Part 2: Friends Are Enemies Are Friends
The Jedi are gone. The Republic is no more. The Galactic Empire rules and worlds submit.
Darth Vader, the Emperor’s enforcer, continues on a quest to vanquish the Light.
Rhyn Pallas has been summoned to Lord Vader’s Star Destroyer for a secret operation.
Chapter 3
Corellia: Galactic Core
Known for its ace pilots and starship designs, Corellia’s famous shipyards where now the domain of the Empire. Used mostly for growing the Imperial Navy, TIE fighters and Star Destroyers were assembled in the industrial planet while the populace suffered and were driven lower into the slums, falling victim to crime or a life of crime.
Crime syndicates, including the White Worms, ruled the darkened streetways taking advantage of the wounded youth.
The sun still shone over the hazy Corellian sky. The White Worm’s scrumrats were mostly underground as they operated under the cover of darkness, but some fleet steps hurried on the puddle-riddled alleyways of Coronet City.
“Watch it!” Yelled a dockworker as she was almost tackled to the ground by this fast-running fleer. When she regained her balance, a hum whooshed above her. She craned her neck and saw an even faster moving spider droid giving chase.
The runner, a human male, was on his way to the main port, Coronet Spaceport, by way of the Shante shipyards, where his ship was docked. He knew the short cuts and detours better than his pursuers.
Docking under a falling construction beam. Taking a left where everyone else would take a right. Entering an abandoned building just to come out on the opposite end.
“Are you about done with this game?” B1 asked over the communication channels. No response. “Typical. It won’t be my head when we’re late.”
“Technically you don’t have a head. Beesiks is your head,” Rhyn finally replied over the radio.
“Hence the joke I just made.”
The channel went silent again. The hunt was still on.
The human, a native to Corellia, looked back as he continued toward the commercial docks. No droid giving chase. He sighed in relief but made sure not to slow his pace.
It was slowed for him.
An armored arm extended from behind an alley corner, striking him mid-chest, compelling him to do a mid-flip and fall backwards unto the ground.
Rhyn Pallas emerged from the corner just as B6 appeared from the direction the Corellian was running from.
“I win!” Rhyn exclaimed. “You owe me fifty credits.”
B6 whirred in anger and positioned herself at Rhyn’s height. “Not fair. You steered him towards the narrow streets with the low roofline where my maneuverability was compromised.”
Rhyn laughed. “It’s called, tactics my friend. Now pay up.”
B6 extended two of her pincer arms and pushed Rhyn. “Kind of like this?”
Rhyn pushed her back. “No! That’s just being a sore loser, Beesiks.”
Another push from the seeker droid but this time with a hint of electro-shock. This back and forth continued for another few exchanges.
“As much as I love this childish behavior between the two of you, I’d be remised to ask if you have secured the bounty,” said B1 over the comm channel that had been left open all along.
Rhyn looked down to find that their quarry had stood up and started running again while he and B6 argued.
B6 released an extension cable that wrapped around the victim’s legs, bringing him down. She started retracting the line and gave Rhyn a look. “Looks like you owe me fifty credits.”
Back on the ship, the asset now secured in the hold, Rhyn and B1-B6 met in the lounge area of the Valkyr to plan their next move. Answering Darth Vader’s summon with a prisoner in tow wasn’t the most ideal, and B1 knew this.
“What do we know of this, Dark Vader?” B6 asked as she dislodged from B1.
Rhyn shook his head in annoyance. “Darth. It’s Darth Vader.”
B1 rolled to the holo-table and inserted his scomp link. A blue-hued image of a being covered in black appeared. A black dome connected to a menacing face plate. Broad shoulders and a chest plate adorning the center. A flowing cape added to the dramatic effect as the image slowly rotated.
“Apart from been the Emperor’s enforcer? Not much.” B1 activated a series of data lines next to the image.
Birth Place: Unknown
Age: Unknown
Race: Unknown
Affiliation: Galactic Empire
Rhyn stood up and walked around the hologram. “A ghost. He shows up immediately after the fall of the Republic and the Jedi and now is part of the Empire’s leadership, right next to Palpatine and Tarkin.”
“And he wants us on his ship,” B1 made a quick calculation. “Five days from now.”
“Not just his ship. His Star Destroyer.” B6 added. “The Devastator.”
Rhyn walked to the cockpit, followed by the droids. “Devastator? A bit much, don’t you think?” He sat down on his chair, entered a few commands on the keypad. “And where is this destroyer of stars?”
B1 checked the logs from the last transmission. “Arkanis sector. Near the Geonosis system in the Outer Rim.”
“We have our destination,” said Rhyn. “Set course to the Arkanis sector. Micro-jumps while we leave Corellia, don’t want to call any attention to us and then full engines on the most direct hyperlane.”
_____
“Any ideas what Vader wants with us, Rhyn? B6 asked as they approached the tail end of the hyper-travel. “Dealings with the Empire are becoming more precarious.”
Rhyn thought for a moment. They had done work with the Empire since its creation but always with low-level imperials. A Lieutenant, a Captain, maybe a Commodore or two, but nothing as close to what Darth Vader represented. Was it even worth it? He had heard rumors of what happened to the Jedi that survived the Purge. Secret Jedi hunters, Inquisitors, sent out to track them and end the Order for good. All under the watchful dark visor of Vader. Did Darth Vader know he was once visited by the Jedi on Mirial and wanted to make sure all threats were eliminated? Was the Empire finally cracking down on rogue bounty hunters? The large crime organizations like the Hutts and Crimson Dawn were left to destroy each other in the Outer Rim. Mid-level guilds were easily controlled through extortion and blackmail. But individual bounty hunters with no affiliation were a nuisance. And expendable.
B1’s voice knocked him back to the present. “Arriving at the Arkanis sector in three, two, one.”
The elongated stream of hyperspace gave way to static stars and a view not seen before by the crew of the Valkyr.
Three Imperial Cruisers to the left side of the cockpit’s field of view. A stream of TIE fighters flew overhead and below the Valkyr on their way to their command ships. The sudden appearance of the single-pilot star fighters jolted Rhyn and B1-B6.
At the other end, far off but covering most of the viewing area was the Star Destroyer Devastator. The white contrast of the Imperial I-class against the black of space was jarring for a vehicle of destruction and imperial dominance.
The whole scene looked like a planetary blockade was taking effect, just that there was no planet in sight. They were meeting in an unoccupied area of space, in the Outer Rim. Another sign that this might have been a bad idea.
No time to think it over as they received a message.
“Kalevala starfighter Valkyr, this is Commander Shel of the Imperial Cruiser Constrictor. State your name and business in this sector.”
He waited a minute before answering. Regaining his composure and gathering his thoughts. He remembered something that was told to him a long time ago: When in doubt, reach out. Breathe and let the Force guide you.
Why did this thought, of all the things running through his head, make its way to the front?
A deep breath. No time to try to connect with the Force. He opened the channel.
“This is Rhyn Pallas and we were asked here by Darth Vader.” His composure had returned to him. “Maybe you’ve heard of him.”
Commander Shel could be heard grunting and muttering something indiscernible but obviously upset at the dig. He came back. “Transmit clearance code at once, Rhyn Pallas.”
“Beewuhn, you’re up.”
The protocol droid rolled to the comm station and retrieved the code that had been sent when they received the original meeting summons. “Uploaded and awaiting transfer,” the droid replied.
Rhyn pressed a button on his main console. “You should be receiving it now.”
After a few tense seconds Shel replied. “Continue on your current trajectory to point one-one-seven-seven. Once there turn starboard thirty degrees. The Devastator’s tractor beam will do the rest.”
Chapter 4
Imperial Star Destroyer Devastator: Arkanis Sector
The Valkyr touched down inside the Star Destroyer’s hangar bay, surrounded by Imperial fighters and crew transports. From a recently opened blast door, a battery of Stormtroopers marched towards the ship, followed by two Imperial officers.
The Stormtroopers stopped at the lowering boarding ramp, broke into two units, and let the officers walk in-between them. Rhyn and B1-B6 appeared on top of the ramp. “I need you to stay here, B1-B6. Have the ship prepped and ready to go. I don’t want to spend a minute here that I don’t have to.”
Rhyn started to walk down the ramp. “There’s something here that I don’t like.”
A Stormtrooper with an orange pauldron, meant to signify his command over this battalion, met him at the bottom of the ramp. A quick scan showed that he had no weapons on him. Rhyn knew that a fight inside the destroyer would not be in his favor, so he left his blasters and blades onboard. That didn’t mean that he was unarmed. Bounty hunters always had a few surprised and hidden compartments.
“Rhyn Pallas,” said one of the Imperial officers, “We will escort you to Lord Vader’s assembly room. You will wait there for him to arrive and once you have been dismissed you will leave this ship and sector immediately.”
He wanted to say that he had no intentions of overstaying his welcome but he gently bowed his head in understanding.
Rhyn took a moment to marvel at the scope of the Devastator. He had yet to see a ship of such scale. With warships like this, no wonder the Empire took over the galaxy so quickly and easily. Who could oppose such power?
They reached the meeting space and he was ushered inside. Two Stormtroopers stood watch outside the doors, which quickly closed with a metallic hiss and clunk.
The room was bare apart for a table too small for the space and a few throw-away chairs stacked in a corner. A door on the far corner. This was obviously not an official imperial-business meeting area.
He wondered what type of job would require Darth Vader to require his services. While he waited he contacted B1 through his helmet comm system. “Beewuhn, have the navicomputer set coordinates to grid sector R dash sixteen for when we leave.”
R-16 the droid thought. It sounded familiar but he still entered it into the system. The name came back. That’s why it was familiar. “Tatooine? You want to go to Tatooine?”
He didn’t have time to answer. Rhyn cut all communications between him and the ship as he felt something approaching. A presence, like a darkened cloud overtaking a clear sky. Hate. Anger. Suffering. But also despair. Confliction. He felt as if something was looking at him from a distance. From behind the walls that separated the room he was in and the hallway outside. The shadow grew, almost encapsulating him. Claustrophobically.
The sensation eased to where he could act rationally but not enough to be at ease. Two seconds later the main door hissed opened. There now stood a figure of nightmares. As tall as a Wookiee and as dark as a fyrnock. Heavy steps echoing on the durasteel floor. Mechanical breathing rhythmically accelerated Rhyn’s heartbeat. He knew it was Vader, from the holo-projections he had seen, but in his presence? For the first time in a long time, Rhyn feared for his life.
“Your emotions are strong, bounty hunter. I sense much fear in you.” Darth Vader took another step towards Rhyn. The thought crossed his mind again. The one he hadn’t have in a long time. Why now?
When in doubt, reach out. Breathe and let the Force guide you.
Why not? Rhyn thought. His connection to the Force was weak. Only minimal training and basic knowledge at best. Enough to calm him down a bit.
Darth Vader noticed, through the Force, Rhyn’s attempt. For a moment the Sith lord thought about killing this bounty hunter, eliminating any semblance to the Jedi. But the Force was not strong in Rhyn Pallas. At least not strong enough to cause him any problems. Moreover, he needed him for a mission.
“Do you have a job for me, Vader?” Rhyn finally said trying to gauge the eyes behind the black mask but unsuccessful.
“I need you to find someone.” Darth Vader handed Rhyn a holo-disk that projected the image of a woman. “Her name is of no concern. She is believed to be on the Jalor sector of the Mid Rim.”
“What do you want me to do once I find her?”
Darth Vader took a step closer to Rhyn and lowered himself just a bit to emphasize the point. “Bring me proof of her termination.”
“Payment?” asked Rhyn.
Vader turned his back to Rhyn and walked a few paces. “Terms of the deal have been sent to your ship.”
Rhyn knew this meant the meeting had concluded and he had been dismissed. He approached the door which quickly opened but before he could leave, Vader closed it using the Force. He felt a small strain on his neck.
“Your reputation precedes you, Rhyn Pallas. Do not fail me.”
Rhyn felt his neck lighten, the door opened and he walked out as fast as he could without giving the impression that he was hurrying out.
A few seconds later the back door to the room opened revealing a second figure dressed in black. Not as imposing as Darth Vader but still visually capable of striking fear in any that oppose it. An Inquisitor. Jedi Hunters.
Waves of curly auburn hair came down over the armored shoulder coverings. No helmet for this Inquisitor but a slit visor and face plate that ran from the bridge of her nose downward in a sharp curving design. Red and silver accents highlighted the rest of the black outfit, complete with a half-shroud.
Darth Vader didn’t bother to turn to face his new audience. His hold on the Force still secured on Rhyn Pallas. “Are you sure this, bounty hunter will be able to find her, Third Sister?”
By this time she had approached Darth Vader and was standing next to him. “Yes, Lord Vader. Rhyn Pallas will find our lost Jedi.”
Without speaking another word, Vader left the room and return to his private chamber inside the Star Destroyer.
RECOLLECTIONS
The learning institute that Rhyn attended in his mid-teenage years went on a knowledge trip to the planet Bardotta. Even though the Clone Wars had started and engulfed much of the galaxy, the planet had remained neutral during the conflict, which made the administrators believe it was a safe sector to visit. Located in the Colonies sector of the galaxy, the weeks-long trip from Mirial was the first for many.
There to learn about the planet’s rich cultural history and breathtaking landscape, Rhyn wanted to sneak to the libraries and learn about The Blade of Bardotta and the conflict with the Jedi that led the Bardottan to label them abductors for taking their children into the Jedi Order.
During one of the visits to a mountain range with an underground cavern system, they stopped for a midday sustenance break. The students were allowed to wander the area as long as they were accompanied by a chaperone. Rhyn quickly strayed from his group and convinced his best friend, Lomas Megis, to go with him. Lomas, a Bothan, underwent a growth spurt the previous solar rotation but was still slim for his age and species.
“Where are we going, Rhyn? I’m still eating.” Lomas shook his head at his friend and looked back at his food, a barely eaten ocher meat ration’s pack. “I’m coming back for you.”
A few meters ahead of him, Rhyn cut through trees and ducked under branches. The mountainous terrain did not lessen their pace. “While everyone was looking at the Halsoun Monastery through their macrobinocs I saw a strange ship come this way followed closely by another. I want to check it out.”
Lomas shook his head. “Now why would you want to do that?” He was faster than Rhyn and overtook him, leading now as he was just as excited.
A nearby fissure spew a hazy steam. Plant life around it was minimum. The vibration from the passing starships created a ripple effect that was now affecting an underground system of compounding chemicals.
Rhyn and Lomas reached a clearing and slowed their steps. Blaster fire was heard alongside mechanical whirs and energy bolts being deflected by an energy beam. Lightsabers.
Down below, two Jedi, one of them a Twi’lek, were locked in a battle against five battle droids and a larger, more mobile droid who appeared to wield several light-emitting weapons.
“That’s General Grievous,” Rhyn said. “Do you think the Jedi need help, Lomas?”
“They’re Jedi. I think they can handle themselves.”
The two Jedi, a Master and an apprentice had tracked the droid General to a nearby Separatist factory and the ensuing space battle brought them to Bardotta. Comm systems had been damaged before a signal could be relayed to the Jedi Council. No one was coming to their aid. They were alone against the most proficient Jedi killer in the Separatist army. Either they would kill or apprehend Grievous or they would die.
“Master Briel, watch out!” Yelled Syl Arkes, Padawan to Master Numa Briel, as Grievous threw a downed B1 droid’s head towards her.
She managed to dodge the mechanical projectile and used the Force to pull a different droid towards her and slice it in half. “Thank you, my young Padawan.”
With every step General Grievous took the ground seemed to shake. “Jedi scum,” he spat from his motorized vocabulator. “You are no match for my lightsabers. I have gathered them from fallen Jedi that I have bested in combat. Some might have been your friends,” he finished before his now all-too-common cough bout.
Master Briel would not let her emotions overtake her. She was one with the Force and the Force was with her. Syl Arkes still needed to learn not to play into her adversary’s games. She charged Grievous who easily blocked her lightsaber attack with his own. He detached one of his arms and struck her in the side, sending her tumbling.
Broken ribs? At least two, thought Syl as she was back on her feet dodging blaster bolts from the battle droids.
Numa dashed towards Grievous, faster than he had seen other Jedi move, her blue blade alight, arching upwards and striking on the blade-less hand that Grievous used to strike her Padawan, cutting it at the wrist.
The droid General sweeping attacks where easily parried but the force behind those attacks drove Numa backwards, causing her muscles to ache. She diverted some of her Force energy to them to ease the growing pain.
She used the Force to push Grievous away but the heavy droid only moved back a few feet. Enough for her to regain her fighting stance but something else caught her attention. A ripple in the Force. She looked behind her and saw two young children, no older than her Padawan, looking at the battle, a couple of hundred meters away.
Rhyn and Lomas had crawled down unto the flats and where now exposed. Grievous followed Master Briel’s gaze and saw an opportunity. A Jedi would give their life protecting anyone they deemed innocent.
“Forget the Padawan, attack them.” General Grievous commanded the rest of the B1 battle droids.
“No!” Master Briel shouted. “Syl, help them. I’ll deal with Grievous.”
“Yes, Master.”
The ground shook again. But it wasn’t General Grievous footsteps causing the tremors. The opening on the ground was expanding and had reached the battlefield.
Syl was deflecting the blaster bolts from the battle droids. Keeping her back to the kids, she was too slow to react to what came next.
Rhyn felt the sudden need to move a few feet to his left. The Force had told him so but he didn’t know it. No such vision for Lomas.
The ground opened up underneath them, just to the right of Rhyn. A fissure vent for toxic dioxis gas. As Lomas started to fall, Rhyn extended his arms towards him in reaction, trying to reach his friend and pull him to safety. He was too far for it but somehow, with his hands extended, Rhyn saw Lomas floating not falling.
Unbeknownst to Rhyn, he had reached out to the Force and was holding his friend in stasis above the crack in the ground and the toxic gases below.
Surprised and scared at what he was seeing, Rhyn lowered his arms, stumbled backwards and lost the faint connection to the Force.
“No!” he screamed as Lomas fell and was lost in the fumes.
When she heard the scream, Syl turned around but the loss of focus meant that a blaster bolt seared across her left shoulder. She faced the droids again.
“What’s happening, Rhyn?” Lomas asked as his floating body reappeared over the open canyon.
Rhyn looked at the Jedi and saw at a distance Master Briel, eyes closed, arms extended towards them, guiding Lomas out of the precipice.
A Jedi would give their live protecting the innocent.
A green blade pierced Numa Briel from behind and exited through her stomach. Her eyes suddenly opened, mouth agape but no sound emanating. Grievous metallic hand grabbed her lekku for leverage as he pulled back the lightsaber.
As Master Numa Briel fell to her knees, so did Lomas Megis fall to his death.
General Grievous took her lightsaber, placed it inside one of the pockets of his cloak and walked away.
Syl Arkes finished defeating the remaining droids and saw the lifeless body of her Master but also heard the cries of a young boy. Who needed her help the most?
The Soulless One, General Grievous ship, took off but before leaving shot and destroyed the Jedi Starfighter.
Syl went to Rhyn.
“He’s dead,” Rhyn sobbed. “Lomas is dead and it’s my fault.”
Syl Arkes embraced the boy, a stranger to her but a living being of the Force. She had lost her Master, the ship that might help her get back to the Order and now a caretaker for a grieving soul. She placed her arms on Rhyn’s should.
“I am Jedi Padawan Syl Arkes. What is your name?”
He wiped the tears with his hands, looked up at the Jedi and met her light brown eyes. He replied. “Rhyn. Rhyn Pallas.”
“Hi, Rhyn Pallas. My Master used to say this to me when I was scared or in conflict and I say this to you now. When in doubt, Rhyn Pallas, breathe. Reach out and let the Force guide you.”
The institute starship that brought them to the planet had left him behind. During the battle between General Grievous and the Jedi, commotion ensued and the ship left without accounting for Rhyn or Lomas.
PRESENT TIME
Back in his meditation chamber, Darth Vader received a communication. One that he had to attend to expeditiously. He pressed a button on a side console and a blue-hued image appeared. He kneeled.
“What is thy bidding, my Master?”
The holo-image spoke. “Rise, my friend,” said Emperor Palpatine with a motion of his hand. “I’ve heard you’ve sent a bounty hunter after a missing Jedi. Why not an Inquisitor?”
Darth Vader stood up and faced the image of the Emperor. “Most of the Inquisitors are tracking new Rebel cells and investigating other Jedi appearances. A possible survivor of Order 66 might be hiding in the Lothal system.”
“Good.” The syllables lengthening as they left Palpatine’s mouth. The holo showed him sitting in his throne chair. “All remaining Jedi must be eliminated. Including Anakin Skywalker’s former Master. Understood, Lord Vader?”
“It shall be done, my Master.”
The image dissolved and Vader was left alone. Once again.
_____
The Valkyr exited the Star Destroyer’s hangar bay and as soon as it was far enough from the remaining Imperial ships it jumped to hyperspace. Rhyn had just sat down when the stars stretched and the glow of the hyperlane filled the cockpit. He removed his helmet and took a long sip of Jet juice he grabbed when he had returned.
“Do you have the bounty contract, B1-B6?”
A few acknowledging chirps from the droid. They had come in a few minutes before Rhyn had returned. “Let me see them. I want to know what we have just gotten ourselves into.”
B1-B6 removed a data chip from the console and handed it to Rhyn who then inserted it into his handheld data display. The information popped and scrolled in front of him.
“Okay. So all we got is an image, a region, Mid-Rim, Jalor sector, and a lot of unanswered questions.”
Another question came from the astromech droid.
“Let me check…whoa. Fifty thousand credits.” Both Rhyn and B1-B6 led out a long whistle.
A few more chips, beeps and chirps from the droid.
“No idea what they want with her or who she is. This is no ordinary grab and go job either. It’s proof of termination.”
B1-B6 rocked backed and forth and led out multiple curse beeps.
Rhyn waved them off. “I know, I know. First to Tatooine and then we’ll figure something out.”
Chapter 5
Tatooine: Outer Rim
Landing on one of Mos Espa’s elevated landing pads, Rhyn and B1-B6 toured the port city, waiting for the proper time to meet one of their contacts later that day. He decided to go to the Mos Espa Grand Arena and enjoy some of the qualifying podraces for next year’s Boonta Eve Classic.
On planets like these he wished he had retrofitted his helmet with cooling vents. He could just remove it but with all the different species that made port on Mos Espa, it was better to understand what they were saying. He could handle a bit of sweat if it meant not disrespecting a local crime gang or misunderstanding a business opportunity.
There had been two crashes in previous races, one resulting in a casualty. But this was the thrill of podracing. One of the most dangerous sports in the galaxy but one that brought in great amount of credits to the places that still allowed it. After the fifth race and finishing up his Ronto wrap, it was time to go to Mos Eisley and do business.
They reached Chalmun’s Cantina but before entering, Rhyn reminded B1-B6 that they were not allowed inside and would have to wait for his return.
“This is unacceptable, Rhyn,” said B6 as she dislodged from B1. “I would like to see Wuher try to kick me out. As a matter of fact─” She started towards the entrance but Rhyn blocked her way.
“Ok, I get it, Beesiks. I don’t care about Wuher either or his treatment of non-organics. But if you go in there with all of your pointy parts ready for action, he won’t be the only lowlife we will have to deal with. Go make friends with that Dewback over there and I’ll be back in a few.”
B6 led out a disgruntled sound before returning to B1. They rolled away from the cantina and into a shaded area where some young Dewbacks had been tied to a hitching post.
Rhyn entered and ordered a Bloody Rancor from the barkeep and right away was called to a booth by his contact who had been eagerly watching the entrance. A wooly hug customary of this particular Wookiee smuggler, greeted Rhyn. A human, the Wookiee’s companion, was already at the booth. Him, Rhyn didn’t know.
“How are you, friend? Heard you escape from Mimban and had a run-in with the Pykes on Kessel.”
The Wookiee growled and roared in Shyriiwook. Glad that he kept his helmet as this was one language that Rhyn still couldn’t understand. “The Pykes are no joke, Chewbacca. Glad you are okay. And the Kessel Run? Whew.”
At this the human had to intervene. “Actually, I rescued him from Mimban and it was me who did the Kessel Run in under twelve parsecs.”
Rhyn waved him off. “Who’s the human?”
A quick growl from the Wookiee.
“Han Solo? I knew a Solo once. He ditched that name faster than a Purrgil in hyperspace”.
Solo was the surname given to people without a family or parents. The designation was usually dropped when reaching adulthood or leaving your home planet. Lomas didn’t have a family growing up but once he met Rhyn he changed it to Megis.
“Why haven’t you changed it?” Rhyn asked.
“I’m making a name for myself. People know me as Han Solo and I have a reputation to keep.”
Rhyn smiled behind his helmet and shot Chewbacca a quick glance. His Wookiee friend was keeping good company. “I’ve heard you’re working with the Hutt Cartel. Never thrust those sleemos. Especially Fett, beware of Fett.”
A male Ishi Tib brought Rhyn his drink. “Were you able to find what I asked?” Rhyn asked Chewbacca.
The Wookiee reached into his satchel and pulled out a small rectangular device. Two actually. Filters of some sort.
Rhyn reached across the table and inspected it. “Will it fit the specs that I sent you?”
Chewbacca roared in agreement.
“We went through a lot of trouble getting that and having it made custom to your specifications. It’s got to be worth something, right?” Han Solo said with a devilish grin as he laid back on the seat, arms spread across the back.
Rhyn removed his helmet long enough to drink his Bloody Rancor.
“I have a captive on my ship, grabbed him on Corellia. I’m sure he’ll fetch a nice bounty if you take him to the Triellus Trade Route. It’s controlled by the Hutts, so your new employer should be happy with some extra credits going his way.”
───
After returning to Mos Espa and the Valkyr and unloading the prisoner, Rhyn said goodbye to Chewbacca and Han.
“Okay, B1. Start prepping the ship and set course to the Jalor sector. I’ll be up in a moment.”
The rollie droid made it up the ramp while Rhyn went to a nearby rocky plateau. It was almost sunset and Rhyn always made a habit of watching the twin suns of Tatooine set every time he visited the planet. It was always a serene sight. The only peace he ever got since Bardotta.
Once back inside the ship he placed the two filters next to the decommissioned Phase 1 Clone Trooper helmet he got from Kamino thanks to Captain Rex. Some discarded and manipulated respirator breather hoses laid in a heap.
_____
The long-stretched stars of hyperspace came to a sudden stop as the Valkyr reached the Jalor sector of the Outer Rim. Composed of only three planets, Rhyn believed it wouldn’t take them long to track this stranger for Darth Vader.
Thanks to his contacts in the Bothan Spynet, Rhyn knew that the planet Vaced was not a place you go to hide. Not many habitable areas, difficult to stay hidden. Next was Hallitron-7, an Empire-controlled planet. Here, it could go two ways. If Vader was searching for an imperial deserter or someone with any ties to the Empire, why hide in plain sight? On the other hand, if you knew the Empire ways, you could find ways around it and gather others to your cause. If you had any, apart from self-preservation. Either way, why hire a bounty hunter for this as any ISB (Imperial Security Bureau) officer could get the job done. Maybe that upstart agent, Alexsandr Kallus he’d heard so much about.
That left only one planet in the sector. Glee Anselm.
Home to the Nautolan and the Anselmi, Glee Anselm was a mostly water planet with small islands and archipelagos connecting the various sectors. The turquoise ball gleamed in the dark of space and with no spaceport or stable land mass to support the Valkyr, without calling too much attention to themselves, Rhyn and B1-B6 boarded their escape shuttle and made a quiet approach on the planet.
Two days had passed since their arrival. Rhyn had been speaking with locals and collecting information and had narrowed the whereabouts of their quarry to three possible locations. The first one, a tropical vegetation labyrinth proved to be unfruitful. Except for the actual fruit delicacies he found along the way.
They took the small shuttle to the second location. An open sand dune with a bit of thicket on one end. It opened up to a striking water front view of the setting sun. Signs of activity were present. A humble hut. Smoke coming from an exhaust at the top. Food was being prepared. Two lounge chairs facing the lapping water. One seemed more worn than the other.
Was this where their target had settled? They didn’t need to wait long to find out.
Out of the hut came a woman, her back was to Rhyn and his droid so they couldn’t make a quick positive ID. She appeared to be middle-aged, straight dark hair with a few white strands along the back. Style of clothing similar to the holo they had seen. A one-sleeve red poncho.
“Beewuhn-Beesiks,” Rhyn said quietly. “Run a quick bio scan and try to read her chain code.” It came back empty. “No code. Okay, let’s try something.” Rhyn removed a holo-disk from one of his pockets and activated the projection. The image started rotating.
“Scan her and run a live feed recognition program with this holo as reference.”
Rhyn placed the spinning projection of their target between B1-B6 photoreceptor and the mysterious woman. Hopefully it would be a close enough match for them to reveal their position. It should take a few minutes to complete the process.
“How are we looking, Bee?”
B1-B6 sounded optimistic. “We are at thirty three percent positivity rate and climbing.”
“If we get to sixty five, we take her,” replied Rhyn.
The woman had left her humble home in search of some berries to complement the fried fish she was working on. Her cooking of local aquatic life had gotten slightly better once she befriended a young Nautolan couple. She walked past her beach chair. Memories, both happy and sad ones always filled her mind when she placed her hand on the one next to it.
Suddenly she stopped. A flicker and slight presence in the Force. Not light, not darkness, but around someone. Someone close. She looked back and the Force showed her someone in hiding. They’ve come for her, she thought. She dropped her empty basket and started running.
“Sixty seven percent, Rhyn,” said B1-B6. “We think that’s her.”
Rhyn shook his head. “No poodoo, after her. If she reaches the woods we’ll lose her.”
As they chased after her, Rhyn was having trouble with the shifting sand under his utility boots. His droid was also having trouble as BB rollie droids were not made for the soft sand.
She seemed to almost glide over it. Grace and speed.
“She’s fast,” Rhyn said. “Beesiks, go after her.” As B1-B6 sped forward, B6, detached from B1. Unencumbered by the sand grinding at their joints, B6 was able to close the gap but the woman was still far ahead.
About twenty meters before she reached the trees and bushes, B6 shot a grappling hook that wrapped around her legs, bringing her down. She was able to put her hands down to break some of the impact from the fall. She still hit hard against her left shoulder and ribs.
Rhyn and B1 stopped running and started walking towards them. “Good job, Beesiks. Reel her in.” He placed his blaster back in the holster.
As B6 retracted her cable, the captive placed one hand under her poncho and pulled out a shiny, cylindrical object.
Rhyn was too far away to tell what it was but then, the unmistakable ignition and hum of a lightsaber. A white blade shining on the setting twilight.
“A Jedi,” Rhyn gasps. Karabast.
With a flick of her wrist she cut through the cables around her ankles and was free and back on her feet. She didn’t remove her poncho and threw it on the floor like the Jedi of old did with their robes before every lightsaber battle. She pushed part of it back as to be unencumbered by it.
Right arm still covered under the garment, lightsaber in front as she raised it. Arm straight. Left hand met the hilt at eye level, then brought down to chest and half turn to the right side, near the hip. Saber tip marginally arched forward. Legs went from front facing to left forward a few inches and right leg back a couple more. Knees slightly bent. Her lightsaber stance. It had been years since the Jedi had assumed this pose, one that she thought, no, hoped, she would never take again.
Rhyn and B1 reached B6, still floating about fifteen meters away from their target. “What’s the plan, Rhyn?” B6 asked.
Rhyn’s hand went to the holster. “I have a bad feeling about this.” As soon as his hand touched the blaster, the Jedi dashed forward.
Rhyn fired three blaster bolts that were easily deflected by the Jedi and her lightsaber. B1 rolled away from the battle and B6 charged towards her. Before she got close enough to use any of her torture devices, the Jedi raised her left arm towards B6 and stopped her movement. She followed by pushing her arm downward in a forceful motion and B6 slammed against the ground. The droid was then pushed aside with assistance from the Force.
Standing three meters away from his bounty, Rhyn raised his blaster once more but it flew from his hand and ended up in the outstretched hand of the Jedi. Not one to be unprepared for complications, Rhyn followed suit and raised his arm towards her lightsaber, which in turn flew to Rhyn’s hands.
A Jedi? No. Force-sensitive? Probably. But this was not the Force at work. A device most likely. She studied her opponent and saw his thumb pressing down on a concealed button next to the index finger. A magnetized gription device affixed into the glove of this bounty hunter.
Rhyn saw a smile starting to form on his adversary. Using the Force, she pulled the lightsaber towards her and since Rhyn’s magnetic hold on the weapon was still active, he also made the trip towards her. When he was close enough she extended her left arm sideways, catching Rhyn mid chest with a clothesline. The force behind the impact made him tumble over, losing his helmet in the process.
She picked up her lightsaber that now rested a few feet away from her pursuer. She heard a droid’s vocabulator at a distance and saw B1 peeking out from behind a jogan fruit tree. The droid was fearful for his organic overseer and his droid counterpart. “Don’t be afraid, little friend. My name is Mar-Saed Sunly.”
The distraction gave Rhyn enough time to catch his breath and grab his kyuzo petars from their hiding place inside his forearm sleeves as he stood up and prepared himself to face the Jedi.
He struck first at Mar-Saed who easily avoided the blow, even with her back turned to him. Through the Force she could anticipate his every move.
After a few other strikes from Rhyn, she noticed that it was becoming more difficult to anticipate his attacks. Without realizing it, his connecting to the Force was shadowing his movement to her perception of his presence in the Force. For the next blade strike she had to ignite her saber in order to make sure it didn’t cut at her sides. The monomolecular energy cords that energized the petars were not resistant to a lightsaber blade but it gave enough momentary protection to avoid a clean cut with a single contact.
They exchanged attacks, using kicks and punches when needed. Mar-Saed was surprised at Rhyn’s physical skills against a Jedi. She didn’t remember seeing him in the Jedi Temple and he was too old to have joined after she left the Order and pursued Wayseeking. She went through her list of possible tactics and zeroed in on one.
“Terӓs Kӓsi. Impressive. Not a lot of people know this ancient art.” She re-ignited her lightsaber. Rhyn had never seen a white blade before.
“But now that I know what it is, I know how to disable it.”
He did his best to stand his ground against the veteran Jedi but in the end he was no match for her skills. Terӓs Kӓsi nor his brief Jedi training with Syl Arkes would help him win this fight.
He was back again on the ground facing up at his supposed target. His Westar blaster just out of reach and a lightsaber blade at his neck. He envisioned himself in this position at some point. This profession wasn’t meant for a long life.
Mar-Saed Sunly searched her feelings and sensed no hate inside her opponent. Fear, yes and anger also. But not towards her. Something else. She couldn’t unravel his thoughts.
She powered off her lightsaber. “You are a being of the Force. I will not strike you down.” She extended her free hand towards him.
At that point, B6 appeared behind her and gave her a mild shock. “Then you are a better person than I am,” said Rhyn as he reached out for his blaster and pulled the trigger.
Chapter 6
Bright Jewel System: Ord Mantell
RECOLLECTIONS
Over a year had passed since the events on Bardotta but Rhyn Pallas and Syl Arkes had remained together.
For Rhyn, he couldn’t face going back home and deal with the full emotional weight of the loss of Lomas. Syl felt lost without Master Briel. The Jedi were taught to suppress their feelings and push away any sense of connection to other living beings. Easy to say and believe during a meditation session, not so much when the one person that had been a constant during your formative years passes from the living world. The Force connects to everything around us. That doesn’t end when someone dies. The loss becomes greater. A void in the Force where someone used to reside when you reached out. How can this be brushed aside without feelings or repercussions.
For them to find passage out of Bardotta, Syl had to sell some Jedi artifacts she was able to salvage from the wreckage of Numa Briel’s starship. It was enough to get them on a transport ship and out of the system.
They spent the next few months planet hoping and doing odd jobs here and there. Rhyn had become proficient in stealth and thanks to some basic Jedi training courtesy of Syl, he was able to use some tricks to earn extra credits in certain dealing that Syl Arkes wouldn’t approve of.
In each planet they stopped they searched the Holonet rewards boards for easy jobs they could do. Not all bounties were related to finding criminals or thugs. Some were locating lost heirlooms or tracking down family members. But they didn’t pay well.
On some nights, when Rhyn didn’t make it back to their rented apartment room, Syl knew he was out doing the jobs she wouldn’t agree to do. He was old enough and she wasn’t going to lecture him on what was wrong or right.
Once they reached Ord Mantell they knew of the Black Sun crime syndicate. And they knew of them. After several commission jobs went well, they even gave Rhyn a droid, an astromech BB unit who called themselves B1-B6. The Black Sun’s trusted Rhyn with more and more contracts and his growing interest in bounty hunting gave Syl some pause.
She was also feeling the call of the Force again and believed she would be needed in a coming conflict. She knew her time to return to the Jedi was close.
They had one last training session before going their separate ways. Today’s lesson, lightsaber forms.
“There are seven styles or forms of lightsaber combat,” said Syl as she gave Rhyn her lightsaber. “For you, since you are no Jedi and also use a blaster as an offensive weapon, it is better if we continue enforcing your control over Form three, Soresu.”
Soresu was a defensive lightsaber style that preyed on your opponent’s weaknesses and frustrations. Combining this with range attacks from a blaster, should give the wielder an advantage over their exhausted opponent.
Rhyn ignited the lightsaber and a green beam emitted from it. He was still amazed no matter how many times he saw it come to life.
Syl, wielding a parrying stick, went through the motions with him. Rhyn was a quick learner and had some knowledge of Force techniques. His lightsaber combat was still raw and most likely would not stand against a trained Jedi in a duel. But it was enough to keep him safe and proficient with other stick-like weapons.
After a couple of hours of simulations and parrying they took a break.
“Why do you insist in training me like a Jedi? The Seekers came to Mirial looking for initiates but I was not selected.”
Syl Arkes, a Kiffar trained by Jedi since she was three years old, placed her arm around her friend’s shoulder. “You’re right, you are no Jedi but you have a connection to the Force that with proper training and a lot of discipline, can be honed into something more than just a feeling.”
She removed her arm and started walking away from him, towards some bags that laid on the floor next to some inoperable respirator hoses. Rhyn had failed to notice that she had packed her belongings.
“You should come to Coruscant when you get the chance. You are too old to be selected as a Jedi, but can still learn much from the Jedi Order and the Force.”
The Force, Rhyn thought. “What exactly is the Force?”
Syl took a deep breath. “The Force is all around us. It guides us, gives us comfort when we are in need. Master Yoda used to say that life creates it and its energy brings us all together. We are all children of the Force.”
With that she slung a haversack over her shoulder, gave Rhyn one last hug and headed out. There was no asking why she was leaving. They both knew why. She didn’t ask him to go with her. He wasn’t ready and his path lay on a different course.
She turned and said, “May the Force be with you, Rhyn Pallas.”
Syl Arkes continued to the space port where a commercial transport would take her from Ord Mantell to Kuat where she could hop on a Republic transport and return to Coruscant and the Jedi Temple.
Rhyn stayed inside the apartment the rest of the day. Syl had been his only constant the past year and a half. First it had been Lomas Megis and then Syl Arkes. He remembered the pair of yellow tattoos running down both sides of her cheeks, symbols of her Kiffar clan.
Now he had to start over again. As he contemplated his next move, B1-B6 rolled into the room.
Ah, that was right, he had this new astromech droid with him. B1 opened one of his tool-bay disk, removed the item and presented it to Rhyn.
Rhyn took it in his hands and looked at it trying to imagine the stories it could tell. “It’s Syl’s lightsaber. She most have forgotten to take it with her.”
PRESENT TIME
Imperial Star Destroyer Devastator: Outer Rim
Rhyn was in his chambers adjusting the comm device on his helmet when the Valkyr came out of hyperspace. He returned the tools to a secured drawer and saw Syl’s lightsaber in the back as he pushed the drawer close. It locked automatically.
“Okay, Beewuhn, I need you stay here. I can’t have a rollie droid around Darth Vader. I need to be intimidating and, no offense, but…”
“None taken. It’s not like I was going to volunteer to go out there.”
Rhyn shook his head. “Beesiks, you’re with me, but Beewuhn, be ready just in case. I have a bad feeling about this.”
Rhyn and B6 were escorted to the same waiting area as before by a pair of Stormtroopers and one imperial agent. The troopers stood guard outside the door and Rhyn was led inside by the agent.
Darth Vader was already waiting inside. The imperial bowed his head to Lord Vader, turned around and left.
“Welcome back, Rhyn Pallas. I hope, for your sake, that you have brought what I asked.”
Rhyn felt the darkness again. It surrounded Vader but not as intense as last time. It was tempered and Rhyn hoped to keep it that way.
Rhyn searched his backpack and presented an item to Darth Vader. “Mar-Saed Sunly’s lightsaber. This should serve as proof of her demise.”
Lord Vader walked towards Rhyn, who did his best to stand his ground and not take a few steps back. B6 did float a few inched behind Rhyn as Vader approached.
He grabbed the fallen Jedi’s lightsaber out of Rhyn’s hand and examined it. He searched the Force for a connection between the saber and its wielder. It was faint. It could be a memory.
She was dead, he thought as he moved away from Rhyn.
“Well done, bounty hunter. One less Jedi walking the galaxy poisoning the ears with their mandates.”
Rhyn let out a sigh of relief. “Seeing as we have delivered on our end and successfully completed the mission, will you transfer the credits to my ship or do I take payment here?”
Darth Vader used the Force to transport Mar-Saed Sunly’s lightsaber from his hands back to Rhyn. “Keep the lightsaber as payment.”
Rhyn was able to grab it after it slammed into his chest. “I need credits, not a lightsaber. I don’t have enough coaxium to reach the next fueling station.” There was a tone to his voice.
Vader didn’t react to it. “You can sell the lightsaber. The kyber crystal inside is enough to fetch a large amount on black markets or with artifacts collectors and buy you enough hyperfuel to reach Parnassos. That,” he said pointing to the saber, “plus your life is payment enough.”
Rhyn Pallas stood his ground. Vader was facing away from him but knew the bounty hunter had not left. Rhyn sensed the darkness in Darth Vader rising again.
Vader quarter-turned his head around his shoulder. “Did I not make myself clear, Rhyn Pallas?”
The room doors opened and the imperial agent walked in and escorted Rhyn and B6 out.
The comm modifications Rhyn made to his helmet allowed him to speak directly to the communication system while serving as reverse noise-cancelling for the outside. He could speak into the helmet but no one walking close to him would hear what was being said.
He contacted the Valkyr’s comm system. “Beewuhn, I need you to execute order GTC.”
“That bad, huh?” B1 replied. “On it.”
B1 looked out the Valkyr’s viewport at the Star Destroyer’s hangar. He didn’t want to expose himself before selecting his target. Imperial officers and Stormtroopers walked the area and a few MSE-6 droids scurried along. BB units were not common in the Empire and he would be quickly noticed if he didn’t plan his incursion well.
B1 set his sights on a TIE fighter whose design he didn’t recognize. He ran a diagnostic brief from the Valkyr’s scan systems, making sure to mask the signature with a scheduled imperial maintenance sweep.
Designation: TIE Predator
Pilot: Classified
Hyperdrive: Active
“Target acquired,” said B1.
The Third Sister joined Darth Vader in the interrogation room.
“What are your orders, Lord Vader?”
Darth Vader stared walking out. “Kill the bounty hunter.”
“Yes, my lord.”
_____
Rhyn and B6 returned to the Valkyr and quickly made it up the loading ramp. B1 ran into them as he returned from the engine room.
“GTC good to go, B1?” Rhyn asked as they headed for the cockpit.
“Yes, sir. Operation Get The Coaxium was a rounding success. Hyperfuel is on board. We just need to enter a destination and get as far away from here as possible.”
Rhyn started running through the departure sequence. Ship’s thrusters operational and engaged. Okay to clear message from the bay officials. Energy doors opened and passage clear.
As the Valkyr approached the bay opening, they saw a figure in black walking rapidly down the line of docked ships.
“Who in the Chaos is that?”
“I don’t know, Beesiks. But we’re not staying to find out.” Rhyn stared at the mysterious being as he sensed some familiarity in her. They blasted out of the hangar bay and away from the reach of the Star Destroyer’s tractor beam.
“Do you want me to calculate a hyperspace jump?”
Rhyn entered a destination into the nav computer. “Not yet, B1. Let’s do a micro-jump to the nearest space station. We need some supplies.”
The Third Sister boarded her ship, the Emortuss, and allowed for a few moments before following the Valkyr out into space.
“Is the tracking device in place, Manntis? The Inquisitor asked her imperial seeker droid. The MN-TS climbed up the boarding ramp to her master’s side.
Three clacks indicating the homing beacon was safely attached to the Valkyr. MN-T5 was a smaller version of a Viper probe droid designed for combat, not so much reconnaissance.
_____
Rhyn and the Valkyr made it to CR3.AB72, a small space station nicknamed The Crab on the Abrion sector. Small, but nearby a union of multiple hyperspace routes. After exiting their ship, Rhyn and B1-B6 visited a local merchant that sold breather hoses for respirators.
Rhyn looked at them through the visor in his helmet, a sense of relief starting to build.
“Will these work, Rhyn?” B1-B6 asked.
“I commissioned them at the same time I told Chewbacca about the filters we needed. Specs are the same and the additional Theophyll coating should ward off any side effects to prolonged exposures.
They navigated the crowded station, got some food rations for Rhyn, a modified scomp link for B1 to help with some retrofitted imperial terminals and a charge bolt for B6.
The narrow hallways of the space station, combined with the multitude of visitors stopping for bio-breaks before jumping into a hyperspace lane, made the walk back to the Valkyr a tedious one. Still ways from the terminal, Rhyn sensed something. A known feeling but shrouded in darkness. Isolated but familiar.
He heard screams behind him. Getting closer. The sound of running footsteps approaching. Rhyn looked back and saw the crowd opening up and the figure in black from the Star Destroyer’s hangar bay at the end of the corridor. She was coming for them.
With a wave of her hand she sent people tumbling, one even hanging from the side railings. Rhyn rushed to help him before he fell down a couple of levels. Arm stretched, he was able to pull him to safety.
“This one you save,” the Third Sister said behind her mask’s vocabulator, distorting her voice.
Rhyn signaled to B1 to head to the ship and for B6 to stay with him. The droids complied and B6 dislodged from her counterpart. What did a dark side user want with him? Rhyn thought. He gave Darth Vader what he wanted and was sent on his way.
The Third Sister made a motion with her head towards her droid. “Manntis, go.” The MN-T5 droid charged forward crashing into B6 at full speed. Rhyn’s seeker droid was knocked into the wall and then dragged down by MN-T5’s pincers. Rhyn went to help B6 but felt a rush of wind from behind as his assailant pushed forward with the Force, making him stumble and lose his footing. He turned, his back to the floor, to see that she had jumped and was midway in the air coming down on him, lightsaber ignited, red illuminating his visor. He threw his legs back forcing his body to flip on the ground and propel him back on his feet. Crimson blade missing by inches.
With the same motion he removed his blaster and sent plasma shots towards this dark menace. She was able to deflect each bolt, sending one back that hit his right leg. The reinforced padding absorbed most of the shot but it still caused some damage to the skin and underlying muscles.
Rhyn slipped on his injured leg while trying to get up, which was a blessing as it made the Third Sister miss with her saber strike. He struck at her face plate with a backwards forearm, his steel brace connecting to the exposed side of her helmet-less design. She stumbled a few paces but used the pain to fuel her dark side energy.
“B1 get the Valkyr ready for takeoff,” Rhyn spoke into his helmet’s comm.” “B6, when you get a chance head to the ship.”
Another lightsaber attack but this time he had to use one of his kyuzo petars to block the blade. It didn’t hold against the Inquisitor’s laser sword, burning through his glove and skin. At least no digits were lost. Another swipe of the hand from the Third Sister and Rhyn skidded along the floor.
He pushed forward with his own hands and she felt the wave of the Force pushing her back. She cut through it with her own motion and followed with a flying kick to Rhyn’s chest. He was starting to memorize the station’s intricate ceiling design with how many times he had been on his back.
The Inquisitor stopped when she saw what had fallen from Rhyn’s possession after the last blow. She knelt down, back towards him, and picked them up. “Still with your crusade, I see, Rhyn Pallas.” She turned towards him, breather tubes in hand.
“You couldn’t safe him then. You can’t get to him now.” The Third Sister pressed a button on the side of her visor making it slide upwards revealing her eyes. Two distinct yellow tattoos ran down each side, right below her light brown eyes. Her faceplate opened down the center and peeled backwards revealing the rest of her face and the Kiffar markings that ran from the bottom eyelids to just above the mouth line.
“Syl,” Rhyn whispered. It couldn’t be.
“That name means nothing to me now,” she said as she activated her lightsaber once again.
Rhyn was in shock at the revelation. So much that he missed the constant calls on his comm. It was B6 yelling at him.
“Rhyn, are you there! We need to get out of here. I was able to slip past that maniacal droid and am coming back for you. Do you hear me?”
No answer. Rhyn couldn’t form the words but knew he had to act. He saw Syl Arkes, or the person he knew as Syl, approach him. He reached into his vest compartments and pulled two detonators.
He threw them both down, one exploding into a cloud of smoke and the other creating a dizzying screech. Although the Third Sister could sense him through the fog, the deafening sound made it difficult to concentrate and pick him out, even through the Force.
A coil came rushing at her and grabbed the breather tubes from her grasps. B6 pulled hard on her retracting cable and was able to snatch them from her. She knew how important they were to Rhyn.
By the time the smoke cleared and the sound stopped, they were gone. Back on the Valkyr and away from the station.
MN-T5 joined the Third Sister on the Emortuss. It clicked and clacked and gave her something.
“They found the homing beacon. Matters not, I know where they are going. Set coordinates to Glee Anselm.”
The droid entered the planets coordinates into the navigational computer and prepared the Emortuss to jump into hyperspace.
The Tie Predator hummed but stayed in real space. “What happened, Manntis?” The Third Sister barked and the droid returned a low beep. “We don’t have hyperfuel!? How?”
Radio Rebellion: A Star Wars Podcast 
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