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

After his clash with Ateyru, Xol has confined himself to his quarters aboard the Wayfarer transport while Dex and the rest of the crew continue to coordinate their efforts with their newfound guide, Han Solo.

After a smooth departure from Ord Mantell and Worlport, the pair of vessels led by the Millennium Falcon plunge headlong into hyperspace.

In transit, the crew of the Wayfarer is unsure of many things. Where are they going they wonder and what is going to happen to Xol?
 

The questions aren’t nearly as troubling as the answers they may find when they reach their destination…

Xol sits in his room, his armuor strewn about; still seething with the anger he was filled with when he ripped it off days ago. His mind struggles to make sense of life as he stares blankly as his assemblage of holocrons laid on the floor before him. Like a panel of judges silently questioning his fate they glimmer and gleam in the pale light of his room. Deactivated, their voices are still but Xol cannot escape one that seeps into his consciousness like a viscous liquid of cruelty and malice.

“Why do you struggle with your decision Xol?” the dark voice of Chaos says mockingly. “You know as well as I that that Jedi was going to impede your plans to overthrow the Empire. He had to die.”

“Not like that! No Jedi deserves to perish in such ways!” Xol screams aloud, his voice crashing against the wall as a wave of outrage.

“Need I remind you, who you really are and where you come from Yautja or do you not recall what you did to Dark Lady Aranna aboard Count Raxus’ ship?”

“She was my enemy, the Jedi are not my enemy!”

“Well if Ateyru was not your enemy or some prey for you, then why did you kill him?”

“He was in my way!” Xol screams. “Why didn’t he just stand aside?”

“Finally Master Xol, a moment of pure truth. You hide from it too often. You hid from it when you served Dark Lord Blades’ motives and you hid from it in the guise of a Jedi. Accept your true nature, become the very animal you know you are and unleash your true power!”

“Never!” the Yautja shouts.

“Why resist Xol, it is not as if I am forcing you to behave this way. You have always been this way, only now you no longer restrain yourself with some other lesser creature’s dogmatic code of conduct. Stop running and hiding lost one and forge your own path.”

“You are right spirit, I really should make my own destiny and on my terms.”

“Precisely Xol, this is what I have been saying all along.”

“Do you know what one does not require when embarking on a new journey of this kind?”

“What might that be, warrior?”

“A guide.”

With a look of delight washing over his face, Xol begins disassembling his custom lightsaber with the Force. Its scattered components hover around one another leaving the black crystal exposed, its heart still swirling with the red crystal core.

“What are you doing Xol?” the dark voice asks troubled.

“Just as you said spirit, I am being true to my nature.”

Just as he had before when he formed the crystal, Xol focuses his power and mind onto the crystal itself. Objects that are not fixed in place begin to levitate and spin around the room. A shriek streams from the crystal as the black elements are separated from the red.

As it parts, Xol can hear the cries of the entity that is contained within. “You have no idea what you are doing! I am the infinite power of the Dark Side! You are throwing away a tremendous gift! You cannot succeed in your mission without me!”

Ignoring the pleas from the dark force inside his mind, Xol separates the crystals, leaving a black shard floating in the air in front of him while the red one remains in the lightsaber’s housing.

“Now wretched creature,” Xol utters with a growl in his throat. “There are no more chances, no advice of long dead Jedi telling me to keep you in my company. There are no more lies, torture, and manipulation. There will be peace.”

As the dark spirit utters a final scream, Xol using all his might, cracks the onyx colored piece down its center and in one sure crushing motion with his hand, the crystal is shattered into pieces so small it becomes a near invisible powder in the air. A great feeling of mobility fills the Yautja as he feels as though he has removed a great weighted chain from his mind.

His newfound freedom renews him with zeal as he reassembles his lightsaber and dons his neglected armor. Once outfitted completely he exits his room door and makes his way to the cargo bay where the prisoners are being kept.

Each crewmember he passes is shocked to see him and takes a moment to watch him in silent curiosity as he makes his way passed. Upon entering the bay, he is met by more surprised glances from Qiin and Booma whom are guarding Darth Maul and Mok Sur Tinn. Maul sensing the approach of the powerful Yautja, has a malicious smile on his face as he stares down the fallen Jedi. The Sith Lord is restrained by powerful cargo cables and suspended from the ceiling by his arms.

“Qiin, Booma leave and take Mok with you.”

“Master?” Qiin asks confused.

“Do not question me girl,” Xol replies firmly. “This Sith scum and I have some business to discuss. The Neimodian was a hostage and he has served his purpose. So you can do one of two things, either take him to the galley and eat comfortably or throw him out the nearest airlock, it makes little difference to me.”

As the Nautolan begrudgingly drags Mok down the hall, he pleads with her and Booma, desperately trying to convince them not to discard him into space. As their voices disappear behind closing compartment doors, Xol begins to speak.

“Rumor has it that you fight against this new emperor and his forces. Is this true Maul?”

“Yes it’s true,” the Dark Lord says with a scowl. “But why should this matter to you Jedi filth? My compatriots and I am no more an ally to you than your order is an ally of mine. Do not expect your interrogation to yield any results, I will not tell you anything!”

“I am dead to the Jedi and they are dead to me. I belong to no one but myself, and I personally want to see this Empire fall. Now, it seems that you and I have similar goals in mind and I propose we work together. I have bested you in combat twice now, but that does not make you an inferior warrior just one that has known loss. Loss is the only way to gain insight into what can be done differently.”

“You are lying, Jedi!” Darth Maul snaps. “You honestly want me to believe that you have betrayed your order and still want to fight the Empire as you did before? You are trying to manipulate me. You are trying to stop us and I won’t let you or the rest of you Jedi scum. I will escape before you release me.”

“Is that so Maul?” Xol says as he draws his two lightsabers.

“Just as I had suspected from the beginning,” the Sith laughs. “You’re going to kill me because I won’t tell you anything of value. Do your worst Jedi, I am prepared to die.”

“Such a shame really,” Xol says as he slashes at the cables holding Maul up.

A look of shock appears on the Sith Lord’s face as he falls into a pile on the floor.

“Master Xol I do not understand,” Darth Maul asks, as he scrambles out of the tangled cable. “Why have you freed me?”

“I told you, I wish for you to join me in my endeavor. Do you honestly think I would have let you live this long otherwise?”

“What do you ask of me?”

“Contact your associates and tell them to rendezvous with us when we arrive at our next checkpoint before our final destination. There, we will need their help in starting a different kind of rebellion against this new emperor. One where the rebels are not a group of undisciplined rabble but a strong military force capable of seizing power.”

“You think you are the one to take the emperor’s place?”

“Absolutely not, I am no politician, however every cause needs a leader and given my experience against the Empire, I will be the one to place the right replacement on the throne thus crushing this emperor once and for all.”

“What of the remaining members of the Alliance and your beloved Jedi Order?”

“I shall do to them what they have done to me. Their usefulness has elapsed and they too will be forgotten. Now Maul, do we have an agreement or do I have to jettison you with the rest of the trash?”

“I would be most honored to stand beside you, Master Xol.”

“Excellent, now do as I have asked so that we may begin preparations.”

Leaving Darth Maul alone in the cargo bay, Xol makes his way back down the halls to the common area where everyone is enjoying a bit of respite and a warm meal. As the Yautja steps into the room, they all stop what they are doing and look to him, waiting for some sort of command. Looking at the table, he sees Mok Sur Tinn shaking with fear as the cold, dark eyes of Xol’s helmet train on him.

“Tinn,” the Yautja barks. “You have much property yes?”

“I have some things,” the Neimodian stammers. “Oddities for the most part, nothing really of value to…”

“Enough Tinn!” Xol yells, interrupting. “Qiin and I both know you are lying. If you do not wish for me to overturn my apprentice’s decision to spare your life you will surrender all of your possessions and invest them in our cause. If you do not accept these terms, I will kill you and take it. However, if you are as smart a Neimodian as I think you are, you will know that once we succeed you stand to gain substantially more upon our victory over the Empire.”

“Agreed Master Jedi, I would be a fool not to accept.”

“Wompit,” Xol commands. “You and Booma go and watch Darth Maul in the loading area. He has also decided to join us.”

“Can he be trusted master?” Qiin inquires.

“My apprentice, no one can be trusted in this galaxy but we have made an arrangement that is mutually beneficial. Tell Dex to advise Captain Solo of a delay at our next waypoint, there we will take on more passengers.”

“Passengers, master?”

“New recruits in our effort, you need not concern yourself with the details my apprentice.”

Hesitating before nodding in acceptance, Qiin proceeds to the cockpit leaving Xol alone with Mok Sur Tinn in the common area.

“How long will it take Neimodian for your items to arrive?” The towering Yautja inquires.

“No more than a day,” Tinn utters nervously. “I have private couriers that I can entrust them to and have delivered.”

“When Qiin returns, send your message, and we will wait for one day. If it takes longer than that Mok, I will personally throw you into the nearest star and watch you burn.”

Xol leaves the common area on his way back toward the cargo hold. He wants to check up on Wompit, Booma and Darth Maul before turning his attention elsewhere. As he exits the hatch and enters the large loading area, he can hear Dex’s distinctive armor-clad footsteps behind him.

“Gr'rit'Xol!” Dex shouts. “Qiin just told me what’s going on. What are you doing?”

“If Qiin has told you DX-1165, then you should already know.”

“Listen ol’ buddy, I have known you a long time, and I have seen you transition from an angry beast to a disciplined teacher and now this? I don’t need to know exactly what is going on with you, but I do need to know the truth.”

“I have never lied to you Dex,” Xol explains. “Is there something on your mind my old friend?”

“I trust you Xol, but you are throwing yourself in with the likes of Darth Maul and this Neimodian. I just need to know that you have a plan on this one, because I have a bad feeling about this whole thing.”

“Rest assured DX,” Xol pauses. “Dex, it may not seem like it now, but I am doing what is best for the galaxy. I apologize that my unconventional methods concern you to the point of worry. When this is all over, you will understand better I think.”

“I hope you are right big guy,” Dex says as he pats the Yautja’s shoulder.

Seeming relieved, the armoured clone walks back down the hall, making his way back to the pilot’s compartment.

Xol proceeds into the loading dock and walks over to the group of three crew members standing in the center of it. There Darth Maul and Booma the Gungan carry on a quiet conversation while Wompit looks on, puzzled.

“Maul,” the Yautja begins. “Have you contacted your people as I have asked and relayed the necessary information to them?”

“Yes Master Xol,” the Zabrak Sith says in confirmation. “I expect them within the next day, possibly two if the Empire becomes a problem.”

“Good. Now due to our limited facilities here aboard this transport, you, Qiin, and I will now take up sleeping quarters in this cargo bay. This is also where any new passengers will be housed until we reach our end destination. Booma and Wompit, starting now you will be in general quarters safeguarding the cockpit and securing Mok Sur Tinn. Send Qiin back here to me when you arrive and tell her to bring mine and her personal effects.”

“Yousa gottin’ it Boss’n Xol,” the sturdy Gungan replies as he and Wompit make their way to the hatch.

Soon after, Xol’s Nautolan apprentice arrives with all their gear and the three begin setting up their makeshift accommodations in the docking bay. Once assembled, Xol begins training Qiin in the Jedi arts. He includes Darth Maul as well, who is more than delighted to engage in sparring with the powerful Yautja. The trio practice for hours, taking in meals and resting as necessary. Qiin exceeds Xol’s expectations, the young Nautolan female’s keen sense of the immediate future even enable her to keep up with the fast and deadly actions of the physically gifted Sith Lord.

During a period of rest and meditation, Dex summons Xol via comlink announcing that they along with the Millennium Falcon have dropped out of lightspeed at the next checkpoint. Pleased with the news, the Yautja quickly makes his way to the cockpit. Upon entering through its sliding doorway, through the transparisteel front window he can see Han Solo’s ship and two others floating in space alongside them.

“DX-1165, are those the transports we are waiting for?”

“Not sure,” Dex says and he reaches for his console. “Only one way to find out though, I will send a hail.”

With a flip of a toggle, a pinging sound comes for the forward console. Moments later, it is answered by a similar sound indicating that the ship wishes to open a communication channel. Flipping the toggle again, Dex enables a comlink between all four ships. Through the console’s speakers voices can be heard, one being Han Solo’s however the other two are mysterious and unfamiliar.

“Unmarked Wayfarer transport,” one of the foreign voices booms over the link. “We represent Mok Sur Tinn, as a safety precaution we require his security code before we will relinquish it into your custody. This code has a voice indent, so he will need to be present. Do you receive? Is Mok Sur Tinn available?”

“Tinn!” Xol shouts into the comlink in his helmet. “Report immediately to the nearest intercom and I will patch you through to your transport.”

With a pat on Dex’s helmet, the clone pilot presses several switches tying the ship’s intercom system in the open external channel. With a confirming beep, Mok relays his code and the first transport pulls along the Wayfarer and begins offloading its cargo.

With that underway, the second transport’s communication feed streams in. The male voice on the other end is angered and shouting the second the connection is made.

“Where is Dark Lord Maul, pirate?!” the angry voice yells. “If he has come to harm we will hunt you down and kill you ourselves.”

“Forgive me if I am not terrified in the slightest,” Xol mocks. “Your Dark Lord is a guest aboard my vessel and so shall you be but only once you cool that fiery tongue of yours and actually step foot on my ship. If these conditions are not to your liking, my pilot and crew will disintegrate your vessel right here and now, leaving you as nothing more than charred remains floating through space.”

Xol reaches over the shoulder of Dex and disengages the open channel, cancelling the transmission. He waits patiently for a reply or some movement from the second ship. With its thrusters engaged, the secondary vessel also begins docking procedures, just as the Yautja had anticipated.

“Come along DX,” Xol says impatiently. “We must greet our newest recruits and see what we are dealing with before we proceed onward into the Unknown Regions.”

Dex instinctively grabs his blaster rifle and follows behind Xol.

The Yautja’s mind is flooded with the sense of great ability in the Force nearing his location. Whomever Darth Maul associates with, they could be a blessing or a curse. Which one they are is yet to be decided.

TO BE CONTINUED…

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…

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

After plummeting into the wastes on the surface of Ord Mantell in the class-6 escape pod, Xol spares no time in finding Dex. He knows he has days before the Empire brings their whole fleet to the planet in the wake of what he did to the Super Star Destroyer.

Joined by the young seer Qiin, he goes to the only place he knows to be a haunt of Orlo the Hutt, the Lady Fate Casino in Worlport.

The pair purchases a low cost speeder from a local farmer they happen across and make haste for the capital city.

Xol worries that he may be six years too late, despite what stories Dark Lord Blades told him of Dex’s incarceration…

The dilapidated X-38 speeder, chugs to a halt on the outskirts of Worlport. Its skyline, nearly unchanged since Xol’s last visit, however its skies are teeming with TIE fighter patrols. Stormtroopers can be seen roaming the streets in force and guarding checkpoints entering the bustling metropolis. With a hiss the passenger canopy opens and Xol turns to Qiin.

“Young one, this is not your fight and this is where we must part ways.” Xol says with his pointed finger outstretched.

“No Master Xol,” she refuses. “I can see my path and if I should leave you now, it will result in both our deaths.”

“Then that is our path, there is no use in denying the will of the Force.”

“What complete and utter lies you tell yourself!” she snaps. “You don’t want me along because you think I am too young and inexperienced to be of any use in your search for your friend.”

“How do you know my thoughts Qiin?” Xol says suspiciously as he reaches for his lightsabers.

“It is not as you think Jedi Master!” the young Nautolan insists as she holds out her hands. “I am adept at reading the minds of others, even those that bury their thoughts as well as you. I do not see all of what is offered but I do receive glimpses.”

“Well, in the future, do not intrude on my personal thoughts without permission or I will extinguish our travel arrangement without even a moments notice. Is that clear?”

“You mean you are going to take me with you after all?” she replies, excitedly. “Oh master thank you! I will not let you down, I promise.”

“I trust that you won’t, but in the future refer to me as Xol, I am not your master. Now we must gain entrance to Worlport, go to the Casino and find Dex befor…”

“Dex Kamino?” Qiin interrupts. “Do you mean Dex Kamino?”

“Yes, that was the name he used, how do you know this man?”

“Katarus won me from Orlo the Hutt in a game of Sabacc. Another slave that Orlo lost that night was Dex Kamino. He was kind to me and always knew how to make me laugh even when I was at my worst. He was treated far worse than I, often nursing a fresh new set of wounds every time I saw him.”

“Who won him from Orlo, Qiin? Do you remember?” Xol asks insistently.

“A Neimodian businessman named Mok. Mok Sur Tinn, I believe. He owns a few nightclubs throughout the city. He collects Force sensitives and old Sith artifacts, I know because he offered Orlo a fortune for me on multiple occasions but was turned down each time.”

“Well if you show me the way to this Neimodian, I will take care of the rest.”

“One step at a time Xol, first we must find a way into the city.”

“I have already decided the best course of action to do just that, so if you intend on coming along I suggest you fasten your safety harness and be ready to fight if necessary.”

With a zip of her harness straps tightening, Qiin responds with a smile, “Ready when you are!”

Xol closes the canopy of the speeder and throttles towards a sentry post that lies ahead. Three Imperial Stormtroopers armed with repeating blasters inspect the documentation of all those that pass through their post. A lone officer in her black tunic oversees the operation, punching information into a datapad as each person proceeds passed. The pair approaching in their speeder is waved over by one of the soldiers.

“Identicard please,” the trooper says sternly as they pull alongside him.

“I’m sorry Imperial,” Xol says snidely. “I do not possess an Identicard, will this be sufficient enough?”

Xol reaches to his belt and presents his lightsaber. In shock and panic, the Stormtrooper points his weapon at the vehicle and shouts for the other guards. As they gather around the vehicle with their weapons drawn, Xol concentrates with the Force and prepares himself.

“Foolish Jedi,” the officer says as she approaches from behind her soldiers. “Did you actually think you could intimidate a hardened, battle-ready squad of Imperial soldiers with your antiquated weapon?”

“That was not my intent whatsoever however I did want you to be close enough to hear this,” The Yautja explains as his voice becomes darker and his eyes glow red with energy. “We are Imperial attaches, and it is your personal duty to safeguard our travel throughout the city, clearing us through checkpoints and anything else requested of you. Agreed?”

Under the Jedi’s powerful persuasive trance, the soldiers and their officer repeat Xol’s exact words in unison back to him. The Imperials lower their weapons and abandon the guard post for their nearby speederbikes. Taking up formation around the Yautja’s speeder, Xol instructs them forward to the Lady Fate Casino. In compliance, the two lead Stormtroopers embark leading the pair through chaotic Worlport traffic. With the troopers guiding them through, no guard patrol or checkpoint even pauses to stop them as they travel through the city.

In transit Qiin and Xol converse to pass the time. “Xol,” she asks. “Your actions aboard Katarus’ vessel surprised me, I had assumed the Jedi were incapable of such actions.”

“You’re right, young one. Jedi are.”

“Are you not a Jedi Master?”

“Once I was, and a Dark Jedi knight before that. I have explored the Force and all its facets and now I am forced to become something outside of the teachings of the Jedi and superior to the instruction of the Sith.”

“Will you teach me?”

“As I said young one, I am no longer a Jedi Master. I cannot teach you their ways. Their ways have died in this galaxy, and with them a part of me has perished also.”

“I do not seek any instruction but yours, not the Jedi nor the Sith. I only want to learn from you.”

“Why do you volunteer so readily to follow me down this darkened path Qiin?”

“I know your thoughts Xol, and I can see your path ahead is unclear, always fluctuating within the Force. Even with that uncertainty, I can sense that you are an instrumental figure in the shaping of my destiny. I wish to learn if you still have it in you to teach.”

“Very well Qiin, I still do not understand your reasoning entirely but if you want to learn that badly then I shall take you under my wing. You shall be my apprentice.”

Immensely happy with his decision, she reaches over and hugs his arm tightly, thanking him excessively. Xol can sense great confusion within himself as Qiin clutches to his side. He brushes away the feeling swimming deep inside of him and focuses on the road ahead.

Upon arrival at the Lady Fate Casino some minutes later, Xol and Qiin are helped from their vehicle by valet droids. As the Yautja straightens his ruffled cloak, he waves and simultaneously commands the Imperials to return to their original posts. As they pull away, he transmits a mental command that will explain their absence but not have them remember them ever meeting Qiin or himself.

Sending them and the valets on their way, Xol turns and walks up the stairs of the casino to the front entrance with Qiin following close behind, their long black cloaks fluttering behind them as they climb. As they walk into the building, the profane mix of smoke, alcohol, and the secretions of different races flood the Yautja’s sensitive olfactory. Were it not for the air filter in his helmet, the smell might be twice as pungent.

The pair walks onto the casino floor and before they reach the bar Xol sees a familiar face in the back of the room. It is Booma, the Gungan enforcer of Orlo the Hutt and two other armed guards.

“Qiin wait here,” Xol commands. “I know where to find Dex, but I cannot succeed if I constantly have to look out for you my young apprentice. Stay here and alert me on this commlink if you see anyone coming towards that back area.”

Handing the visibly annoyed Nautolan a communication device, Xol readies his lightsabers and makes his way across the gaming area floor.

“Xol I can help,” Qiin says over the comlink. “I’m no good playing lookout. You need me in there with you to sense their thoughts.”

“No, you must stay where you are, and only use this link for emergencies like I instructed you. Is that clear?”

“Yes Xol, I understand,” Qiin responds with a pout before cutting transmission.

As the Yautja nears the sealed door, the sturdy purple Gungan notices Xol and does a double take. Shocked to see him, he nervously fumbles for his blaster holstered on his hip. Noticing their leader’s nervousness, the two guards standing to either side of the Gungan draw their weapons as well. The trio takes quick aim and fire on the approaching Yautja.

As the shots ring out and sail through the air towards him, Xol deploys his lightsabers and deflects the blasts harmlessly away from him and into banks of gambling terminals on his right side. The outbreak of combat sends patrons running for the doors and alerts guards from all over the main gaming floor to Xol’s presence.

“Yousa not being dead Jedis!” Booma shouts at Xol. “Thatsa bein’ perfecto wit’ meesa. Isa wantin’ to be killin’ yousa meeself for longin’ time.”

“So what’s stopping you Booma?” Xol taunts. “Too scared of Orlo I suppose.”

“Meesa not scared, yousa shouldn’ be bein’ scared,” the purple thug replies, trying to hide his fear. “Yousa is surrounded Jedis, no escapin’ the ouch time this time.”

“I’ve had enough of this,” Xol growls as he runs headlong at the armed trio, lightsabers blazing.

As he nears the dark purple Gungan at their center, Xol does not stop, instead he chooses to phase through him using his abilities. Like walking through a mist, the Yautja glides passed the Gungan and once on the other side, at his attacker’s backs he slashes with his two blades. Their crimson blades cut down the two other guards with ease leaving the bewildered Gungan standing frozen stiff from fear. With the hum of Xol’s blade just behind his haillu, Booma quivers with terror.

“I will let you live purplish soft meat if you help me get my friend back and kill your boss in the meantime.”

“Meesa can’t be killin’ boss Orlo, Meesa gettin' crunched for that by bounty hunters.”

“I can guarantee that if you don’t help me, you will be how did you put it? Crunched, right here and now.”

“Fine meesa help,” The Gungan complies. “Only if’n yousa can promisin’ meesa that meesa bein’ kept safe from crunchin’ wit’ yousa.”

“I never make a promise I cannot keep, however I can ensure your safety as best I can with all my abilities as long as you do what I say when I say it. Do we have an agreement soft meat?”

“Meesa agree, now what’n yousa wantin’ meesa to do first?”

“Call off the other guards and make something up about what happened here while I hide behind the door.” Xol commands. “And if you try to double-cross me, I will destroy you.”

“No problem, meesa takin’ care of dis. Just yousa better getting’ hidin’!”

Without opening the sealed door behind him, Xol phases through it and takes refuge in the hallway on the other side. He can hear boisterous laughter from down the hall. Anxious to get moving, he listens through the door to the conversation outside.

“What’s going on Booma?” a guard says, his voice partly muffled by the door. “We heard blaster fire and had reports that a lightsaber wielding attacker was going crazy on the floor.”

“No, No, No, thisa bein’ big misunderstanding!” Booma explains. “Darth’n Maul’s losin’ Sabacc game bombad. Heesa gettin’ ooberdrunkin and takin’ himsa’s raging out on meesa and killin’ Lim and Pokk. Meester Sur Tinn came and retrievin’ himsa and gonna pay all the damages to Orlo okeeday?”

“I hate it when Maul gets that way,” the guard replies. “Why do we even let that Zabrak menace into our casino? Where are they now Booma?”

“I takin’ care of it, theysa leavin’ da floor, no causin’ any more trouble today. I sendin’ them back to Boss Orlo’s suite. Theysa should be calmin’ down enough by mornin’ meesa tinks.”

“Alright Booma, nicely handled. We had better get back, we will see you later for some Dejarik and ales though right?”

“Yousa bet, and yousa better bring yoursan credits this time, Lim and Pokk owed meesa big payday and lookin’ what be happenin’ to them.”

“You have one sick sense of humor, you old son of a Mynock!”

The group laughs as they disperse. The guard’s voices become quieter as they move away, hopefully returning to their posts. Curious, Xol uses his comlink to contact Qiin who is still in the casino.

“Qiin, have they returned to their stations?”

“Yes Xol, I left with the other patrons as to not draw too much attention to myself and the guards are just letting us back in now.” She replies.

“Good thinking young one, just keep a watchful eye from the bar. I will be working my way through to Dex shortly and this place is going to erupt with activity so I need your eyes and your foresight.”

“As you wish Xol,” Qiin answers before she shuts off her comm.

Xol closes his channel and opens the access door in front of him. On the other side is Booma, waiting impatiently glancing from side to side. With the door open, the Gungan steps through and walks down the hallway, waving Xol onward as he reaches the end where another sealed door is located. The Yautja stealthily approaches from behind and places his lightsabers onto his belt. Reaching out with the Force he can sense the occupants of the room beyond the door. He feels Dex’s familiar presence, Orlo, two others, and finally with great surprise he senses the dark side presence of Darth Maul.

“So your story is true, Darth Maul is here?” Xol asks.

“Of coursa, Darth’n Maul bein’ here,” Booma responds. “Heesa was some big time hero in Empire because of killin’ yousa. Now heesa enemy of the Emperor but good friends with meesa boss Orlo.”

“I thought I had killed him on Tatooine, but apparently I was wrong just as the Empire has been about my death.”

“Meesa wishin’ I could see the look on himsa’s face when yousa be walkin’ into dat room”

“You just might Gungan soft meat. You just might.” Xol says as he raises his hands palms open to the door. “You seem pretty calm considering I am about to kill your master and rescue my friend.”

“Boss Orlo bein’ a blue pile of Bantha poodoo, heesa just payin’ meesa well for a slave. Besides, yousa sparin’ meesa life, and even though meesa bein’ scoundrel, meesa honor his life debts. Yousa stuck wit’ me Jedis whether yousa wantin’ it or not.”

“Good to know where you stand soft meat, now stand back or you might get hurt.”

Xol focuses strongly on the door in front of him and within a second it collapses in on itself and launches into the room. The metal projectile creates a gaping hole in the rear wall of the gaming room where Orlo and his guests are gathered. The hole itself leads to the exterior of the building, the sounds of street traffic and screaming pedestrians carry through it and into the room.

Without any hesitation, Darth Maul ignites his dual bladed lightsaber and flips across the table landing directly in front of Xol. In reflex the Yautja draws his blades and brings them up to parry the Sith’s first attack. As the pair lock sabers, Orlo chortles at the melee, clapping his slimy hands in delight.

“How can you be alive?” Maul shouts, “I killed you on Tatooine!”

“I can say the same thing to you Sith Lord.” Xol says cheekily

With an angry scream, Darth Maul breaks his grapple with the Yautja and charges with a flurry of saber attacks. Though the Sith’s technique has improved since their last battle, Xol can still counter each assault and when he receives an opening, he stretches outward through the Force and grips his opponents dual bladed saber. With a twist of his hand, the hilt of Darth Maul’s lightsaber crushes inward and rains its contents on the ground. With the shattering of the lens assembly and the exposure of its focusing crystal, the weapons ceases to function and the blade dissipates instantly. Aghast at what has transpired, the Sith stares in shock at the pieces of his prize weapon lying in his hands. While he is distracted and distraught, Xol exerts a push on the defeated warrior that has him fly across the room and impact hard against to the wall, crumpling in a heap on the floor. Orlo’s laughter quickly halts as he sees the infamous Sith is rendered unconscious.

Now, with no distractions, Xol can focus on the others in the room. He can see Dex standing next to a Neimodian whom he can only infer is Mok Sur Tinn in full armor, with his blaster rifle in his hands. Across the table sits a dark skinned human in upper class attire and finally a portly Toydarian with a well manufactured IG model bodyguard standing behind him. Without saying a word, the Toydarian gathers his chips, nods to Xol, and along with his droid exits out the hole in the wall. When Mok Sur Tinn tries to do the same, he can hear the whine of Dex’s blaster warming up as it readies a bolt. The clone has pointed the rifle at the Neimodian and has a blaster in his offhand pointed at Orlo.

“You’re late Xol,” Dex says with joviality in his voice. “Now, I have been waitin’ a long time for this Tinn, pray to your Neimo gods because you’ll be meeting them soon.”

“No Dex, wait!” the Yautja exclaims with his hand stretched out in protest. “We can use him.”

“Are you out of your Jedi mind Xol?” Dex replies angrily. “This bastard has kept me imprisoned for nearly six years and you want to negotiate with him?”

“Not that piece of trash, Dex. We only need Orlo. His Imperial contacts will allow us to get out of this place.”

“What makes you think I would help the likes of you?” The portly Hutt replies through his protocol droid.

“Because Orlo,” Xol continues. “I can make it so Tinn is no longer competition for you on Ord Mantell, and in exchange for that and your own life you will provide us with the means to leave this system safely, my companion Wompit and the Gungan called Booma freed of their enslavement to you, and any supplies we require. It is either that or we kill you both and let the Empire have full reign here. It makes little difference to me.”

“You surprise me Master Jedi,” Orlo laughs. “I expected you to kill me for my treacherous acts against you six years ago but instead you have become a more fearsome breed of scum than you ever were before. Worthy enough I think to be called my friend!”

“Quit wasting my time slug meat, is it a deal or not Orlo?” the Yautja insists. “Because I have other ways of negotiating if you would prefer?”

With a tilt of his head, Xol begins to channel his powers into the Hutt, and as his eyes glare at the corpulent, blue, crime boss, Orlo can feel himself being choked and lifted off of his plush sedan chair.

“I accept…your…deal,” the Hutt chokes. “Now…release…me.”

Xol turns his head away from Orlo and allows his immense sluggish body to flop heavily back into his seat. Once the crime lord has regained his composure he takes a puff from his hookah and says, “You have a harsh way of making a deal but, I like it so I humbly accept your offer.”

“A wise choice Hutt,” Xol replies pleased. “Dex, gather up and restrain Maul and Mok Sur Tinn. We have a lot of work to do.”

TO BE CONTINUED…

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

Feeling hopeless and abandoned,

Xol races toward the core system world of Ord Mantell on the suspicious advice of his recently vanquished dark master Blades.

Following the only path he feels will make up for his lengthy absence,

He journeys to free his dear friend, Dex Kamino from the clutches of Orlo the Hutt.

He hopes that Dex will forgive him after all this time and aid him in his quest to once and for all, bring about the demise of the Galactic Empire.

Xol has become a Jedi without an order.

A warrior without a cause,

A Yautja that walks a razor edge,

One misstep will see him falling deep into the abyss,

And this time he may never resurface…

Sensors wail with alarm as Xol exits hyperspace. The warnings come from his proximity to Imperial vessels. Looming over his tiny craft is one of the Empire’s fearsome Super Star Destroyers. He had encountered them before so he did not fear them however, Xol knows he is outclassed and attempts to escape its range. Throttling up, he finds himself immobile. Only a tractor beam could hold him in place so quickly. Furious, he mashes the control panel, angered that he has been captured so soon after freeing himself from the clutches of Dark Lord Blades. As his mind resigns itself to the idea of capture, he cannot help but think, how could they have known to be waiting for him with a tractor beam armed? Was it protocol in the Empire now, to seize any ship coming out of hyperspace he wondered?

As his Starlight class freighter inches its way toward the gaping maw of the Star Destroyer, Xol stares at his custom saber swirling it in his hand.

“I loathe you,” the Yautja says with a growl. “You are all my hatred and anger collected in one place. I have defeated you, and you have returned. You haunt me at every turn and I resist your Dark Side influence. No more can I do this, being so alone in this galaxy. Master Blades was right, I must become more than simply a Jedi and as much as it pains me to say this, I will require your power to do so.”

With a cascade of red energy across the weapon, the shadowy voice from within speaks inside Xol’s mind. “You keep the power inside of you Xol. I am only the key to unlocking it.”

“Like on Tatooine?”

“No, that was a juvenile reflex. If you allow yourself to flow through me, you will be unstoppable. A glimpse of this will come to pass soon.”

“How can you be certain?”

“I exist within the Force itself Xol, you forget that. My vision is not as limited as your own.”

Darkness falls over the pilot canopy as the Imperial ship consumes the freighter. As it is drawn further into a secured hangar, the tractor beam lowers the vessel to the floor and docking clamps fasten hard to it. Xol walking down the freighter's now deployed gangway surrenders himself. Even with the Yautja on his knees, the Stormtroopers sent to detain him are still cautious as they approach him, blasters already drawn and aimed at Xol while they fasten binders to him.

Removing his weapons, the Imperial troops escort their Yautja prisoner through the ship to a chamber near its heart. The circular room is entered through a heavily armoured and guarded door. The two Sith knight guards outside scowl at Xol as he passes them, entering the room. The room is a Sith perversion of the old Jedi council chamber on Coruscant, with plush throne like chairs circling its outer edge leaving an immense space at it’s center. The middle chair is occupied by a youthful, dark skinned human male adorned in elaborate Sith regalia. Dreadlocks hang from his head, each one tipped with an opulent gold decoration. Standing behind his seat is a hooded figure, presumably a consular of some sort as they can be seen whispering into the seated male’s ear before returning to their place behind him.

“I had foreseen your arrival Jedi,” the Sith gloats. “Lord Starkiller will be pleased that I have captured you and it will only be a matter of time until we find your master as well.”

“I have no master fool, I am the master.”

“Is that so?” the Imperial laughs. “Then Master Jedi, by decree of the Emperor I will execute you myself.”

“You would be so cowardly Sith as to kill me while I am bound and helpless?”

“Certainly not,” the officer puffs. “I am a Sith Lord and a bound Jedi is no test of my superior skills. Now rise prisoner, and take up arms for this will be your last moment before you transition from this world to the next.”

With the Force the Sith Lord unhooks the binders holding Xol’s hands. One of his Stormtrooper escorts steps forward to present the Yautja with his lightsabers.

Surprised Xol takes his weapons from the soldier, turns to the lord and asks, “Are you so foolhardy to think you will survive this battle? Do you know who I am soft meat?”

“I am Sith Lord Katarus, special envoy to Lord Starkiller himself, who you are is of no consequence Jedi, but I will indulge you. What is your name traitor?”

“I have been known by many titles Katarus,” Xol begins, as he assumes a defensive stance. “Dark Jedi, Jedi Master, and Dark Lord are just a few, but in the end those that know me and know to fear me call me Xol.”

“By the Emperor!” Katarus gasps. “You are the Jedi they speak of in the holocrons. You slew Vader but it cannot be you. Xol fell on Tatooine six years ago, destroyed in a battle with Darth Maul.”

“Don’t believe everything you view in a holocron feeble Sith. I am very much alive.”

“Not for long. Guards, kill him!” Katarus shouts as he deploys his lightsaber.

Stormtroopers open fire on Xol, sending a volley of blaster fire toward him while the room’s outer door slides open allowing the two Sith knights from outside to enter. With a crimson flash the Yautja summons his lightsabers and deflects some of the red bolts away from him. With an outstretched arm he pushes with the Force sending the troops and the Sith knights out through the open circular portal. With a swift hand gesture, Xol closes the door and locks it. As Katarus bears down on him with his lightsaber from behind the Yautja, Xol sends an arc of lightning into the door fusing it shut. Red hot slag drips from the seams of the door as he turns to face the oncoming Sith. Oddly enough, Xol can see that Katarus’ consular has not moved, chosing to remain still and watch the melee instead.

Katarus is slow, his power is a drop of water in comparison to Xol’s ocean of ability. With each laboured strike, the Imperial becomes more and more frustrated as the much more adept Yautja parries and blocks each attack with ease. In a desperate attempt to vanquish his Jedi opponent, Katarus unleashes a prolonged stream of lightning. As the arcs near Xol, he counters them with his own lightning. The twisted mass of electrical energy in between the two combatants snarls and cracks occasionally striking the ceiling, walls and floors, leaving sooty, charred holes wherever it strikes.

“Help me you fool!” Katarus screams at the still motionless cloaked figure behind his chair. “He will kill you too, we must defeat him together.”

The Imperial’s cries go unanswered from the silent witness as he struggles to fight back his powerful adversary. His best efforts fail him as the crackling tentacles of Xol’s lightning overtake his own energy and rush into his own body. Collapsing to the ground, Katarus succumbs to the power of Xol’s ability and is electrocuted. His body violently shudders and spasms as raw, hateful Force energy courses through it. He screams in pain as he becomes so charged that his skeletal structure can be seen with each pulse of lightning arcing into him.

Xol still bombarding Katarus with lightning turns to the silent consular and asks, “Are you afraid or do you not care for this man? What say you?”

“I care little for him and he has failed me as a master,” a soft feminine voice speaks from beneath her cloak's hood. "He is a disgrace and should not be allowed to live. However, you are Jedi and you are sworn to preserve life.”

“So be it.” Xol says his voice growing dark.

The Yautja can feel the very power the voice had explained earlier. In that moment, he feels overcome with anger and summons forth enough energy to vaporize the prone Imperial officer lying before him. Katarus’ body is reduced to papery black ash, still glowing red with energy. The Sith’s face frozen in a scream before crumbling to powder before his eyes.

Terrified, the consular draws her weapon, its red blade quivering with fear. “You’re a Jedi which means you are not supposed to kill.”

“Sadly, the Jedi Order is dead and I am all that remains.” Xol says as he retracts both his sabers. Now, I do not wish you any harm but if you get in my way I will destroy you as easily as I did your master. You will show me how I can leave this ship.”

“I will help you more than that if you take me with you.”

Confused, Xol turns his head and asks, “You are a Sith are you not? Why would I possibly take the likes of you with me?”

“I am no Sith. I am a seer, I do not even know how to use this weapon,” the female says as she casts her saber aside. “Katarus insisted I learn as I was to become his apprentice, I am just a slave, nothing more.”

“Assuming you are telling the truth slave girl, how do we get off this ship?”

“I know a nearby escape pod we could use but I do not know how far we could get before they notice our departure.”

“It is near Xol,” the shadowy voice of darkness says inside the Yautja’s mind. “Soon the time will come for you to strike fear into the hearts of every denizen of this puny galaxy!”

Shaking his head, Xol returns his focus from his inner consciousness to the woman in front of him and responds, “Take me there and you will go with me to the planet and that’s it!”

“Agreed,” she says, with a small smile.

She lifts the hood obstructing her face, and reveals herself to be a young Nautolan woman with long tresses running along the sides of her face, each tendril adorned in the same fashion as Katarus’ was. Her dark black eyes reflecting Xol in their smooth inky surface as she gazes at him.

“I am called Qiin, Jedi Master Xol.”

Entranced momentarily by the young woman, Xol nods his head in understanding and asks, “Your name is irrelevant, we won’t be together that long, just show me to the escape pods before those Sith knights figure out how to get through those heavy blast doors.”

“Katarus had a back entrance secretly installed in case he was ever mutinied,” Qiin says as she opens a hidden keypad in the rear wall. After pressing a complex sequence of buttons, a hatch hisses and slides open revealing a smaller room with an airlock connected to it.

The young woman leads Xol into the room and points beyond the sealed airlock. A sizable escape pod, plush and decorated in the same style as the previous chamber begins to light up as systems are triggered by the pair’s presence. With an ushering hand wave, Qiin opens the airlock and boards the pod, with Xol behind her. Once aboard, the young Nautolan engages the release and with a rush, the two passengers are thrust headlong toward Ord Mantell below. The Super Star Destroyer seen through the viewport spins overhead. As they gain more distance from the Imperial vessel, streaks of green erupt from the batteries of the capital ships, a few narrowly missing the tiny module as they race by.

“It’s just as I thought,” Qiin nervously cries. “They have detected our unauthorized ejection and are going to destroy us.”

“Silence girl, we are not dead yet!” Xol snaps as he stretches out with the Force.

With slight pushes and pulls he maneuvers the pod out of the way of incoming fire. While his focus and reaction time is impeccable, a few shots glance against the small pod, sending sparks spewing from consoles and causing it to swirl out of control. Xol struggles to regain control of the spinning craft and just as he does, his vision becomes clearer somehow infused with the Force itself. Time is at a near standstill as he can perceive the world around him in ways he normally cannot. In this altered perception he can hear the shadow’s voice again.

“This is it dark one,” it says with delight. “It is the moment of Shatterpoint, seize it and you will ascend to unspeakable heights!”

It is at that very moment through the Force that Xol can see the Super Star Destroyer on its most complex levels, its strengths and weaknesses revealed to him with crystal clear clarity. Acting almost instinctively, he no longer exerts energy on the pod and instead musters all of his focus and concentrates it as the capital ship’s most vulnerable point.
Channeling all of his aggression and hatred into his effort, he can feel a surge run through him like a great dam opening up and unleashing a torrent of power into his abilities. With his mandibles splayed open in a great scream, Xol sees the super structure of the Imperial ship begins to collapse. It’s hulking mass crushing in on itself, setting off a chain reaction of explosions throughout its length. Fiery plasma from the engines engulfs the rear of the vessel tearing it asunder, sending large chunks of debris out into space. Subsequent ruptures along the Star Destroyer’s spine carve it into islands of derelict, lifeless metal.

The pod is rattled by the shockwave of the ship’s explosion colliding with it. Xol and Qiin stare in awe as they continue towards the planet, leaving only a debris field behind where one of the most powerful Imperial ships once was.

“I did not foresee that occurring,” Qiin says, shocked at what she has just witnessed.

“It is a symbol of change young seer,” Xol calmly replies, with determination in his voice. “The Empire will know that I have returned, and they shall pay for what they have done in my absence.”

Fire envelops the outer hull of the pod as it collides with Ord Mantell’s atmosphere, a rain of smaller debris pieces erupting alongside it as it falls toward the planets surface. As the ground grows closer, Xol looks to Qiin’s hopeful gaze and is reminded of the innocence he lost long ago at his father’s side. He will not rest until he can be allowed to feel that way again. Nothing, not even the Empire will prevent him from obtaining that goal.

TO BE CONTINUED…

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

Unbeknownst to the unconscious Xol, those that captured him on Tatooine

have encased him in carbonite under the instruction of an unseen master.

However, the hibernation did not diminish all of his brain functions and for what seems like an eternity he is locked in a never ending nightmare. His mind is bombarded by the dark influences of his sentient lightsaber. Its constant torment drives the Yautja to the edge of his sanity.

He wants to free himself but can’t. His incarceration aboard the Death Star so many years ago pales in comparison to the chaos in his mind.

He longs for a release either through freedom or death.

Neither seems to be in his future.

He desperately calls out through the Force, hoping that his cries for help will be heard by others besides the dark shadow that tortures him relentlessly.

Only time will tell…

“You have resisted me for longer than anyone should Xol,” the shadow says, frustrated. “Give into my power once more, or have you forgotten your battle with the one called Darth Maul already?”

“I should have never given you that chance to manifest in me!” Xol yells. “You are a malignant growth upon my very soul and I want you dead, I never should have obeyed Tyvokka’s command and allowed you to remain intact.”

“Yet you did Dark Jedi, you did. You need me. The feeble teachings of the Jedi will never allow you to defeat those who have been set free. Let go of your misgivings and allow us to work in concert once more!”

“I did not need you to defeat Vader and I don’t need you now!”

“On the contrary, your defeat over the Chosen One was because of me, who do you think allowed his long lost love to transition from the Void into your world?”

“I had already beaten you at that point, the blade itself is connected to the Force without you! You only have power if I grant it to you. Taunt me all you like in this torturous dream but I will never ever allow you leverage over me again.”

“Strong words dark one, we shall see how strong you are in the face of your new master…”

“What new master? Your lies are baited traps and I shall not be lured in with the living Force on my side.”

A hush comes to Xol’s dreamlike state, the first he has had in so long that it scares him. Unsure of what the shadowy voice’s next trick might be, he braces himself for the worst. As he awaits his next sinister challenge, he can feel his body lifting upward towards white light. Once near its source he feels warmth all over his body and the sound of unfamiliar, muffled voices all around him.

With a flash of white transitioning into black, Xol’s eyes adjust to the world around him. He lets out a roar of panic as he awakens from his comatose state. His mind is foggy and sluggish, as his vision returns to him he can see several blurry figures standing around the gurney he is laid on. He tries to stand up but immediately after setting his feet upon the bare metal floor, he is overwhelmed by nausea, buckles over, and vomits.

“Easy there Jedi,” one of the voices says from nearby. “Hibernation sickness aint something you just shake off in a minute.”

After more nauseated vomiting, Xol stands to his feet, his vision much clearer. He comes to realize that he stands among heavily armored strangers in some sort of medical facility. Alone and still somewhat disoriented he draws his lightsabers. “Where am I?” he growls.

“We don’t have time for this,” the lead individual responds. “Come with us Master Xol, our employer does not like to be kept waiting.”

“Not until I get some answers soft meat!” the Yautja snaps, his tusks clicking with irritation.

“Come with us and you’ll get all the answers you want Jedi,” a second soldier says, holding his empty hands out in front of him. “We’re not even armed. Most of us are just engineers assigned to wake you from suspended animation.”

“How long was I asl…?” Xol asks before his words slur and he crumbles forward to the floor.

When Xol regains consciousness, he is seated in a dark room with a viewport adjacent him. He can see space rushing passed, stars turning to lines as the vessel he must be aboard enters hyperspace. Though he is not bound, he can feel an unseen influence strong in the Force holding him in place.

“What is this place?” Xol screams furiously. “Where have you taken me? If this is still a dream, I will not be deceived by your lies!”

“Quiet yourself my apprentice.” A voice from beyond the dark says calmly.

The voice brings a chill to the Yautja as he remains helplessly immobilized. “It cannot be you,” he shouts. “I killed you so very long ago.”

“Did you now?” the voice continues. “It may very well have seemed that way, but only because I had to make you believe it to be true. Had I known you would complete your mission only to become the very thing I loathe most in this universe, I would have completed the task myself.”

The lights of the room flicker on, and with disheartening confirmation, standing before Xol dressed in heavy black armor draped by a red cape is his former master, Dark Lord Blades. Although his face is obstructed by a helm with a skull shaped faceplate, through the Force the Jedi knows this to be his long forgotten teacher.

“I was able to know your exact location at almost every step especially once you installed my carefully configured program into your helmet.”

“Why Blades?” Xol replies, his query fired by anger. “Why would you deceive me?”

“To bring about the Empire’s downfall so that I may rise to power you idiot!” the Dark Lord retorts with condescension. “Wasn’t it obvious? I trained you to be a weapon. One so terrifying, Vader would have had no choice but to take notice, diverting his attention from my efforts to build up my own forces and execute a coup. However what I didn’t count on was the interference of Jedi Master Yoda. I should have guessed he wouldn’t have been slain in the Emperor’s Purge. Not to mention your presence has now brought into play a new Emperor and his cloning project has birthed a new threat I never could have anticipated. It appears you are so dangerous, that the Empire had no choice but to resurrect the dead themselves just to compensate!”

“If this is all true Blades why have you brought me here? I doubt you’d believe I would just betray all that I have come to know and hold true just to help you regain power. If that is what you wish of me, you might as well kill me and get it over with.”

“Well, it’s not completely improbable. You did betray my teachings didn’t you?”

“That wasn’t betrayal that was an exodus from an evil you cursed upon me.”

“Semantics, dark one. You’ll do my bidding, whether you’ll sacrifice your morals to do it or not.”

“Have I not been clear my former master? I will not serve you!”

“Then your friends will die, not by my hand but because of your inaction. Their blood will be on your hands.”

“What are you talking about?”

Lord Blades uses the Force to bring a chair to him. With a flit of his cape he sits down and holds out his gloved right hand. In its open surface, through his own abilities he projects three dimensional images of great space battles and flashes of Dex in great pain.
“You see Xol, in the years since your absence…” The sinister Blades begins before being interrupted.

“Years? What do you mean years! How long have you kept me a prisoner in this place?”

“You were never a prisoner, I sent my acolytes to rescue you from the Empire. They were too late and you had begun to pass from this world to the next. I couldn’t allow you to fall, so over the past six years while your body was preserved in stasis, I used my powers and some other ancient techniques to repair and restore you.”

“You saved my life? To what end?”

“Apprentice, I am Dark Jedi, not a heartless Sith. You are like my son, though you may not always do as I say or pursue the path I feel is best, I will always care for your well being.”

“Yet you used me as a tool to destroy your enemies, and felt it necessary to fake your own death. If I was your son, then you failed as my father.”

“I did what was necessary. You will understand in time. Now, do you want me to tell you of your friends and their Rebellion?”

“I am listening father,” Xol says sarcastically.

“With you presumed dead, the Empire’s alliance of reborn Sith generals has succeeded where Darth Vader had failed. Their actions have been carefully orchestrated by an unseen leader, the current Emperor of the Galactic Empire.”

“Do you know who it is?”

“No Xol,” the dark lord continues. “I have spent a hundred fortunes trying to ascertain that information but he or she is very effective at hiding their identity from everyone close to the throne save one.”

“Who might that be?”

“A Sith warrior known as Lord Starkiller, he served under Vader as his enforcer during his reign. When he died, I was certain his second would seize power but he hasn’t. As for your precious Rebel Alliance, they were shattered at the Battle of Coruscant which I showed you images of through my gifts. What remains of it has fled, or possibly even disbanded.”

“The Alliance cannot be dead. The Jedi Order wouldn’t allow it!”

“Console yourself with whatever falsehoods you wish apprentice, but search your feelings and you will know it to be true. The Jedi have been undone, purged by Starkiller and his death squads. All that remains is you and I. Practitioners of non-Sith doctrines and techniques akin to those of the Jedi Order.”

“You are a Dark Jedi, Blades,” Xol exclaims, his voice sullen. “Once, so was I because of your teachings. I will never become one again. I will take my last breath in battle and I will do so as a Jedi Master. Nothing you can say or do will ever change that.”

“Then as I stated earlier foolish tusk tooth,” Blades says while leaning in. “Your friends will perish. You must grow beyond my lessons and even those of the Jedi. You must become something this galaxy has never seen before.”

“What must I do to save my comrades?”

“Well, as I have explained the Empire used their cloning projects to recreate powerful Sith. Some of these generals have begun defying the Emperor and are forming their own twisted version of the old Sith Empire in some remote planetary system. It’s not surprising when you have so many historically powerful leaders told to obey a ruler they have never even seen. We can manipulate this situation to our advantage and overthrow both groups simultaneously but you will never succeed without aid from me and your former cohorts that still live.”

“Then get to the point my old teacher, and tell me where my friends are!” Xol yells as he fights the restraining force and lunges at the dark Jedi seated near him.

“Orlo the Hutt has your compatriot Dex on Ord Mantell.”

“Jabba said Orlo was imprisoned by the Empire,” the Yautja replies, suspicious of Blades’ every word. “How could he have Dex?”

“My acolytes told me, that the Empire found out about Orlo’s involvement in the death of Count Raxus, so to save his own hide he revealed that he could lead the Empire to you. I am guessing his bounty hunters found you on Tatooine. When you escaped the prison, Orlo I’m guessing, had a contingency plan and made arrangement with the Empire again to lure you to Jabba’s palace. That is when I learned of Darth Maul’s mission and I forsook the luxury of remaining hidden to save you.”

“A fine conspiracy dark lord, but Orlo the Hutt is a two-bit cardsharp, junk dealer and slaver. Why haven’t you already rescued Dex yourselves within these six years?”

“A lot has changed young one. Orlo has surpassed most Hutts in power and influence with his ties to the new Empire. Ord Mantell is now a major shipyard and training ground for some of the Empire’s most elite soldiers. My acolytes are skilled but they don’t stand a chance against soldiers with that level of training and I cannot reveal my existence just yet to this new Emperor. That would have undermined all I had worked towards and would have jeopardized your life for sure.”

“You expect me to be any more successful?” Xol scoffs. “I am only one Jedi Master. It would be foolish to attempt this rescue alone.”

“It’s perfect actually, my former apprentice,” Blades explains. “By all accounts you have been dead for six years and no Imperial will be looking for a ghost. You can sneak into Orlo’s compound and steal Dex right out from under him. My last information on where he is being held states that he is some form of entertainer in that bloated Hutt’s court.”

“I suppose it is as good a plan as any. I will cooperate with you if it will mean Dex is freed.”

“Excellent Xol!” Blades exclaims excitedly. “We shall prepare and leave for Ord Mantell within the hour.”

With a wave of his hands Dark Lord Blades releases Xol from his hold and dismisses the mystical images he was displaying. He leads the sickly Yautja through the halls of his ship to a hangar containing a Starlight class light freighter, and an assortment of various Imperial and Rebel Alliance fighters. From the layout, Xol can ascertain that Blades’ vessel is some sort of Star Destroyer, but much smaller than any he had encountered before. As they walk along the hangar floor the Dark Lord talks.

“Isn’t it marvelous Xol?” he gloats. “A retrofitted Gladiator class Star Destroyer. Not powerful enough to go toe to toe with any large capital ship but effective against the occasional patrol we encounter way out here. We will be taking the freighter while my acolytes follow in fighters. I have some contacts within the Empire I can coerce into giving me some dignitary identification. Diplomats are seldom investigated by security personnel but, you must be absolutely famished after your long sleep. We’ll go to the galley and take in some refreshment before departing.”

“Lead the way, Dark Jedi,” Xol replies, unimpressed by Blades’ display of power.

As the group leave the hangar and travel toward the ship’s dining area they pass an observation deck with a large transparisteel viewport. As Xol passes it, he holds his side in pain, the sight of his former injury from before he was frozen.

“Get up tusk tooth,” Blades commands. “You are fully healed. It is only a phantom injury, a false sense of pain in the location of an old wound brought on by your hibernation sickness.”

“Are you certain master?” Xol says, wincing with pain.

“I am absolutely certain and also, it pleases me so that you call me master once again.”

“Master,” the Yautja says, staring solemnly at the dark lord’s cold mask.

“Yes my apprentice, what is it?”

“I am sorry for my betrayal.”

“Nonsense Xol, that was in the past.”

“No not that master,” the Jedi explains. “That was my escape from you and all other dark forces. This is my betrayal.”

With a surge of Force energy, Xol grasps Dark Lord Blades, crushing him with an unseen fist.

“What…are…you…doing…you fool!” Blades grunts.

Without a reply, the Yautja casts the dark Jedi through the pane of the viewport shattering it into thousands of shards, sucking Blades, and his acolytes out into the vacuum of space. The rushing air pulls at Xol but he repels its force with his abilities. The screams of his victims are heard for less than a second before the cold black overtakes them. The compartment is repressurized after an emergency field erects itself in place of the window.

Xol stares out the viewport unsure of what keeps him looking out at the bodies floating away from the ship. Is it remorse or just morbid curiosity he wonders?

When they are no longer visible, he proceeds back to the hangar bay of the destroyer and boards the freighter. As he engages the engines, he thinks of Dex’s suffering and all the atrocities that have occurred while he was imprisoned in carbonite. With a snap of determination he engages the thrusters, exiting the bay and leaving the starship behind. With a course set for Ord Mantell on the navcomputer. He throttles forward into lightspeed.

“They will all pay 1165. I will make sure of it.” Xol says to himself as he plunges into the white swirling tunnel of hyperspace.

TO BE CONTINUED…