CHAPTER ONE

Getting Off this Rock

No one was paying attention to the human, Mandalorian, and Kiffar as they ducked into the dingy cantina of Mos Eisly. They were as insignificant as three little raindrops falling into a lake. A slight glance from the Devaronian bartender was the only reaction they received as they seemed to stumble into the building, panting and covered in sweat.

"Hide," the Mandalorian told the other two, his voice curt and metallically cold. The second the words escaped his lips, the human melted into the crowd while the Kiffar ducked behind the bar, only getting a mere scoff from its bartender. Just as the Mandalorian ducked behind the stage where a Twi'lek twisted and turned her body exotically, three Gamorrean guards bearing the insignia of Teemo the Hutt muscled their way into the cantina.

The Gamorreans pushed their way through the crowd as they looked for the trio. Grunts of frustration escaped the lips of patrons of the bar as their drinks were spilled by the pig-like creatures. Angered by the loss of his cortyg brandy, a wookie stood up and began to snarl at the Gamorreans, causing an argument to break out.

"They're distracted," the human's voice quietly crackled through the comlinks of the Mandalorian and the Kiffar. "Be ready after I make my move."

Like a ghost, the human appeared from what seemed out of nowhere, as silent as a Wisp-Walker from the planet of Ovoure. He slowly crept up to the three Gamorreans who were squealing at the snarling wookie, waving their giant hands in the air. The first Gammorrean's grunts of frustration suddenly turned into a squeak as the human's hands rapped around its meaty head and snapped it in one quick motion.

Before the first Gammorrean had fallen to the ground, the Kiffar stood up from his hiding place behind the bar, wielding his monumental vibro-axe. In one sweeping motion, the Kiffar brought the axe over his head, letting it fly from his hands and into the back of the second Gammorrean. The pig let out a squeal as its body went rigid. Both bodies hit the floor simultaneously. By this time, the bar had gone completely quiet. The third Gamorrean turned to the human, ranting and roaring in range. It raised its axe to bring down a menacing blow to the man. Suddenly, blaster fire sounded from behind the dancers' stage, and the last Gamorrean fell face-first to the ground, the back of its head completely vaporized.

All the patrons in the bar looked at the human, Mandalorian, and Kiffar for a split second before going back to their affairs. The band on stage started playing their music as the Twi'lek began to mesmerize those who gazed upon her beauty. The trio pushed their way to the bar, receiving a chuckle from the Devaronian bartender. His smile revealed sharp teeth, accentuating the two horns on his head, making him more devilish than usual.

"I can see that you three handle yourself well," he said to them.

The human leaned against the bar. "The names Jamous Devven." He motion towards the Kiffar who stood at least two meters even, wearing black war paint and sporting long brown dreadlocks. "This is Kaid Mozla. The quiet one"—a thumb to the Mandalorian wearing his signature armor and helmet with T-shaped visor—"goes by the name of Jet."

The Devaronian grabbed a used glass and began to swab it out with a rag. "What do you want?"

Jamous cleared his throat. "We need a way off-planet as soon as possible. We're not exactly . . . welcome in Mos Eisly at the moment." He turned around to the crowd, eyeing it for anyone or anything that might be a threat.

The bartender poured a glass of liquor for a Gran, mentally connecting the dots in his head. He turned to them. "Oh, you're those three that Teemo put a bounty on." He licked his lips. "Word is that Teemo upped the bounty to 100,000 credits. I guess that's what you get for trying to leave a Hutts business." The Devaronian looked between the three. "100,000 credits is a lot of money."

Kaid brandished his vibro-axe. "Are you going to try to collect?"

The bartender let out a snicker. "Word is that there is a Trandoshan bounty hunter by the name of Trex with an impounded starship called Krayt Fang. He'd most likely be the best way off-planet. But even if you could release the security clamps off of his ship, you still wouldn't be able to get off this rock." He licked is lips.

"Speak," Jet's gruff voice came out of his helmet.

The Devaronian flicked his trident-shaped tongue. "Apparently, Trex needs a new Hypermatter Reactor Igniter for the Fang. It was damaged when he was travelling though pirate space. The junkyard dealer Vorn is rumored to have one. Now get out of my kriffing bar."

Jamous followed Jet and Kaid out of the bar. He looked at both of them as they stood out in the glaring sun of Tatooine. The three had only been together for just a short time. Their desire to be free of working for Teemo the Hutt was what had brought them together. Jamous had only learned a little bit about each of them.

Kaid Moxla was a Kiffar from the planet of Kiffu. He was gun for hire, and he was good at what he did. Standing just over 2 meters tall, the Kiffar's frame was packed tightly with dense muscle. Not a single part of his body wasn't toned. Black war paint of two chevrons on both sides of his face and his long, matted dreadlocks made Kaid look intimidating and menacing, but his personality couldn't be more opposite. The Kiffar was a lighthearted and jovial being who loved to talk and who loved good food.

Jet, on the other hand, was a complete mystery. Jamous had never even seen the Mandalorian's face for Jet never took his helmet off when he was with Jamous and Kaid. He also rarely, if ever, spoke. The most words that came out of Jet's mouth at time was maybe two or three. His personality was that of his killing: cold and calculating. The Mandalorian was a weapon's expert. If it shot lasers or could explode, Jet was good at it. He was definitely someone that Jamous wanted to remain on his side.

Jamous wasn't too bad with a blaster pistol himself, but he preferred the art of deception and skullduggery. His disheveled brown hair, green eyes, and all-around good looks helped the smuggler talk his way in or out of any situation. Spice and women were his weakness; credits were his passion. There was no ship in the galaxy that he couldn't pilot and no fool that he couldn't con.

Kaid looked at Jamous. "We should go to talk to this Vorn and get that igniter before the Trandoshan does."

The three discreetly made their way through the streets of Mos Eisly, ever watchful for Teemo's men. The inhabitants of the city buzzed with life, going about the daily business of their droll lives. When the junkyard came into view, it was exactly that: a junkyard. Scraps of metal lay about everywhere in heaps.

Kaid picked up a hunk of scrap metal. "How does any of this get sold?" he asked Jet who replied with a grunt.

"Ey, ey! Watch what you do with my stuff, eh!" A Toydarian came from out of a shack in the middle of the junkyard, his wings flapping vigorously back and forth. "You're paying for it, no?"

"No," came Jet's gruff reply.

"Then what do you want? Get off my property if you no plan to buy my goods!"

Jamous looked at the Toydarian, a charming grin on his face. "You must be Vorn."

Vorn looked at him. "Yes, that's me! What are you doing here? I have business; you are wasting my time!"

"Well, it has come to our attention that you are in possession of a Hypermatter Reactor Igniter."

"I did, but no more!" The Toydarian began to fly back to the shack.

"Wait, wait," Jamous followed him. "Who could have bought it already?"

"A Trandoshan by the name of Trex bought it for his ship. He pay me a full 600 credits for it!" He turned back to Jamous, Kaid, and Jet. "I was just about to deliver it to his ship located in the East landing bay before you three got in my way!"

"Surely, we can persuade you to give it to us," Kaid replied to the Toydarian.

Vorn let out a toothy grin. "Oh? And how would you do that, Kiffar?"

Jet pointed his carbine at Vorn. "Kill you."

Instead of flipping out, the Toydarian let out a chuckle. "Mandalorian, I am a Toydarian. Loyalty means nothing to me." He rubbed his hands together. "Only money."