Yes, back to this. Finally.
STAR WARS: ENDGAME
Episode V: The Gathering Force
CHAPTER ONE
The YT-1930 transport, rusted with age, dropped out of hyperspace and began to head towards the wheel-shaped space station known as, fittingly enough, the Wheel. Located within a planet-less star system, the casino/hotel had been operating for over a century and had gone through a variety of owners.
But the station's history wasn't what lured the Renegade to it. No, it was the offer of a million credits that did it.
As she and her co-pilot prepared to dock the ship at one of the hundred piers sprouting from the Wheel's center, Kyla Kishanti looked wistfully out the viewport.
"Imagine it, Ace," she murmured. "A million credits. Just think of all the things we could get with that kinda money: a better ship, a resort on Lianna...."
"A vocabulator for Shriek," the Bothan co-pilot added. "An audio headset for Ves. A new hydrospanner for Wiskin."
"Exactly! There'll be less complaining around here. I won't be threatening people with the airlock anymore."
Ace snorted. "Until Shriek starts making wise-cracks."
"Nothing a memory wipe wouldn't fix. But then things wouldn't be the same, would it?" Kyla huffed. "Blast. I told myself I would never start a family, and yet here I am with one as a crew."
Ace smiled. "Not your fault. We just get along really well."
Kyla smiled back. For five years now had she been captaining the Renegade and running her smuggling operations. While it had started with just her and Ace, they began to pick up others along the way and had since formed a crew that operated much like a family. A multi-species, sometimes dysfunctional family, but a family nonetheless.
The ship finally docked and both captain and co-pilot got out of their seats. They exited the cockpit and found the rest of the crew lounging in the main hold.
"We've arrived," Kyla told them. "Shriek, you watch the ship."
"I thought it was my turn," a female Farghul said with mock indignation.
Kyla glared at her. "I don't want to come back here and find my ship missing, Keera."
The feline humanoid grinned, baring her teeth. "All the more reason for you to get a new one."
"But I like this one," said Ves, a young human female clad in pieces of Mandalorian armor. "It's been my home for like... like...."
"A year," growled Wiskin as he closed and locked a tools compartment.
Bedo, an Ortolan with wide black eyes, looked at Ves curiously. "Don't you think your parents are missing you?"
Ves shrugged. "Probably, but I'm not going back to them for a long time. They'd probably just chain me to something so I wouldn't run off again."
"Who could blame them?" Wiskin muttered.
"Okay guys, enough chatter," Kyla said, lowering the boarding ramp. "Let's get rich."
* * *
The Amethyst Casino, counterpart to the Crimson Casino, had a very fitting name. It was a casino, yes, and its walls were very purple. In fact, everything was purple: the tables, the chairs, the counter, even the drink dispensers. It really hurt Remar's eyesight.
"Good thing I didn't buy a drink", he muttered. "Otherwise, my eyes wouldn't be all that's hurting."
In the seat across from him was a male Nosaurian-- whose species was naturally colorblind--grinning at him. Remar knew better about his companion, who was in fact a shape-shifter, but was nonetheless irritated by the smugness.
"I can't help but pity you humans," said Fefar Flashblade. "Pity and laugh at you."
"Shut up," Remar snapped. He looked at the crowds around them, searching for a certain face. "When's Bodalla gonna get here?"
"He hired you too?"
Remar turned to see a young, scruffy-looking man with dirty blond hair. he eyed the newcomer skeptically as he took a seat at his and Fefar's table.
"And you would be?" Remar asked.
"Dax Goldam," the man said, grinning lopsidedly. "Heard about the bounty on Kadar. Finally a chance to get him back."
Fefar raised an eyebrow. "Out for revenge, are you? What did he do to you?"
"Ever heard of a man named Jaxx Goldam?" Dax asked.
Both Remar and Fefar shook their heads.
"He was my father," the young man went on. "Did some work for Black Sun, mainly with a scientist named Mal Banvor. One day, he stole some formulas from Banvor and started brewing things to take out Czethros and later Prince Xalren.
"Then, some nine years ago, Black Sun sent Kadar and a Sakiyan to kill him. Kadar failed in his attempt, but the Sakiyan-- Baron Salvan Tai, if you've heard of him-- succeeded."
"I see," Remar said, glancing cursory at Fefar and seeing the nervousness in the Nosaurian's eyes. "So you have a vendetta against two people."
Dax nodded. "Yup. Salvan's already gotten away from me; I won't let Kadar do the same."
Fefar cleared his throat. "You do know that Bodalla's with Black Sun, right?"
"Indeed I am," said a gravelly voice.
All three men turned to see a larger one approaching their table. With him was a 501-Z police droid (no doubt reprogrammed to serve as a bodyguard), a Mirialan woman, a Hutt in armor, and a female Ubese.
"It appears all of our contestants are here," said the large man, Scur Bodalla. He affixed his lofty, expensive fur coat before squeezing himself into a chair. "I do believe introductions are in order, if you please."
"Remar Almor."
"Fefar Flashblade."
"Kyla Kishanti," said the Mirialan.
"Dax Goldam."
"Vondara Ramesh," rumbled the Hutt.
"Viper," hissed the Ubese.
Bodalla chuckled. "Excellent! Now then, we all know the target, of course: Kadar, the White Knight, slayer of Vigos. Whoever captures and bring him in-- dead or alive, whichever you prefer-- shall be rewarded with a million credits. Sounds simple enough, yes?"
"Except for one thing," Viper said. "We don't know where he is."
"I beg to differ," Bodalla chortled. "That's why I summoned you all here: Kadar is right here, on this station."
The bounty hunters stared at him in surprise. The crime lord grinned.
"Let the hunt begin."
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