The cold, starlit expanse of space was unforgiving, a truth Nightstar knew all too well as his ship, the Second Fury, glided through the darkness. Inside, the hum of the engine was a constant companion, much like the silent droid dog that lay at his feet, its mechanical eyes occasionally flickering with data.
Nightstar sat at the helm, his fingers dancing over the controls with practiced ease. His gold and red lightsabers hung at his waist, a stark reminder of the dual nature of his powers and allegiances. The cockpit lights cast shadows over his Mandalorian armor, etching out a figure that was both formidable and enigmatic.
The comm link crackled to life, slicing through the silence. "Mercenary V-247, this is the Rebel cell on Traxis. Do you copy?"
"Copy," Nightstar replied, his voice devoid of warmth. "You have the credits?"
A brief pause followed, then, "Yes, all accounted for. Transferring now."
Nightstar's eyes fixed on the incoming transmission, watching as the digital numbers confirmed the payment. Credits transferred smoothly, the only currency he trusted in a galaxy rife with betrayal and deceit.
"Details," he demanded, once the transaction was complete.
"We need you to infiltrate the Imperial detention center on Varn. There's a group of our people there—high-value targets. We can't get them out without someone of your... capabilities."
Nightstar nodded, though they couldn't see it. "Layout, guards, and systems?"
"Sending now," the rebel answered. Information streamed across his screen, blueprints and guard schedules mingling with security protocols.
"Consider it done," Nightstar said as he set the coordinates for Varn. "Expect no delays."
His ship blasted through hyperspace, the stars stretching into lines of white light as he approached the planet. Varn was a world cloaked in darkness, its skies perpetually stormy, a reflection of the turmoil that the Empire brought wherever it went.
Landing on the outskirts of the detention center, Nightstar donned his helmet, the visor slipping over his face to shield his identity. He stepped out into the rain, the droplets hissing against his heated armor. His droid dog activated with a low growl, ready for the mission ahead.
The detention center loomed large, its towering walls topped with barbed wire and surveillance cameras sweeping the muddy grounds. Nightstar approached, a ghost moving through the shadows, undetected and silent.
He reached the outer wall, his hand brushing over the surface before planting a small, high-intensity explosive. The blast was silent, a muffled thump that created a breach just big enough for a man and his dog.
Inside, he navigated the corridors with lethal precision, his sensors alerting him to approaching guards. He dispatched them swiftly, a blur of motion too fast for the human eye, his lightsabers humming through the air, their glow the last thing his enemies saw.
Reaching the cell block, he found the prisoners—a ragtag group of rebels, eyes wide with a mix of hope and fear.
"Move," Nightstar commanded, cutting through their chains with a swift strike of his red lightsaber. The group scrambled to their feet, following the armored giant as he led them back through the corridors.
The escape was clean until a traitor among the rebels tried to signal the guards, hoping for a reward. Nightstar sensed the betrayal before it even fully unfolded, his reaction swift and merciless. The traitor barely had time to regret his decision before Nightstar's lightsaber silenced him forever.
"Anyone else thinking of changing sides?" Nightstar's voice echoed coldly through the helmet.
Met with silence, he led the remaining rebels to his ship. As they boarded, the engines roared to life, propelling them away from the nightmare they'd endured.
Nightstar remained at the helm, his gaze fixed on the stars ahead, the credits already transferred to his next account. His loyalty was bought, not given, and it lasted only as long as the credits did. As for the rebels, they were just another job, a means to an end in a galaxy that had long since forgotten what it meant to be free.