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Deep in the Outer Rim, Tartaaris serves as an undisclosed penal colony for former Separatists and other undesirables.
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Many innocent beings have suffered immeasurably in the Imperial compound…
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…leading one band of prisoners to rise against their oppressors.
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Having already taken out a pair of Stormtroopers, the inmates know it won’t be long before the Imperial authorities respond with force.
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“How much further?” Atracion growls impatiently.
“Where is this supposed secret entrance into the complex?”
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“I’m not quite sure,” K3-95 admits.
“Garlin never provided me with the exact coordinates, but based on my estimates, it should be just up ahead.”
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“We have to be getting close,” Rykrof offers.
“Keep your eyes open for signs of a secret doorway… hatch… anything.”
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“You told us you knew how to get in,” Lits gnarls.
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“Well, it does look like we are nearing something important,” the droid replies, observing the Imperial styled structures.
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“Could it be under us?” Rykrof wonders aloud.
“Maybe the winds shifted the sands and covered a doorway?”
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“I don’t like this,” Calo says, changing the subject.
“It’s too quiet… we haven’t seen any droids or activity since we took out those troops.”
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“He’s right,” Sarlo nods.
“What if we’re walking into a trap? And where’s the flank team?”
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“I know,” Rykrof agrees.
“Something’s not right.”
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“K3, I think you might need this.”
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“Why thank you,” the droid replies, gripping the blaster.
“It has been quite some time since I’ve handled one of these.”
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“Just don’t give us any reason to regret giving you one, droid.”
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“We need to thin out… we’re too exposed,” Rykrof says to Atracion.
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“Drop your weapons,” a metallic voice suddenly orders the group.
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“Damn…”
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“Sir, I would not advise doing anything these mechanical abominations tell us to do.”
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For a brief moment, the droids remain frozen…
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“We are here to see the Maker,” Rykrof shouts to the sentinel droid.
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“Grant us a ship to get off this planet, and we won’t be of any trouble.”
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“Terminate them.”
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“Destroy… Destroy… Destroy…”
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“Here they come!”
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Rykrof ignites his lightsaber as the droids race toward the inmates!
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“FLESH!”
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“They’ve got us surrounded!”
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A laser blast then rips through Parto’s chest…
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…as a pair of Viper droids fire at the group!
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“Those probes are going to tear us apart!”
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“I’m on it!” Velsa shouts…
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…she then moves her aged walker into position…
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…blasting the lead droid to pieces!
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“Velsa! Behind you!”
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But it’s too late as the walker takes a heavy blast…
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…crashing to the ground!
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The prisoners continue to fight for their lives…
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…but the sentinel droid penetrates their position!
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Sarlo fires a desperate blast at the menace…
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…as a laser blast rips into K3-95!
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“Rykrof… I’m… sor…”
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“Dammit!”
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A laser blast then strikes Calo!
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Rykrof then turns to face the sentinel droid…
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…narrowly avoiding a deadly blow!
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In desperation, Velsa sprints from the walker…
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…but is instantly torn down!
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The sentinel begins to lunge for Rykrof…
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…but is met with a deep slash across its torso!
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Rykrof then spins to face the remaining attackers…
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…and finds himself facing the Maker!
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“You’re next… WHATEVER you are.”
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“You are beaten, Enloe,” the Maker smiles.
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“When you first arrived, my orders were to grant you leniency.”
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“Surrender your weapons, and only your friends will suffer…”
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“…for I will show you …mercy.”
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Without warning, a blast of energy slams through the Maker’s cranial dome!
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His body then bursts into an electrical convulsion!
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Astonished, Rykrof looks into the distance…
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…spotting survivors of Atracion’s flank team…
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…Halri Kidell and Helmo Iteris!
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“Come on!” Rykrof shouts with renewed hope!
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“The Maker’s DEAD!”
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Helmo then fires another blast…
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…destroying the second Viper droid!
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The survivors quickly gather at the scene of the massacre.
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“This was a trap,” Atracion growls.
“We could of all been killed.”
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“I’m sorry… but if we don’t stand against them, we’re as good as dead,” Rykrof firmly replies.
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“No time to argue,” Halri says.
“It won’t be long before the Imperials send the garrison out to finish us off.”
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“Chief Rolem will make us suffer.”
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“Right,” Rykrof agrees.
“We need to carry on before they have time to react.”
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“Enloe…” calls the visage of the Maker, now in the body of a different droid!
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“What the hell’s going on?”
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“HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!”
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Another visage then emerges, charging directly at the group!
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It quickly leaps onto Lits!
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“We have to get out of here!”
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Lits is then torn to shreds by the abomination!
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Rykrof instinctively turns and runs for his life!
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“Get out of here!” Helmo shouts.
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With the Maker distracted, Rykrof and the others sprint to the distance…
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…as the prisoner sacrifices himself for the group!
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Rykrof and the others continue their desperate escape…
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“We have to get back to base,” Halri gasps.
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“That’s exactly where the Stormtroopers will be waiting for us,” Rykrof argues.
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“We go in there.”
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“The sewers?” Atracion retorts.
“Are you crazy?”
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“The DWELLERS live in there,” Halri warns.
“They’re worse than the Maker’s droids!”
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“I don’t like your ideas anymore,” Atracion bellows.
“You’re getting everyone killed!”
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“Then stay out here, and have at it with whatever the hell those things were back there.”
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“Those were the Maker,” Sarlo says.
“Whatever he is, we didn’t kill him.”
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“We can worry about that later…”
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“…but this is where I’m headed.”
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“What do we do now?” Sarlo groans.
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“We’re out of options,” Atracion concedes.
“Follow the fool.”
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