CHAPTER SIX
Jesmin Tainer- forgetting her person as Zilaash Kuh for the time being- awoke to find herself laying against a wall. Her hands and feet were bound by stun cuffs.
Looking up, she saw that she was on a ship, which rumbled as if it was flying through space. Across from her laid Kadar; she couldn't tell if he was conscious or not, since his Mandalorian helmet concealed his face.
Hearing voices, she craned her head to see a massive being sitting in a pilot's seat; he had to be at least seven or eight feet tall. Though his back was turned to her, Jesmin could tell by his squarish, green head that the being was a Skakoan, wearing an extensively-modified pressure suit.
"...Taking them to Metalorn," the Skakoan was saying to an unseen individual. "I shall see to it that Kadar is properly modified to your intentions."
"Excellent," the voice of Prince Xalren replied. "I look forward to hearing of your progress, Mal Banvor."
There was a click, indicating the disabling of a comlink. Outside the cockpit's viewport, Jesmin could see the stars stretch as the ship went into lightspeed. Her shoulders sagged, knowing that Orinda- and her fellow Wraiths- were far behind.
Suddenly, Banvor rose from his seat. Jesmin feigned unconsciousness as the large Skakoan approached her. She heard his massive footsteps move right past her before growing quieter as they carried down a corridor.
"He's gone to his quarters," a rasped voice whispered.
Jesmin opened her eyes to look at Kadar, who moved slightly to indicate that he was awake.
"I didn't know Skakoans could get that big," she murmured.
"They don't," Kadar said bitterly. "He's probably modified his pressure suit beyond those of the average Skakoan's to make himself larger."
"Why?"
"He's a scientist. It's because he can."
"You sound like you know him," Jesmin muttered.
The rogue Mandalorian was silent for a moment before speaking, grief afflicting his voice. "For the past ten years since it happened, I have never been able to tell anyone how my life went to shambles, because I never saw the need to."
"And you're going to tell me it here and now because...?"
"Because I had my chance to kill Xalren and avenge my old life and it was taken away from me." Kadar sighed softly. "This is my last chance to get it off my chest."
"I'm all ears then...."
-Ten years ago-
The Metalorn sun was setting behind the tall buildings that dominated the horizon. Nonetheless, the factories of Termin were still working at nonstop, ignorant of whatever time of day it was.
A blue and gold Mandalorian helmet peered over a large rock, spotting a pair of super battle droids guarding the entrance to the primary factory. He said as much to his companion.
"Why the kark is he using cheap old models like those?" Kadar muttered.
"No idea," Orde Kaburn said before extending a hand. "Grenade launcher."
Kadar reached behind his back and brought out a grenade launcher, handing it to his partner. The other Mandalorian affixed it on his shoulder and took aim before firing. Flames erupted from where the super battle droids stood and they soon became scrap.
Rising from his hiding spot, Kadar spoke into his comlink, "Corda, Tessa, the coast is clear. Let's move."
"Wait." Orde's hand fell on his arm, stopping him. "What if there are more inside? Will we be able to stop them?"
Kadar looked sharply at him. "We're Mandalorians, Orde. Do you doubt our ability against these bucket of bolts?"
"Of course not. But this is Mal Banvor we're dealing with here. Who knows what he's done different to them."
"Nothing that can stop us." Kadar patted his chest armor. "We are kandosii."
* * *
They had gone through several hordes of battle droids, but Kadar and his group had eventually reached the factory's command center. Signalling the others to stop, Kadar pressed himself against the wall near the open doorway and looked around it.
The Skakoan scientist was the sole organic in the room; droid technicians moved about the chamber, carrying out orders. Mal Banvor himself was surrounded by seven large screens, each one allowing him to view the progress of the factory's machines. Luckily, none of them showed the rooms the Mandalorians were or had been in.
Turning to his wife, Corda, he said, "Do you have the codes?"
Her red helmet dipped as she nodded.
"Then let's move."
As one, the four Mandalorians stormed into the room, aiming their blasters at Mal Banvor. Several droids raised their weapons in alarm but did not fire, for Corda had deactivated them from a remote control which held the codes.
"Don't move, Banvor," Kadar said coldly.
"Kadar," the Skakoan said, pivoting around to face him. "I was beginning to wonder how long it would take you to come here."
"Enough talk," Kadar snapped. "Where is he? Where is my son?"
"Nowhere," Banvor said bluntly. "He's dead."
For Kadar, the whole world seemed to end around him. His breath left him as if he had been punched in the gut. His weapon arm began to tremble; even Corda's touch as her hand fell on it could not calm it.
"Wh-what?" Kadar's voice came out as a croak. "He's...."
'Dead, yes," Banvor said. "I tried to experiment on him, but he did not turn out as planned. So he was disposed of."
As much as he wanted to, Kadar could not find the strength to pull the trigger. "You... monster. You heartless, cruel...."
There were not enough curse words in the galaxy for Kadar to properly express himself.
"Are you going to shoot me, Kadar?" the Skakoan asked. "If so, I haven't got all day."
"Kadar, we're supposed to only capture him," Corda whispered. "Don't let him get to you."
"Yes, listen to your caring wife," Banvor said. "It will buy me enough time to do this."
Suddenly, something hard hit Kadar in the back. Weariness began to fight with him just as Corda, Orde, and Tessa dropped down unconscious beside him. The last words he heard were from Banvor.
"Do not worry," the mad scientist said coldly. "You'll be seeing your son soon enough."
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