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The Black Dawn, Docking Platform A19, Nar Shaddaa

"So here we are again."

Ker'Raos, in the main room of the decrepit freighter, clicks agitatedly at the keyboard as he scrolls through a list. It is the listings of the Bounty Hunters Guild; available bounties to prey upon.

After the terrible results of Zeiton, after Ker'Raos informed you of impending Zeitonian rebellion against Kuylen's control, after Wraith told you that the Mausoleum was a waste of time, you returned to your old life, Dak.

Your old...average...life.

"Using our talents for the mundane..."

How dull, you think. After something so spectacular as your time with Kuylen, thinking you were meant to be something amazing, a galactic overlord of sorts, the Lizard King, it turns out that you're just a reptile who enjoys stabbing things and does it proficiently.

Still, might as well put your talents towards something. And there's something that everyone in the Galaxy always needs more of...

Money.

You can obtain it easily. Bounty hunting is a non-issue for you. Must be said, you take the 'Wanted Dead' contracts more often than not.

"Found one."

Ker'Raos brings up a file.

"R4-S6."

Ready...go!

Wraith will be using Foresight.

"An astromech droid?" Wraith sighs. "We're hunting a trashcan?"

The fearsome armor that Wraith used to wear is gone, replaced by a black long-sleeve shirt, a brown leather vest, and combat pants. He still wears the armor-plated boots, however. His lightsaber and vibro-axe hang from his belt, and his heavy pistol is holstered on the left side.

Dak won't be using any premonition powers as he doesn't have any... ermm

Dak looks at the file. "Money is money, Wraith. It being a droid just makes this... disgustingly easy."

Wraith folds his arms, looking cross.

"Can't you find something better, Ker?"

Very true, Dak.

Wraith, Foresight is noted.

"The contract is pretty high," Ker'Raos says, indicating the prices on screen. "Absurdly so."

He scrolls down the page.

"Wanted for...mass murder. Not much else other than he's been modified by previous owner. Said person is dead. Yeah...that's all."

He turns towards you two. As a reminder, Ker'Raos is a Zeitonian, with bulbous froggy eyes and the like. He still wears the uniform of a Council Member; his lighstaber hangs from his belt at all times.

"Currently the highest bounty. I think we should go for it."

Dak nods. "I agree. An R4? Even if it's been tagged for mass murder, come on. This'll be a cakewalk."

He gives Wraith his rather scary, toothy reptilian grin.

"Seems too easy."

"Oh, don't talk like that. Whenever someone talks like that it stops being easy and becomes a big stupid chore."

"I just don't like going in without knowing what we're up against," Wraith replies. "You know that. Remember the LAST time? Hmm?"

Dak groans. "Listen, no one could have expected four dozen armed guards were going to be there! And, I would like to remind you, you said 'seems too easy' then, too!"

"Alright, so we should be expecting four dozen armed guards, then," Wraith says. "Good, we'll be all set."

Ker'Raos rolls his eyes.

"Let's not bring that one up again," he says. "Anyways, R4's file doesn't give me much else. Several thousand credits, wanted in pieces, and he's actually holed up in an abandoned warehouse on the other side of this district."

He gets up and grabs his kinetic rifle.

"Let's get going?"

Dak checks his wristguards, making sure his sabers are in place. "Right. Other side of the district? We'll be back before it's time to steal dinner."

He opens the Black Dawn's main hatch and heads out, forcibly ending any further arguments Wraith might have.

Wraith will shrug and follow Dak out into the night.

Off we go!

The Black Dawn is docked in a lower section of Nar Shaddaa. It's a dangerous neighborhood, but you guys know the area ridiculously well by now, having been bounty hunters in this place years before you struck any deals with Kuylen. Not to mention you're damned scary people. No one is going to give you trouble.

Nar Shaddaa is a city planet, like Coruscant, but the layout is overall different. Coruscant is a high city, where the buildings are stacked atop each other, higher and higher. Nar Shaddaa is a low city, where the buildings are being put lower and lower into the ground. There hasn't been much construction in recent years, unlike Coruscant, always building.

In any case, the warehouse that Ker'Raos spoke of, while being on the otherside of this district, is also high above you and takes a bit longer to reach.

You still get there, though. The warehouse is pretty big, but nothing notable.

At this point, I'd like a reminder of what weapons you're all carrying?

Dak has his pair of sabers, and his Arnian knives, which I think count as melee weapons, Strength +2 damage.

Dak stops in front of the warehouse, examining it. "You know, I like it better when our quarries hide in nice buildings." The reptilian looks to Wraith and Ker'Raos. "You ready?"

Wraith's got an orange lightsaber, a heavy pistol, and a vibro-axe, Strength +3.

"Nar Shaddaa doesn't have nice buildings," Wraith replies, drawing his pistol. "Ready. How are we doing this?"

"How? What, you mean like a plan?" Dak considers this for a moment. "Does running in and killing whatever's in there except for our little mechanical friend count as a plan? Then we'll chop its legs off or something."

"Yes, let's commit mass murder," Ker'Raos says. "Splendid. I'll just go turn myself in now."

"Have you not learned anything from your Master?" Wraith asks.

Can Wraith sense anybody in the warehouse?

"You two are no fun..." Dak grumbles.

What's the warehouse itself like? Any windows, vents, or similar that can be crawled into?

Negatory, Wraith. All clear.

You do find that odd, though.

"I have learned much, but I do not see the need for pointless deaths. We don't make money off of them."

That's the politician in Ker'Raos speaking. He was once a Council Member of Zeiton, after all. Quite a different background than you two.

No windows, Dak. Just large loading doors and people-sized doors.

Odd?

"If they get in the way, you can't make money anyways," Wraith says. "But nevermind that. I can't sense anyone in there."

Wraith looks over the warehouse.

"I say we go in through the normal entrances. It's not like we'll get in trouble."

"Also the normal entrances are the only entrances, unless you'd like to cut through a wall. We might want to go through separate ones, though. Catch whatever's in there from different sides and cover more than one exit."

"Good enough for me."

Ker'Raos agrees with that plan. The three of you split up.

The warehouse can only be accessed from the front; the sides are boxed in by other buildings, the top has another warehouse on top of it, and it would take you forever to get to the other side.

And so you have three choices: the upper entrance, the right lower entrance, and the left lower entrance.

Ker'Raos is taking the upper entrance. It is high enough that it would require a Master Jump for you two to reach. But not Ker'Raos. His powerful Zeitonian legs double the height of his Force Jump. He lands nimbly on the platform.

"Doors are locked," he calls down, after he tries one. He rolls a 15 on his Fix-It check and breaks in.

Who's going right and who's going left?

-

Before I forget...

We are using Ush's d20 system from the OT game, not the outdated d6 system from the old game.

This is being tested; it works better, but might function oddly with the Force powers, which are calibrated to the d6 system. We'll see.

Dak will take left. Fix-It should open that door easily...

Wraith's going right.

The difficulty is 12.

Indeed, Dak, you roll a 14. You're in.

Wraith isn't, though. He rolls a 1. Um...the door must be wired wrong? You can try again, but at an increased difficulty, since the security system is now trying to block you out.

That is an omen, I'm sure of it...

Wraith will try hacking in again.

You roll a 4.

A blast door closes over all the doors, sealing Ker'Raos and Dak inside the warehouse and sealing you out.

Dak spins around as the blast door closes behind him, then realizes what must have happened. "Wraith, you idiot!"

He turns back around to take a quick stock of the inside of the warehouse.

"This is NOT my day..."

Wraith ignites his lightsaber and simply cuts through the door.

The warehouse is stacked full with different kinds of crates. From where you are, you can't see much. You seem to be in some sort of security checkpoint. It's unmanned, though.

Wraith, no problem. Will take you a moment, of course.

"Ker'Raos, can you see anything other than boxes?"

Dak takes a few steps forward into the warehouse.

Ker'Raos is out of earshot.

You do trip over something, though. It appears to be the Gran that should have been manning the security checkpoint.

I don't feel I made it clear, but the checkpoint is a room. You can see crates through a window and the door onwards.

Ah. Well, that's interesting. Can Dak tell what killed the Gran?

He appears to have burned to death.

That's probably a bad thing. Anything else in the checkpoint?

Security screens monitoring the entire warehouse cover one wall.

Otherwise, no.

Ooh, security screens. What's to be seen on them?

You can see various different points throughout the warehouse, including the other checkpoints, some walkways, etcetera.

Of particular interest to you is that there are a good amount of bodies on the floor in one screen. This is at the center of the warehouse.

Hmm... maybe our target is still with the bodies. Can Dak make out if all of them have been burned similar to the Gran?

Any progress with the cutting?

Yes, Wraith; lightsabers can cut through anything, but blast doors just make it difficult. You finish cutting around the time Dak progresses into the warehouse.

Dak, you cannot tell from screen. You'd have to check up close. Moving on?

Moving on indeed!

When you move into the warehouse, Wraith finishes cutting. Anything fancy with that molten slab of a double door, Zinky?

Into the maze of crates, then. Actually, they're organized pretty decently. Well, not really. But sort of. You're at least able to navigate them, Dak. They are stacked high above you. Anything you want to do to speed up the search?

Wraith will Push the cut-out section inwards.

If Dak can climb them (and they don't go straight to the ceiling) running along the tops would probably help the search effort.

Yeah, that sounds good.

I'd say 'use Sense' too.

Erm, yeah, using Sense, yes.

It's been a long two years, okay? ermm

I'm just better than you, admit it.

Dak, you ascend. Sense lets you navigate quite a bit easier, climbing amongst the crates slowly but surely. They are stacked quite high, but they don't reach the walkways above.

Soon you reach the center of the warehouse. Sure enough, about a dozen bodies litter the area.

Wraith, you're in. Seems to be some sort of coatcheck; lots of blaster racks, all empty of course. Nothing else of note.

Can Dak tell if the center has been rigged? A pile of bodies in one spot is rather conspicuous...

Doesn't seem to be. Looks more like there was a fight here.

Dak will head down to the center, then.

Wraith will contact Dak as he moves into the warehouse.

"Anything to report?"

"I've got a whole pile of bodies here. I'm near the center of the warehouse. Looks like it was a fight. Oh, and I tripped over a burned Gran on the way in."

You descend to the bodies, Dak. There are a dozen dead bodies here, killed in various ways. Most have been shot. Others torched in the way the Gran was. Still more in ways that you cannot yet suss.

Beep-boop.

The sound seems to come from nearby.

Beep-boop-bawoop.

-

Wraith, moving in?

Dak turns slowly to face the noise, sure of what he will see. He carefully slips his right saber into the palm of his hand, under his sleeve.

"Wraith... I think I've found it."

"I'll be right there," Wraith says, drawing his gun.

Wraith will simply use Sense to navigate the box maze.

Noted, Wraith.

-

Dak, you turn around to see the droid you are looking for.

As noted in his bounty, R4-S6 is an R4 unit: cylindrical chasis, three legs, primarily white but for rust-brown colored pannels, a singular black photoreceptor on his conical head.

That black orb is staring right at you. S6 gives an angry warble in ascending tones.

"Sorry, S6, I don't speak... droidish. Now, you can either power yourself down quietly, or I can chop you up and enjoy myself. What's it gonna be?"

Dak keeps his body loose, ready to move at the first sign of hostility.

The droid responds with an indignant whistle, then pops open one of the larger pannels on his chassis. Out emerges a rather large gun barrel...

"Tiama tim'jep... So you've chosen the messier option." Dak's white saber burns to life with a snap-hiss.

"Wraith, the scrap pile's gonna be trouble."

R4-S6 opens fire. From the barrel zips a miniature proton warhead, a shower of sparks trailing behind it as it heads straight at you. Ever a friend, Intuition keeps this from being an outright kill by warning you in advance.

With a Heavy Weapons skill of 13, the insane little astromech rolls a 14, a direct hit as the proton rocket explodes very close to you, the lime-orange flames flowing out to engulf you...

Will you be diving out of the way?

Diving indeed!

Dak launches himself to the side, away from the blast. "Wraith, Ker, get the hell over here!" he shouts.

If Dak can attack, he will do so with Strike.

When the explosion echoes through the warehouse, Wraith breaks into a run, moving towards the noise and the center of the warehouse. If he can use Blur, he will.

Combat time it is!

Your Speed is subtracted from 10 to determine the Initiative. R4 and Dak were on equal initiatives, but R4 took Dak offguard with the Heavy Weapon.

-

WAREHOUSE SKIRMISH

Center of Warehouse

Dak: 10/0/3

R4: 0/2

Side of Warehouse

Wraith: 12/0/3

-

Wraith, you can Blur. You tap into the Force, enhancing your speed as you run. You cover three frames in two, leaving you with three frames left before you arrive at the fight.

Dak dives clear of the fiery explosion, coming away with a few minor burns. Five damage to you, sir. You pull yourself back up.

-

WAREHOUSE SKIRMISH

Center of Warehouse

Dak: 10/5/5

R4: 0/6

Side of Warehouse

Wraith: 11/0/5

-

Dak, you're three frames distant from R4. What's the plan?

Wraith will Blur again, then open fire on R4 with his heavy pistol.

Dak will Blur, then slash at R4 with a saber attack.

Dodge if R4 attacks again.

You charge in, Dak, and are immediately met with a wall of flames as R4 opens another panel and operates another weapon. A dodge would have had no effect on the attack, as he rolls a 19. The Outcome would have been the same, as it is limited to 5.

You're hit for thirteen damage and ignited.

Wraith rounds the corner at this point and opens fire! Bang! But he watches sadly as the shot ricochets off of R4's energy shield.

-

WAREHOUSE SKIRMISH

Center of Warehouse

Dak: 10/18/7

Wraith: 11/0/10


R4: 0/9

-

Oh, what happens next?

"Typical," Wraith mutters.

Wraith will holster his pistol, then use Draw to rapidly bring his lightsaber out and hurl it at R4 with Master Saber Throw.

Wraith will avoid whatever R4 attacks with, either by diving or with an active dodge.

Dak would like to put himself out now.

Oh, make that Reaction- Master Saber Throw. Almost forgot I had that.

Dak puts out the flames!

With the Reaction, Wraith is able to throw his lightsaber at the droid before it blasts him with the proton rocket launcher. A 13 gives him an Outcome of 1. The orange blade scythes just barely scythes through the energy shield and burns into R4's right leg for 22 damage.

The rocket shot comes next, though. Wraith dives out of the way as the rocket explodes near him, tossing him about for four damage.

-

WAREHOUSE SKIRMISH

Center of Warehouse

Dak: 10/18/10

Wraith: 12/4/12


R4: 22/13

-

You two are up. Force pool refreshes (god, it's been awhile since anyone's said that...).

Wraith calls his lightsaber back to his hand before lunging at R4 with a Flying Charge.

Dive away or Force Dodge, when necessary.

Dak slashes at R4 with his sabers.

Dodge or Dive as necessary.

Also, can Dak Trip R4?

I must apologize at this point; the lightsaber's damage rating for the d20 system is 20, not 30. My bad. I'll remove five damage from the two of you. Wraith's Saber Throw did 12 damage.

Wraith immediately closes the gap, flipping over to R4 with an almighty slash as he comes down. R4 dodges. A 16 says that the orange lightsaber cuts past the energy shield again and burns along the side of R4's chassis, at which he squeals high pitched notes. 16 damage.

Dak's attack is less successful as he fluffs his roll, his lightsabers buzzing off of the energy shield as he misjudges how much power is required to break past it. R4 didn't bother dodging; he's not impressed with Dak yet.

At this point, Ker'Raos fires his kinetic rifle from one of the walkways high above you! Since it is not an energy beam weapon, it ignores the shield's defensive bonus. He rolls terribly, putting a crack in the floor rather than R4.

-

WAREHOUSE SKIRMISH

Center of Warehouse

Dak: 10/13/13

Wraith: 9/0/15


R4: 28/14


Upper Walkways

Ker'Raos: 14/0/13

-

Dak, you still have time to attack.

Snap another attack in, then.

Your quick attack flickers uselessly against the shield. You roll a 3, but the snap brings it down to a 1.

A 3 was never going to hit, but remember your powers. Strike can attack quickly without the penalty of a snap.

Ker'Raos fires again. R4 doesn't dodge. It wouldn't have helped anyways, as Ker'Raos pulls off an 18. 11 damage to the little droid, denting his conical dome.

At this point, R4's main concern is escaping Wraith and revenging himself on Ker'Raos. Rocket boosters suddenly pop out of its legs and roar to life, carrying R4 up onto the upper walkways.

-

WAREHOUSE SKIRMISH

Center of Warehouse

Dak: 10/13/15

Wraith: 9/0/15


Upper Walkways

Ker'Raos: 14/0/16


R4: 39/17 (6 frames to walkways)

-

Plan? R4 is no longer in your vicinity.

"THAT'S annoying..."

How many uses of Jump will get us up there on the crates?

"I hate when droids have toys."

Yes, how much would I have to buff up Master Jump?

A Master Jump gets you double your Strength in meters mundanely, then an extra meter for every additional Force point expended.

The walkways are about forty meters up. R4 was able to clear the distance quickly due to his booster jets.

My apologies, I made an edit.

The walkways are actually forty meters up. I realized that twenty is...well, not the right size I had in mind. R4, however, has six frames until he gets up there.

Sorry again.

No problem...

Wraith will go for a Master Jump, putting an extra 4 Force pool into it, landing amongst the crates at that height.

Also doing the Master Jump with 4 extra Force thing.

Up we go! You both leap straight up into the air, angling towards stacked crates.

Wraith ends up 20 meters up, at the tip-top of the crates, while Dak ends up two meters below him.

R4 dodges in mid-air as Ker'Raos takes a potshot at him. No results, but R4's ascent is slowed.

-

WAREHOUSE SKIRMISH

Center of Warehouse

Dak: 2/13/19

Wraith: 3/0/19


Upper Walkways

Ker'Raos: 14/0/19


R4: 39/19 (5 frames to walkways)

-

Player privelege, go for it.

Do the crates go any further up?

If not, Wraith's just going to Master Saber Throw at R4...

We'll press on, as there is not much Dak can do anyways.

Wraith, they do not, so you fling your lightsaber at the rising droid...

A 19 scores you a hit! The orange blade slices off a panel from R4's back and probably severs some wires as the astromech takes 25 damage. One point of impairment to him.

Ker'Raos takes his shot, but misses.

As neither of you can do much but take a breather as your Force pool replenishes, Ker'Raos shoots again as R4 sets down by him. Six damage to the tinpot and another two points of impairment.

-

WAREHOUSE SKIRMISH

Center of Warehouse

Dak: 10/13/25

Wraith: 12/0/25


Upper Walkways

Ker'Raos: 14/0/25


R4: 70/25

-

Master Jump again. 6 extra Force ought to get Dak up to the walkways.

Likewise, but 4 points spent instead...

Your Jumps are good, carrying you up to the walkways with relative ease.

Ker'Raos fluffs his next shot.

R4 begins to pull out more of his toys. With Ker'Raos in front of him, he opens another of his slots and reveals a concussion wave emitter, blasting Ker'Raos down with a wave of concussive energy. With no room to dive, Ker'Raos takes 18 damage and is sent prone.

In the same frames, R4 unleashes a particular nasty bundle. From a larger slot in his back emerges four slightly-larger-than-fist-sized metal orbs that roll towards Dak and Wraith.

-

WAREHOUSE SKIRMISH

Dak: 4/13/31

Wraith: 8/0/29

Ker'Raos: 14/18/31


R4: 70/29

Death Orbs x 4: 0/32

-

Wraith is up next, but get something in mind, Dak...

Gee, how bad can things called "Death Orbs" be?

Hmm... is it possible to Push at least one of them simply... off the walkway?

Wraith will perform a Master Saber Throw, focusing his attacks on an orb and R4.

Defend against the attacks.

You can try it, Dak.

Wraith flings his lightsaber at the attackers, but R4 is prepared for it this time. His concussion wave emitter, located just underneath his head, swivels around and intercepts the lightsaber with a blast. The defensive maneuver flings your lightsaber off the walkway and down onto the crates below.

With time to act, R4 returns his attention to Ker'Raos. A two sets of blasters pop out of R4's front as he attempts to spray the prone frog to bits, but he rolls terribly.

Ker'Raos scrambles to his feet, using Draw to ignite his lightsaber.

-

WAREHOUSE SKIRMISH

Dak: 4/13/31

Wraith: 3/0/32

Ker'Raos: 13/18/31


R4: 70/33

Death Orbs x 4: 0/32

-

Both Dak and Wraith are acting ahead of everyone.

I'll try a Push (or Combat Push, whichever is needed) on one of the Death Orbs, with the intention of having it drop of the walkway, uselessly out of the way.

Erm, I don't think Reaction Pull works with getting my lightsaber back, so I'll Pull it back and use Defend against the incoming orbs.

Wraith pulls his lightsaber back, giving him the capability to Defend with his lightsaber. This gives you a defense of 15 against incoming attacks.

Dak, you Combat Push. A 6 doesn't do much for you.

Ker'Raos closes the gap between him and R4, twirling his sword rapidly for a Sword Whirl, raising his lightsaber skill to 12. He then executes an astounding Flip, springing up and over R4, lightsaber arcing downwards at the droid's conical head. The blade flickers off the shield, inflicting no damage as Ker'Raos rolls a 2. R4 dodged, though, putting him on equal frames with you guys.

The orbs attack! They unroll to form little three-legged mini-bots that are mostly just mobile guns. They employ tiny charged needle launchers, rapidly spraying electrically-charged needles. On Wraith, they roll a 3 and a 16. On Dak, 13 and 14. For Wraith, that's a hit for eight damage. Dak's all clear.

-

WAREHOUSE SKIRMISH

Dak: 2/13/34

Wraith: 1/8/34

Ker'Raos: 8/18/35


R4: 70/34

Death Orbs x 4: 0/35

-

Wraith and Dak, you're up before anyone else.

Dak flourishes his sabers into a blur before striking at R4.

Sword Whirl, then an attack.

Wraith will also Sword Whirl and whack at a Death Orb.

Dak's Sword Whirl gives R4 the chance to strike first, attacking with his flamethrower to ignite poor Ker'Raos. 14 damage to him, and he is on fire. Ker'Raos had a free dodge, however, and uses his frame advantage to put himself out.

Then, Dak strikes! This time, his attack is good. Attacking with a skill of 15, Dak whisks his lightsaber right through the shield upon rolling a 15. R4 squeals in protest as he takes 16 damage.

However, he stays up.

Wraith swipes at one of the orbs. 15 damage to it!

-

WAREHOUSE SKIRMISH

Dak: 10/13/38

Wraith: 12/8/38

Ker'Raos: 14/32/38


R4: 87/37

Death Orbs x 3: 0/35
Death Orb x1: 15/35

-

Pool refreshes.

Snap in another saber attack, Defend against attacks.

Again, Dak manages to drive his swords through the droid's obnoxious shielding. This time, however, the lightsabers pierce straight through R4's dome, shattering his single black eye and melting his computer brain. Sparks and smoke sputter from the astromech's shell before it shuts down for the last time.

The Death Orbs, without the coordination of R4, opt for emergency deactivation and roll back into their ball forms.

"That was fun," Ker'Raos says. "I'm not being sarcastic, not at all..."

Dak deactivates his sabers, replacing them in his wrist braces, before kicking the smoking metal figure.

"Hey, we're alive, aren't we? Any one you walk away from..."

Wraith hangs his lightsaber on his belt.

"Those things are nasty," Wraith says, nudging one of the orbs with his foot. "I wonder if we could use them..."

Think that's possible? Fix-It check?

Commandeer the Death Orbs? You would need to tear out R4's transmitter and alternate command system for them, but that's entirely possible with your Fix-It score. Anything else you could salvage from R4 that would be useful...is pretty much just ammunition for his heavy weapons. Otherwise, buggery.

"You would wonder that," Ker'Raos says. "Anyways, we should get out of here. The authorities are going to want to check out why this warehouse sounded like a warzone..."

"We can work out the balls of doom back at the ship. Let's get back quickly, corpses, while fun to make, cause too many questions."

Naturally, we ought to bring R4's "corpse" back with us.

Between the three of you, you are able to scoop up R4 and his remotes. The damaged-beyond-repair astromech is awkward to carry, and heavy, but you two are in top physical shape. Ker'Raos has all the orbs, carrying them awkwardly.

Upon returning to the Black Dawn, you are able to inform the person who issued the bounty for R4 that you have destroyed him. They tell you to do what you like with R4, use him for spare parts, and such. You could definitely use spare parts. The Black Dawn, for all your cash, is consistently in disrepair.

The credits are transferred to your account, and the deed is done. R4 is no longer an issue for anyone.

"Well that was a fun... short... thrill."

Dak sits in a chair, the rush of the kill already completely gone. Rummaging through the mess of the ship, he pulls out a toolkit and begins cutting R4 into parts (I assume Fix-it is the relevant skill for tugging out useful bits).

"We killed a droid. Isn't life on this fitc'fusa of a planet grand?"

Wraith, having gathered nothing useful from the bounty but spare parts, tinkers with the Death Orbs, figuring out how to reprogram them.

"Indeed," Wraith replies. "I call dibs on the flamethrower, by the way."

Yes, it would be Fix-It. Wraith is a teeny bit better than Dak with this sort of stuff, and has rolled better anyways. Wraith manages to get the transmitter out of R4 and reprogram the Death Orbs to his ownership. Dak, however, only succeeds in getting out most of R4's weaponry: the flamethrower, the miniature torpedo launcher, and pistols.

The concussion wave emitter, however, may have to be scrapped if someone else doesn't get a gander at it in the future. Ker'Raos votes to keep the scrapped astromech, just in case said person is met. There was also a static shock rod, a disruptor pistol, and a gas cannister launcher, but they must have been spent on the men that R4 killed earlier as they have no charge. R4's computer brain is also rather melted and unsalvageable.

Ker'Raos has no technological skill; all of this technology is new to him, sort of.

Night had fallen before you had even entered the warehouse and the night is passing fast. Ker'Raos bids farewells and heads off to his cot.

Dak tosses the torpedo launcher and pistols into a bag, then regards the flamethrower. "My ship, my tools, and I pulled it out. I say it's mine." He glares at Wraith, daring the man to challenge him.

"Do you not know what dibs means?" Wraith asks, looking up from his completed work on the Orbs.

"I know what it means. I'm just saying, I think that's my flamethrower."

"Nah, I called it. Besides, do you even know how to use that thing? Or a gun, for that matter?"

"Of course I do," Dak growls, "What kind of stupid question is that? And how would you like to do things without the Dawn, or my or Ker's help? You'd be served up as someone's drink by the second day, I think."

"I highly doubt that," Wraith says. "I've worked alone before and did rather well, thanks. I only stick with others because Kuylen proved that that got stuff done, really."

"Then why are you taking up space on my ship, exactly?"

"Didn't I just say? Working together brings success. Success brings money. Kuylen proved that, minus the Mausoleum. And so there you have it."

Wraith gets up.

"You know what? Have the flamethrower, I'm going to go have a smoke..."

He heads for the ship's ramp, walking out.

Dak places the flamethrower into his bag. "Those things'll kill you, y'know," he calls after Wraith, more out of habit than anything else.

He goes back to the computer and checks the bounty list for anything interesting, already bored. I hate living like this...

You could not hate it more.

At least with Kuylen, you had motive. You had a passion to devote yourself to. Now, it is only survival. Survival can be a goal in itself, but not in this case. The thrill of bounty hunting has long since faded; the Dark Side of the Force does not give a damn about money.

There are a few fresh bounties, Dak, but they're a waste of time. Not worth enough for your talents. Usually, Jango Fett manages to snare most of the good bounties. It's a nuisance.

Dak hisses in anger before leaning back. He applies a few choice words to Jango Fett. If only someone would take down Fett... He would himself, but a shrewd calculation told him the Force would have to favor him heavily to even have a chance, and even then such a feat would be difficult. Perhaps too difficult.

A difficult man to find, Fett. Rumor has it that he pulls back to the Outer Rim when he is not hunting, hidden. He kills those that try to follow him, whether they have a bounty or not.

The day has been long for you both. Even with the energizing quality of the Force and the rejuvenating fire of the Dark Side, your hunt for R4 and the skirmish has left you weary.

Wraith, while having a relaxing smoke on the edge of the hangar, sitting on the fuel lines, you start to nod off. Eventually, you cannot stave it off any longer, and you drift off to sleep...

Dak, you too begin to experience the fatigue. Your reptilian body protests the minor burns that R4 inflicted, desiring sleep to speed up the healing process. Your eyes close...

...and suddenly you are very, very cold.

Dak feels the change in temperature, and for a second thinks he must be dreaming of Arnia. But no, something doesn't feel right. He opens his eyes slowly.

You open them, only to squeeze them shut a few times as you are met with the blinding glare of the tundra. You are on your stomach, pressed into the snow.

You cannot hear; something has deafened you.

Rise, Kaliero.

The voice is pure and clean, sounding in your head.

He stands warily, hands ready to eject his sabers from their gauntlets.

"What's going on?" he says aloud, then repeats the thought in his mind.

Your lightsabers are not in your gauntlets, but lying in the snow. Instinctually, you return them to your hands with a slight Pull.

You will need those.

Your danger sense suddenly flares as, despite your deafened state, the roar of a heavy repeater slices through the soundlessness. When an Arnian throws himself in the way of the repeater, you sense his death almost immediately while witnessing his sacrifice.

For you, General.

Another Arnian comes from behind you, charging forwards with his blaster rifle. He guns down the Arnian behind the repeater, burning through his armor.

Another comes forward. Then another. Then another, until dozens of Arnians are barreling past you. One slaps you on the shoulder and, though you cannot hear him, you somehow understand that he is asking if you are okay. You do not have time to reply, as he takes a barrage to the back.

You must lead them, General.

The swell of eager soldiers pushes you forwards, into the enemy trenches. The shaded trenches become colder still. As you move through the trench, dodging laser fire, something whistles past your head and sinks into the snow with a crunch.

Take it, General. Take it and know who must die.

Dak pushes his sabers back in place in the midst of the carnage. He's slightly shocked at seeing Arnians again.

General...?

He crouches down and picks up the fallen object.

It is a knife, much like the ones you carry. However, these are far sharper, far more valuable.

They bear the crest of the Royal Family.

Look up, General.

You raise your eyes towards the walls of the greatest city of Arnia, the capitol. Without warning, they crumble, leaving the city vulnerable. The city follows, collapsing into dust. The Palace, too, is dust. All dust, blown away in the winds of the tundra. The battle fades away, leaving you alone in the snow.

Come home, General Kaliero. Your people wait.

And you awake, drooling over the scraps of R4-S6 at the workbench. It is nearly morning.

At some point during the night, Wraith, you came in and hopped into your cot.

Dak shakes his head to clear it. That was no ordinary dream. He hurries into the cockpit and primes the engines. As a second thought, he switches on the commlink.

"Wraith, Ker'Raos. We're going to Arnia."

Wraith is roused from his sleep by the sudden announcement.

"Huh?" Wraith asks, groggily. "Say that again?"

"Arnia, Wraith. My home planet. I just had a vision, an actual vision. Telling me to go back to Arnia."

Wraith drops out of his bunk.

"Arnia? But that's in the Republic, Dak. Why the hell would you want to go there?"

"It's not about me wanting to go, you idiot. The Force is telling me to go. Besides, Arnia barely counts as Republic. Self-regulated, self-maintained."

Wraith grinds his teeth.

"How do you know its safe for you to head back? Barely Republic or not, we're wanted men, right? I doubt Arnia enjoys mass murderers more than the Republic."

"I don't know, Wraith, damnit. But I think something big is about to happen. A war. And I'm meant to be there. To lead... someone... to victory. My victory."

Wraith seems agitated about the whole thing and makes no attempts to hide it.

"How do you even know?" Wraith asks. "The Force could only have shown a possible future, not a definite one."

"I have never had a vision in my life before. Why would it happen now, and it not be important? This is my destiny, Wraith, and no matter the odds, I will make it happen."

In annoyance at Wraith's misgivings he searches for any recent news concerning Arnia through the ship's computer.

The argument has roused Ker'Raos.

"What's going on?" he asks, groggily.

Unfortunately, Dak, all you are able to find immediately is articles regarding the Queen-Mother's communications with the Galactic Senate. Apparently she attended a meeting, something that likely would have caused some ire on Arnia. The world does not even have a Senator, mind you. You would have to dig deeper for anything important.

Wraith ignores Ker'Raos, drawing his pistol and aiming at Dak.

"You're not the only one having visions, Dak," Wraith says, agitated. "Arnia is an option, but it's potentially threatening."

Dak stands, a saber flashing out into his hand and igniting.

"It's the will of the Force. I always knew I was destined for greatness, and this is my chance. Why is this something to die over, when we could all benefit? Anything's better than this poodoo backwater planet."

He has a point, Wraith. While his vision has a chance of not happening, your vision is the same. The Force shows potential futures to all, ones that can be made to happen or avoided, depending on whom they are shown to. Dak will want his to happen, while you will want yours prevented.

Ker'Raos slowly steps back into the bunks, leaving you two in the room. He hates taking sides.

Wraith lowers his pistol.

"Alright. We make for Arnia. But I'm warning you...we need to be careful."

Dak's saber sizzles into silence after Wraith lowers his weapon.

"I'm not stupid, Wraith," the lizard growls as her turns around and starts cycling the ship systems for takeoff, "We'll be careful."

"Is it over?" Ker'Raos asks, from the bunks.

The Black Dawn's engines hum to life once Dak has it all set for travel.

Ready when you are.

"Yes, Ker'Raos. We won't be killing each other today." Dak lifts the Dawn off the platform smoothly, and heads for space after dodging through the erratic mess Nar Shaddaa calls traffic.

After what seems like an eternity of dodging idiotic pilots, the Black Dawn emerges into the cold calmness of space (which, of course, does not rival the cold calmness of an Arnian snow field).

Ker'Raos straps in, I assume Wraith does likewise, Nar Shaddaa falls away behind you, the stars blur, and you make the jump to lightspeed.

Wraith's words did bother you a bit, Dak. What if what you saw is inaccurate? You are not accustomed to receiving visions, after all. Kuylen could have helped you interpret...

Wraith, you're uneasy about your own vision. Uncomfortable that Dak received a vision on a similar subject...