STAR WARS/PREDATOR: MASTER XOL'S SAGA (PART THREE)

With the discovery of Project Rebirth, Xol and Dex with the help of a mysterious stranger had to battle their way out of the Kaminoan city of Tipoca.

Pursued by elite security, the group narrowly escapes the planet and plunges into hyperspace. With the nearest Alliance friendly world days away, they journey now to Tatooine where the Empire’s influence is less prominent.

Xol hopes that this new ally will have some answers, as his mind cannot erase the image of the creature in the tank on Kamino. He doubts however, that any information the stranger reveals will give him any peace…

As pilot droids P1 and P2 navigate the ship, Xol, Dex and the stranger gather in the common area sat at the large table and begin to discuss their ordeal. Dex, in plain clothes, has a number of Bacta patches on his body, repairing his wounds from his fight with the Unsu’s chief of security. Xol also relaxed, has his armor and weapons in a heap next to him on the banquette seat. The stranger however, wanting to retain his anonymity for the time being has chosen to leave his helmet on. His collection of weaponry however, is sat on the table just in front of him. An active holoprojector, displaying a standby logo lights up their meeting from the center of the table.

“Master Xol and Commander Kamino,” the stranger begins. “I thank you for trusting me on the planet. You didn’t have any reason to, but you did. The Empire knowing of your inevitable discovery of their project’s chambers on Yavin IV used Moff Unsu to set up a trap for anyone that would be seeking information on Rebirth.”

“How did you learn of this?” Xol interjects. “We barely had time to relay our plans to Alliance command before we were en route. Yet, not only do you know who they sent but where we were in the facility.”

“I respect your suspicion but my presence there was far from coincidence. I work for the Alliance. I belong to a group of freedom fighters that honestly do not function well within the confines of the Rebellion’s code of conduct. We too, have suffered at the hands of the Empire and its oppressive regime. We sympathize with the Alliance and use our skill sets to infiltrate, sabotage and collect valuable intelligence on the Imperials. I was working on Kamino uploading data on Project Rebirth when General Madine sent me a coded message detailing your arrival. Informing the general of the trap, I was ordered to intercept you two and warn of the danger. As you know, I did not reach you in time and it almost cost you your lives and for that, I am sorry.”

As Dex sits forward, he winces in pain and says, “Don’t shed a Krayt Dragon’s tear over it, Xol and I have been in worse scrapes than this and lived to tell about it.”

“That may be true commander, but I have intel that suggests had we not departed Kamino when we did, one of the Empire’s three Death Star platforms was expected to arrive, with its compliment of ships on its tail.”

“All for us?” Dex replies. “That seems a little bit excessive if you ask me.”

“You fail to understand sir,” the stranger agitatedly states. “The Empire will stop at nothing to ensure that Project Rebirth is never intercepted by the Alliance.”

“Why?” Xol asks. “Why is this project of theirs so important? I know what I saw in that tank and it was unnerving but, it does not seem to be a universe shattering plan the Empire has.”

“What you saw in that tank Master Jedi, was a perfect duplicate of you grown within a matter of days. However, their unfamiliarity with your species seems to have prevented that clone from reaching full maturation. Without any more viable genetic material of yours to work with, they will need to seek you out and extract a better core sample. They will stop at nothing to possess you and reclaim these top secret plans.”

“Why am I so important stranger?” Xol questions, his words strained with frustration. “What is the purpose of Project Rebirth?”

“I empathize with you. This sort of situation is very confusing indeed. Please allow me to elaborate on the details surrounding the project. Normally I wouldn’t divulge such classified material without consulting the Alliance first, however due to your position within the Jedi Order and the Rebellion I feel it shouldn’t be an issue discussing it.”

The stranger, walking over to the holoprojector, slides out a holodisk from a compartment in his armor and inserts it into the device. With a whir of the display, an image begins emitting from the projector. The display shows images of a variety of planets, as well as historical data and images of various individuals including Xol. As the information scrolls along, the stranger begins relaying the details of the file to the pair sat across from him.

“Project Rebirth gentlemen,” he begins. “This project was originally conceived of in the early days of the Empire however, the technology to execute it was yet unavailable. Using cloning techniques and artifacts discovered throughout the former Sith Empire, Imperial scientists hope to engineer and restore the most proficient warriors from the whole of history and employ them within their ranks as generals and elite troops making them unstoppable. Initial reports claim that the clones are unstable but a few have been produced already. The Yavin IV side of the project was designed to resurrect notorious Sith lords and acolytes, allowing them to train and lead their knights the same way the old Jedi Order used to. With the death of Emperor Vader by Xol’s hand as well as the countless other feats he has accomplished, the Empire hopes to synthesize a sort of midichlorian booster from his raw framework, exponentially increasing the power of their Force manipulating ranks. As you both saw on Kamino, their efforts to do so have failed for now. However, as I stated earlier, clone growth within these facilities takes only a matter of days. Once the Imperials flush out the last few flaws in the process, they can unleash in weeks a wave of Empire loyal troops and knights so powerful that the Grand Clone Army of the Old Republic will look like a band of Jawas by comparison. No offense Commander Kamino. Now if you’ll excuse me gentlemen, I must relay a communiqué to the Alliance informing them of our arrival on Tatooine so that we can arrange a hand-off of this disk and its contents.”

With a flip of a switch, the projection dissipates and the holodisk is ejected and placed back into a storage pocket by the presenter. The stranger begins to walk from the common area, leaving a stunned Xol and Dex behind.

“Wait stranger,” Xol demands. “All this information being said, we still have no idea who you are.”

“My apologies master,” the stranger replies as he reaches for his helmet. “I had to be sure my identity would be safe if I were to reveal it to you, I too am pursued by the Empire.”

With a small click the T-shaped visor of the Mandalorian helmet slowly reveals a male human face. His short, sandy brown hair and stubbly beard cover a grizzled complexion that tells a story of hardship. His haunting blue eyes are as cold as the ices of Rhen Var pierce through Xol as he observes the figure.

“I am Luke Skywalker,” the man announces. “I thank you for what you have done for my family and for this galaxy.”

In shock, Xol stands to greet Luke, shaking his forearm as is Yautja custom.

“I am sorry that I could not spare him. Your father died honorably.”

“I know Xol, he came to me in a spiritual form and spoke of his ascension. Were it not for you, he would not have been able to become one with the Force.”

“So what Master Kenobi told me was true,” the Yautja recalls. “You did escape Vader’s attack as Obi-Wan sacrificed himself. How is it that you ended up here?”

“That was a difficult decision, I truly wanted to stand and fight but Ben insisted that I make haste for Alderaan with my two droids and rendezvous with Rebel operatives stationed there. Once there I met my long lost sister Leia and the resistance had us brought to a secure location. We nomadically moved from place to place in the Outer Rim territories over the next few years. Not too long after being taken in by the Rebellion, two Master Jedi appeared to Leia and me as spirits and began teaching us the ways of the Force. One was Obi-Wan and the other was a strange ancient Jedi, named Odan-Urr. We both learned a great deal, but a year ago, my sister and I had a disagreement. She felt it necessary to come out of hiding and seek out the teachings of Jedi Master Yoda. I disagreed, stating that should anyone know of our existence, there was a chance Imperial spies might report their findings to our father before we had the ability to face him. She left soon after that and as you know the Rebel camp on Kashyyyk was assaulted and were it not for your efforts that too would have been a loss. I couldn’t stand seeing any more Alliance civilians being slaughtered because of me and my sister, so I broke away and now function outside their circles hopefully diverting the Empire’s attention away from the innocent.”

“Where is your sister now?” Xol inquires, “I have yet to meet her and Yoda did not speak of her on Kashyyyk.”

“After Kashyyyk Leia felt guilty,” Luke explains, sadness welling up in his eyes. “From what I heard she never actually met with Yoda and instead took a ship and went in search of something. We haven’t spoken since.”

“Well if the children of Anakin Skywalker still live, I have the utmost confidence that this Alliance will be victorious.”

“That sounds like a toast in need of a few bottles of Corellian Ale!” Dex shouts joyously.

For the next few hours, after Luke is relays his drop information, the trio sits at the table playing Sabacc and drinking. They each reminisce about their adventures past and present, laughing at some of the pitfalls and raising their glasses for the hardships.

With a gentle rock, the transport exits hyperspace over the desert planet of Tatooine. Dex now returning to the cockpit for the crew’s final approach, comes onto the intercom system and asks, “Alright Skywalker, where do you want me to plant my pegs?”

“I’ve made arrangements to meet with a smuggler contact of mine in Mos Eisley contact the spaceport, see if you can secure a berth at Garrick’s hangar, you can land there. Ensure that we are left unregistered with the local spaceport authorities. I certainly don’t want the Hutts to know we are here.”

“You got it Skywalker,” Dex replies. “Wretched hive of scum and villainy here we come!”

With a shunt, the sturdy cargo vessel lands in the windswept ports of Mos Eisley. After lowering the gangway, the entire crew of the Wayfarer dons their equipment and disembarks. Typ, elated by being on his homeworld chatters in Jawaese dancing around the befuddled Mantellian, Wompit. As Xol, Dex and Luke reach the end of the loading ramp, Luke turns to Xol and says, “Master Jedi, I have enjoyed your company but I must be on my way, lest I be discovered here. My contact is only a pad or so down the street at docking bay 94. I will be departing with them also, though I regretfully cannot tell you when or where.”

“Very well, safe journey and take care young Skywalker,” Xol says with a nod of respect.

“May the Force be with you always Master Xol.” Luke replies returning a nod before he puts on his helmet and walks out into the bustling streets of Mos Eisley.

Xol and Dex, sure that the Alliance will make contact once Skywalker has reported back to them, step into a nearby cantina to continue their drinking and revelry from earlier. Before leaving the berth however, Dex instructs P1 and P2 to stay aboard and monitor for any Imperial chatter. Reluctantly, the droids walk up the gangway and secure it behind them. With the ship secured, Dex seals the entry door and the crew proceeds to the nearest bar.

Xol, Dex, Typ and Wompit walk into a cantina named Chalmun’s that seems to service spacers and all manner of seedy individuals. It seems like an ideal place to blend in if you wish to avoid local law enforcement, or seek pleasures that other places find too taboo. A band plays in the background, entertaining the cloistered groups and patrons all split into different areas of the bar. Typ immediately strikes up a conversation with some local Jawas while Wompit nestles in at the bar with Xol and Dex. After ordering drinks, the pair discusses their next move and share many jokes, laughing and celebrating long into the night.

As the suns begin to set on Tatooine, Chalmun’s empties of all but a few of its patrons, and Dex decides to sit at a nearby table, kicking his feet on top of it as he goes. Xol, waiting on a drink order before joining him receives a dreadful feeling. Another disturbance in the Force, but not like before, instead he could feel it nearby, as if it were a destination calling out to him. Fearing that Luke may be in trouble, he calls out to Dex and the rest of the crew. As he does so, Stormtroopers led by a Sith knight storm into the bar knocking over tables, smashing glasses and ushering, all the patrons out including the bartender. Typ using the opportunity sneaks out amongst the Jawas praying that there isn’t one Stormtroooper alive that could tell them apart from one another.

“Jedi scum!” the Sith growls. “By order of the Emperor I command you to lower your weapons and surrender. It would please me very much if you resisted.”

“Well we hate to disappoint,” Dex says, glancing over at Xol. “Wompit, smash plastic boy!”

With thunderous fury, the Savrip storms across the cantina and collides with the Imperials, knocking the knight off his feet before he is able to draw his lightsaber. Troopers fire at the hulking beast but, blaster fire merely singes Wompit’s toughened hide. As soldiers try to back away from the creature, the Mantellian’s long arms grab hold and swing them into an adjacent wall.

Dex draws his two blaster pistols and begins shooting at the panicked Stormtroopers. Sparks shoot out from helmets and chest plates as the bolts pierce their armor, killing them almost instantly. As the Sith knight stands upright again and draws his blade, Dex even his drunken haze attempts a well placed headshot. The pistol’s shot is deadly accurate but the Force user’s superior speed allows him to deflect the shot right back at the commando and strikes him in the chest. The bolt rips a hole through Dex’s chest plate and knocks him to the ground in agony.

Xol, attempting to close with knight as the exact same moment, sees the trauma inflicted against his friend and with masterful focus throws both his lightsabers at the knight. Like spears they impale the Sith through the chest and form an ‘X’ pattern as they exit out the back. The knight exhales a final time and falls back against the wall, slumping to the floor. Xol retrieving his lightsabers with the Force rushes to his friend’s side even though Wompit is still fighting off the remaining Stormtroopers.

“1165, how badly are you hurt?” The Yautja says sadness in his tone. “Can you walk?”

“Hell, I’ll dance if I get some bacta after this with a Corellian whiskey chaser.” Dex chokes out, as blood dribbles from his lips.

“Master big guy!” Wompit roars loudly across the bar. “Helping me please!”

Xol, getting up rests Dex down to the ground and runs towards Wompit who is fighting off four remaining troopers while clutching one in each hand by their throats. The Yautja draws a lightsaber and moves into melee range. As he bears his weapons down on them, a sharp pain emanates from his neck. Sending a wave of agony throughout his body, a pain so excruciating he can feel it in every fiber. More alarming, is that before his vision turns black with unconsciousness, he can feel his connection with the Force slipping away.

TO BE CONTINUED…