CHAPTER FIVE
"General! We're losing men fast!" a Republic trooper called over the sounds of blaster fire and explosions from the battle on Mygeeto, which was not going exactly well of Lando Calrissian and his team.
"I can see that!" Lando replied to the trooper as he dodged a blaster bolt. "Regroup at the landing point. I'll send a signal to the Protector."
He took out his comlink and contacted the Liberty-type Star Cruiser. "General Madine, we need air support! Can you send a squadron or two to help us?"
"Affirmative, General," Crix Madine's voice answered. "Green Squadron is on their way."
Soon after Lando put his comlink away, a group of A-wing starfighters swooped through Mygeeto's foggy clouds and rained fire on the Imperial forces. Startled by the sudden attack, the stormtroopers and AT-STs began to retreat.
Lando smiled. "Well, guys, let's show 'em what we're made of..."
"For the Republic!" The troopers cried in unison as they charged towards their enemies again, this time with more courage and confidence.
* * *
"Rogue Leader, we've got the deflector shields handled!" Wes said through Wedge's comlink.
"Good work, Rogue Five," Wedge replied. "And how are those cannons going, Rogue Three?"
"They're disabled, sir," Nrin said as his fighter flew past Wedge's. "The bridge is all yours..."
"Got it..." Wedge muttered. He advanced his X-wing fighter towards the Star Destroyer Dreadnaught's bridge and fired two proton torpedoes. The projectiles hit their target, and the bridge erupted in flames. Wedge maneuvered his fighter to evade them, and barely managed to do so.
Seeing its fellow cruiser defeated, the other Dreadnaught slowly turned around to face the X-wing fighters. The Rogues began firing on it, but were intervened by a swarm of TIE fighters.
"Rogue Four, you've got one on your tail!" Hobbie shouted.
"I have them handled!" Xarcce responded, as she swung her fighter to try and evade the TIEs to no avail.
"Doesn't seem like it," a voice suddenly spoke through all of the Rogues' radios, and the Millennium Falcon flew in and destroyed Xarcce's two pursuers.
"Er, thanks, General Solo..." Xarcce muttered.
Wedge heard Han chuckle. "Don't mention it, kid," the Corellian general said. "Now let's take that big guy down!"
* * *
Luke and R2-D2 reluctantly followed Cad Bane and his fellow bounty hunters as they boarded a large, green-and-yellow light freighter. Once they were on board, Bane called to the pilot's seat, "Hazon! It's time to take off!"
Luke saw a green-skinned Arcona nod from his seat and ignite the ship's engines. The Jedi Knight was then led into the main hold where there was a lounge area, and he was put down into a seat. As he looked around the hold, Luke noticed seven other bounty hunters.
On one side was a Weequay, who was dressed in space pirate clothes, and wearing a red cap and mismatched gloves. Next to him was an eye-patched Cerean, who was tossing and admiring Luke's lightsaber, whose owner just realized he had lost it. And standing silently in a corner was a tall, green-skinned alien wearing some sort of warrior armor.
On the other side of the room, near the cockpit entrance, stood a yellow-skinned Siniteen, who seemed to be analyzing a datapad. Alongside him was a protocol droid with an insectoid-like head, a Zabrak who was twirling a small dagger, and a man in red and silver armor not unlike the one that belonged to Boba Fett.
Cad Bane then entered the lobby and took a seat across from Luke. "Well, Skywalker, you might as well make yourself comfortable, 'cause it's a long way from here to Nar Shaddaa. I suppose I might as well explain somethings to you."
"That would be nice," Luke said. Bane didn't seem to hear him.
"We're called the Snatchers," said the Duros mercenary. "We were founded a while ago, during the days of the Republic. We basically hunt for anyone who's wealthy, or perhaps well-known, enough to give or get us a few credits.
"Anyway, our Boss has taken a liking in rogue Jedi recently, especially those who survived the Empire's purge. I decided to join since I'm skilled in hunting Jedi, and the Boss is a good friend of mine."
Luke gave a partially sincere quizzical look. "Really? And who is the 'Boss'?"
"Can't tell you," Bane muttered. "Top secret. Anyway, I think introductions are in order. You've already met Dengar, Kerran, and Zuckuss. The droid there is Zuckuss' partner, 4-LOM. Embo is the Kyuzo standing in the corner, acting all tall, dark, and ugly. The guy with your lightsaber is Tarr-Nar-Mal. He's good with hunting Jedi as well.
"The Siniteen over there, we like to call him 'Smarty'. Kanaj is the Zabrak with the dagger-he's supposed to kill you if you make a wrong move. And finally, Kale Karsa's the one with the Mandalorian armor."
"Quite a party..." Luke muttered. "It's a pity I'm going to have to leave."
Cad Bane gave a bemused look. "You're not leaving anywhere. Your hands are restrained, there's no way you can mind-trick all of us to free you, and there's no escape pods on this ship."
"Who said anything about 'escaping'?" Luke asked. At that moment, the Arconan known as Hazon stepped into the lobby.
"Uh, Bane? You..you should look outside..."
Bane reached over a control panel and opened the freighter's viewports. The Duros' mouth immediately went agape.
Waiting outside was a Republic cruiser.
After a moment of shock had passed, Bane turned to Luke and scowled. "How did-?"
"I installed an emergency comlink in Artoo," Luke replied. "If he goes out of Republic space, it means he's fallen into the wrong hands, and the Republic gets alerted."
Bane snarled. "You're not worth the credits...."
Luke nodded at the Duros, giving another slight smile. "I know. Glad to hear that."
* * *
"Anything?"
Lord Nemesis shook his head grimly. "No, my lord. I've found nothing..."
"Pity...." The Dark Lord rose from his throne. "Apparently, this is more difficult than I expected."
The cloaked being walked across the room and towards a window that observed the nighttime city of Coruscant.
"It is time we wait for him. He will come. And when he does, the galaxy shall have much to fear. It shall fear more than just me. It shall fear...everything."
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