Bounties
Blood and teeth splattered across the table as the last patrons flitted out of the cantina.
Caedon supressed a twinge of pain in his shoulder as he pressed down the Nousarians horned face. He’d been sloppy, underestimated this one, and figured it would be an easy job between contracts for the Empire. It had been too easy and he’d relaxed as a result, he wouldn’t do so again.
A deft motion pulled the cuffs and put them on the pink fleshed creatures hand, kicked out its knees then dragged it along.
This was low level tripe, just enough to pay his costs, landing fees and fuel for his YT-2400, ammunition and repairs. Not truly worthy of his skill, but he had little choice. After Bar’Leth he was ‘too hot’ for the Empire to deal with – might attract unwanted attention…so he wanted a little practice with the book worms there, fired off a few rounds at some of the gawking students after finishing the Professor the Empire had hired him to silence…like any scholar would come for revenge.
“Come on,” he hauled the creature up, pay day couldn’t come soon enough.
<<>>
“EURGHH!” he pushed out his breath as he smashed down on Mace Windu’s head.
The dark skinned Jedi staggered but remained defiant, his lavender blade hammering back in the swift cuts of Vapaad style.
Caedon counter the first but took a hit on the shoulder from the second – it was the price of getting into hi guard – his elbow smashed into unfeeling steel as he brought his blade around onto the Jedi’s neck.
Registering a fatal strike the hologram flickered and the Proxy droid deactivated, a stream of data transmitted to his datapad for analysis.
He was getting bored with bashing the Proxy Jedi…itching for another fight…the thrill of the hunt, the taste of his own blood as an enemy got a god hit in…the bliss of pushing his blade into their chest was sweeter for his own injuries.
Keeping sharp required constant training, but it was no substitute for a real job. It was sick the Empire thought he was ‘disreputable’ too ‘violent’ to be associated with openly…he spat out onto the deck…the Inquisitorius was full of far worse than him.
Caedon simply didn’t pretend to be loyal like the sycophants of Vader did he was a gun for hire, and a bloody good one – only reason he took contracts for the Empire was they paid on time, in full – unlike the Hutts – and offered real challenges not wheezy flatulent fools with gambling debts.
He collapsed into his seat, not from the strain of the fight, but boredom with being on the outer. The comm chimed in his room across the ship heaving up he quickly jogged down the empty corridors – he couldn’t even afford a crew. Catching his reflection in the mirror, he noted his usually muscular arms were a little lean, his yellow tattoos against blue skin flat not just from his training but from having to keep to basic ration bars to cut costs between jobs.
“Ti-Rell” he answered
“Caedon Ti-Rell this is Lieutenant Vanto of the ISD Chimera, my captain would like to meet,”
Finally he smiled.
<<>>
The air was as crisp and clean as the floors and walls along the Chimera as he was ushered along through the sneers of ‘bounty hunters, we don’t need their scum’ from the officers.
Winding his way they left him to enter the captain’s chambers alone. He could hear the rustle breath of the Noghri somewhere in the room, but its precise location was elusive as he wandered past the Umbaran art works that covered the chamber.
“Ah the bounty hunter…” A face as blue as his own with dark hair turned to regard him, insignia showed a Captains rank.
“Ti-Rell…”
“Captain…” Caedon replied evenly
A flick of some buttons shut the holo’s down and sealed the door, Caedon wasn’t bothered they typically preferred to discuss business away from prying eyes. But he was surprised when the captain dismissed his noghri bodyguard. The Chiss – based on the red eyes – then placed a small device on his desk and bade Caedon to sit.
“This should give us privacy…you come highly recommended Ti-Rell,”
Flattery wouldn’t get him a discount
“I have a little task that needs doing, not an official contract with the Empire, rather a…personal contract,”
Caedon nodded, most likely wanted his superior officer dead to take his place.
“A Former Chiss officer has gone pirate, smuggling technology out of the Ascendancy…he and his crew need to die and their goods either returned or destroyed.”
Caedon looked around “You can’t use this?” he gestured to the Star Destroyer,
“I have orders to follow…”
“Surely the Ascendancy has their own goons and friends,”
His face suddenly became very still
“The Ascendancy does not operate within Imperial space I assure you,”
Caedon suppressed a grin, a Chiss captain of an Imperial Vessel by definition contradicted his statement. He guided the conversation away.
“What’s the pay?”
“400,000 credits, paid on completion,” reasonable…
“What kind of tech are we talking about?”
“Will you take the job or not,” Caedon could see he was slightly…frazzled by this – and this was not a man who enjoyed nor was used to being on the back foot.
He had little choice, something off the books could get him back in the Empires good graces, show he can be discreet when he needed to be.
“Alright, send me the details,”
<<>>
The Details from ’Captain Thrawn’ of the…Empire…were detailed, explicit even, it seemed the Ascendancy, or Empire…likely both…had plenty of information, but neither wanted to pull the trigger – the Empire didn’t want to risk killing a Chiss citizen, the Chiss couldn’t just destroy the goods in Imperial space. He was being used to prevent a diplomatic crisis.
And he couldn’t care less. Politics didn’t’ matter, Empire blows up rebels today, Rebels blow up the Empire tomorrow – in the end war was its own master and from this Caedon profited.
Caedon had visited a hundred worlds, so far Glee Anselm seemed pretty compliant, only one Star Destroyer over the capital Anselom and a few Imperial patrols at the space port not further into the city. The Nautolans seemed to benefit from the Empire, providing huge volumes of ocean grown algae used in making rations by the Imperial Navy and Army.
The strong and smart profited from war over the poor an weak…his family had been poor like that, stupid, easily tricked – Caedon stuck his hands in his trench coat where his last credit chits lay…he was on the losing side at the moment, but he knew how to get back on top – you killed everyone beneath you and piled up the winnings.
Under the guise of looking to have his ship modified he asked around the mechanics and workshops for anyone with ‘special’ or ‘unique’ dampening equipment or shield generators. This was the prelude to the chase – stalking out your prey’s location, their contacts…knowing where they would be and when.
He final found a Nautoloan who referred him to a Crolute…who referred to another Nautoloan who did ‘custom work’. Descending the steps he could smell the mouldy air of the below ground workshop, likely built near an underground pool based on the mildew smell and rusted machinery, a bulky Yinchorri half asleep at the door a poor guard.
“Eh…you the one Ymbra said was coming…looking for something special…little Anselom Acceleration on your ship,” he was covered in stains, a typical mad-genius type sitting amongst his myriad inventions.
“Looking for an edge…what have you got,” The Nautoloan stood up excitedly and directed him to a rusty looking box, he must’ve noticed Caedon’s disdain
“True beauties on the inside…” he lifted the lid – within was a clean lattice of inlaid crystal circuit plaques thin blue lines of energy dancing between the levels,
“Chiss navi-computer...three times faster than anything you’ve seen…” he continued the tour, again hidden in a dingy looking crate was precise grey machined parts “shield generator, Chiss again, power drain is less but runs different frequencies, forces any one taking a shot to adjust frequencies or they’ll just waste half their power with each shot….”
“Impressive,” Caedon noted, “where does this come from, Chiss are cold as Csilla I heard,”
“Ah well got me a contact…now the navi-computer is 50,000, shield generator 200,000…excludes installation of course…”
“Of course…” he cruised around the generator looping back near the door idly inspecting the other custom items, stopping just in front of the Yinchorri and crossing his arms
“I think I’ll take the…”
He fried his holdout blaster before finishing the sentence, the Yinchorri head turned from flesh to superheated coal in an instant. Before the Nautolan could panic Caedons vibro knife was slicing his throat.
Now he just had to clean up and wait.
<<>>
Four hours later the contact arrived.
“Festa…where are ya…” Caedon kept motionless
“Festa, Gorn?” Good let him go deeper…
“Festa we have the new shipmen you in the back?” Further
“Festa…” NOW
Caedon sprang out, in a swift practised motion he kicked the contacts legs out and put him in a choke hold
“Where’s Kawwan?” he squeezed, “Talk!”
“Uck…can’t brea…”
“If you can talk you can breathe - now talk!”
“rrrmmm…east side dock…212…”
“Easy wasn’t it…” he let him go – before he even had time to catch his breath Caedon put a bolt into his head. No loose ends.
<<>>
Ferok’awwa’Nurosca – Kawwan…the Chiss turncoat…was right below him in front of his bulky hauler…no doubt the ‘true beauty was on the inside’ it looked like a knockabout blob of metal, Caedon had no doubt it was a cover.
There were eight guards, humanoid in cool blue and grey armour -possibly Chiss – they were carrying Charric weapons, ferocious close up not so good with range…unless they too were modified. Kawwan was waiting for something – Caedon could spring his trap now…but more profit might be made watching how this played out.
The first three kills of this hunt were just an appetizer…his hunger growing for the kill…there was a pleasure in the waiting, the anticipation…knowing you had your target right where you wanted them…
The door to the concourse opened and three figures entered…Three figures that made this difficult…Caedon couldn’t recall the name but knew the face…an inquisitor…and two Stormtroopers…the Chiss was selling to the Empire…if that was true then it wasn’t the Empire who wanted Kawwan dead…it was the Chiss alone…Caedon might mot care for politics but not being given a full run down on his target annoyed him.
“You have it?” the sound-scanner on Caedons scope picked up the conversation.
“Price went up,” Kawwan answered, “300K a piece”
“You said 200 a week ago!” Caedon could almost feel the Gran Inquisitors rage boiling from the exhaust vent high above them.
“More difficult to get than I thought, needed to grease a few palms, call in some favours…these goods…I upset the wrong people…I don’t come back to sell you more tech and you lose your ‘edge’”
The gran looked at him annoyed…to have to rely on such an insect must be galling Caedon thought.
“Show me,” The inquisitor relented. Two of the guard vanished into the ship, moments later they exited with what looked like a portable field generator.
“A demonstration Lord,” The Chiss preened – asset was given by the wave of a hand. So far as Caedon knew nothing happened apart from it lighting up a twirling…but the Gran suddenly buckled
“ENOUGH!” They deactivated the device, “300 you say…” he said recovering
“300,” Kawwan repeated
The Gran grunted and flipped open a comm, issuing orders. Two more Storm troopers entered one carrying a large case.
He had to decide fast…if the Inquisitor took the generators and he just hit Kawwan he might lose pay for not destroying the merchandise...yet to interfere now was risky…he had the element of surprise but still…Or just slink away and break the contract…but then he’d be on the Empires black list for good…the Butcher of Bar’Leth would now be the Quitter of Glee Anselm…
He didn’t need to wait long for an opportunity – the storm trooper tossed the case across the floor, as one of the Chiss guards went to retrieve it….
Blue Stun energy flared across the room, the Gran shielded his goons with the force from the blast – the Chiss dropped and writhed. Caedon wasn’t going to be denied his kill or his payment.
In a single sweep of his firing arc he punched a hole in three of the four trooper helmets, the gran reacted swiftly grasping at the exhaust vent, it squealed under the invisible fist just as Caedon expected – there was a predictability a pride to the Inquisitors – they wanted to see their enemy before they killed – all that faux Jedi stuff made them value duels far too much – Caedon could sympathize with the desire to look your victim right in the eye and show you don’t care as you plunge the blade in deep and hard.
He flipped out as the metal sheared from its supports, lading into a roll bringing up his sword through the plasteel of the fourth Strom trooper, it lodged in a bone somewhere, a messy withdrawal as he strafed the Grans sabre.
Dislodging the sword he met the high strike trying to discern with each clash as they moved across the bodies what style he preferred. His fierce demeanour indicated an Ataru preference, but with some random elements
“Bounty Hunter SCUM!” the creature seethed behind the crackling red blade, increasingly irritated the Caedon was able to keep him at bay if not match his unnaturally enhanced abilities. Turning out of a telekinetic blast Caedon flicked off a grenade from his belt – predictable as ever the Inquisitor used his powers to toss it to a distant corner of the hangar, letting Caedon get to the Generator – he didn’t like it before he doubted he would like it now.
Before he could hit the button his arm froze in place…finger hovering painful millimetres from the activation panel.
“You DIE!” it screamed into the charge,
As he had against proxy, he parried the first but too a hit on the second, enough to get under his guard and twist into a vapaad low cut – oh the gran could easily leap over it…but he let his grip on Caedons hand slide.
Hammering the activator the generator whirred, blue energy lit the side of the Grans face as whatever it was doing to him took hold.
“SCU…” Caedon didn’t let him finish, a pirouette without flair sliced through the top of the creatures skull.
Pulling his heavy-blaster he wasted no time firing into the helms of the stunned Chiss soldiers till only Kawwan was left. He dragged him up and slammed the handle into his face adding black to the blue skin.
“The generator what does it do!” he yelled
“It…auchhh…disables the Force…the thing the Jedi use…” he knew what the force was.
“How?”
“I just sell the stuff…Please I’ve got credits…tech…I owe you for saving me…” Caedon let him go
“How does 50,000 sound…a decent fee for a days work…”
“400 sounds better,”
“400…why that…”
Once more Caedon didn’t let him finish blasting a hole through his jaw out the back of his head.
<<>>
Lieutenant Vanto offered a curt nod then turned away and replaced the sheet on the body of Kawwan,
“Well done…” he pulled a datapad, flicked a few screens then pressed his thumb…a second later Caedon felt his comm vibrate – credits received.
Half a dozen Strom Troopers were emptying Kawwans ship aboard the Chimera ‘recovering the stolen assets’ for return to the Chiss Ascendancy as a gesture of good will.
“And this was all you found?” Vanto inquired
“This and the Nautolons shop…anything else is long since sold,”
“Very well…good Day Ti-Rell,”
<<>>
He was back in the game, enough credits to hire a small crew and a line on another Jedi target at last. Caedon had even made a point of taking the Chiss navicomputer and shield generator he’d seen in the mechanics shop – the old mad mechanic had been right it did improve performance – maybe true beauty was on the inside.
He pondered whether he should return to Glee Anselm and pick up the generators for this job…test them on a live Jedi…it would make it easy…
He spun his sword in his hands then moved into a Vapaad Pose mirroring the Proxy droid before him…no…he’d save that for someone far more worthy…far more dangerous…one day.
<<----------->>
Thanks to Taegin Rowhan for the idea, offer and opportunity to delve into Caedon's personality and background.
