Into a Galaxy at War (Bounty Hunter Edition)

As Spike disembarked from the Black Talon, he made his way over to the arrival console and registered himself. Mako told him, "I never liked the smell of spaceports, all the drunk passengers and grease monkeys."

Spike looked at her and said, "Smells better than Hutta doesn't it?"

Mako chuckled, "That's like saying I'm thinner than a Hutt."

Spike rolled his eyes and said, "I'm getting the feeling that outsiders aren't particularly liked around here."

Mako nodded, "Imperials are extremely picky about who they trust, so let's watch whose toes we step on, don't want us being killed or arrested without getting a shot at Blood."

After Spike registered them as arrivals, they caught a speeder to the Mandalorian Enclave. When they arrived, there was an Imperial waiting for them who said, "Excuse me, are you the hunter Grand Moff Kilran spoke of in the mission aboard the Black Talon?"

Spike nodded, "Yes, that's me."

The Imperial pulled out a datapad and after punching some numbers in, she printed out and handed a paycheck to Spike. "Thank you for your assistance in the matter, this is your pay." before walking away.

Spike looked at the paycheck and saw that it was for 50,000 credits, "Wow, I expected good pay, but nothing like this." before showing the check to Mako.

Mako was just as surprised as Spike and pulled out her own datapad and used it to deposit the check into Spike's account. She then said, "Let's get a move on, we still need to get our spot in the Hunt."

As the two of them entered the enclave, a woman with a mohawk and tag earrings said, "Well, well, well, another hunter for the Great Hunt? I'm afraid I've got a bit of bad news. We've got two dozen hunters, and only one spot left in the Great Hunt. You want that spot, you have to fight for it. Head in and hear what the Assistant Huntmaster has to say."

Spike nodded, and headed into the next room. He knew this all was what happened when he played the game on his computer before the VR version came out.

The Assistant Huntmaster told them, "You're the best the galaxy's thug lords had to offer, but only one of you will be joining the Great Hunt. You'll each have three bounties to take and complete. Anyone who completes all three bounties will earn a spot in the Grand Melee."

Another hunter said, "You expect us to hunt here on Drommund Kaas, with Imperials and Sith?"

Spike scoffed, "If you're afraid, head back to the spaceport. The Great Hunt has no room for cowards."

The Assistant Headmaster nodded, "Good! That's the spirit! Any of you who are willing to back out, be my guest. To the rest of you, head to your handlers for your first contract." before assigning the hunters their handlers.

Spike and Mako both walked back to the woman they'd met, who introduced herself as Crysta. She took out her datapad and her eyes widened, "This can't be right, you got enemies in the Mandalorians?"

Spike nodded, "Yeah, Tarro Blood killed my team to scare me out of the hunt. Let me guess, he used his status to give me a dangerous bounty?"

Crysta replied, "Yeah, I wouldn't wish this bounty on anyone but my worst enemies, but you have to take what the dice roll. A few weeks ago, a Republic noble was taken into captivity and sold as a slave by mistake. He's worth good money alive, his family will pay handsomely for him. There's been a slave revolt out by the statue that the slaves were working on before they revolted. Head out there and see if you can't worm some information about him out of the rebel slaves. Just be careful, lots of Sith and Imperials are out there, and the lives of alien bounty hunters are worth less than droids to them."

Spike nodded, "Consider me warned." before leaving the enclave. He thought that with his paycheck from the Black Talon, he could easily buy some new armor and weapons, and headed into Kaas City to look around.

2 hours later...

Spike had equipped himself with the finest weapons and armor he could afford, and headed out to the colossus Chyrsa told them about. He noticed a group of slaves hiding behind a large chunk of stone, and headed towards them, one of which pulled out a blaster, "Keep walking! Don't come any closer!"

Spike put his hands up, meaning no harm, "Don't worry, I'm not being paid to kill any rebel slaves, I'm just looking for a noble who was enslaved. Help me out and I'll be on my way."

Before the slave could shoot, another one stopped him and she said, "We saw one of the slaves with a datapad, and he was taken towards Kaas City by a man in rags. We've got the datapad here, take it and leave us alone." before tossing the datapad to Spike.

Spike smiled and said, "Pleasure doing business." before leaving to watch the holo recording on the datapad.

On the holo, a woman came up and said, "My darling, I'm so sorry about what has transpired. I can't get you back to your beloved family, but I can make life here on Drommund Kaas much more comfortable for you. A man in rags will come to get you out of that filth pit you were sold into. Together you and I will pretend you are my brother. Nobody will know the truth about our love."

Spike gagged as he turned off the recording, "Lovers pretending to be siblings? That's disgusting. But we know where they are, so let's go."

They headed back to the cantina in Kaas City, only to be stopped by an Imperial with a group of soldiers who said, "Stop right there, you will hand over your weapons and surrender yourself."

Spike pulled out his blaster and pointed it point blank at the Imperial's head, "I don't want to kill you, but I will if I have to."

The Imperial gulped and said, "O-Okay! I relent! You haven't done anything illegal, but Blood said-"

Spike raised an eyebrow and said, "Blood? As in Tarro Blood? Just get out of here before I get angry."

The Imperial nodded and left with his soldiers, allowing Spike to confront the two nobles.

The man asked, "Can I help you?"

The woman told him, "Don't pay any attention to this... thing. It's not supposed to be here and we shouldn't act like we approve."

Spike pulled out the datapad that had been left at the colossus and said, "Big mistake was leaving this behind. I'm here to take him back to the Republic."

The noble looked to his lover and said, "You said I wouldn't be able to get home, that I had no choice but to stay here!"

His lover rolled her eyes, "I may have exaggerated, but hasn't it been nice my darling?"

He shook his head, "No, this planet is disgusting and you treat me like I'm a pet!"

She grumbled and said to Spike, "I assume his family will pay less if he's dead. So here's a deal, you kill him, and send me the receipt from his family, and I'll cover the difference, twice even."

Spike shook his head, "Some lover you are. But I don't kill if I don't need to." before freezing his target in carbonite with his newest weapon. After that was all said and done, he returned to the Mandalorian Enclave with his target, handing him over to the Mandalorians, who paid him the bounty's pay.

When they returned to Crysta, she told them, "Good job, bit a bad news though, whoever hates you is piling it on hard. Got a job from an Imperial about a rogue Sith."

Spike smirked underneath his mouth guard and said, "I may not be a Mandalorian, but anything that's not a challenge is a waste of time, so this should be refreshing."

Crysta chuckled, "That's the spirit. Get a move on. You'll have an easier time with this Imperial, he's not human either, so it shouldn't be too much trouble."

Spike nodded, "Thanks for that." before leaving to meet his next client.