The Hotshot Mandalorian

Chapter 2: Complications and Issues

Chapter 2: Galaxy HUD Map

Starship Excalibur

En Route to Nar Shaada

E.T.A four galactic standard hours

3648 ATC

It had taken me close to an hour to transfer the data onto my ship's library archives , but I was doing more than just copying and transferring data. I also had to make it look like that the data spike had not been tampered or messed with. My client would no doubt scan the data for any breaches or bugs or any sort of malicious software imbedded in the data. Every precaution had to be taken in order for me to receive the maximum payment possible.

I laughed at myself for being so diligent at this hardwork. At this point, I have gathered and accumulated enough credits for me to train and organize an army. All of my earnings come from over nine years of bounty hunting, taking on the missions that no mercenary in their right mind would ever take out of fear or realism, at least that was what they wanted to call it.

Every bounty I took, every piece of data I took, every artifact that I procured, they were all things to challenge me. It was due to pulling off what everyone else considered the impossible that I earned a reputation among secret organizations spanning the galaxy, organization that were unknown even the Empire and the former Republic. They paid generously because they knew that everyone else would not even entertain the thought of these suicide missions, but suicide was one of the reasons I took. I have never felt more alive than when I am almost dead. I digress, I have enough credits to retire in style, to train a private army, and to do many other things,but as you have guessed, none of these are for me.

At this point, I might as well spend for some unique and luxury trinkets and items, but in truth, I have enough artifacts, relics, and antique items to fill a museum. I am rather minimalist when it comes to money. Everything I buy has to serve a useful purpose. That has always been my principal. I almost never buy luxury or convenience things, and I make few large purchases, with one of the exceptions being my ship, the Excalibur.

The only other time I remember buying so much was that I had purchased a home somewhere on the beautiful and peaceful planet of Naboo. It was expensive, sure, but nothing that I could not handle. When I had first met the owner, they felt a bit hesitant to sell it to me, but once I produced the credits and gave them my knowledge home maintenance and such, they gave in. That was over three years ago. Ever since then, I have made some careful and elaborate designs to the home and turned it into more of a fortress of artifacts, technology, and design. Naturally, to avoid suspicion of the Imperials, it was registered under my birth name since my birth name and Flare carry absolutely no connection to each other. I had made sure of that. I did miss that place. I have not been there for eleven months. I might want visit so I can relax and unwind for a time.

As much fun as it is traveling the galaxy, making adventures for myself, doing these things that would leave others open-jawed and awed, I do remember a much more peaceful and simpler time, a time before I became Flare . I remember vaguely of a family I use to have, not by blood. Mandalorians did not require blood ties to become family, which was why I was accepted into their fold so easily. Those times were ones that I remember as clear as day yet are are distant as a millennium. I can see a fire. I ...can feel its warmth as I hear the chants of many voices. I … can hear a thousand cries. I can hear ...
I push the thought aside. I do not want to mourn. I have already done enough of it, and it gained me nothing. Mourning is for those who are unwilling to move from the past. The dead exist in past, and I must focus on the present and future.

My head turns to the sound of the door opening. I watch as my droid companion  and personal assassin  Omega enters the data library. We are the only two individuals on the ship, which I suppose means I am not very social, but that would be untrue. I have many people I speak with. I have learned the tricks of the trade. I simply do not possess many close friends that I confide with. Omega is one of the three people I would ever tell my darkest and most hidden secrets. My secrets have secrets, my deception hides deception, and my knowledge contains only more knowledge. Essentially, I cannot be taken at face value. That is my greatest weapon: utter unpredictability.