Chapter 1
Location: Debriefing Room aboard the Pleasur’s Pride, secretly patrolling just outside the FCF System
Squad Iron Fist Introduction Statement:
Crossing the line from brave to stupid is one thing
Crossing that line with a blaster in your hand is another
Luckily we specialize in both . . . Welcome to Squad Iron Fist
General Doom, debriefing to squad Iron Fist;
“Gentlemen, time once again to strap it on and suck it up. We have just been order to go in and retrieve two Jedi’s that got them selves lost on the planet of Felucia. As you know this is hostile territory, for the planet and surrounding system is controlled by FCF forces.”
“JIA Intel reports that FCF has already begun deploying units to take hold of the Jedi. From initial scans they report that the enemy has begun deployment of three-drop ships constituting any where from 20 to 30 heavily armed soldiers per ship. They will be planet side in less than one hour.”
“To make this mission a bit more interesting the Jedi Council has issued policy not allowing us to use a full frontal assault into the system being that the Jedi were not suppose to be there officially in the first place. That’s politics for ya, huh. Therefore we are going in the back door nice and quiet like.”
“Once planet side, you will be drop off as close as we can get you to the extraction point. Airborne pickup of the Jedi at their present location is impossible due to the terrain, therefore once you rendezvous with them you will escort them out of this area to an alternate point located just under one click to a fungal plateau located to the north. See your holo map displays for more details of this location.”
“Sergeant Azzreaper, you and your squad mates are to meet up with Captain Nightstalker of the star vessel Death Mask. He will be flying you in, and taking you out. Time is of the essence here so lets move. Dismissed.”
Location: Aboard the star vessel Death Mask, en route to Felucia
“ Entering the atmosphere now, look for a bit of a bump here gentlemen, “ Captain Nightstalker screamed from his cockpit. The Death Mask itself wasn’t a huge vessel. A descendant of the old republic gunship, the death mask was considerably more well armed, and heavily shielded. Not to mention extremely fast. The ship itself could carrying any where from 15 to 20 soldiers if need be however on this mission it only sat four members of the elite squad, Iron Fist.
Seated in the troop carrier, the four men began a final check of their gear. The squad was led by Sergeant Azzreaper. Appointed to leader of the group several months ago, he had served under most of his career in squad Rancor under the tutelage of Colonel Sycoa. He had promise himself to make Iron Fist every bit as formidable as Rancor when he took the job of commanding the squad.
Unfortunately fate didn’t want to make that job easy for him. Since taking command, Iron Fist had either volunteered or been assigned almost every insane rescue and covert ops mission that the Nation’s military could think of. Side effects of the high risks taken by the squad included a severely high death rate of squad members.
As Azz looked around the cabin of the Death Mask he took stock of his newest incarnation of his squad. Strapped opposite of him sat his second in command Ladyluck.
Known as Mr. Lucky the man had a knack for jumping into the frey headfirst so to speak, and surviving. This trait of survival had gotten him promoted rather quickly. Actually, Azz thought to himself, all his troops had been promoted rather quickly. He shook the thought as he pondered his point man’s abilities.
Lady’s knack for survival wasn’t always due to pure luck, he was a skilled warrior, and in crunch time, Azz always looked to the man to get them out of dangerous situations alive. He knew this mission was perfect for him, and would look to the man to once again to prove that he indeed was the luckiest man in the galaxy. The two took a second and nodded at one another knowing full well chances were, not all were going to come back alive from this mission.
Shaking the thought, Azz looked to his left where his weapons specialist sat strapped in. As a former member of the Jedi Order, Shaq Fu had left the order to run full time with the military, and defiantly had a unique outlook on life. Which lent itself as a perfect fit for his squad. The young man had a code that he lived by, “Wherever danger lurked, just unload everything you had at it.” Somehow Azz knew that that wasn’t something the Jedi were brought up to lived by. Interestingly however, the young man had been proven right on every mission so far.
As he moved his gaze from his weapons specialist to his last member, as a small frown had found his way to face. As the Nation of JOG had grown, the military had increasingly become strapped for new officers and were eager to promote new recruits fresh out of boot as soon as possible. Ensign Crash was indeed as fresh as they came. Azz was certain this would be Crash’s first and last mission.
“You ready for this,” he shouted to the junior officer.
The man nodded and replied back as confidently as he could, “ As ready as I will ever be.”
“Really,” Lady Luck jumped in, “ then switch your safety off your weapon, when we hit the ground, you never know what we may encounter.” Crash did as instructed. “How many jumps is this for you,” Luck continued.
“Actual or simulated,” a nervous man replied.
“Ahhh shit,” Lady chuckled in return.
Azzreaper noticed that the junior officer was indeed scared of the upcoming mission. However he noted, fear was always a good motivator for survival.
“ Relax Crash,” he said calmly. “ Just follow my lead and you will get out of this alive. Hell maybe one day you will live long enough to lead a squad of your own one day.”
“ I hear this is Hell’s playground,” Shaq Fu interjected into the conversation, “ it sounds like a great place for the four of us.” They all chuckled from this comment.
From the cockpit Nightstalker screamed out, “ Twenty seconds.”
“ Alright men lets put our game faces on,” Azz shouted out as they all started to un strap themselves. “ Luck you got point, lets move quick and silent. Lets do this by the book and get home as soon as possible.”
“ Ten Seconds.”
“Men,” Azz continued, “ what ever happens down there, no matter what manner of hell is thrown at us, remember one thing. . . hit them hard, hit them fast. . . who are we?”
“ Iron Fist. “ The others shouted back.
“ Who are we?”
“ Iron Fist.”
“Jump, jump, jump,” Nightstalker shouted from the cockpit.
“Give’m hell men,” Azz shouted.
And with that, with out fear, with out remorse, squad Iron Fist made their jump to the hellish jungle planet that was known as Felucia.
Chapter 2
Location: FCF’s Governors Mansion, Governor Chad’s Private Residence
“ My Lord,” Governor Chad said in a meek voice, “ I was unaware of the Jedi’s survival, please have mercy on me. I have deployed my forces here to intercept the Jedi and readied the fleet for any naval action from the JOG Nation. They will die, I promise you.”
In front of the Governor a holo projection of the Dark Lord appeared before him, and he was defiantly not happy about the situation. “ You fool, the Nation will not attempt a frontal assault to recapture their missing Jedi,” the Dark Master sneered. “ Perhaps you are not as wise as I had previously thought, Governor Chad. Perhaps I should find some one who is a bit more . . . competent, someone who knows whether or not a pair of Jedi who are in their own back yard actually knows if they are dead or not.”
“ Please forgive me my Master,” Chad said in a meek voice, “ I will not fail you again.”
“ I would hope so for your sake,” the Dark Lord said, “ Since your shipment of the Syndicates cargo is almost complete, your usefulness has declined. . . drastically. Perhaps you may want to show me why you deserve to live after this debacle. You may find the death of the Jedi may be directly linked to your survival.”
“As I said before Master,” Chad continued, “ they will not survive.”
“ We will see,” the Dark Lord said in a serious tone. Taking a breath he continued. “ My sources say that JOG has deployed a small force to recapture the Jedi and that they may already be planet side. Be ready for anything . . . .Governor Chad.” And with that the image of the dark lord faded.
Governor Chad sat there in his chair trembling as he pondered his Masters words. The dark Lord was defiantly not someone you dared fail. Chad would have to insure that the Jedi would be capture.
“ Lt Commander Neo, “ he managed in the best in control voice he could come up with. “ How goes the landing on the Felucian planet?”
“ Governor Chad, “ the Lt Commander said in a bold military voice. “ All forces are on the ground and we have begun moving towards the Jedi with all haste. They will soon be ours.”
“ I would hope so Lt Commander,” the Governor said angrily. “ Come home with dead Jedi or don’t come home at all, understood?”
The Lt Commander nodded. “ Understood completely sir, I will report back to you when I have capture the Jedi sir.”
“One more thing Lt Commander, my sources say that JOG may be deploying a small recon squad to get the Jedi out faster than we expected. They may be planet side as we speak. Be mindful.”
“Yes sir,” Neo bowed down in obedience. With that the image faded leaving the Governor with his thoughts.
In the confines of his mind his fear of the unknown began racing. It would appear that as the hunt for the Jedi commenced, that his carefully placed alliances might have to be reconfigured if he was to survive the day.
Location: Down Republic Gunship, Surface of the Felucian Planet
Master Orion awoke to the constant patter of rain hitting the haul of the gunship that he had been carried to the night before. Coming out of a Jedi healing trance was always an uncomfortable feeling. This time was no different.
The loss of his arm the previous day had left the man drained of blood, but from quick thinking from his padawan, Dam U Died, had saved his life. As the blurriness that was his eyesight finally came too, he saw Dam U Died sitting in front of him holding what seemed to be a clone era blaster rifle.
“ Look what I found,” Dam U said with a big grin on his face. He held weapon on his lap as he slowly went over it with a piece of what was left of his Jedi wardrobe, polishing it to a shine. “ I found it in a compartment to the right of you there. I found several; of them, and they all work.” The padawan continued on with his shinning of the weapon. “ With these we shouldn’t have much trouble with any more of those acklays. Perhaps we can even shoot one and eat it. I am starting to get a bit hungry.”
Food, Orion thought to himself. He had been through so much lately that he had almost forgotten that they hadn’t ha any food in the past three days. “Yeah. . . just don’t blow your head off with that thing,” was the only thing Orion could think of to say.”
Orion peered off to the jungle surrounding the down ship to take a look at his surroundings. The jungle was a buzz with life, as it seemed that even rain could not dampen the energy of the wildlife on this planet. He watched as several large birds flew overhead and into the distance. He continued his gaze to the north to where he felt he could make what look like a plateau made of vines. “ Interesting planet,” he said “ there’s something always new to look at.”
“Yeah,” his padawan replied as he looked up from his newly found blaster, “ can’t wait to leave it.” Orion smiled at the comment as he continued to scan the jungle around him. When it wasn’t attacking him it was almost peaceful to be apart of.
As he studied the landscape he started to feel the jungle around, using the force to replenish his strength trying to find the peace that he could always make out when in deep space while gazing at the stars. But for some reason, he couldn’t find it. He thought to himself, it had to be the fact that he was now missing three fourths of his arm, but still something here wasn’t right.
He slowly staggered to his feet, to look a bit closer at the jungle before him. The movement seemed to catch his padawan off guard. “ Something wrong master?”
“ I don’t . . . know, “ Orion said as if puzzled. He squinted through the rain as if expecting to see something there, but all he could see was plants and fungal trees. But still he felt it. Something was there, something was coming, something was hunting them.
Just then a laser shot sliced through the air and hit the bulkhead right above Orion’s head, sending the Jedi Master to the floor in an instant, “ I think we have a problem!!!”
Chapter 3
Location: Felucian Planet Surface
Tracking quickly through the mud, Lady Luck led Iron fist through a small spring of water and up an embankment towards what sounded like blaster fire. The rain defiantly wasn’t helping matters. For every step he took, his leg sunk into the ground and up to his shin. “ What a lovely place this is, he murmured to himself. As he reached the top he fell to his stomach so that any one watching would not see him.
Behind him about 20 meters sat crouched behind the jungles tree like plants, the remaining members of Iron Fist waiting for their point man to give the all clear signal to continue. When it didn’t come, it was Azzreaper that went up to see what his man was viewing.
“ What is it Lady,” Azz whispered as he lay down next to the point man. But before the man could answer Azz already knew. Blaster fire. The Jedi were under attack.
“ Estimate about a quarter of a mile due south sir,” Lady looked around. “ How do you want to proceed?
Azz thought to himself for a second then gave the hand gesture for the rest of the squad to come to him. When they got him he began detailing their course of action. “Alright lets use Cover Fire Pattern Delta, be light, be quick and let’s get in and out here.”
“Sir doesn’t that mean we will be fighting them all the way to the pick up ship?” Crash asked.
“Yes ensign, we can’t sustain a long knock out fire fight,” Azz explained. “ There’s too many of them and too few of us. We are to move fast and be deadly. Lady make sure you get ahead and light our way out.” He looked over his men one last time as the rain poured down their faces. “ Move out.”
“ Its killing time,” Shaq Fu muttered to the squad as they embarked on their mission.
“ Impossible sir,” an older looking soldier said to Lt Commander Neo. FCF’s forces were strategically place around the down gunship where the Jedi were held up and to the Jedi’s credit the attack was being halted. “ Nothing we are throwing at them is having any affect. We keep lobbying thermal detonators over and they keep flinging them back. The same with our flash bangs. Not to mention they have already kill 4 of our men and two are seriously wounded, they probably won’t last the hour. And where the hell did they get those damn blasters. Our intel said nothing about them having them.”
Situated behind a small fungal tree, the Lt Commander listened to his subordinate with contempt. This man wasn’t going to get the job done, and his whinnying was defiantly becoming an irritant. Or perhaps it was the rain pouring down. It continually belted his face and it was becoming quite sore. Or perhaps his conversation earlier with the governor that was making him uneasy. Either way when he decided to pull out his pistol and shoot the man in his chest, he begun to feel somewhat better for at least that was one irritant that he no longer had to deal with.
“ Keep pouring fire down on the Jedi, men, “ he screamed out loud to his soldiers. The Jedi had to get tired eventually he thought to himself.
“ I don’t know how much longer we can keep this up Master,” Dam U said. Blaster fire was reigning down upon them from every direction. Scorch marks were painting the rusted metal of the gunship to a pitch black. Fortunately the rain kept the smoke from being too distracting. Dam U lay close to the cockpit as Orion held back towards the end of the ship. The gunship provided enough cover to where the FCF soldiers couldn’t get a clean shot. “ I think we have at least gotten 3 of 4 of them, but that’s not saying much.”
“There must be 30 of them,” Orion screamed over his blaster. With the use of one arm the Jedi Master had to pick and choose his shots. It also limited him to protecting only the front side of the ship. If he moved out too far he would become an open target.
As he continued to stretch out with the force to feel for the enemy when he felt his danger sense spike as he realized the FCF soldiers were going around their position and were closing fast. “ Dam U, we have company from behind.”
Dam U pivoted with his master’s request and shot two FCF soldiers as they approached the gunship. But a third and forth managed to penetrate the confines of the ship and began to take aim at Orion. In an instant Master Orion flung one with the force towards the on coming fire from the other FCF soldiers. The man did not live long after that.
The other soldier was met by Dam U Died as the padawan stood up to engage him in combat. With a snap hiss of Orion’s green light saber, Dam U Died was able to deflect one incoming bolt then sliced down the soldier. But the movement was all the enemy needed to get a clear shot at the padawan. In an instant blaster fire poured in on his location, two of which managed to hit their mark.
AAWWWWWKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dam U crumpled to the floor as a shots crashed into his arm and left torso.
The pain of his padawan ripped through the force as Orion saw Dam U fall to the floor in what seem to take a lifetime. With his Jedi senses preoccupied, the distraction was enough for a huge flash bang to go off, disorienting Orion as he tried desperately to move to cover his padawan from any more on coming fire.
As his sight went white and his hearing became non existent, Orion slowly crawled his way to his padawan. “ This was it,” he thought to himself. “ This is how we die.”
The FCF soldiers must have sense the tide was turning as well, since the incoming blaster fire came to a halt. Two FCF troopers came rushing into the gunship intent on ending the confrontation. Only his Jedi senses gave Orion enough warning to pull his blaster in their direction and fire. Through the force he felt one fall to back as the blaster fire caught the man straight in the chest. The other trooper jumped to the side and flung himself towards Orion.
Due to the flash bang the Jedi Master’s reaction time was not fast enough to shoot down the man. In the slow motion of his mind he saw the man jump through the air with what looked like a machete type weapon down towards his head. But some how the attack never found its mark.
In the awakening haze that was Orion’s sight, he could make out what seemed to be a another faction, a JOG soldier catching the FCF trooper in mid flight and stabbing him with what seemed to be a vibro knife.
In the next moment, the man was crouching next to Orion who had finally made it to Dam U Died. “ Master Orion, I am Sergeant Azzreaper of squad Iron Fist, we are here to escort you out.”
Chapter 4
What was this madness, Neo thought to himself? The squad deployed by JOG was already here and quickly killing his men. He saw three of his officer’s fall in front of him as two JOG soldiers penetrated their lines. Explosions came from his right, as his worst nightmare became his reality. Killing the Jedi now would be even more difficult than before and his own survival was now in jeopardy.
No matter, they would not get away with this treachery. He pointed his blaster towards one of the JOG soldiers and blew him away with repeated fire. The soldier fell as blood splattered through the air.
The other soldier watched in horror as his comrade fell to the floor. Using the distraction Neo aimed his blaster towards the other JOG soldier intent on taking the man down as well. And fired. But as quick as he was, his accuracy was off the mark. The JOG solider realizing he was still alive leapt towards Neo trying to catch him with the butt of his blaster.
But Neo connected first. The JOG warrior fell backwards, but by all means was not out of the fight. The soldier kicked at Neo's knees sending him to the Felucian surface as well. His blaster went flying.
Quickly both men had vibro knifes in their hands and begun swiping at one another while rolling in the mud. The two combatants rolled into a trench kicking and landing whatever punch they could at their enemy. Slowly, Neo began to win the engagement.
Standing now he landed a right boot into the mans thigh knocking the man to one knee and followed the attack with a swiped with his knife across the mans chest. The attack connected, but it wasn’t the fatal blow he had hoped for. And inch deeper perhaps he thought to himself.
He continued on.
He threw a punch towards the JOG soldiers face but his opponent blocked and threw his body into Neo’s, making both men fall to the floor as well as their knifes. Again the battle was fought hand to hand.
The JOG soldier slammed his fist into Neo’s face and Neo could feel blood pour out of his nose. No matter, he would not lose this fight he thought to himself. He brought his knee up into the JOG soldiers groin and elbowed the man in his face. Quickly capitalizing on the mans pain, Neo kicked out and sent the man falling back off of him.
Behind him Neo saw his knife. Grabbing it he flung his body towards the JOG soldier when the fight came to its conclusion, and Neo’s life ended.
Lying beneath the FCF solider, Crash held his knife in place watching in horror as the knife held firm in the mans face. Taking a second to gather himself he moved the dead body off of him and crawled out of the trench. Picking up his blaster he moved to Shaq Fu who had been shot just minutes before. He crouched over him and realized the man, his squad mate, was dead. Sadness quickly set over him.
A blaster bolt over his shoulder brought him back to his senses. There was still a mission to accomplish here. He picked up his comrade and flung him over his shoulder. No one was going to get left behind. He quickly started to move again, towards the safety of the gunship shooting down any FCF soldier that got in his way.
“ Time to move,” Azz said as Crash came running into the gunship. “ Lady,” he called into his comlink, “ we are on the move now. Be prepared to light our way out.”
“Ready when you are sir.”
Azz put his comlink away and looked to Shaq Fu flung over Crash’s shoulder. Crash’s face said it all. Shaq was dead.
“ Damn,” he muttered to himself. But this was no time to mourn for the lost. He brought Orion to his feet and realized for the first time the Jedi Master was missing an arm. He looked to the young man that had to be Orion’s padawan and quickly picked him up over his shoulder. “ Master Orion, if you would but follow us, we have a transport to catch.”
“ By all means lead the way sergeant,” Orion said.
The next few minutes were among most chaotic Azz had ever endured. He held his blaster in his right hand as he carried the fallen Jedi on the right shoulder, allowing his free hand to throw a thermal detonator towards the pursuing FCF soldiers. The explosion that followed was ear deafening as several FCF soldiers went flying into the air. But their deaths did not change the fact that other FCF warriors continued to pursue them.
With blaster bolts whizzing past their heads, the group met up with Lady who was crouched behind a tree opening up a salvo of blaster fire himself.
“Move Lady move, ” Azz called out to his second in command.
“ After you sir,” Lady called back as he continued to pour fire towards the oncoming FCF troopers. Quickly the group moved past him and into the jungle towards a plateau of trees and vines that was to be their rendezvous point.
As quickly as they could they darted through the jungle. The foliage provided enough cover for the blaster bolts to missed their mark. Azz screamed back towards the group as they neared the base of the plateau, “ throw the switch Lady, NOWWWW!!!” It wasn’t until Azz heard the jungle behind him explode that he decided to look behind him.
As the rain poured down his face, Azz looked to the firestorm that had consumed the jungle.
“ As you asked sir, “ Lady was saying as he caught up to the group, “ I have lit your way out of here. . . explosives, are a Lady’s best friend.”
Smiling Azz set Dam U Died down on the ground “ Good job Lady.” As he said it secondary explosions went off sending screams of pain and dead soldiers through the air.
“ That ought to stop them from firing at us,” Crash said in delight. He too put down the body of Shaq Fu, resting it at the start of a huge tree like vine that led to the top of the plateau itself. “ I guess we can use this walkway as a way up to the rendezvous.”
“Good idea,” Lady said as he took in a breath.
From behind him, it was Orion’s dead serious voice that brought the elation of the group to a halt. “ Gentlemen, we have . . .company.”
The squad turned in unison and stood frozen, as before them stood a creature so fierce and grotesque that looking at it almost made one’s blood chill.
“A Rancor,” Azz muttered in horror.
Chapter 5
JOG Library Databank: Regarding Deadliest Known Creatures in the Galaxy
Subject: Rancor’s
Description: A five-meter tall towering hulk of muscle and reptilian flesh, the rancor walks on two stubby legs and had disproportionately long arms to capture prey. Dominating its flat face is a salivating tooth-filled maw. Its armored skin is so tough that the beast could slough off blaster bolts as little more than annoyances.
Home World of Origin: unknown, however known to inhabit the planets of Dathomir, Ottethan and Felucia
“ Ahh. . fuck me,” Lady said out loud. The rancor met the remark with a yell so deafening that Lady could feel it in his bones.
To his left Master Orion look upon the beast in dismay. “ I . . am really. . beginning to hate this planet,” he muttered to himself. Again the Rancor roared aloud.
To the right of them Azzreaper was the first to get the squad back on track “ MOVE!!!!” he screamed as the Rancor began its charge towards the group.
Closest to the beast Crash stood frozen for just a second more then slowly began to stumbling backwards tripping over a vine leading up to the plateau. In front of him lay the dead body of Shaq Fu. As if meant as an offering to the beast the Rancor quit his charge and stood over the body when it reached it, sizing up his soon to be meal.
To stun to react, it was then when Sergeant Azzreaper that came up to defend the body. He opened fire towards the Rancor but the blaster bolts seem to almost bounce off the tough skin of the beast. It was then that Crash realized Azz wasn’t trying to save the dead man’s body but Crash’s own life.
“ Get up soldier, “ Azz screamed as he took his eyes off of the beast for just a second. But a second was all the Rancor needed to rid itself of the irritant. It swatted Azz away as if he was nothing more than an ewok. Azz went flying to Crashes left, right into a solid tree, knocking the man out cold.
Victorious the Rancor roared and flashed its teeth, then once again crouched over his meal that was the dead body of Shaq Fu. Stunned in silence the group watched the Rancor began to devour the soldier in several chomps.
In shock it was Orion that brought the group back to their senses. “ Move it now,” he yelled. “ Soldier, get the Sergeant.” He pointed his finger towards Lady and shouted again, “ you there grab my padawan, we’ve got to get to the rendezvous point.” And with that the group began the ascent towards the top of the plateau.
They sprinted up onto one of the arms of the huge tree like vine that led to the top of the plateau. It was when they were half way to the top when the Rancor had finished its meal and bounded after them.
The vine shuttered under the weight of the beast but did not give way. The remaining squad members seeing the monster race after them opened fire causing little damage, but it did manage to slow it down some.
Fighting for every inch the group slowly continued its climb up the vine, all the meanwhile continually firing at the approaching beast.
“ The ship better be there,” Orion yelled out as he began to reach the top.
“ It will don’t worry, “ Lady called back after him.
Orion was the first to reach the top, pulling himself over the ridge with his one arm. He was followed by Lady who was carrying Dam U Died, then by Crash who was now carrying Azzreaper over his shoulder. As they group reached the very top of the plateau they almost ran over the Jedi Master who was standing still in dumb founded disbelief.
It was Lady who broke the silence, “ You got to be shitting me!” The pick up ship was nowhere to be found.
“ Where is he,” Crash said almost out of breath.
From behind and still on the huge vine, the Rancor let out a roar reminding the group that they had bigger problems at hand. Orion with his eyes closed and head hung low forced himself back to the moment and away from despair.
He looked around the small plateau and found there was nowhere to hide. He turned to face the group “Lady, that’s your name right, you have any more detonators left?”
Taking a breath and letting the sergeant down he replied, “ No, I used them all up in the jungle.”
“ How about you,” Orion continued as he looked to Crash. The soldier just shook his head no. “ Alright then we will make our stand in the middle here. Put the sergeant and my padawan there, and prepare to give this monster everything you got.”
The group huddled itself in the very center of the plateau, laying the bodies behind them as Crash and Lady both went to one knee and began to aim their weapons towards the vine that led to the top of the plateau. Master Orion, with his own blaster in his only hand stood behind them doing the same.
From below they could here the Rancor approach. It growled loudly as it came ever so closer. The plateau itself almost seemed to shake, as the weight of the creature became an ever-heavier burden.
“ I just wanted to let you know, “ Orion said calmly as he peered towards to the vine, “ that I thank you gentlemen for coming after us, and I am honored to die besides you.” The two soldiers looked back at the Jedi Master and nodded in unison.
The smack of the rancor’s claw grabbing onto the plateau brought them back to the reality at hand. It was time to fight for their lives, one last time. Then slowly as if out of some holo horror flick the Rancor’s head appeared from below and in gnarled its teeth and roared its unpleasentries towards the group.
It was then, right before the group opened fire, that the Deathmask came from out of nowhere and opened fire at the beast.
The ships turrets belted the beast, ripping the tough skin of the rancor, spewing its blood everywhere. In a giant heap, the rancor lost its grip of the plateau surface and fell to its death to the surface below.
The ship hover over the group then turned to its side and opened its side door panel to allowing access to the hold of the ship. When the side panels completely opened up, Captain Nightstalker stood smiling, “ sorry about the wait gentlemen, there seems to be a lot of those giant beast roaming this area, I didn’t want them getting any ideas about having me as a snack.”
And with that, the impossible mission of surviving the planet Felucia was over.
Chapter 6
Location: Medical Frigate Cytotoxic, JOG Space
Time: One Week Later
Sitting by his brother’s side as a medical droid attached the final tendon to a mechanical arm, Jedi Master Jeff continued on about the whereabouts of the squad that had saved his brothers life, “ The three members of Iron Fist are being awarded with medals of valor as we speak. Funeral arrangements are being made for weapon specialist Shaq Fu.” Jeff paused as to allow the grief of the fallen soldier to pass before continuing, “ Lady Luck and Crash wanted me to pass on to you that they would gladly stand by your side and face death with you, if the opportunity were to present it self again.”
Orion smiled at the comment.
A sadder tone took over Jeff’s face as he moved on from the subject,“ I am so sorry about putting you in such harms way brother. It was foolish of me to send you out there alone.”
Orion flinched as the droid played with the sensor controls of the arm, allowing the Jedi Master to feel the false arm as if it were his own. “ Jeff, if you could you would have done it yourself. You know I would do anything for you.”
“ As would I you,” Jeff replied. “ He looked to the bed next to them where Dam U Died lay and smiled. “ I am glad you aren’t permantly injured my young friend. “ My brother says you saved his life, I am indebted to you.”
“ No worries, Master Orion saved my life on several occasions, I’d say we are even.”
“ Never the less, I sense a Jedi trial in your near future,” Jeff continued. The padawan smiled as Orion and Jeff stood up and moved away from the man towards a giant window that showed the JOG capital planet sitting in space like a giant blue gem.
“ So it was Woooooooo who was behind the attack in the BOJ system. He has turned Sith has he,” Jeff said as he let the sentence trail off. “ Where there’s one, there always another lurking in the shadows ready to strike. We must be mindful of this danger. . . Any word on my former padawan being alive?"
“ He didn’t mention it,” Orion said sadly. “ It seems besides obtaining identity of Woooooooo, this mission seems to have been all for not. I am sorry brother.”
Jeff nodded as he looked out over the planet in dismay. It would seem that the fate of Rand Talor would be decided at a later time.
From behind them as the two Masters looked to their home planet, padawan Dam U Died crept up on them, “ that is not entirely true. . . masters.”
Both Jedi Masters turned to face the young man who seemed to be bandaged from head to toe, “ When I hacked my way into FCF’s computer main frame while we were in the ship yards, I noticed a small private ship with only two cargo crates listed to board her. I found it odd that all other vessels were being loaded with tons of crates of the substances, but this one only the two. The registry of the vessel named it 5 Stars, all in emblem format. Perhaps it belongs to our missing Sith warrior.”
Jeff nodded as the three of them look back towards the planet hovering in the coldness of space, “ perhaps this ever deepening mystery has left us a clue after all. Perhaps, just perhaps we may yet find out what happened to our missing Jedi and what connection our Sith attacker has with the Hutt Syndicate. . .”
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