Star Wars The Old Republic: The Jedi Crusader

CHAPTER 5 - NAR SHADDAA - PRIDE

Mara arrived back on her ship, plugging the droid's head in to the holoterminal as Rat King leant forwards in this throne, holding a datapad and surrounded by his splicers. "Interesting..." He muttered. "Says here that this was a remote attack. One we've traced back to Nar Shaddaa. We can send you the co-ordinates to where the attack was launched from, but that's the most we can get right now. If you don't mind, some of my associates will relieve you of the head once you get to Nar Shaddaa so that we may run further studies on it."

"Sounds good to me. Send me those co-ordinates. I'll set course immediately." Mara responded.

"What are you doing?" Grimm interrupted. "You aren't with the Jedi? You are taking orders from some petty criminal?!" He sounded as distressed as he was irritated.

"Who's your friend?" Rat King asked sarcastically.

"This is Grimm. Don't mind him. He hates the Dread Masters just as much as us. He's fine." Mara introduced her floating friend.

"Grimm... right... anyway. Happy hunting. I've sent you the co-ordinates. Best of luck." Rat King's scepticism was obvious as he disconnected.

Mara set the co-ordinates as she was trailed by a furious Grimm around the ship. "Now listen here lass, I am not one to be lied to! My power is not for the use of common mercenaries and thieves! I am Jedi Master Grimm! My very name brings..." Grimm stopped when he realised Mara wasn't even paying attention to him. "What are you doing?" He bellowed, hoping to gauge a response from her.

"Waiting for you to finish. If you'd let me explain..."

"Well have at it then, I haven't all day you know!"

"Right... well, anyway. I was a Jedi like, tow or three days ago. I left so I could hunt the Dread Masters, given the Jedi are just gonna sit on their hands and let evil run rampant in the galaxy. I still have all the skills of a Jedi though, don't worry. I wasn't the Jedi Battlemaster for nothing."

"You were the battlemaster and you left? Heavens, you must really want the Dread Masters wiped away like the filth they are."

"Well, yeah."

"Very well then. I shall trust your judgement. Let us be on our merry way."

Mara set the co-ordinates and soon enough, they arrived at the smuggler's moon. Mara followed the location to an old droid warehouse on the lower levels, hidden away deep in the neon depths of the gluttonous planet. Docking the ship in what felt like the most secure place on the unsecure planet, Mara and Grimm continued to trace the signal into the factory. Prying the rusted door aside, Mara and Grimm were met with a scene of total darkness. Only a pitch-black void lay before them. The darkness was soon illuminated by a light however, as a holo appeared of a scrawny-looking man, wearing a series of cybernetic implants and a strange looking gauntlet on his left hand.

"Welcome, Mara Tallian." He giggled coyly, like an excited yet deranged child.

"Who are you?" Mara asked.

"They call me Dash! My mind is as fast as lightning. And they've never caught me. Why are you here?"

"I'm tracing a..." She was promptly interrupted.

"Oh, I already know! You're looking for whoever busted into the warden on Belsavis right? Well... it was me!" He sounded insane as Mara's blood began to boil. "Oh, look at how angry you are! Jedi aren't supposed to get angry! Stop it! Anyway, I was hoping someone would come and play with my new toys! I've been tinkering for so long and slaying every cretin I want with them; I wanted a real challenge. You'll do! Catch me if you can!" He vanished from sight as the factory illuminated with a dark orange light and the conveyor belts cracked into life. The door slammed shut behind them as a blast door seemingly fell out of nowhere to block their exit. The droids began to drop down and ready themselves for combat, Mara growled as she drew her blade and Grimm began to cackle with dark energy.