Saga - PT Outcasts

But this was more than a mere splatter movie. Because it had a lot of humour in it (such as Boba ending up as a sore loser and a hutt even headless), an exotic market place and great characters to get a connection with (such as Lando).

 

Part 6: Captured

Several months had passed. Veles was actually enjoying working for Jabba. There were lots of missions filled with much exciting action; and he was very, very well compensated for his work.

He had also grown attached to his new crew. Lando had been teaching him his sabacc tricks, which, supposedly, guaranteed him an easy win, in any game. Seeing as it was a popular pastime, in the circles he now ran in, Veles figured this was a useful skill to acquire.

But, most of all, Lando, Hondo, and even that blasted droid, R4-H5, became his first real close companions, first ever beings, whom he trusted enough to nod off to sleep on their ship, as they were close by, without keeping one eye (the bionic one) literally open, alert and constantly scanning the surroundings; and a hand on one of light sabers. Here, on their beautiful silver yacht, he could finally relax and rest. He was among friends. He was finally beginning to understand what that word meant...

In his new career, under the fearsome Jabba, Veles had already assassinated numerous rivals of the Hutt crimelord; supervised and protected smuggling ships; and also attacked those belonging to enemy organisations.

His future in intergalactic organised crime looked bright as the Twin Suns of Tatooine.

Little did Veles know, however, that his was luck was just about to run out.

***

He stood still as a statue, on the bridge of the battered old freighter.

"How much longer?"

The pilot, a huge, rough-looking human with a nasty scar running down his right cheek, and a patch covering his left eye, cast a wary look back at Veles, over his shoulder. He was a merciless cutthroat himself, unused to some young punk speaking to him in such a disrespectful way. Yet he also knew, by now, of Veles' reputation, and was well aware the boy's young age and seemingly slight stature were much deceiving. This was not someone he wanted to make an enemy of.

He grinned sheepishly and answered in a friendly way

"We should arrive to Dagobah in about twenty minutes, Mr. Veles, Sir."

"Good."

Those four words, in total, was all that Veles had said, during the entire flight. The pilot didn't mind, however. Like all who had frequently worked with Veles, at this point, he was used to the guy's quiet nature.

The Sith assassin stayed equally silent and still, as the ship lowered to the surface of the swamp planet.

Foul smells hit him as he stepped out of the hatch.

Why in the galaxy did I volunteer for this?

Jabba had learned of a plant on this cursed planet, which, supposedly, produced the most potent narcotic in the universe. He needed someone to go to Dagobah and fetch him a sample of the plant. If it could be grown at their base on Tatooine, the profits for the organization would be immense indeed.

None of Jabba's most seasoned smugglers or bounty hunters, however, were willing to take on the task, even under threat of execution. They said there were horrific creatures living on the planet, swamo monsters that would emerge suddenly from the mud, to tear a man limb to limb or swallow him whole. Most frighteningly, the planet's surface was said to be haunted by evil spirits, at least one of which supposedly manifested in the form of a small green being which possessed devilish powers and could steal one's soul.

It all seemed like so much nonsense to Veles, and he had stepped forward without hesitation.

He was hesitating now, however.

He may have little fear, of anyone or anything out there.

He did, however, possess a healthy quantity of disgust. And the smells coming up at him from tbe swamps wers truly disgusting.

Shaking his head and adjusting his facial implants to block out as much of the sickening odours as possible, Veles set out from the ship. His feet quickly began to sink in the damp soil.

Fortunately, as always, Veles had come prepared. His new income allowed him to spoil himself with fancy toys, now and then. One of those was the Mandalorean jet pack currently strapped to his back.

Veles engaged the pack, blasting up into the sky, and flew over the swamps.

Boba Fett had taught him how to use the pack.

The two of them had actually come to good terms, since their little showdown on Nal Hutta. Veles even bought Boba a new jet pack, along with one for himself, to replace the one he ruined at Gumba's palace.

They now remained rivals, but in a more friendly sort of way, at least as friendly as guys like them could be with one another.

***

After about half an hour of flying, Veles saw what he was looking for. Strange plants, large bushes, with triangular leaves, growing straight out of the swampy water. Now, he just needed to get some seeds.

Veles carefully lowered himself next to a bush, and began tearing off its bright red flowers, inside of which were the coveted seeds. He shook the seeds out into a special container, which he clipped back to his belt.

Just as he was finishing up, Veles felt a presence behind himself. He instinctively ducked and powered up his jets, dodging out of the way just in time, as a huge lizard like creature came leaping out of the swamp, its jaws snapping on empty air in the same space he had stood in just seconds ago.

And now we know why nobody else wanted to come here...

He flew back to the ship, quickly, keeping far above the surface, to ensure nothing else jumped out at him from the swamps.

Along the way, Veles couldn't help feeling like someone was following and watching him. He even caught a glimpse of something small and green in the jungle, at one point, but whayever it was vanished before he coul look closer.

Just as he approached his ship, Veles suddenly heard a voice in his head

Much power, you have. Dark power. But belong to the Dark Side, you do not. Change, you can yet. Change, you should. For good, use your power!

He stopped cold.

What was that? Did something just SPEAK to him, inside his own mind?!

Nonsense. He just needed to get out of here, that's all. The faster the better. This crazy planet was playing tricks on him...

Veles practically ran back aboard the ship, growling at the pilot

"I have the seeds. Lets go, now!"

The poor fellow had actually dozed off, and nearly fell out of his seat, startled

"Yes, sir. Right away..."

***

They were halfway back to Tatooine, when the Imperial light cruiser showed up on their tail.

The Imperials said they were in restricted space and demanded the "unknown vessel" identify itself immediately, or be fired upon.

The pilot looked at Veles for instructions. But the latter was himself nervous. Last thing he needed, was to be caught by the Empire and sent back to Kamino, or worse.

The Imperial transmission barked, again

"This is your final warning! Shut down your engines and identify yourself, or else!"

The pilot looked hopeless

"There's no way we can outrun them, not in this thing."

Veles shook his head defiantly

"Maybe YOU can't. I can."

"What?!"

Veles unclipped the container with the precious seeds from his belt and handed it to the pilot.

"Go to the escape boat. Blast off when I tell you. Fly straight to Tatooine, get Jabba those seeds he wants so much."

"What about you?"

"I'll distract the Imperials for you. Don't worry, I can take care of myself."

The pilot didn't doubt that, as he raced for the small one seater, that detached from the bottom of the big freighter when needed. He did wonder, however, how Veles intended to contend with an Imperial warship all by himself.

He followed his orders, however, jumping into the cockpit, and taking off when he heard Veles shout "Go!" over the comm.

***

As he watched the pilot speed around tbe light cruiser and disappear into hyperspace; Veles cranked the steering wheel, sending the old freighter suddenly careening to the right, speeding away from the Imperial ship.

A barrage of blaster cannon fire rained down around him. The freighter trembled, taking several nasty hits.

Controls began to short out and smoke, all around him.

Veles had clearly miscalculated, overestimating the abilities of this old bird. There was no escaping with her.

Veles ran out of the cockpit, towards the escape pods in the back of the ship. He never made it. A monstrous explosion knocked him off his feet. The world went black.

***

His artificial eye was first to come back to life. Then, Veles' other, own eye opened. He sat up and looked around. He was in a small, dimly lit chamber. Alone. His light sabers were gone from his belt.

Veles quckly recognized the chamber and realized exactly where he was: aboard an Imperial prison ship.

He had apparently survived the explosion on the freighter. But now, he was a prisoner of the Empire.

From his implants and light sabers, they will obviously learn his true identity, if they haven't already. What awaited him now?

Veles steeled himself. He wouldn't give up without a fight. The Empire made him, yes. But he didn't belong to them. He had escaped them once. He will again...

***

To be continued

Sorry everyone for long wait to update. Will try to do more and faster

 

As I suspected, Veles does have potential to become a good guy. Because if he didn't, he wouldn't be worth Yoda's time.

And as I also suspected, hanging out with Lando seems to be doing him good as well. Hondo Ohnaka, maybe not so much. But on the other hand, even though Hondo Ohnaka is a couple orders of magnitude more scoundrelly than Lando, he's still not complete scum. And who knows, maybe he's mellowed since the Clone Wars.

 

Along the way, Veles couldn't help feeling like someone was following and watching him. He even caught a glimpse of something small and green in the jungle, at one point, but whayever it was vanished before he coul look closer.

Just as he approached his ship, Veles suddenly heard a voice in his head

Much power, you have. Dark power. But belong to the Dark Side, you do not. Change, you can yet. Change, you should. For good, use your power!

He stopped cold.

What was that? Did something just SPEAK to him, inside his own mind?!

Nonsense. He just needed to get out of here, that's all. The faster the better. This crazy planet was playing tricks on him...

I have an idea... a vague one, but still...