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

Making good on his deal with Xol,

Orlo the Hutt liberates Dex’s Wayfarer transport from his storage facility and arranges the removal of Wompit, Dex, and Booma’s slave transmitters.
 

In addition, any supplies apart from weapons are provided to them by the corpulent blue crimeboss.

As agreed, Xol brings the Neimodian businessman, Mok Sur Tinn along to ensure his removal from Ord Mantell and secure their safe passage from the system. As a bonus, they also take Darth Maul prisoner to function as a greater bargaining chip should they encounter the Empire.

However, it being some six years since they traversed the galaxy, Dex and Xol are instructed by Orlo to meet with a knowledgeable smuggler and navigator at a local spaceport to acquire an updated navcomputer before embarking on their journey.

Knowing that Hutts are not known for being true to their word, Xol and the crew load up the vessel and proceed to the rendezvous point ever mindful that they may be stepping into the sluggish gangster’s trap…

The small spaceport on the outskirts of Worlport is nothing spectacular, barely a landing pad adjacent a dive of a bar. It’s sole pad occupied by an YT model freighter that looks heavily modified. As the Wayfarer lands next to the landing platform on a bare piece of earth, dust and debris blow away from the downward wash of the engines. Landing gear drops down digging into the arid brown dirt. The gangway lowers slowly as its mechanisms creak and whine from sedentary lack of use. With the walkway fully deployed, Xol along with Dex exit and wait for the gangway to retract and seal before they begin talking.

“Listen big guy,” Dex begins. “Are you certain that that pack of miscreants can be trusted with my baby while we are in here?

“Don’t worry DX-1165,” Xol replies reassuringly. “Qiin is loyal to me, Booma owes me a life debt, and Wompit is very capable of alerting us of any trouble. It is Darth Maul that concerns me, but he should be sufficiently restrained until we return.”

“If you say so Xol,” Dex says with a sigh. “Um…not that this really matters but, I am curious ol’ buddy. Why did it take you so long to find me? I sent word to the Rebellion for a while after I was captured but when the replies stopped coming; I gave up and made the most of a bad situation. Word has it the rebels are all but gone, wiped out by this Lord Starkiller guy.”

“You may be right Dex, and on the matter of my absence, it pains me that it has been so long. Orlo betrayed me and led me into a trap orchestrated by Jabba the Hutt and the Empire. I received fatal wounds and in that moment of near death, an ancient enemy of mine kidnapped me and had me frozen in carbonite, tortured by a horrific force lo these six years. When I was awoken and realized this, I defeated my enemy, escaped his clutches, and proceeded to Ord Mantell immediately.”

“Oh…” Dex pauses as he absorbs the information but still finds it puzzling. “That old story, sure. Well I’m glad you came back for me, I always knew you would.”

“You are what semblance of family I have left in this world Dex, I will never abandon you.”

The emotional exchange brings Dex to a stop and he sets his weapon down so that he can embrace his Yautja friend in a heartfelt hug. Xol unsure of this sort of interaction pats his comrade’s helmet lightly in understanding. Regaining his composure, Dex slings his rifle over his back and walks with purpose toward the shanty structure ahead.

As the pair enters the building, it is near vacant with a lone bartender serving drinks to two patrons, a human and a Wookiee seated at the bar despite dozens of empty tables being available. The duo glance over briefly as Xol and Dex walk in and then return to their drinks.

“Gentlemen,” Xol directs at the bar. “We are looking for two individuals that are under contract by Orlo the Hutt to assist us. Are you the two we seek?”

“That depends,” the human replies as he talks partly into his glass.

“Depends on what exactly?” Dex asks as he instinctively reaches for his weapon.

“It depends on whether or not you’re the ones in need of this navcomputer I have here and some escort off of this hole or are you Imperial spies sent to kill us?”

“We are not spies,” Xol answers angrily. “We have come for the computer and your assistance.”

“That’s too bad,” the man laughs. “I haven’t fired my blaster in weeks. Well you might as well grab a seat and have a drink with us, because my friend and I aren’t leaving until we’ve had at least another round. Name’s Han Solo, this is my co-pilot Chewbacca and that thing of beauty you passed on your way in, is the Millennium Falcon. She may not look like much but she’s fastest ship in the system.”

“I am Xol, and this is my comrade Dex Kamino. Pleased to meet the both of you, we will gladly drink with you. We haven’t had many pleasures these past few years.”

“So what are you flying out there? Wayfarer class?” Solo asks.

“Yes, but how did you know? Our ship cannot be seen through any of these windows.”

“What can I say, I know ships.” Han responds with a cocky grin. “You boys are going to be tough to sneak passed Imperial patrols, and I’m talking destroyers now, not those Outer Rim freebooters mind you. Just follow me and I’ll get you anywhere you need to go, which brings me to the next question. Where are we headed?”

“It has no name, however I can provide you with spatial coordinates.” Xol answers as he slides over a small datapad that has numbers scrawling across its display.

Han Solo picks up the pad, and after looking it over for a minute, throws it back onto the bar and says, “Are you insane or just stupid? This’ll put us into the Unknown Regions, with well you guessed it. The Unknown!”

“Do not trouble yourself smuggler, perhaps this credit chip to my account with the Banking Clan will steady your uneasy nerves. Assuming the Empire hasn’t discovered it and wiped it clean, it should be more than enough to accommodate you Captain Solo.”

Chewbacca troubled by Xol’s choice of words growls at Han to which the smug faced rogue responds, “Take it easy furball, we’ll see what the man is offering before we decide to go or not.”

Solo inserts the chip into a reader he has in a side pocket. With a green light and an accepting beep, the display is met by the ever widening eyes of the human smuggler.

“This is a lot of credit your Jediness, what sort of trouble are you expecting out there?”

“Enough,” Xol says, his voice turning stern. “Do you still intend to turn us over to the Empire as Orlo has planned?”

“What are you talking about?” the smuggler scoffs, and his Wookiee companion reaches for his weapon.

“At ease Chewbacca, I am neither hurt nor surprised by this. I was once a Jedi Master my dear Captain. I sensed your thoughts the moment we landed. I will deal with Orlo when we come back this way another time. That amount should wipe out your debt with the Hutts though, am I correct?”

“Absolutely, heck I could pay to have em’ killed with this kind of Datari on the table.”

“Then we have a deal Solo. Lead us passed all that the Empire has to offer and guide us to those coordinates, and in return you are a man reborn. We shall disembark shortly.”

“Not so fast Jedi Master, pull up a seat. Right now those Imperials are stirred up like Viper Wasps and they are all gunning for anything resembling a ship right now. We’ll be locked down by gravity wells and boarded before we can engage light speed. We’ll head out in the morning, by then hopefully they will have begun spreading out searches of the system. We’ll slip through the cracks and be on our way.”

“As you wish captain. Do not attempt to double cross me or I will never relinquish the access code to that card.”

“C’mon Xol, it’s me. What are you worried about?” Han replies rhetorically with a smile.

“I shall retire then to the ship. DX, are you coming?”

“In a while big guy,” Dex says as he slides up to the bar next to Chewbacca. “I’m going to enjoy a couple drinks with the boys and maybe play a couple hands of Sabacc if they are game.”

“As long as I get to deal, you shifty old antique,” Han says with a smile.

“Old antique, are you referring to that rust bucket outside or to your mother smuggler?” Dex retorts back, jokingly.

“Alright clone, those are big words, we’ll see if they match your skills with the cards.”

Seeing that his friend will be okay and not wanting to feed into the childish banter between the two men, Xol exits the bar and walks toward his ship. As he approaches, he notices a lone figure in a brown robe sitting just underneath the Wayfarer. The stranger has green tentacles that dangle from its hood.

“Qiin, I thought I had instructed you to stay onboard to watch Maul and Booma. I am most displeased by this.” Xol utters as he storms toward the seated individual.

“You mistaken me for someone else Master Xol,” a male voice utters in broken Basic. “I am Ateyru, a Jedi Knight, and I am glad that the Force has drawn me to you. We had feared you were lost to the Order many years ago.”

The knight rises and removes his hood, he is Quarren and a mutilated symbol on his forehead tells Xol that he was once a Sith with the Empire. Through his senses he can tell that the being that stands before him has a pure connection with Living Force, not with the Dark Side.

“Ateyru, I was under the impression I was the last of the Order. Now it appears that after all these years they had actually abandoned me, and so in turn I must admit I have abandoned them.”

“How do you mean Master?” the Quarren says, a puzzled look across his face. “We had tried to find you but Lord Starkiller has single-handedly scattered the Jedi and crushed the main command of the Rebellion. With Yoda lost to us, presumably dead it was Master Skywalker that sent us to find you so that you may aid us again in our cause. You are one of our greatest champions.”

“Skywalker was a fool to think that after all this time I could be saved, I am not your champion, Jedi. Nor am I your enemy. Now report back to this shadow of an order you come from and tell them I am dead as well.”

“I am sorry Master, I cannot do that.” The young Jedi says firmly. “My mission is to retrieve Darth Maul, finding you here was a fortunate surprise. The order requires the Sith for interrogation.”

“He is my prisoner, and if you hadn’t heard, he may not be your ally but he is no friend to the Emperor either. He has no information worthy of discovering.”

“Master Skywalker sees differently, you may have turned your back on us but are you obstructing me from completing my mission?”

“No, obstructing would mean you have a chance of accomplishing your task. You may have overcome some haunted past as a Sith warrior but you do not want to try my patience boy. You will find I am not as merciful as Skywalker.”

“I am warning you Master, do not impede me further or I will no other choice but to resort to more aggressive tactics.”

The Quarren reaches for his lightsaber and ignites the weapon. He raises its emerald blade in front of him in a basic attack stance.

“Do not make me destroy you Ateyru, I may not be a Sith or even a Dark Jedi, but I will not give you quarter should you decide to not heed my warnings young one.”

“I am not as young as you think, oh fallen master!”

The swift young Jedi moves in to close with Xol. Before he can execute his first swing of his blade, the Yautja has deployed both of his. He crashes his crimson pair against the humming green Jedi blade smacking it down to the ground with intense power. With this opening Xol simultaneously stamps down on Ateyru’s weapon with his foot and slashes at the knight’s arms with his lightsabers. The red, blazingly hot weapons sever cleanly through the Quarren’s limbs. With a scream of agony, the Jedi glances at his seared, charred stumps and a look of hopelessness washes over his face. While the young knight takes in his situation, Xol uses his powers to lift the warrior from the ground and suspend him in air. Anger from his feelings of abandon fill up the Yautja’s mind like a goblet of pain and anguish causing him to begin tightening his grip on the Jedi.

“How could you do this?” yells Ateyru, “You are one of us! One of our teachers! How can you protect such a creature as Darth Maul, it’s madness!”

“He is required young one, do you yield or must I destroy you?” Xol angrily growls.

“You and I both know I cannot do that Master. I am a Jedi, and if this should be my end, I will always be stronger than you.”

At the uttering of the Quarren’s last word, Xol can feel his anger burst forth in his blood. His rage takes over, and he can no longer stand the sight of this petulant Jedi strung up before him. He lashes out wildly with the Force, sending arcs of vibrant red lightning streaming from his fingertips, roaring like a great beast. The violent tongues of energy rip at the Jedi’s body, tearing flesh and cloak alike until finally, the knight’s form bursts into a cloud of irradiated ash and blows into the breeze like a smoky mist. The blackened remnant of Ateyru, wisps passed the still angered Xol. Its inky particles adhering to his armor and clothing and through the Force he can feel it staining his soul as well.

Responding to the commotion, Han, Chewbacca and Dex run out into the clearing with their weapons drawn. Reacting in a similar manner, Booma, Qiin, and Wompit race down the Wayfarer’s gangway as it lowers, rushing to Xol’s side.

By the time they reach him, the Yautja is knelt on the dirt, his sabers dropped on the ground beside him. In his cupped hands, he holds Ateyru’s lightsaber with his head bent down staring at the lifeless, severed arms. Tears fill his eyes for the first time in what feels like several lifetimes. He gently sobs behind his helm, his breath like a harmful vapor he is trying to expel. His mind is flooded with the images of all those he has killed and each one stabs his heart so painfully he feels as though he may die from the assault.

“Xol,” Qiin says as she places her hand on the pauldron of her master. “What has happened?”

“I died, my apprentice. I am dead.”

TO BE CONTINUED…