Star Wars Galaxies: A Paycheck Earned - A Jedi Lost (RP Story - Part 1)

A Paycheck Earned - A Jedi Lost
By Yojimbo

"This planet stinks" Yojimbo thought as he lay in the rank Dathomirian mud watching the bright green lightsaber blazing against the cloudy night sky. He hated mud. He had been tracking the young Jedi for 3 weeks, getting more and more frustrated by bad luck, bad information and faulty droid components. This Jedi was relatively low in the ranks of the order, but had made the mistake of bringing too much attention to himself, and had managed to get himself on the terminals. That was all that really mattered to Yojimbo. A Jedi on the terminal meant credits in his bank account. This particular Jedi however had turned out to be more trouble than he was worth.

The young Padawan was lucky enough to have the guidance of a Jedi Master, who stayed with him most of the time. Yojimbo knew that his chances against the padawan and a Master were slim. Being an old Bounty Hunter, he had grown weary of waking up in cloning facilities, and cringed at the thought of another bacta tank. It had been a week since he had seen his young wife Tabitha, and it appeared it would be yet another before he could see her again. The thought of the men in the cantinas and starports hitting on her drove him nuts, and were if not for his trust in her, and the fact that his guildmates knew to protect her when he was out on jobs, he would not have been able to sleep at all.

Yojimbo really had nothing against Jedi personally, but this was how he made his living, and he was good at it. It could have been a Commando, or an Armorsmith that was on the boards, and if it paid enough, he would gladly deliver the corpse to the high bidder.

"Does this guy ever sleep?" He thought as it grew deeper into the night. The Master had been called to Corellia by the High Council, so if there were a night to finish this job, tonight would be it. His pet rancor, Slim, snorted in the background. "I know boy, I wish he'd sleep too, these long nights are killing me" Yojimbo said, trying to comfort his most trusted friend. Slim had seen him through his toughest battles, but he was getting old as well, and had a harder time keeping quiet on the late night stalkings than he used to. "Why did two old men like us stay in this business Slim?" Yojimbo whispered more to himself than to Slim. But he knew the answer. It was all he knew how to do, and all he ever wanted to do.

Yojimbo shook his head slightly to clear his thoughts. This was going to be his best chance to finish this job, and he needed not get distracted by sentimental things. "Keep your eyes open Slim" he mumbled to the rancor, as he took the traditional stance and began to meditate, readying himself for battle.

There is a reason that Yojimbo wore his thick composite armor on these late night stalks. That reason is that a rancor claw can punch through a Zabrak ribcage like a hot knife through butter, and that is how Slim likes to get his attention. When he was startled from his meditative state, the first thing he notices was the silence. No more lightsaber humming. The Young Jedi had made camp and gone to bed for the night. This was the time to strike, miss this opportunity and he may never get another.

He motioned for Slim to move in to attack. This strategy had worked well over the years. Slim would distract the mark, and Yojimbo would deal a fatal blow from a distance, never being seen. This worked particularly well on Dathomir due to the high rancor population. As Slim moved into position as quietly as a rancor can, Yojimbo readied his pride and joy. A beautiful Light Lightning Cannon made by Crackpot Pizza. Crackpot had designed the weapon to fire with all the silence of a Corellian butterflies wings, and Yojimbo treasured it above almost anything else.

Slim moved into the Padawan's camp and let out a ground shaking roar, and in the blink of an eye the young Jedi was on his feet, lightsaber brandished and advancing towards the rancor. Yojimbo had the Jedi dead in his sights, gently squeezed the trigger and... nothing. Not even a click. Yojimbo cursed under his breath. It had blocked the circuits that provided the electricity to his cannon. He frantically grabbed his water canister from his pack and doused the barrel of his weapon to clear the mud. He looked up and saw Slim taking blow after blow from the jedi's lightsaber. "I'm coming buddy" Yojimbo muttered as he shouldered his lightning cannon. Sights lined up, breath held tightly, and a short prayer, and Yojimbo pulled the trigger. A long beam of electricity raced across the Dathomirian night sky as Yojimbo thanked whatever deity had helped him get the shot off. His aim was true and the young jedi fell to the ground with a night shattering scream.

Yojimbo grabbed his scatter pistol and ran cautiously into the Jedi's small camp. There he was, not more than 20 years old, lying on the ground, barely recognizable from the electricity burns, and shaking a bit, holding onto what little life he had left. With a cold look in his eye Yojimbo drew and fired one last shot, ending the Jedi's pain, a small smile coming to his lips at the thought of the paycheck he would receive, and of seeing his beautiful young wife once again.

Yojimbo tended to Slims wounds, this battle had almost gotten the best of him. Then the two battle weary, old friends made their way for the Science outpost and the long shuttle ride home to Independence.