Part of the "Spring Cleaning 2019" Event
Hey there everyone, if you're familiar with my works then you have no need for an introduction and I welcome you back for another plotbunny of mine. If you're new to the "PhillyCh3zSt3ak experience" (not patented) then I say welcome and I hope that you enjoy your time with me reading this story. So, what do I have for you all today? Well, it's a story inspired by two works of fanfiction on this site that I think you guys should really check out, they're called "The Scavenger's Hunt" (id: 11573581) and "Harrison Fett" (id: 9872109). Now before I go farther, note that I said that this story is inspired by these two works, therefore I will be borrowing some ideas and expanding on them to hopefully create something that's more mine than plagiarizing these two-interesting works. I will also say that this fic was also inspired by the teaser trailer for the now-canceled game Prey 2, or at least this chapter in particular. It's sad that the aforementioned game will not be released any time soon. Some other things, there will be the occasional temporary crossovers with another series PROVIDED that they take place on a singular planet or a single solar system. Case in point is the initial scene you'll be reading. Below I have listed a list of triggers before we begin the actual story.
Bounty Hunter!Force user!OOC!Harry – I've always loved the idea of Harry being a bounty hunter. So, morals; Harry is going to officially be Gray. He's neither Light nor Dark, he just does the things he wants to and prioritizes tasks that earn him money. For example, he does sort of have a soft spot towards children younger than him, provided they either don't try and stab him in the back and are younger than him; and while he doesn't like senseless killing, as in glassing or orbital bombardment of a world for no reason, he has no issue in Deep-Sixing someone should they piss him off.
Surrogate Father!Boba Fett – Now I am going to disclaim that this is what happens for the most part in "Harrison Fett" where Boba becomes a surrogate father to Harry. Bottom line, he's going to train him how to be a true Mandalorian as well as a damn fine Bounty Hunter as well. He won't appear too often in the story outside of either some flashbacks or cameo appearances as this story is primarily about Harry.
Imperial Era!Galaxy – The events that'll happen during the course of this story will happen post-Episode III, aka the end of the Clone Wars onward.
EU!Compliant – I LOVE the Star Wars Expanded Universe and was devastated that Disney was pretty much getting rid of the EU, and that saddened me. Therefore, I'm making this fic Expanded Universe compatible, hence characters like Mara Jade, Kyle Katarn, Corran Horn, Wraith Squadron's guys, etc. will still exist. Yay.
Paring – So far, I have no idea who I would pair him up with. I mean I could set him up with Mara Jade, but I always liked the Luke/Mara pairing in EU canon. So… we'll see where it goes and go from there.
Rating – T+ to M, just in case of sexual content or gratuitous violence.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but my desktop and my copy of MS Word. Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling. Star Wars belongs to Disney (though I wish Lucas still owned it instead of them). See the foreword for the full disclaimer.
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"Talking."
'Thinking.'
'Narration.'
"Things said over communication devices."
{Optional music selection start}
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Not so long ago, in a galaxy closer than you would have expected, in another universe far from ours...
{Ghost Riders (in the Sky), Johnny Cash}
A young man sat in the cockpit of his vessel looking at a holographic display, cycling through different mug shots and Wanted listings of different beings the Empire had listed as criminals. He reached the end of the current list before cycling back to a Changeling that stole Imperial secrets before escaping to the Unknown Regions. He selected the criminal for more information which included the ship he escaped in and the hyperspace vector he entered into. After running through all the variables through a program of his design, and stolen Imperial hardware, he entered hyperspace.
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{Rusty Cage, Johnny Cash}
The young man in armor stood on top of a stone tower in some backwoods city on some backwater planet scanning the streets below for his mark. The viewfinder's HUD found the biometrics of the bring he was looking for. He marked his mark with an excited, anticipatory grin. There was nowhere on this rock his bounty could hide as he had placed several cricket ball-sized satellites in orbit that were synced with is ship and his hardware. He checked his equipment over. He pulled out his BlasTech DL-44 heavy blaster pistol and checked the power pack before placing it back in its holster. He then took the E-11 blaster rifle slung on his back. Unlike the rifles of the same type used by Imperial Stormtroopers that were infamously inaccurate at long range and when fired on automatic for extended periods of time, specifically the stockless version of the rifle, this one was heavily customized similarly to a specific modular rifle that was used on the young man's homeworld. Where the standard rifle had a 2x scope this had a holographically projected crosshair, the barrel was vented for intentionally overcharged bolts, the base stock was replaced with an extendable stock that was currently collapsed, on the side was a strobe light to blind and incapacitate foes, and had an under-barrel scatter-gun. On his right arm was a grapple gauntlet while on the left was a combination flamethrower toxic dart launching system. The final weapon on his person was quite the exotic one, especially since the warriors who had used them en mass were exterminated close to twenty years ago and their adversaries returned from the shadows; the cylindrical weapon was ergonomically designed to fit perfectly in the user's hand while held in multiple styles. While the Bounty Hunter knew the power cell of this weapon could go for centuries of heavy use without needing a charge, he activated it anyway. With a snap-hiss a blade of crimson contained plasma sprung up from the emitter; the Bounty Hunter looked at the crimson blade with anticipation before he pressed the activation stud to which the blade deactivated with another hiss. He flipped the lightsaber hilt in the air, admiring the craftsmanship that he put into it after originally obtaining it. There were black scores running down the hilt, all intentional as this was Cortosis ore laced into the hilt to make it extremely difficult for another lightsaber to cut through.
Catching the hilt, he attached it to the combat webbing on his armor. Checking the fuel line on his jetpack one last time he stepped off the tower and let himself freefall leaving three decapitated guards behind. They had attempted to stop the Bounty Hunter from being on the tower, but his crimson lightsaber ended their lives in three lightning fast strikes. A few dozen meters from the ground he ignited his jetpack, allowing it to slow his decent, before landing uninjured with the assistance of the Force. Immediately heads turned towards him and the people gasped in fear. While the Bounty Hunter didn't have his helmet on, figuring he needed to blend in some while getting inside the city, he emitted an aura of fear. As he started to walk towards the palace his mark had been walking towards the crowd parted like he was Moses parting the Red Sea.
It was then his mark noticed him. He turned around to reveal a slightly elderly looking man with pure white hair and mutton chops for facial hair, white robes with a red vestment on top of it. He was neither short nor tall but he was portly, though as the young Bounty Hunter had learned more than once, appearances are deceiving. He was flanked by gold cloaked soldiers wearing inadequate armor and weapons to deal with someone as lethal and effective as him and his weapons.
"So, you finally managed to track me down, Bounty Hunter?" he spoke haughtily. His guards had their hands on their sword hilts, ready for a fight.
"It's not like it was THAT hard. Sure, this backwater rock is in the boonies of the Unknown Regions, but look at you. A traitor of the Empire, once a lowly captain who stole information about certain plans the Emperor has in store," he took a few steps closer. "And now you've become the Pope of a religion I bet you don't even believe in."
"That's HIGH SEPTON to you," the mark replied.
"Oh, my apologies Space Pope of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster," the Hunter smoothly and sarcastically replied. His hand wandering down to his blaster pistol, casually unsnapping the restraint keeping it in place.
The Septon, enraged, pointed his finger at the Hunter. "Guards, this heathen has blasphemed against the Seven. Kill him!"
As the guards unsheathed their blades several ear-splitting blasts that could only be described as a tuning fork hitting a power line rang out. The Bounty Hunter was still there, his blaster's muzzle smoking slightly while all the hostile guards slumped to the ground lifeless with charred marks and molten metal surrounding the marks. The Septon's face now showed fear and saw as the Hunter had a borderline manic, anticipatory grin on his face.
"And run," the Hunter muttered. Almost as if on command, the hunted started running at speeds towards the castle that would have baffled those who had seen more overweight people run before. "Oh, this is going to be fun," the Hunter happily stated before taking off at a quick pace, following his mark.
The Septon signaled more soldiers and for the gate to close that led to the inner keep. Pulling out the pistol once more the soldiers were sentenced to death by red plasma bolts. He holstered his pistol and activated his lightsaber and quickly carved an arch in the iron gate, much to the horror of the guards in the other side. Once he had carved through the gate, he kicked the dislodged portion with a Force-enhanced kick, impaling two guards with the spikes on the bottom of the gate.
More guards showed up. As they did, the bounty hunter asked, "Are you sure you don't want to just move?" They drew their weapons in response. "Have it your way," he replied as he held his ill-gotten lightsaber in an attacker's stance and charged. He ducked under one sword, only to bisect the wielder in return. Another tried to attack, but his own sword was turned into a molten stub by superheated plasma. He noticed that they were bunching up now, getting ready to rush him. He extinguished his lightsaber and tossed a handheld device in their midst. Instead of exploding, a wave of energy erupted and the soldiers in full plate armor started to float in the air. Pulling out his blaster, each soldier received a bolt to the chest as he ran past them to catch up with the Septon. As he rounded the corner, they all fell to the ground in a lifeless, crashing heap.
This continued all the way until the Septon had been cornered in a throne room which contained a chair made of melted together swords. "Nowhere left to run," the Hunter taunted. "Not that you had anywhere really. After all, a bounty hunter is much cleaner than a planetary bombardment."
"What do you want?" he pleaded. "I'll give you anything you want! How much are they paying you, I'll pay double! Triple!"
"Who are you, peasant?" a young boy with a stereotypical British accent asked. The hunter turned around to see a boy sitting on the iron throne made of swords, how he didn't see him when he walked in was a mystery. How he missed the guards currently standing in the room was gross incompetence on his part, he knew better. But it seemed like the Septon noticed this as well and looked to the child on the throne.
"Your grace, this peasant wishes harm upon me!" he exclaimed in a rehearsed dramatization. "Send the Kingsguard to kill him! You must protect the faith of the Seven!"
"I'm just here for him," the hunter nodded towards the Septon. "He's got quite the large bounty on his head. Leave me to my business and there won't be a bloodbath left behind."
"Is that a threat?" the boy-king asked.
"No, it's a promise," the hunter rebutted. "If I wanted him dead, I would have done so earlier when he was in the street. The bounty for him requires that he be alive."
A blonde woman whispered in his ear. She looked similar to him, probably his mother. One thing he picked up was 'important to the Faith.' "And how much is this bounty for?" he asked.
"Three thousand credits dead, three million alive."
This caused him and the woman to have an eyebrow to be raised. That was a large amount of money, assuming that this 'credit' was anything like a Dragon. She whispered in his ear once more. "I can give you three thousand. You go back to your… masters and you tell them that you killed him," he suggested.
"No can do, still need to provide a body; and I have a tendency and known record for providing intact bodies on kill orders."
"It seems we have reached an impasse," the boy-king replied after a long pause.
"It seems we have," the hunter agreed, his hand wandering down to his blaster once more. "But keep this in mind. You kill me or if I'm unsuccessful in retrieving my bounty, the Empire will turn this dustball to glass just to kill him. He stole something very important to them, and in order to prevent their adversaries from getting their hands on it, they'll kill you all without remorse or care. It'll be Armageddon. Tarkin Doctrine and all that." He let that sink in. "So, the question becomes, is the life of one person that leads a religion more important that the people that they're supposed to morally lead?" He paused for a moment and added, "And I'm pretty sure you value your life much more than his."
The silence was deafening as the entire court waited to hear what he decreed. "Take him."
The hunter drew his blaster and shot the Septon, falling to the ground in a slump as the stun round hit him. "Glad you see it my way." He touched his ear, "Bring the ship down for a pickup." He approached the stunned Septon, his human visage falling away as his changeling features appeared. "Face only a mother could love," he muttered while tying him up. Tying a leash to the hand bindings above the changeling's head, he started to walk out dragging him behind as if he were a sack of potatoes. "Pleasure doing business with you," he said as he left.
Less then ten minutes later, he was on his ship and entering the upper atmosphere. As he breached into space, a light on his console lit up; he was getting an incoming comm line. He pressed the button and he was greeted with, "Do you have him?"
"Hello. How are you? Did you enjoy your first solo hunt on a backwater world?" he asked, giving off some strong, sarcastic vibes. "And yes, I do have him. He's currently sitting in the brig with stun cuffs and collar. I'll be back in Imperial space in a few days."
"Did he give you any trouble?"
"The locals gave me more trouble than he did, but they were handled efficiently," the hunter replied as he set the coordinates for the waypoints in his journey.
"What was it like?"
"The hunt?"
"The Locals."
"Stupid. Simple, really. More concerned about survival and power more than anything else. They worship a set of gods as well as some others. I didn't really stop to learn about the culture outside what was needed for the job."
There was a sigh from the other side. "What did I tell you?"
This time, it was the hunter's turn to sigh; more-so in annoyance more than anything else. "Learning about your target in every way can make your job easier, and maybe even save your life," he recited.
"And what did you learn?"
"That the locals are fiercely loyal to their gods and the rulers will use that loyalty to cement their power as well by either working with or manipulating the faith's leadership."
"And did that happen?"
"Yes."
"Remember, the way people worship a deity can show what they value in society. That information can help analyze the culture that you are infiltrating to find your target." The hunter was lectured in this way many a time before this.
"Are you done lecturing me?" the hunter asked, clearly annoyed.
"No. But that will be all for now, fly safe." The line cut off.
The hunter reached forward on the lever and jumped into hyperspace. "Well, Harry Potter, you're three million credits richer. What will you do now?" he muttered to himself, the hyperspace tunnel being the only listener.
To be continued…?
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And this is all I have for this one for now.
This specific story idea was created back in 2015, almost 4 years now. Again, with these old story ideas that just sit around. I be a busy lad.
I don't really have much to say on this one, it was supposed to be a bounty hunting fic which involves references to several things. The inspiration for the opening came from the reveal trailer from Mass Effect: Andromeda and the chase sequence from the scrapped Prey 2 reveal trailer. Then there was the whole set which was obviously Game of Thrones, specifically pre-Joffery death. Sorry for the spoilers, but that was several years ago, I think we all knew that horrid character (not the actor, he did a good job in portraying the mad boy-king) was going to get it sooner or later. Other than that, though? I have no idea what else I wanted to do with this originally other than what I stated in the opening. After all, this had been created back in 2015.
But let me know what you guys thought, you know where to leave your feedback. As for me? It's 3 am and I need to go to bed, but I got Bismarck in Azur Lane, so I'm pretty happy right about now.
