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The Planet Makem Hek, in the farthest reaches of the Perlemian Trade Route.
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We begin inside a bar, panning past the strange denizens within we witness a drunken Quarren collapse before reaching Cortez & Durandel.
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{{CRASH}} glass shatters
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“HICK” the lightweight continues . .
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Cortez: “I still don’t understand what’s so important about this rock kiddo, we’ve been here for 4 days & all I’ve witnessed is leery Quarren who can’t handle his ale?”
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Durandel: “Patience Galen Cortez, the answer will come”
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Cortez takes another sip . . .
Cortez: “So this is a kind of Jedi hunch?”
Durandel: “I don’t know . . But something draws me here . . .”
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A stranger approaches them, Galen looks menacingly upwards towards the character.
Stranger: “Grog requests that you step outside due to the risk of damage”
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Durandel & Galen both lower their drinks
Durandel: “Damage?”
Stranger: “There is a Gamorrean hunting party that requests a moment of your time!”
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Galen: “I’m not in the mood to play guessing games, if it’s gonna be a fight we can at least be in the fresh air!”
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“JedI??” the party screech baying for blood
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Galen: “Just act nice & calm till I can get enough room to pop the big one in the face”
Durandel: “I could just force push them collectively?”
Galen: “yep . . Confirming that you are indeed a Jedi . . . kiddo be smart!”
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Galen approaches the largest of the group who appears to be the chief huntsman.
The stinking beast snorts one word “Jedi.”
Trying to calm the tension Cortez responds “No - No - No Jedi here!”
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From behind someone clears their throat “uh hum”
It’s the stranger from inside who has a lightsaber held up on show
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“Oh you swines . .” Cortez groans as the realisation hits that once again his young Padawan friend has become a little lighter!
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Quite out of character the party has come prepared, clamping a neural inhibitor upon Durandel before he has had time to overcome his embarrassment & then simply bind him by his hands.
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Sheer strength in numbers allows the Gamorreans to best the seasoned law man.
Showing their sadistic nature the party hang Galen from the highest point in the area.
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Leaving him swinging in the cool morning breeze . . . .
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At the Imperial palace Emperor Palpatine meditates within his now fully operational Sith chambers.
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His focus & determination allow him a mastery of the Dark side unseen for eons.
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“Your shuttle awaits your highness” Mas amedda squirms
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“Very well my friend” Palpatine sighs smugly
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“The dark side smiles upon us this day!”
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Within the throne room Darth Vader bids farewell to his master.
“You are in sole command during my absence Lord Vader” the Emperor hisses.
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As Vader naturally takes to the throne Palpatine erupts . . . . .
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“The throne however is exclusively mine . .”
The apprentice falls to his knees like a scolded dog “Forgive me my master . . ”
In the blink of an eye the Emperors demeanour sullies once more “No harm done - this time, keep things as they should be until my return . .”
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Back outside the tavern the apparently lifeless corpse twitches into motion.
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Free of the slipknot Cortez refastens his cape & brushes himself down.
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“hmm that’s a new one!” he chirps to himself “gotta remember that I don’t breathe anymore!”
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Picking up his rife Cortez realises that a rescue is in order, Gamorreans don’t hide their tracks . . . .
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Over rocky terrain & then into dense jungle Durandel is powerless to act upon his own free will - his focus firmly fixed upon the leader of the group.
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Suddenly all hell breaks loose . . . .
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Black clad warriors emerge from the surrounding trees.
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Durandel can do little else but witness the events. . .
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The perfect ambush!
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“Orders?” a subordinate asks of his superior . . .
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“SUPPERTIME!!” the Commander roars . . .
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The star fighters are camouflaged under the thick tree line away from prying eyes on the outskirts of the jungle/ canyon boarder.
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Tooled up & ready for action Cortez picks up the trail into the green.
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“An ambush?” Galen exclaims discovering his companions prized weapon amongst the dirt “No bounty hunter would leave such an important trophy behind, why kidnap a Jedi twice over?”
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Hours later . . .
The Padawan awakens free of the headgear but bound once again above a cavern floor.
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It would appear that he is not alone . . . .
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“Look who’s awake” the gruff commander laughs “I’m surprised she didn’t paralyse you?”
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Durandel begins to focus “she?” he asks the soldier.
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“This isn’t a Q & A session bro, we are expecting company” the soldier grunts.
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He nods to the figure above “That one has been slipping in & out for days, must be another off one? Toxins effect different ones in different ways but I’d bet a star cruiser that YOU haven’t a mark on you!”
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One of the other men quietly relay information to the commander, who begins to leave the area “I’d keep still if I were you, struggling tends to get you dead!”
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Shortly after the black soldiers leave a familiar sight befalls the Padawan.
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The Crimson Guard - Cortez’ replacement under the new rule - converge upon an alter that has escaped Durandel until now.
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As a shadowy figure enters the cavern a dark foreboding feeling hits . . .
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The object that Galen had removed from the palace . . . .
The crimson guards then retreat to outside the area under strict orders . . . .
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Then a familiar if not slightly more sinister voice bellows arrogantly holding the item aloft.
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“Darth Sidious Lord of the great Sith, son of the darkness & the pupil of treachery announces himself before you . . . You will acknowledge my power!”
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Something stirs . . ..
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Something monstrous edges towards this dark figure . . Rattling & hissing furiously.
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“Mygalomorphae the orb weaver I command thee, on thy ancient word to accept this offering . . .” He continues
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Then the creature finally replies, in a voice that echoes as if spoken by a thousand mouths in all pitches - from a whisper to a roar . . .
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. . . “MY BARGAIN WAS NOT WITH YOU LITTLE ONE, FOR IF THAT HAD BEEN TRUE YOU WOULD ANNOUNCE YOURSELVF WITH A LITTLE MORE RESSSPECT”
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The figure reveals himself gesturing towards the alter below.
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Mygalomorphae samples the offering.
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Like a thirst quenched she sighs basked in a purple glow.
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Whilst she sips at the object the true nature of the Sith is revealed at long last!
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Drawing the saber that has befallen so many Jedi Palpatine believes he has the upper hand!
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The arachnid strikes out instantly - the ploy was amateurish in its conception & no real threat but a duel fills Mygalomorphae with curiosity.
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A stand off
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Sparring . . . Her pincers unphased by saber contact . .
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She awaits her opportunity . . .
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The aggressor is disarmed . .
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Counter attack!
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Slowly she shakes off the force lightning with her own energies . . .
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“YOU ARE INDEED SITH IN NATURE YOUNG ONE . . . I SHALL ACCEPT PAYMENT & YOUR REWARD WILL FOLLOW . . . .”
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The woman trapped in the web above murmurs . . . .
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Durandel sees his opportunity & begins to edge the abandoned saber towards them.
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In the background Mygalomorphae has finished her dealings with Palpatine.
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One of the ambushers from the tavern is also a third groggy prisoner . . . .
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He is snagged from his ceiling bonds & taken below .
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Durandel realises that escape is most definitely his only option!!!!
To be continued in act 2 . . . . :!:
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