has such trouble with children."
LIEFVAL
Holdfast
"Ignition in 3… 2…1." Hera says counting down before the Ghost's engines roared to life and the Ghost began to rise off the ground and into the air, Zeb, Kanan, Ahsoka and Chopper all let out a different celebratory noise. Zeb let out a cheer, Chopper a loud set of honks, Knana pumped his fist and Ahsoka sighed with relief before Hera started to take the Ghost to the upper atmosphere.
Kanan sat down and sighed, "Alright, first things first we get back to the fleet-" "No." Hera said.
"What, why, we need the whole fleet if we're going to rescue the others?" He asked.
"We can't risk exposing the entire Squadron to the Militia, you saw that ship." Hera said to him as she started to get the ship ready for the hyperdrive, "We need to find the Militia, and the only way we can do that is by finding their agents." Hera said as they broke out into space.
Ahsoka leaned forward, "The Militia are clearly using old Separatist equipment, and if Admiral Trench is involved that means he could be in contact with Separatist holdouts across the Outer Rim. Those not affiliated with the network?"
"Exactly." Hera said.
Rex came in from behind them leaning on the doorway "I don't know Hera, most of them were crushed in the reconquest of the rim in the early years of the Empire, the Empire was brutal in their reprisal."
"Crushed, or sent into hiding by the now Militia?" Kanan asked him.
Rex looked at Ahsoka "It is possible, there were rumors that a handful of Separatist fled to the Kreetan narrows, around Hutt Space and have been operating there ever since, it's what allowed the Empire to justify the annexation of the Hutts territory."
"Then that's where we'll start, what else do we know?" Hera asked, determined to start to enter in the coordinates for the Kreetan Narrows.
Ahsoka folded her arms, "Blox Hatha."
"That a planet?" Zeb asked.
"No, it's a neimoidian, former Captain in the Trade Federation and then the Separatist Army, he fought against the Republic and the Jedi in the Clone Wars." Rex said as if he was saying something sour, "About five years ago, Hatha popped up as the leader of pirates in Hutt space raiding Imperial ships for cargo in the name of freedom, right now he's working for the Pykes."
Kanan grimaced hearing that name "Blox Hatha is a war criminal, during the clone wars he used civilians as shields and tortured Republic troopers for information." Kanan said.
Rex shared that grim expression, "I'm not saying we become his new best friend, but he maye have the answers we need to find the kids." Rex told him.
"Looks like we don't have a choice and neither will Hatha if he doesn't give us what we want." Hera said, ready to go.
"The Narrows have a lot of planets, it borders territory between the Hutts and the Pykes, the pirates and mercenaries here switch loyalties between the two syndicates to the highest bidder." Rex said, looking out at the system in front of them.
"That still doesn't answer where we start." Kanan asked allowed. .
Rex turned to Ahsoka, "Oba Diah." Ahsoka told him..
"You sure?" Rex asked.
"What's on Oba Diah?" Zeb asked.
The two clone wars veterans glanced at him, "It's the Pyke Syndicates homeworld, there's a city at the base of their palace, if we want a lead on Blox Hatha that's where I'd start."
"Commander Respectively, that may not be the best idea for you to go there."
"Why?" Kanan asked.
Ahsoka cuts off Rex before we can speak, "Ancient history, every second we waste, the closer we are to losing the kids for good." Ahsoka said.
"Oba Diah, it is." Hera said before she made the jump.
SHATTERPOINT
Hangar
Turok walked out of a doorway from the inner workings of the Militia Cruiser, Lord Asimov flagship the Shatterpoint, with him was Proxy walking beside him, "How's the joints?" Turok asked the holodroid. Proxy moved around his two metal limbs and jiggled his legs as if the droid had been stiff for a long time and nodded approvingly.
"Your repairs are sufficient."
Turok led Proxy down the walkways of the hangar, the nearby Militia naval crew and droids giving them wary looks as the droid had so recently proved itself a menace to them. Even with Turok Skell watching over it the droid still made them uneasy, Turok stuck his one good claw thumb and his new metal one on the metallic left arm into his belt walking up to a freighter parked in the back of the cruiser. Commander Sigma stood outside it with Nemo and B5 feeling it up.
Swiveling to face his helmet under his arm, "Agent Skell, the ship you requested, fast and a lot of guns."
Looking up at it Turok saw the ship before him was a HWK-class light freighter, it had a long bow shaped like a beak and curved down, the main body fed back into a wider section making it a T shaped ship with two fins on the back top of it's two wings of equal length, it had two large engines in the back in the corners on the outside of the fin and wings, in addition there was a raised section of the ship on the long main body with a gun turret on the top reaching past the fins and the bottom underbelly, it had Militia azure stripes running across the side. "HWK-1000, not to be confused with its older sister the 290. Say what you want about corellians they make some damn good ships when they aren't coughing out Star Destroyers for the Imps." Nemo said as he finished fueling.
B5 made a beep at him "Yes, yes we Quarrens do make good ships too, shame the Republic liked the Mon Calamari better." Nemo said as he approached them, "The Corellian Engineering Corporation didn't get approval even after making seven hundred of these bad boys, so they sold them to the black market. Thankfully we bought a bunch and with my perfect Quarren touched a few modifications."
Turok walked around it "What am I working with here, pilot?"
The squid pepped up "Oh I'm so glad you asked, so the original ship came with standard sensors and navigation, no need to change that but the hyperdrive was was just a class 1 with a class 12, I've fiddled with it enough to get down to class .75." Nemo said.
".75, not bad and the engines?" Turok asked, walking under the ship looking at the two bug thrusters attached to the ship.
"Quarren design, Corellians love to go fast, the HWK-1000s were built for speed to get to and from pick up points figured to go back and forth, these two give a better control for the pilot." Nemo said.
Turok noticed tucked under the wings and the ships stern were a set of turrets, "Armenants?" Turok asked.
"At first, none, but yours truly can't stand to see all his hard work get blasted without a fight. I mounted two heavy turrets under each wing and torpedo launchers for the pilot." Nemo said, gesturing to them on each wing. "The Bridger gunner sits down below, operated by sentient or astromech, then we get the tail gun and belly gun for full 360 degree range of fire. I don't mean to clap myself on the back, but she is a work of art." Nemo said.
Sigma just rolled his eyes as Turok looked up and around the ship, "She is indeed, what's her name?"
"Name… you know I was so busy with the upgrades, I didn't even think of a name?" Nemo said looking around the ship "How about the Infinity Eagle… no that's too gaudy, The Red Tail, second though no, I don't want to repaint it red, the Moldy Crow… no wait, that's taken." As Nemo began to think of a proper name for it. Turok shook his head.
"We can name it later, let's get going." Turok said to his team of Commander Sigma, Doc, and Nemo who all began to pile into the ship.
Sigma was last to enter along with Turok, "Sir, begging your pardon but how do we plan to find the escaped prisoners?"
"The only way any bounty hunters find anyone, by going to get a drink."
IMPERIAL STAR DESTROYER DESTINY
The first thing Ahkilleon saw as he was starting to wake up was the metal floor of a hallway, he looked up to see Prince Xizor's spiked spine poking out of his purple and gold robes and his long black ponytail, stormtroopers were dragging him by his arms behind him as they were walking toward a docking port there towering Black Sun Fallen soldier stood in their purple and gold armor, with golden masks hiding their faces, they each wore short purple capes with the black sun ensignia across their armor showing they were Prince Xizor's honor guard.
Looking back he saw Sabine behind him, also being dragged by two stormtroopers, but Ezra was nowhere to be seen; he had to think fast. Looking to his left he saw the stormtrooper dragging him and had the remote control to his handcuffs. Summoning up all his strength Ahkilleon forced his head up and right into the hand of the stormtrooper with the remote.
"YEEOW!" The stormtrooper let out a cry of pain letting go of Ahkilleon, the other one startled let go of Ahkilleon as well, but with his teeth cutting deep into the body glove he tasted blood as the stormtrooper pulled away. Ahkilleon reached for the remote, grabbing it off the imperial belt and pressing the unlock button his cuffs fell to the floor.
"Stun him- stun him!" The two stormtroopers behind the chaos dropped Sabine and went for their blasters but Ahkilleon spun around hand up blasting with the force knocking them off their feet. The other stormtrooper who had been dragging the boy got ready to shoot but Ahkilleon jumped up with his knee right at the stormtrooper's chest, smashing him into the wall.
Prince Xizor's guards rushed Ahkilleon shooting at him, dodging left and right, Ahkilleon went low and sprang up kicking their blasters from their hands before he saw Prince Xizor move with lightning speed, his long black nails out stretched like a spear hitting Ahkilleon's body rapidly in three different spots before Ahkilleon fell to the ground his body rigid and locked up. He let out a moan through locked teeth before looking up at Xizor, "Wh-what did you do to me-" Ahkilleon gasped as he was paralyzed.
Straightening his robes, the snake stood up tall "Pressure points, the harder you try to move the tighter your body becomes, boy, but you not only have spirit you're a force wielder. I know a particular Hutt who will love to have you added to his collection." Then Prince Xizor lifted his hand, "Take them aboard."
Elsewhere in the ship, back in the brig Ezra woke up alone in the brig. Sitting up he rubbed his head, his concussion starting to clear up. But it didn't help that he was now stuck in a cell, handcuffed with Inquisitors on the way. He sat up in the corner and kicked the nearby wall with his foot. He was so frustrated how things had gone from bad to worse that he kicked it again and again when he heard a very small…
A groan?
"Keep it down." a muffled voice said, it was a gruff voice "I'm trying to sleep."
Ezra looked at the corner and noticed part of the wall was loose, almost loose enough for him to see a small sliver of dim red light from the other cell "Is someone there?" Ezra asked.
"You're not the only one in here pal." The mystery man asked.
"Who are you?" Ezra asked first.
There was a chuckle, then a stretching groan "Hmmmm as of right now, awake, name doesn't matter much now, they're sending me to one of those penal colonies, what about you?"
"..." Ezra didn't answer, he was low on trust and options.
"Come on, it's just here?" the voice asked.
"Inquisitors." Ezra said.
Another long silence, "Wow, who'd you piss off to call in those nut jobs, I thought they weren't real."
"Believe me, they're real." Ezra grunted. The voice made a low hum and then asked "What about you, why are you here?" Ezra asked the voice.
The voice gave another chuckle, "This is Hutt Space, we're all criminals here, how good are you at jailbreaks?"
Ezra smiled, "Pretty good, what do you have in mind?"
The voice replied, "Friend of mine should be here in a few hours, so let me fill you in."
OBA DIAH
Ghost
The ride through hyperspace was a rocky one at best, the whole crew minus their three teenage members were jostled around and almost thrown from their seats in the bridge. "Okay, hyperspace needs a bit of work but other than that we made it." Hera said as they all let their stomachs settle. The stars of the Kreetan narrows, and the gray cloudy homeworld of the Pyke Syndicate, Oba Diah. The ghost flew down to the planet and came out of the clouds to see a large city surrounded by a towering palace "Spice Town, the heart of the Pyke Syndicate." Hera said with disgust, Zeb growled "Bunch of drug dealing scum."
"Well for now, we need to keep a low profile here, what's our story?" Kanan asked.
Rex stroked his beard, "Blox Hatha isn't an easy man to find, we'll need to draw him out." as they landed the ship they came to a port where Hera looked out the window something catching her eye.
"How do we do that, pretend we're Separatist holdouts, I don't know if you realized but lasan was never part of the clone wars." Zeb grumbled.
"We could paint you chrome and say you're a battle droid, may work?" Kanan suggested it as a joke.
"I don't believe it." Hera gasped.
Kanan turned his head to her, "Hera, I was joking."
She looked back, "Not that-" She held up her hand and pointed out to the dock where they saw someone arguing with a couple of pykes, "That." Hera said as everyone looked out to see a very familiar wrinkly leather faced former pirate and conman, wearing a crimson flight suit with goggles, a metal cap and many rings on his fingers. The illustrious Captain Hondo Ohnaka.
"No, no, no, not him." Kanan said, shaking his head.
"Come on, we need him." Hera said, getting to her feet, everyone except Ahsoka, "You coming?" Kanan asked.
"Best I wait here, the Pykes and I… well we have a history." Ahsoka sighed.
Outside the ship Hondo was speaking to three Pyke's "What are you talking about, these prices are outrageous, it's hyperspace robbery and after all the spice I've delivered to you Pykes, do you know who I am!" Hondo snapped at the dock security.
Up behind him, the Rebels were approaching them, Ahsoka staying behind the Ghost, "Can't believe we're doing this." Kanan grumbled.
"Think of kids." Hera whispered to him.
Kanan grumbled under his breath as Kanan walked up to them, "Excuse me dockmaster, I wanted to speak to you about docking my ship." Kanan said.
"Wait your turn outlander, I'm dealing with this cheap excuse of a conman." The pyke hissed.
Hondo gasped in offense, "Cheap, I am a very expensive conman I'll have you know!"
Kanan held his hand up, "You don't need to deal with him." he said using his jedi mind trick on all three of the pykes.
"We don't need to deal with him." The lead pyke said as all three of the aliens started to stand wobbly with glazed eyes, "Go take a break." Kanan said.
"Let's take a break." The dockmaster said before turning away, much to Hondo's delight as a smile spread ear to ear, he looked at Kanan as the Pykes walked away. Looking the man up and down, "Awe jedi mind tricks, that takes me back, hello hello my friends, Hondo has missed you so much-aaahh!" Hondo let out a yelp when he saw Rex and nearly looked like he was about to jump out of his skin.
Rex smiled at him, "Hello Hondo."
"Ah-hehehe, hello… you." Hondo trailed off.
Rolling his eyes "We met before." Rex growled.
"I've met hundreds of yous before, can you blame Hondo for not remembering them all?" Hondo asked Rex who looked at Zeb who gave him a sympathetic shrug.
Hera walked forward, "Enough small talk, Hondo, I can't believe I'm saying this but… we need your help."
"My help, oh my dear I-uh." Hondo started to look at his nails examining his rings, "I'm not sure you can afford it, my services are very, very expensive-" Hondo suddenly saw Hera draw her blaster and shove it under his neck by pulling him down by his collar.
"Listen you sleemo piece of space dust, Ezra and Ahkilleon helped you get those credits from Azmorrigan and you owe them, so either you help us, or I will give you a new way to eat soup." She said growled.
Hondo looked at her and her blaster and started to nervously laugh "Of course, of course, what can Hondo do for you." he said this close to wetting himself.
Zeb leaned over to Kanan, "I like it when she gets mad."
She let him go, and Hondo rubbed his neck as she still held her blaster "Blox Hatha, do you know him?"
Hondo's eyes went wide, "Blox, ugh yes I know him, he wouldn't let me join his crew the scoundrel, but a very good dancer." Hondo said before Hera held up her blaster, before he could start to go off on some tangent "Yes, yes I know him, he's here."
"What, no way it's that easy?" Zeb.
Hondo nodded "The truth, Hondo wouldn't lie to you or your very, very lovely Captain. Blox moves spice for the Pykes all over the system."
Pondering if he was telling the truth she looked at Kanan who gave a nod, "Where here?"
"His ship is docking at one of the Pyke ports, but he won't be here long, I could introduce you for a fee?" Hondo asked, Hera cocked her brow at him "Right, free of charge, but that is it." Hondo said, waving his hands in the air.
"Lead the way." Hera said to him, Hondo gave a crooked smile and turned around "Onward!"
SOMEWHERE IN HUTT SPACE
Sabine started to come to, she tried to move but felt her body heavy and slow looking around her vision was blurry, but she felt relaxed to relaxed, she then noticed she was in some thick substance, a breathing apparatus wrapped around her face and sensors attached to her body glove. Bacta, she was in a bacta tank looking down. She moved her right leg where she'd been stabbed and felt the pain was gone, so she used that leg to kick the glass. Looking out she could see figures moving around. She was in an ornately decorated room, there was a black sun medical droid moving toward her. Pressing a button on its forearm the bacta began to drain from the tank and she felt herself lowered to the end of the tank. The drain sucked out all the leftover bacta and then the glass fell down. She looked up, staring down at two Black Sun soldiers with shock staffs aimed at her.
"Feeling better I hope?"
She looked up to see Prince Xizor lounging on a couch on the other side of the room, a protocol droid was holding a pitcher that poured out dark red wine into Prince Xizor's goblet. "Where are my friends!" Sabine snapped getting two guards raised their shock staffs at her, and she finally noticed she'd been stripped of her armor, wearing nothing but her body glove shirt and tan pants, missing the right pant leg that had been ruined when she was attacked, her boots were gone too leaving her barefoot.
"The boys, hmm," Xizor sipped some of his wine "Hmm the dark haired one is still with Admiral Greelanx if those red blades haven't gotten to him already, and the half breed is, well being prepared, but let's talk about you, Lady Wren."
Sabine's face twisted into a nasty glare "What the hell did you call me?"
"That is your title is it not, Lady Sabine Wren, daughter of Ursa Wren, leader and Countess of Clan Wren?" Prince Xizor asked as he gestured to his protocol droid. It was black painted with a golden Black Sun paint on its chest, it walked over to a table pouring another goblet and taking it over to Sabine.
"Where's my armor?" She asked about feeling naked without it.
The fallen prince waved his hand "Safe, we had to remove it to treat your wound, feels better no?" The Prince asked.
Sabine looked at the goblet and smacked it out of the droid's hand, "You do not need to be a prisoner here Lady Wren, there is much we can do for one another." he said as his soldiers moved closer to Sabine holding their shock staffs at her throat.
"Do for you, you mean?" Sabine hissed.
Prince Xizor rose to his feet and set down his goblet, "I cannot see the downside of having the favor of a Mandalorian Clan, for the Black Sun."
"You don't know my family." Sabine hissed at him.
Prince Xizor waved off his soldiers, getting closer he lowered his hands, extending them to show he had nothing in them, no weapons, nothing protecting him "Perhaps you could tell me." he said dropping the base in his, Sabine looked at him with her left eye twitching. She blinked and her heart began to race, eyes softening, "I am Prince Xizor, I wish to help you." she shook her head feeling light headed, panting she rubbed her fingers on her palms. He smiled with sharpened teeth, a forked tongue behind them, "I wish to be… close to you." he said, reaching up, cupping her chin.
She blinked at him, her lips curled up into a smile, her cheeks flushed "I hehe I think I'd like tha-" her eyes went alert, "I'd like that you'd roll over dead!" She pounced like a tiger at Prince Xizor hands at his neck and drew back her fist smashing it right into the fallen's face, blood spat from Xizor's mouth before he pushed her off. The two soldiers rushed her, hitting her with the shock staff's. Sabine didn't scream out but she did fall to her knees as Prince Xizor looked down at his own blood on his hand.
"A true Mandalorian to the end, few can resist my charm, how did you do that?" he asked as the two Black Sun Honor Guardsmen wrestled a inhibitor collar around Sabines neck, collaring her like she was a rabid dog.
Sabine looked up smiling even though she was in pain, "You call some pheromones charm, come over here and I'll show you."
The honor guards pressed a remote control and Sabine felt a surge of electricity run all over her body, she thrashed on the floor but didn't scream.
Xizor scrunched his nose at her, "As I said, a true mandalorian, as thick-skulled as beskar, got her out of my sight." Xizor said, waving his hand as she was pulled to her feet.
Sabine looked at the guards who gestured for her to get up, and she did, able to walk she spat at Xizor's feet and was escorted out, the door opened and a female Falleen passed by Sabine, she was slender then the guards and Xizor, her long black hair was tied in a braid rather than a loose ponytail. She wore snug purple fatigues with a gold trim like the rest, the black son sigil printed on each of her sleeves like a military uniform. "My prince." She said as Sabine was led out.
"Ah, Captain, I assume you were alerted to that drama?" Prince Xizor asked the Fallen Captain.
She nodded "Yes, but I see she's behaving rather docile for the moment." The Black Sun Captain said.
Xizor walked over to the nearby wall terminal and entered in a few commands to bring up a hologram, it showed the guards leading Sabine down the hallway. "If she is a Mandalorian as you say, we should have her caged and sedated, even without her armor or weapons."
"Mandalorians are more than armor, as a jedi is more than their lightsaber." Prince Xizor cupped his chin as Sabine as led into a large room, the doors shut behind her and her 'cell' turned out to be a luxury suite aboard the Black Sun ship, purple and gold everywhere on the floor, grand bed and even a window for her to see the blue hue of hyperspace. There was a table with some fresh fruit in a bowl, a pitcher of both water and wine with glasses to goblets. There was even a closet of clothes next to a fresher station. "Usually I would agree with you, Captain, but this is a special case as you know."
"What does her being part of a certain clan have to do with anything my Prince, the Mandalorians are subjects of the Empire?"
"Yes, but a dog still has fangs even when collared. Throw her in a cell, torture her and her resolve will only grow, Mandalorians are taught to endure pain, to fight, to survive the galaxy at all costs. We'd waste time and effort on her if we tried any of that. No." Prince Xizor licked his fangs with his forked tongue. "We will not do that, what we will do is break her another way, my way." Prince Xizor said as he eyed one of his prizes.
Turning to the Captain he shut off the hologram, "And speaking of jedi being more than his lightsaber, what of our young padawan?"
The Falleen Captain held out a holopad, "Our Hutt buyer on Nar Shaddaa was more than willing to pay the price, I've already arranged a shuttle to deliver him he should be there within the hour."
"Excellent, keep us within distance of the Smuggler's moon, soon the Black Sun will rise over Nar Shaddaa."
NAR SHADDAA
The Smugglers Moon
Nar Shaddaa, nicknamed the "Smuggler's Moon," was the notorious moon of the planet Nal Hutta, homeworld of the Hutt species. It was home to a large criminal underworld dominated by bounty hunters and Hutt crime lords. An ecumenopolis, the entire surface of Nar Shaddaa was covered in urban sprawl. Nar Shaddaa was the largest moon of the planet Nal Hutta, which was located in the Hutt Space region of the Outer Rim Territories. An ecumenopolis, its surface was covered entirely in urban sprawl. Its city lights were visible from space. The capital of Nar Shaddaa was Hutta Town, which was made up of huge tower blocks with a patchwork of shanty town structures called skyslums filling every available space between the towers. It was ruled by Grakkus the Hutt. Other settlements included Wormstew Town, and the Corellian Sector.
But even if it was the home of the Hutt Cartel, the other crime syndicates came and went to do business by paying tribute, the Black Sun were no different. A Gonzatti class cruiser painted dark brown with a golden sun painted on it's haul flew down to the planet heading for its capital city in the ecumenopolis of Hutt Town, landing in a large space port it lowered it's cargo ramp and four Black Sun thugs came out two dragging Ahkilleon by his feet chained and collared with heavy iron the stench of the moon awoke the boy.
"Where am I…?" He mumbled out.
"Be quite scug." One of the Black Sun thugs hit him in the back of his head, the two guards behind them had blasters trained on the boy as he was dragged out from under the ship.
They dropped him in a cold metal dockyard, "Hmm when you told me you had a jedi for me, I expected it to be older." A deep rumbling voice said as Ahkilleon looked up, a large shadow like a mountain was cast over him and his green eyes beheld the largest Hutt he'd ever seen, not only that this one had legs, twelve mechanical legs attached down under his is long slug like tail, looking up Ahkilleon new that the Hutt's were a slug race often fat and pudge but this one was neither of that. The skin was tight, the body firm and bulging with muscle and the most shocking thing was the necklace around the giant Hutt's neck, a string of lightsabers. Ahkilleon looked up into the orange eyes peering down on him, looking him over as if he were expecting a prized stallion and instead got a bastard cold, "Let's see if you Black Sun are telling the truth."
Ahkilleon heard the sound of something electric activate, looking up he saw two Magna guards come out from behind the large Hutt. The black sun backed away and the magna guards started to electrocute him, the surge of pain was almost unbearable till he couldn't stand it anymore. With a yellow Ahkilleon flung his arms up at the two magna guards a wave of force energy propelling them back.
"Haha, that's more like it." The Hutt said as Ahkilleon stood up despite the heavy chains, "You want more sleemo." He spat at the Hutt meathead.
The Hutt's lip curled up into a small before Ahkilleon saw the monsters massive fists bigger than an Astro droid slam right into his chest forcing him to the ground, with the Hutt's left arm flexed the muscles bulged like they were about to tear out of the skin, "Yes, oh yes I do boy, I am Grakkus the Hutt, and you belong to me."
"I don't- belong urk-" Ahkilleon felt the Hutt cutting off his air "To anyone-" He wheezed.
"Hmm, good, but save it for the arena, I paid good credits for you and I expect to get my money's worth, because you're the main event tonight Jedi." Grakkus said before he raised his fist off him. The two magna guards approached from behind and picked Ahkilleon up to his feet. One of them quickly locked on a pair of special shackles around his wrist, made of a fading white metal with a blue glow around them. Ahkilleon held his hands up and tried to force push the droids away but nothing happened.
"What?" He gasped.
Grakkus gave a deep snicker, "Force dampening shackles, part of my collection of the High Republic, created for your Order to use against rogue jedi like yourself."
Ahkilleon gritted his teeth, he wanted to fight, he wanted to rip the droid apart but he knew he couldn't. He sucked in a deep breath and remembered his training, slowly he followed Grakkus into the Hutta Town.
OBA DIAH
Spice Town
The Spectre's were led by Hondo to another part of Spice Town, the Ghost flew over the city to its port and there was a landing pad full of large crates with barely enough room for the Ghost to land, "Look at all that spice." Kanan said, seeing the crates.
"Pyke's enterprise grew rapidly after the Empire took over, they sold their drugs everywhere from Coruscant to Raxus." Rex said, shaking his head.
"With no Jedi Order to stop them, and a lot of people in pain, the spice flowed." Ahsoka said seeing it with disgust.
Hondo looked at her and said, "And they made all that money without me." His greed earned him a nasty glare from everyone till Hera put it down.
Everyone except Ahsoka and Rex left the Ghost walking out onto the landing pad, "So where is this Blox Hatha anyway?" Zeb asked.
Hondo looked round, "He should be along any… ah there he is!" Hondo pointed out to the thick gray clouds and descending to the dock a ship, but not just any ship a fully armed munificent class star frigate, Designed by the starship manufacturing company Hoersch-Kessel Drive Inc. and Gwori Revolutionary Industries, the Munificent-class star frigates were powerful, multi-role starships that served within the naval forces of the Confederacy of Independent Systems. Often referred to as "pocket cruisers," the frigate measured to 825 meters in length, 426 meters in width, and 243 meters in height, and were fast, lightly armored warships that were designed to operate in squadrons supported by smaller craft to take down larger capital were powered by a reactor. The blue stripes and white hexagon Separatist shield were faded and practically gone from the ship's metal haul. Among the most feared warships in the Separatist fleet, the Munificent-class was equipped with a large array of weapons that made the vessel more than a match for anything the Galactic Republic Navy possessed in similar size and firepower, armed with two forward-mounted heavy turbolaser cannons, two forward-mounted heavy ion cannons, thirteen port and thirteen starboard twin light turbolaser cannons, ten port and ten starboard turret-mounted light turbolasers, six port and six starboard medium flak guns, with roughly thirty-three shells per gun, and ten dorsal, ten ventral, ten port, and ten starboard turret-mounted retractable point-defense twin light turbolasers, as well as several ordnance launchers and a hyperwave jammer. Munificent-class frigates were almost entirely automated, with a nominal crew of around 200, who saw to the vessel's maintenance and daily operations. And the ships' remaining interior space was used for machinery, redundant systems, hangar facilities that could hold up to four squadrons of vulture droids, several Sheathipede-class transport shuttles and DSD1 dwarf spider droids. They were also used to ferry a passenger capacity of 150,000 battle droids of various types that were kept in stasis, and could hold up to two years worth of consumables and a cargo capacity of 10,000 metric tons for encumbrance.
"Never thought I'd see one of those up close again?" Kanan said the sight of the ship brought back some unfavorable memories.
Hera nodded in agreement, "Saw too many over Ryloth when I was young, but this one looks like it's seen better days." She was right about that, the frigate had many dents in it's haul, the engines looked like they were held together by scrap and it was missing three of it's turrets and turbo lasers each. "Chopper, we'll try to get aboard when you get a chance to download as much information as possible."
The ship docked at the port still hovering over it, a large ramp lowering. Then an all too familiar noise came out from it, the clanking of battle droids. A group of Pyke's were waiting for them as B1 droids walked down the ramp and on each side of them were two figures, a Nemodian wearing a pale gray uniform with darker jodhpurs pants feeding into knee height black boots. The jacket had a lighter shade of gray with white around the high collar, on each shoulder were a Separatist insignia. The neimoidian was joined by a Quarren wearing a similar uniform but with the jacket open showing a white shirt.
"Captain Hathax, you are late." Pyke said to him.
"My ship needed fuel, but we will still be on schedule." The neimoidian said.
Kanan, and Hera looked at one another "Hmm, not all of us are military time soldiers- hey who the hell are you?" Pyke snapped at the Spectre's who had been standing at a distance for some time. The Pyke leader and his guards approached them with blasters in hand getting on each side of them.
"When the Pyke's ask you a question you answer trailhead." the lead pyke hissed.
Kanan's hand went to his blaster when he heard the slur, "My friends, my friends, come, come, come." Hondo said interceding "Do you not know who this is, how can you not, this is the legendary Captain Hera Syndulla in the fastest ship in the outer rim, the Ghost, it made the kessel run in less than twelve parsecs." Hondo declared.
"That's impossible, for any ship." the Pyke leader said.
Then one cleared his throat, "Uh actually sir, I think I did hear about a Corellian ship doing that." One of the Pyke's hissed into the leader's ear.
"What are you looking for a job, contracts full." Pyke said, gesturing back to the frigate, "We don't need speed anymore to outrun Republic or Jedi, we need fire power."
Hera reached for Hondo, "Which is why we're meeting without employer, Captain Hathax, we're contractors." Hera said.
"Contractors, is that true?" The Pyke turned to Hathax, the neimoidian paused for a moment then approached looking at Hera dead in the eye, his face was stone, unreadable, as if hiding his next move.
Hera walked up to him and before he could get a word out she whispered "... militia invictus…"
Captain Hathax froze, and gave her a quick nod "I was expecting them, they were taking care of some minor business for me, gentleman."
"Hmmm pirates." the Pyke grumbled, "Just make sure that Spice makes it to Raxus."
Hathax gave the Pyke a stern look, "Consider it done, Lt. Kuttle please see the droids load up the ship." Hathax told the quarren who gave a "Roger, roger." before he pressed a button on his wrist that made all the droids activate and start to load up the crates.
When the Pyke's turned to go, there were still some dock guards, "Captain Hathax, we need-" "To talk, yes, please follow me it'll be safer on my ship." Hath said heading back to his ship.
Hera looked at the other rebels and Hondo warily before they followed them aboard the vessel, walking up the docking ramp, through the corridors and when they were safely deep inside the ship Hathax spoke, "It's been months since my last contact with Command, rumors are swirling after the incident with the Colossus, I take it you heard."
Zeb led out a chuckle "Oh yeah we-" Kanan elbowed him to keep him quiet, "About damn time if you ask me, Lord Asimov has guts I'll give him that, but it won't be long till the Outer Rim explodes like a ion keg."
Hera playing along said, "Surely, he'll be tried for his boldness?" She asked, playing dumb as if she didn't know Caliban was already roaming the galaxy somewhere with her kids.
"They wouldn't dare, he's the Warlord of the Jedi, trained half of their new Order the only reason he's the Warlord is because that Council of theirs want him on their side, not the Militaries." Hath said letting the rebels know he knew much about the Militia, Hera gave a signal to Chopper behind her to break off and look for a terminal to infiltrate.
"Where is he now?" Hera asked him.
They walked into the bridge, where to their surprise it wasn't run by droids but instead a mix of Quarren, Nemodian and Umbaran all in the ame gray uniform that Hathax wore, "Last I heard he was on the edge of this system, a black op before returning to Arcadia. But that's not our business taking from your mixed crew, the ruggedness of your ship, no offense you're Cabal agents?" he asked.
Hera opened her mouth but Kanan answered "Yes, good old gold face himself sent us." Kanan said.
"And as you can tell, our ship is rugged, took a nasty beating and our hyperdrive computer is messed up, we can't get back to Arcadia." Kanan said, just ast the quarren Lt. came up and whispered something in the Nemdoians ear hole, "I see." Hath said.
He looked up at Kanan, "Unfortunately new security protocols dictate only I or others of my rank know the coordinates to the heartworld. You understand." Hathax explained.
"Great, then Captain Hathax you can give them to Captain Syndulla." Kanan said when the door opened and Chopper was thrown into the bridge scraping to a skidding halt at Zebs paws when behind them walking out from the bridge entrance were two familiar faces, the Ikar Jedi, the ithorian Byph and tholothian cyborg Zatt "Look who we found." Zatt said.
"Found indeed." Hath said when the rebels turned around the entire bridge had their blasters pointed at the rebels, "And you're not part of the Militia are you, Jedi." Hath said as he pointed his blaster pistol at Kanan.
Two lightsabers ignited out of the floor, and Ahsoka burst from beneath their feets and swung the lightsaber around Hathax's neck taking him hostage, "Then Captain, let's make a deal." Ahsoka said as Rex appeared behind Byph and Zatt holding them dead to rights, "Party's over." Half the blasters moved in Ahsoka's direction.
"Tell your men to stand down if you want to live Captain Hathax." Ahsoka said in his ear, her voice cold as ice.
Hathax held his blaster limply on his finger, "The infamous Ahsoka Tano, the rumors of your demise were unfounded, please there is no need for violence."
"You drew first, remember? Ahsoka said.
"I did, as was my duty, use your Jedi senses. You know I can't give you the hyperspace coordinates to Arcadia, you'll have to kill me and then what, fight your way off my ship?" he asked her.
Ahsoka didn't flinch, or stutter "Wouldn't this be the first time I fought my way off one of these ships?"
"You said let's make a deal, so let's make one." the neimoidian dropped his blaster on the floor with a clatter, "Clear the bridge." he ordered.
"Captain." Zatt said, "Master Jedi you are an advisor here, this is a military matter I'll deal with it." Hathax snapped at the tholothian Quarren Lt. lowered his pistol and signaled the others, everyone held their breath till the rest of the bridge was empty save for the specter's, Ahsoka, Rex and Blox Hatha. Ahsoka loosened her grip and walked around holding the tip of her blaster at her head, Zeb helped Chopper up who let out a swirl of insults in binary.
Ahsoka didn't lower her sword, "Talk, what do you know of Asimov kidnapping three teens, two boys and one girl."
"Kidnapping, the Militia doesn't-" Ahsoka suddenly kicked Asimov into the chest making his back slam into the commander's chair he coughed a bit, "Wrong answer." She said,
Hathax rubbed his chest, a boot print firmly placed on the gray cloth, "I'm telling you the truth… but so are you."
"What?" Kanan asked confused, "You're a jedi, at least raised as one, taught to control your emotions and Jedi don't torture, if my guess is right, this is a personal matter?" he asked. Ahsoka glared at him, Hathax smiled his big eyes turning to squints, "I am aren't I, say I believe you that Lord Asimov took three kids, crew, family?" Hathax asked.
Ahsoka was silent, but Hera spoke "Crew."
"Hmm, that explains why we had to take a detour on our way here."
"What detour?" Rex asked, holding his pistol up at the neimoidian.
Hathax noted his armor and weapons, "A clone, fascinating, your rebel cells aren't the only ones who operate with anonymity, the Militia just does it quicker, Lord Asimov's ship the Shatterpoint suffered a near catastrophic hyperspace failure. It's still in one piece, but it needs serious repairs. I was ordered by High Command to dispatch our engineers to assist." Hath said.
"They never reached Arcadia." Zeb said aloud.
"Rather auspicious given the political state of Hutt Space, don't you think?" Hatha asked.
"What political state?" Kanna asked him.
Blox eyed Ahsoka, standing up straight, "Hutt space has often been a safe haven for the syndicates, but word on Coruscant is that could be changing, you're familiar with Admiral Greelanx are you not?" Blox asked.
"He's the Imperial Governor of this sector, what of it?" Ahsoka asked.
Hathax walked over to a monitor and started to press a few buttons, a screen came up with some data on it, "We have a spy aboard his ship, he noted in his last report two wanted imperial fugitives and a third minor were delivered by a bounty hunter recently."
Hera walked up and saw a blurry recording of three people being led away by stormtroopers, Sabine, Ezra and Ahkilleon, "They're alive." She whispered "And with the Empire, how?"
"They must have escaped and gotten captured again somehow, we have to find Greenlax's ship." Kanna said aloud.
"They aren't there anymore, at least two of them aren't." Hath said, getting their attention again, "As I said, we have a spy aboard his ship, and your rebel friends weren't Greenlax's only guests." There was a long pause and Hathax looked to Ahsoka, "But this information doesn't come freely, I want us to come to an understanding." Hath said.
Ahsoka reached for her lightsabers but Hera put a hand on her arm, "What understanding?"
"Like I said before, the outer rim is like an ion keg; between your rebel cells and the Militia's larger plans, war is inevitable with the Empire. If things go badly for the Militia, I want assurance that this act of generosity won't be forgotten?" Blox asked them, holding his hand up with a wiry smile.
Rex gawked hearing that and so did Kanan, "Assurances to a war criminal like you?" the jedi scoffed.
Hathax rolled his eyes "Oh cry me a river with your cult's child soldiers and his slave army, Jedi." Hathax said shutting down Kanan's attempt to insult him, "We all did what we did in the Clone Wars thinking we were doing the right thing, now I want your word, when I call you answer?"
Ahsoka looked at Hera, who looked at Kanan, then Zeb and Rex and vice versa even Chopper and there were some nods, "You have a deal."
"Greenland is Military Governor of Hutt Space, so he entertains the heads of the syndicates when they want something or vice versa, when your trio of runaways was aboard he had Prince Xizor, leader of the Black Sun, two left with Xizor the other was held prisoner by Greelanx for Inquisitors."
Kanan went white faced, "Inquisitors, that's got to be Ezra."
"That leaves Sabine and Ahkilleon with the Black Sun." Rex said morbidly, Hathax cleared his throat to let them know he wasn't finished.
"What is it?" Rex hissed.
Hathax pressed a button on the monitor, "If you hadn't heard it from me, you'd hear it eventually, but the Black Sun got rid of one of them, he's headlining in Nar Shaddaa for the main event in Hutta Town." Hathax told them as a hologram appeared showing Grakkus the Hutt addressing the holonet.
"Citizens of Nar Shaddaa and dredges of Hutt space tonight I the great Grakkus the Hutt give to you a rare opportunity to witness the rebirth of a legend long thought extinct, a Jedi to die in my arena for your entertainment-" Hathax cut the transmission short and leaned on the dashboard. Hands over his legs and smiled "If I were you, I'd hurry, Grakkus may look like a meathead but he loved Jedi stuff, now that he has one, he's going to make sure he doesn't lose it anytime soon." The specter's were astonished at how drastically the situation had changed, it had gone from a simple recuse mission to three separate ones for three targets.
NAR SHADDAA
Hutta Town
"I the great Grakkus the Hutt give to you a rare opportunity to witness the rebirth of a legend long thought extinct, a Jedi to die in my arena for your entertainment, come and see a Jedi in action against the best our city has to offer, make bets, bring the kids, for a night you'll never forget!" Grakkus's hologram said in the middle of a cantina that had just been turned upside down with blaster holes in the walls still smoking. Tables overturned, glasses shattered a jukebox with a bounty hunter's head in it. A jawa hanging from a ceiling fan and the three Militia members, Nemo, Sigma, Doc all looking at it.
Nemo had his feet up at the bar drinking, Sigma was holding a man by his neck against a wall, his fist drawn back after beating the man nearly to death. Doc was smoking a cigarette on a pile of knocked out patrons while Turok was watching in the center, "So much for that drink." the trandoshan said before he turned to leave.
"Alright, looks like we're going to the fight tonight." Turok said the following.
Across Nar Shaddaa and the sector word was spreading like a wildfire at the news from the holonet, people were buying tickets at kiosks and lines outside a massive arena, it was so big it looked like it could fit an entire star destroyer from its nose pointed down. People from the lowest depths crowded around holomonitors. Up in the sky yachts of the city other Hutt gangsters, Pykes, Black Sun, Crimson Dawn and so on were watching. The arena was a wash with colorful neon holograms of the Hutt Clans symbol, beams of light moved in every direction while loud thunderous music blew out from speakers to rile up the crowd. The Militia walked into the arena in the nosebleeds and looked around, it looked as if all of Nar Shaddaa was here, aliens, humans, emancipated droids. Pirates, bounty hunters, smugglers, assassins, crime lords, mercenaries, drug dealers and all other irrefutable filth were filing into seats. Service droids walked around with concessions selling food and drinks, "Now this is my kind of place." Nemo said under his poncho, all of the Militia except for Turok were wearing Poncho's. The middle of the arena was all metal with scorch marks, blood stains and holes in the metal everywhere.
Suddenly all the lights of the arena went off, and a fireworks show erupted in the center of the arena, before a golden hologram of Grakkus the Hutt appeared his giant muscular arms held up before he let out a loud yell flexing, the crowd responded in enthusiastic cheers "WELCOME WELCOME WELCOME!" his hologram shouted, Sigma touched Skell on the shoulder pointing up to a large hover box there were at least a dozen all holding Hutts of other lesser crime lords in them. Grakkus was exceptionally large for a Hutt so big, lined with gold and other ornaments the Hutt spoke into the speaker "I SEE YOU ALL GOT MY INVITATION?"
The crowd gave another wave of cheers shaking the whole arena, "FOR CENTURIES THE JEDI WERE THE BANE OF OUR GREAT SMUGGLERS MOON, HUNTING US, ARRESTING US, FORCING US TO PAY TAXES!" a chorus of boos were sent to the mere suggestion of jedi "BUT NOW YOU NOBLE SCUM OF THE OUTER RIM WILL HAVE THE PLEASURE, THE HONOR, OF WATCHING ONE OF THEIR KINDS DEMISE!" The strobe lights went down to the arena floor, Turok ran to the edge of his upper sections railing and saw the floor open up, a circle opened and an elevator was raised up, rising from the arena floor the hover cameras zoomed in to show Ahkilleon.
The boy had been stripped of his shirt and vest, his fair skin exposed. The only thing on his chest was a rusty metal shoulder piece strapped on his shoulder under his right arm and over his chest. His white togurtan marks on his shoulders had an additional poorly drawn sigil of the jedi order painted on his back for show, he was even sporting a high republic force dampening collar around his neck, made of a gold alloy with a thin blue line around it. The entire arena erupted in boos, insults and other negative remarks "Die Jedi…. Go to hell… Rip him to Pieces." And so on some over enthusiastic arena goers drew their pistols shooting in the air while throwing bottles and trash into the arena. Ahkilleon looked up at the hundreds of thousands of people all cheering for his death, "Oh lad." Turok said dismayed seeing Ahkilleon, the shock, awe and even fear on his face, the crowd didn't even seem to care he was just a boy. But as it started to dawn on everyone and doubt grew into murmurs then shouts and questions of legitimacy.
"That's not a jedi, it's a runt… where's his laser sword… I want a refund!"
Grakkus held up his arms "MY FRIENDS, MY FRIENDS DO NOT CAST DOWN, FOR WHAT IS A JEDI WITHOUT HIS WEAPON?" And then Grakkus ever so gracefully, reached up to his many ornamental lightsabers around his neck, plucking one he flung it the hilt down into the arena where it shimmered in the light like a falling star before hitting the arena floor, it bounced five times before coming twenty feet from Ahkilleon. Grakkus pressed a button on his box and the blue light around the collar faded.
Ahkilleon looked at the lightsaber and then up at Grakkus, curling his hands into fists Ahkilleon refused to play along, the boss returned and Garkkus chuckled, "LET US SEE HOW DEFIANT THIS JEDI IS, WHEN FACED WITH DEATH." THE golden hologram said before Grakkus made a pose up to a large brown metal yacht floating above the city, "BY YOUR LEAVE GREAT JABBA!" there sitting atop his own yacht, drinking from a golden chalice was a old fat Hutt not nearly as vascular muscular as Grakkus, but the one the only Jabba the most feared and powerful crime lord in all the Galaxy, with one hand Jabba raised it and then dropped it.
The crowd roared with approval and another part of the arena floor opened and this time something a lot bigger than a fourteen year old boy came out, skin thick and leathery, shoulders and back spiked. Tall as a five story building with a wedged snout and fangs behind it a Jungle Rancor from the ruined world of Felucia "Oh crud." Ahkilleon said before he held his hand out, the lightsaber flew from where it lay all the way into his hand, Ahkilleon turned it on and ignited a bright green blade shooting out of it. Seeing that he was no false force user the crowd went wild as the Rancor roared at Ahkilleon it moved toward him and then charged. Ahkilleon leapt out of the way.
The other Militia watching turned to Turok, "What's the plan?" Sigma asked.
Turok looked around seeing Hutt thugs everywhere and then sighed "Grakkus didn't get to master Hutt Town from muscles alone, he's got a network of bounty hunters and spies, they could be in the crowd…"
"But what about the kid?" Nemo asked.
"He's on his own." Turok growled holding the railing tight helpless to do nothing but watch.
Down in the arena Ahkilleon leapt out of the way of the Jungle Rancors massive arms swinging and slashing at him, he tried to cut the beast with his lightsaber but it was like cutting into solid stone and the damage he did cause only seemed to make the Rancor even angrier. "Where's Ezra when you need him?" Ahkilleon bemoaned as he remembered Ezra would probably be able to connect with the creature.
Running away from the creature it tore up the metal floor at his feet and Ahkilleon was lifted up into the air, he salted before landing into a roll as the Rancor flung the giant metal floor chunk at him. Ahkilleon swung his lightsaber like a baseball bat slicing it in two to the crowd's delight. Using the force he picked up the two chunks of metal and hurled them back at the jungle rancor. One piece the rancor swatted away with its massive armor like scales, the other hit the beat right in the mouth. Ahkilleon let out a cheer before he saw he hadn't wounded the creature, the jungle rancor had caught it between those massive jaws and crushed the metal like it was a set of twigs. "Not good." Ahkilleon said running away before getting chased again. All of Nar Shaddaa roared in their seats or at the holo monitors, and across the sector others were watching even Prince Xizor aboard his yacht and Sabine inside the suite prison.
Back in the arena the Rancor was closing in on Ahkilleon, "Come on lad, come on fight." Turok said while he held his breath.
Ahkilleon looked around for anything, something to throw at the beast, to distract it, then he noticed all the holo recording cameras and got an idea. He ran at the rancor as if to charge it but slid between the beast's legs just as a camera came down to get the shot, Ahkilleon jumped onto it and was hoisted up into the air. The lights followed his ascent and he jumped from one camera to the next, the Rancor leaping and swiping at the air narrowly missing him. Ahkilleon leapt across them one by one like air hopscotch but a hundred foot drop and growing below him. He made his way to the cameras closest to the crowd in an attempt to escape. Grakkus smiled when Ahkilleon leapt off the last one and slammed right into an invisible laser wall that made the whole arena, maybe the entire moon erupt with laughter.
"Ouch." Nemo and the other Militia winced before Ahkilleon fell off the laser wall, right toward the waiting jaws of the Rancor. Ahkilleon screamed in terror and the whole arena relished the few seconds before life and death going crazy before the final-
"OOOOHH!" The arena reacted in a delightfully disgusted ovation, because with one monstrous bite, Ahkilleon was swallowed by the jungle rancor and then a loud belch that sent the spectators into a jubilating laughter. The only two not laughing were the Militia and Grakkus who looked almost disappointed that his new prize had died so…
Wait…
The jungle rancor suddenly grabbed it's chest and stomach, it let out a queasy moan like it was sick and green glow came from it's lower chest, followed by a lightsaber bursting from within it's scales it tore up and the Rancor fell backwards with a crash before Ahkilleon burst out covered in dark blue blood and purple guts his white hair matted down against his skin the entire arena silent as the grave they thought he was sent to. Ahkilleon looked at them and then down at the dead Rancor with one great beast slain the other roared triumphantly lightsaber raised above his head "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHhhhh…." The roar was long and powerful echoing out of the silent arena across the city for blocks to hear.
Still they were silent, looking down Ahkilleon looked at the lightsaber smoking from the blood but his head snapped back to enthralling cheering, the whole arena was on their feet cheering for his victory. Grakkus the Hutt led out a booming applause and laughter at money well spent.
"Holy kark, holy kark did you see that!" Nemo shouted jumping up and down, "Damn." Doc said her cigarette falling out of her mouth, Turok was beaming with pride.
He snickered and shook his head slamming his metal claw into the railing of the level he was on "Dammit Leo… chip of the old block." He hit his metal claw on the railing again, a ping coming from the metal "Freaking jedi…" Turok whispered "Jedi, Jedi, Jedi, Jedi, Jedi, Jedi." Turok started to say over and over again hitting the metal in sync with his chant. Sigma saw what he was doing and joined in "Jedi, Jedi, Jedi, Jedi!" Nemo and Doc did the same "Jedi, Jedi, Jedi, Jedi, Jedi, Jedi, Jedi, Jedi!" Other people in the crowd heard them to and since Grakkus had failed to introduce Ahkilleon as anything other then Jedi, the name stuck with the crowd who had joined in and then then entire arena was chanting "JEDI, JEDI, JEDI, JEDI, JEDI, JEDI, JEDI, JEDI, JEDI, JEDI, JEDI, JEDI, JEDI, JEDI, JEDI,JEDI, JEDI, JEDI, JEDI, JEDI,JEDI, JEDI, JEDI, JEDI, JED!"
"I GIVE YOU THE NEW CHAMPION OF NAR SHADDAA!" Grakkus declared for all to hear.
Across the stars inside Prince Xizors ship, Sabine was watching she reached into her body glove shirt and pulled out the shard of metal Ahkilleon had made into a necklace for she held it tight and looked over at a mirror with her own collar on, squeezing the shard tight she started to come up with a plan.
Meanwhile, in the captain's suite, Xizor was sipping his wine "That should keep them busy before it's too late, wouldn't you agree Admiral?" Xizor asked a hologram of Admiral Greelanx, "A jedi on Nar Shaddaa, the Empire will be unable to ignore it."
"And you as Military governor, will have to… intervene." Xizor said holding up his goblet, Greelanx had his own chalice and toasted it, "Naturally, and nobody to stop us when we install a more favorable regime." Greelanx said as their plans were coming closer and closer to the endgame.
Imperial Star Destroyer, Destiny
Brig
Ezra sat alone in his cell, still a prisoner when he heard a strange scraping noise, he looked around and wasn't sure where it was coming from when he looked down at the floor and saw the metal floorboards crack open like a can, there was a loud groan of metal being pushed over and two large hairy hands appeared before a tuft of brown fur poked out of the hole in the floor. Ezra came face to face with a brown haired wookiee who gave a wookiee bark at him. Ezra gapped "Uhhh no?"
The cell next to him banged on the wall, "Wrong cell you walking carpet!' the voice from the other prisoner said before the wookiee snapped back and sank into the floor. "Wait a second." Ezra ran to the hole in the floor and saw that there was an entire section of where vents should be and splicer holes were, he looked down in the hole to see the wookiee go one cell over cutting through the wall with a splicer then climb up it. A few seconds later he heard muffling and then an explosion.
Ezra was so startled he almost fell off his feet when the door to his cell opened, smoke floated in and then a man walked in, coughing he had thick brown hair, a strong jaw with a rugged appearance to him dressed in a white shirt with a black vest, blue corellian navy pants with black boots and a brown leather belt. "Huh you weren't joking you are a kid." The man said.
"Uh yeah, who are you?"
"Han Solo, pleasure to meet you now get a move on kid." Han said before Ezra got up and ran out of his cell after him the wookiee was holding the splicer and a bowcaster, "Oh this is Chewie by the way." Han said.
"Ezra, Ezra Bridger." Ezra said up to the wookiee who ruffled his hair, before they ran off down the hallway to freedom, or death, hard to say right now.