Chapter 18

Jabba frowned as the white and blue armored man approached. Truth be told, Jango Fett was the only one who had continuously returned. Increased amounts of bounty hunters were disappearing, undoubtedly due to the vigilante, yet Fett had managed to be lucky.

This did earn Jabba's begrudging respect, and for the right price, he could easily assign the man as his right hand, buying him an effective security guard, and possibly new majordomo.

Jango passed a datapad to his direction. Any information about this threat was better than going into the dark.

Jabba scowled as he stared at the cracked screen, the words unreadable. Was this some sort of a joke?

"Bah, this is a broken datapad! I doubt even my best technicians can fix this!" Jabba threw the datapad into the wall, thus disabling it completely.

Whereas some within the palace winced at his tirade, the bounty hunter stayed composed & kept his hands at his side, speaking as if unmoved.

"I have managed to encrypt some data," the bounty hunter said after a minute. "This is no coincidence. I have encountered Jedi before. I believe Anchorhead is to be the fortress."

"Anchorhead?" Jabba hummed, putting his hand on his chin in thought.

This planet as it was were full of extreme heat, limited water resources, and frequent sandstorms. These conditions made living in towns like Anchorhead challenging and somewhat unsustainable, leading to a decline in population over time unlike the days of the Old Republic where the Czerka enterprise at this time was the claim it laid to the planet Tatooine, building many numbers of outpost, including Anchorhead itself. Such an investment had been made that officials were unwilling to close it down and the sale of ore from Tatooine continued. Customers and investments declined, and marauding bands of natives also provided a source of trouble for the corporation.

Even the Hutt found himself not caring about the feeble town, yet now that raised a place of intrigue.

Jabba raised his hand, only for Jango to cut him off, not too briskly. "Now, now, Jabba, I have gained some information for the location of your enemy. I am expecting payment."

"You would get your part, bounty hunter," Jabba snapped. "I would transfer fifteen thousand into your account. I would add another ten if you capture him."

Jabba was certain that the bounty hunter was grinning behind that helmet.

"Twenty and consider it done."

"Deal."

The bounty hunter left without another word.

"Cuthus," Jabba spoke, after the bounty hunter was gone, summoning his majordomo who had seemingly been seconds away from leading a Togruta dancer to his room.

The majordomo moved to him, bowing, becoming that figure of respect and Jabba's right-hand man yet again.

"I want you to focus on Anchorhead," the Hutt demanded. "We would tighten the hold until this vigilante's head is slapped on my throne, and his allies dealt with as well. The Gella sisters would pay for their disobedience."

Cuthus nodded. "The bounty hunters would be glad to carry out their work, but are you sure about Jango Fett? Something about him leaves me feeling... uneasy."

"Fett is nothing more than a bounty hunter. He has been brought into my services, and once all is said and done, he will continue to be used against my rivals." The Hutt replied, waving his hand dismissively.

Cuthus's lips curled up tightly. "I have been serving you for a long time, brought the best of the best slaves to you-"

"Of course you did," Jabba acknowledged, a raspy chuckle escaping him, "yet a truly effective majordomo would have already found this individual playing hero. Perhaps you are fearful of losing your position."

"No," Cuthus said tightly. "I am only focusing on protecting you. I want to make sure this Empire doesn't fall. I would double my attempts in capturing this wretch no matter what I have to do." It wasn't long before the man was breathing heavily.

"Yes, but why?" Jabba asked, arching an unseen eyebrow in confusion. "Something deeper than wealth perhaps, than sleeping with dancers and such? Ah there it is."

"A legacy," Cuthus confessed. "This Empire has been standing before I was born, and it would continue to long after I die."

Jabba chuckled. "You are a devoted man, Naroon, my boy."

Clearly touched by the praise, Cuthus bowed slightly, hiding a smile from the Hutt's compliment. "And Jabba, I believe I have an idea to root out this threat albeit it would be a waste of resources. It's something I have thought of for time."

"Oh... do tell."

The night sky was adorned with a blanket of stars. Before him stood a familiar Palliduvan, someone who Vader recognized. It awakened a memory from long ago; she had been the one who threatened his angel in the Clone Wars, had been captured by Snips and Padmé's guards simultaneously after a failed assassination attempt, had been someone who failed him in capturing a Jedi and lived to tell the tale after he'd viewed her as worthless...

Aurra Sing.

She had obviously been practicing wielding the lightsaber, given she was standing across from him with it drawn like she was a Dark Jedi. Of course, she had been a former Jedi, failed and pained by the teachings of the Dark Woman.

Being as broken as long as she had given Vader a bitter taste of understanding for her; but even if he understood what she was going through, he would not allow her to kill any slaves or threaten another being without cause.

He'd promised the former slaves that they wouldn't be enslaved yet again, and even though they could take care of the bounty hunter, he could do it much more in a subtle manner instead of drawing unwanted attention to one another.

"You must be the vigilante, the one who is threatening Jabba," spat the bounty hunter, scarlet lightsaber illuminated at her side.

Vader remained silent, just looking at her.

"I'll have it to hand it to Jango for finding sightings of you in Anchorhead. Shame he wouldn't collect the price."

"Foolish child, you have no idea what's going on here," Vader chuckled.

"I'm no child! I am far more than you will ever be! And these slaves would be found and returned to him!"

Vader simply responded. "Jabba and his slavers profit from the suffering of others. They will face justice, not perpetuate it."

Sing swung her lightsaber and Vader simply moved out of the way, the blade not even coming close to shunning his shoulder.

Again, and Vader froze the blade before it could have hit him.

Vader observed it. "You really don't know how to use that weapon, child."

To conclude, the way she had been using that lightsaber equated to that of a baseball bat.

Vader said with some form of pity. "You are a failure of the Jedi. I can teach you to be so much more."

"The academy of Anzati killers taught me against their pitiful ways and I'll make sure they regret what they did to me!" Sing snapped, igniting the lightsaber again.

She charged forward, and Vader ducked under the scarlet lightsaber before sending a punch to her side, causing her to fall back, disoriented.

"You have to do better," Vader said as if instructing a student instead of fighting a rival. She yelled a battle cry and charged forward again, and Vader dodged before kneeing her in the gut.

"Fight me!" She cried, continuing to swing her lightsaber around and attempting to decapitate him.

"As you wish..." Vader's hand slid down to his crimson lightsaber, and it activated with a snap-hiss.

Vader gave her exactly what she'd wanted and countered another strike before advancing. This was hardly to be considered a lightsaber duel and more of him holding back. A proper dueler of the blade would have lasted longer.

Aurra had to keep herself from falling over even though she had been the one primarily aggressive. His only movement being the swings of his lightsaber, with her remaining on her knees at most, barely able to stand against him.

At last, Vader kicked Sing in the sternum, dropping her onto the ground: "Give up, girl, you still have the potential to be something more than just another bounty hunter who would accomplish nothing in life."

This only provoked her anger as she collided against him again, and the former Sith could only prevent himself from yawning. This display was embarrassing, even for her.

The bounty hunter became desperate, looking around as if trying to find a loophole in his defensive, or something in this environment that can be used to her benefit.

Vader sent another blow, causing her to stumble, teeth grinded together.

"You need not die," Vader stated flatly. "Jabba has sent you and many others on suicidal hunts. He's too afraid to come for me himself."

The bounty hunter fought to keep her footing. "KRIFF YOU, JEDI, I WOULD COLLECT THE BOUNTY AND BRING YOUR HEAD BACK TO JABBA! I WOULD KILL EVERY ONE OF YOU!"

This was not even out of honor. This was out of pure stupidity.

"I'm no Jedi..."

Vader swung his lightsaber around him, forcing her to fall back with ruthless efficiency-his lightsaber slamming down upon her. Sing continued to fall back, thrusting her lightsaber in an attempt to break his stance, yet he kept his lightsaber poised at the lower part of his body.

He kicked Sing in the forehead and pushed forward. She reached for her head and groaned as Vader continued to advance. He slammed his lightsaber down on her again and again, until he halted, their blades locking against one another.

"You can't escape from me, Aurra," Vader said truthfully. "To me, you're nothing more than a child who has never touched the blade. Don't force my hand and make me destroy you."

Aurra broke the lightsaber clash and stabbed the blade forward and Vader merely moved to the side yet again.

"You lack training. None could last against a wielder of the Force with no training. It takes years alone to properly wield the blade let alone fight with it. Holding a lightsaber does not make you a Jedi."

It's true. Despite his Chosen One status which boosted his learning experience as a Jedi, Anakin still took years to fully master Djem So, despite how good he was with the beginning stances.

Even longer to even so much as contemplate mastering the other lightsaber forms.

Aurra sneered, her entire body trembling with rage. "Shut up!"

With a single swift stroke, Vader disarmed the bounty hunter and tripped her up with a mere twisting of his leg, sending the hilt flying away into the sand before aiming the lightsaber to her throat. The bounty hunter stared at the man, the red lightsaber almost burning her skin.

Eventually, he removed his lightsaber from her throat and turned away, looking up at the night sky.

"This isn't worth it, Aurra," Vader said, breaking it... eventually. "As I have said, the Jedi have failed you. Do you want to be forgotten in this desert, or do you want to live and be much more than your Jedi teacher? The Dark Woman. You were betrayed. Brainwashed. You are just desperate for acceptance."

Sing ran for the lightsaber again, and gripped the weapon, her hand tight over the hilt. Vader made no indication to stop her.

Still, her emotions were so out of control she screamed at him. "I wasn't broken! This is who I am! I was meant to be a Jedi slayer! I'll never stop!"

"This is your final chance," Vader flourished his lightsaber to block the blow.

Sing didn't even think about it, swinging her lightsaber forward.

"I'll bring those damn slaves back or cut them down! Might even use some of them for my own pleasure."

Vader felt something cold rushing through him. This insolent brat would not be bringing the slaves back whatsoever. He felt it at that moment. There was nothing to be salvaged. She harbored no humility, no cause to reason.

At most, Vader could twist her to his side, but there would always be the possibility of betrayal, of her striking out at his allies. She knew there was a life outside of the one she lived, but she had made her choice.

Continuing the Sith way in another title was not Vader's objective at this day and age.

"Then you will die."

Sing swung her lightsaber at his head, yet Vader effortlessly dodged, deciding enough was enough. He grasped her shoulder-resulting in her to attempt to escape his grasp, swinging her lightsaber around, but not even coming close to meeting her target. He didn't even hesitate this time, burying his lightsaber in her chest.

Their eyes met, before Sing looked down at the lightsaber, shocked, horrified, pained, and at last... resignation. Lightsabers through the chest were known to have at the very least serious nerve damage and instant death at most when not treated with some of the best medical technology in the galaxy.

Vader could feel the life leaving her. After a second, he released his hold on Aurra Sing. The lifeless body slumped to the ground, and Vader regarded her corpse with some sort of pity.

He called her lightsaber over to his hand and contemplated for a moment. He was no Grievous nor that Sith he used to be. He wouldn't collect lightsabers of any opponents of his rivals, be that Jedi, Dark Jedi, or Sith. Doing so was outright barbaric.

Vader threw the scarlet lightsaber into the air and swung his lightsaber at it, decapitating it. He looked at the lifeless face of whom once have been Aurra Sing, a well-known Jedi killer, yet another failure of the Jedi as well.

After shaking his head, Vader sighed. Aurra Sing's tale was a tragic one for sure, yet Vader couldn't help but wonder how many would avoid death at the hands of this bounty hunter for her perishing even earlier.

"Vader, are you alright?" Kara asked, her elder eyes suggesting concern that Vader hadn't seen from anyone else for a long time.

Vader nodded. "Jabba is getting closer to us."

"What do you suggest we do?" Ann asked, as always willing to listen to him.

Vader responded. "We would begin strategizing. We'll start sending spies to strike from within, as well as the force necessary to prevent this from blowing up when we finish off Jabba."

Lightning struck many of them about how short time they all have. There were many slaves who would suffer as a result of Jabba's soon to be death, yet there would be survivors who could do something about others before they follow the same fates.

Some of them didn't need encouragement like Mol Zandarg and Hakyrr Taso. With Vader as their leader, they knew they could survive. It won't be an outright victory, but the better path compared to giving Jabba the chance to recover.

"What about her body?" Remy asked, indicating over to Sing.

"Give her a funeral," Vader responded, giving one final look of disappointment at the girl who had a chance to be something more.

Still, he didn't felt guilt for her death-not exactly. Saving as many slaves as possible was his top priority, and she would have been one who would have jeopardized their safety.

Even if Vader could fend off Jabba's lackeys, him sending his entire army here would result in plenty of deaths. The only advantage he have for now was that the bounty hunters could hardly stand each other as his spy had informed him.

Many of them briefly squirmed in discomfort, unprepared for going face to face with the Hutt who once controlled them all, despite how they'd joined his army with this purpose.

Caltris, a blue young Togruta male with a haunted look, stepped forward, his voice trembling with doubt. "Vader, we... we appreciate what you've done for us, but... is it really possible to defeat Jabba? He's so powerful, and we're just... survivors. We are meant to be slaves to him."

Vader shook his head. "Not to me, Caltris. I cannot promise you an easy path. But I can promise you this: if we do not fight, we will never know what we are truly capable of achieving. Together, we have the power to shape our own destinies and forge a future free from oppression."

They each exchange hesitant glances, their minds wrestling with conflicting emotions. Some were on board with the prospect already, but the rest provided assurance. It's one thing to go against Jabba's army, but going against the major Hutt himself was terrifying for them.

Vader couldn't fault them for their uncertainty. Even though they have found family in one another, even if some of them haven't been direct slaves to the slavers and the Hutts, they still had to abide and tolerate them long enough, resulting in years of trauma. Some of the common people who've joined their army have lost their family in slavery, still suffering the aftermath of obedience.

Fortunately, Ann caught on and she came forward, slamming the butt of her blaster onto the ground, gaining attention from every individual there. "We have come too far to turn back now. With that unity, we can face Jabba's forces head-on. We fought for weeks. Might as well make a change or die trying. No one would bring it so we might as well make our own lives, prevent the future from suffering what we felt."

Tann, finding courage amid the uncertainty, nodded in agreement, beginning to speak. "I may be afraid, but I'm also tired of being a victim. Let us stand together and fight for our freedom, even if the odds are against us."

Tann's loyalty was not as extreme, compared to Ann given they knew each other the longest but she would stand behind her sister...

The women were the closer ones to his, practically sisters. They each seen his abilities in taking out slaver armies, but this would be a very risky gamble.

He knew that not all would be able to make it out. No war was bloodless and there would be consequences for sure afterwards. Many were going to try to take advantage of a power vacuum, but they could preserve through all the loss and becomes stronger for it.

Vader took hold of the conversation. "In the darkest days, there's hope. I'll present you with the choice again. If you wish to back out in this battle, you may do so. This is a willing army, not a slavery cult."

Suffice to say, within the next morning, Mos Espa had freedom fighters infiltrating the streets, finding small loopholes within the slave pens that would make the overthrowing process simpler.

Arthur's note: I wanted to have Vader save Aurra, but she had been broken beyond belief. Some people can't be reached. Unlike Vader, she doesn't have any family. She doesn't have a Luke Skywalker. She had no reason, and thus she died for what she believes in. This would have a ripple effect on the future as her victims who would be alive may be referenced at the very least.

I have been building things up for quite a while and it's time for Vader to soon deal with Jabba, but... the mighty slug and his cronies do have something planned so don't be surprised when things don't go as expected.

May the Force be with you all always.