Star Wars Endgame: Episode III, Chapter One

STAR WARS: ENDGAME

Episode III: The Forgotten Man

   Timeline: 40 ABY (four days after The Dying Sun)

CHAPTER ONE

   The Junker was far from an impressive ship. Modified from a YT-2400 Corellian freighter, it was riddle with signs of patchwork and lacked the weapons that was standard of its model, other than laser cannons that could break through deflector shields. As such, it was little more than a salvage vessel.

   But to Khedryn Faal, it was home.

   To tell the truth, he lacked a true "homeworld" unlike most. He had been born in the Redoubt within the remains of the Outbound Flight Project, and didn't even see an actual planet until he was a teen after Luke Skywalker had rescued him and other survivors of the crash. Since then, he had been to worlds such as Coruscant and Corellia, but none of them felt quite like home to him.

   Perhaps he was just more accustomed to living within the durasteel walls of a spaceship. Besides, when all else failed, there was always Fhost.

   As the Junker approached the desert world, having just made a trip to Lotho Minor, Khedryn both anticipated and dreaded returning to the one planet in the galaxy he considered home. While he looked forward to chatting with his pals at the Black Hole Cantina, he also knew that a certain crime lord was waiting for him there.

   "Marr, when we get there, please don't say what I know you're going to say."

   Marr Idi-Shael turned to Khedryn with an innocent look. "Say what?"

   "That I'm reckless for taking up Reegas' dare to gamble over those coordinates we picked up at Ord Mantell."

   "Those wouldn't have been my exact words," his Cerean first mate said, the slightest of smiles playing on his face. "I would have also said that you were an idiot. But since you've already said it, I don't have to."

   Khedryn opened his mouth to retort but decided against it. Sometimes, the truth hurt. And he needed someone to keep his ego in check anyway.

   "What do you think my chances are?" he then asked Marr.

   "Well, given your track record-"

   "Don't answer that. I don't want to know."

   Khedryn sucked in his breath as they entered Fhost's atmosphere. He had a fear that, one of these days, his recklessness would make him kiss his homes- both of them- goodbye.

*  *  *

   In his line of work, Feemus had come across his fair share of strange people, most of them being drunks. In most cases, he would call up Borgaz and have the giant Houk bouncer deal with them. But this one person was a unique case, and was not be requiring any muscle at the moment.

   There the human male sat at the counter, holding his steaming mug of caf. Not one sip had been taken from it. Most of his face was concealed by the hood of his brown cloak, save for his mouth, which betrayed a grim expression.

   Feemus knew it would be impolite to stick his nose into the man's business... but since he had been like this for the past four days, he had a reason to be concerned.

   "Er, sir?" the Squalris bartender said tentatively to the stranger. "Can I help you with anything? You've been acting like this all day, just like yesterday... and the day before that."

   The man raised his head and Feemus could see a pair of gray eyes beneath the rim of his hood. They seemed to scrutinize him for a moment before the man spoke.

   "I'm fine, thank you."

   With that, he lowered his gaze back to his mug. This did little to ease the bartender's concern and he glanced frantically at Borgaz. The Houk caught his gaze and followed it to the stranger. As the bouncer slowly and silently made his way over to the counter, the door to the cantina opened and two men- one human, the other a Cerean- walked in.

   The stranger turned in his seat to look at them, almost as if he had been expecting them. Feemus watched as the human- whom he recognized as Khedryn Faal- walked towards a booth while the Cerean sat at the counter next to the stranger, who once again returned to his drink.

   Feemus glanced back at Borgaz and signaled for him to stay put. He then turned his attention to the Cerean.

   "What will it be, Marr?"

   "The usual, Feemus."

   As the Squalris bartender prepared the beverage, he looked in the direction of Khedryn Faal, whose booth was now also occupied by a pudgy bald man, a slender Mirialan woman, and a burly male Zabrak. The gender-confused dealer droid known as Himher was also present, standing at the end of the table.

   "What's he betting away this time?" Feemus asked Marr. "His ship?"

   Marr shook his head. "A set of coordinates we picked up on Ord Mantell. Word of our discovery leaked out and now Reegas Vance wants his hands on them."

   "What's so special about them? Do they lead to somewhere interesting?"

   "Not really," Marr replied. "I traced the numbers and they just lead to some frozen moon in the Unknown Regions. But remember, this is Reegas we're dealing with; anything someone discovers is something he wants his grubby hands on."

   Feemus chuckled as he handed the Cerean his drink. "Point taken."

   He then glanced at the hooded stranger and froze. The man was nowhere to be seen.

*  *  *

   A frozen moon. Dozens of faces surrounding him.

   Go to the black hole of Fhost.

   Come back to Mother.

   There be dragons...

   Every day he heard these cryptic messages in his sleep. Every day he pondered on their meeting. He had now found an opportunity to find his answers.

   Casually taking a seat near the gamblers' booth, he steepled his hands and watched the brewing sabacc game with great intrigue. He did not care how long the game took or who won.

   Either way, Jaden Korr would have his answers.