Star Forge - 40 (Patreon)

Blaster bolts slammed into my armor as I charged up the stairs. Adrenaline and Beskar made it easier to push through. We had managed to end up behind the raiders as they were pushing to the next level. They had the high ground. And no cover.

A smile crossed my face under my helmet as I activated Displace. Dishonored was one of the games that I had played a lot. I loved the setting and the mechanics. Being able to pull a 'Corvo' swapping with places with an injured raider. I appeared in the midst of the group while he was suddenly surrounded by unhappy locals that were armed.

There was a slight pull. The lunge made my ears pop, but it wasn't enough to be painful. I spread my arms; one unleashed a swath of space-napalm while the other shot out a cluster of Whistling Birds. It turned the cluster into two piles of bodies, one burning while the others twitched as their bodies realized they were dead. I didn't need to aim in the tight confines of the stairwell. Point toward the enemy, pull the trigger, and be glad that my helmet had an air filter.

Beth led the charge to catch up with me. I didn't wait for her. Even the housewife version of her in the show was plenty capable. This Beth was in her prime and eager to kick some ass. Plus, she had a squad of angry former-slaves and prisoners fighting with her. This was their place now, their home, and these invaders would learn that it was theirs with each fallen raider.

My comms chimed to let me know I had made contact with Bo.

"Princess," I said with smirk in my voice. "We've come to rescue you from your tower."

She replied with a growl that took shape into words, "Red, stop messing around and get up here."

The smirk on my face vanished. No quip or insult. That wasn't a good sign. I holstered my blaster to swap over to the Darksaber. The snap-hiss made the assembled raiders on the stairs to freeze. Lightsabers weren't exactly common on the Outer Rim, but in this era, everyone knew that sound.

I charged forward, slicing through the raiders as I passed. This lot couldn't afford Beskar or Cortosis. The smell of charred flesh, hot leather, and boiling copper filled the stairway. My helmet identified the scents even as it filtered them.

A Krogan charged me as I reached the top. I didn't have enough room to dodge or effectively attack. A loud CRACK echoed through the area as we connected. The Krogan lifted me off my feet, sending both of us down the stairs. I managed to deactivate the Darksaber to avoid slicing one off one of my limbs. Our approach was loud enough to give a warning for Beth, and our people, to move out of the way. We came to a rest at the bottom of the stairs. The Krogan had managed to land on top.

I reached out toward a raider that was in the process of expiring. Displace swapped out positions. The dying raider suddenly found themselves under the immense weight of a fully armored Krogan. Their mortal coil wasn't shuffled off, it was crushed.

"What the-"

The Krogan managed to say before I activated the Darksaber pointed at the top of their head. I rolled my shoulders as I turned back toward the stairs. The blaster fire increased as I reached the top once more. It was chaos. The raiders had swapped from assault mode to pure survival. People were interesting. When surrounded with no chance of escape they usually fought harder than ever if surrender wasn't an option. However, leaving an obvious avenue of escape would spur those same people into a panic.

I reached out in the Force, shifting a group of my people to the side. It created a gap large enough for the raiders to see. Their last stand turned into a desperate escape. They rushed through the gap, the raiders that managed to survive found themselves facing me.

The fight didn't last much longer after that. Bo and Beth gave each other a tired wave as I approached.

"Hey, Red," Bo greeted me as she killed one of the raiders that was on the ground. "Thanks for the save. We have people that need medical attention."

I nodded, "No prisoners?"

"They attacked our people," Bo replied. "We'll keep a few for questioning." She stepped over a dead body then shot another. "These aren't worth saving. They would take resources from our people." She paused. "That and I've always wanted to kick someone into a sarlacc."

I chuckled, "That's fair."

As long as it was the classic version. The Audrey-2 version of the 'enhanced' editions was ridiculous.

"Red," Krulot came in over my comms. "We could use some help down here if the princess has been rescued."

"Dank Ferrick," Bo growled.

The nickname was definitely going to stick.

"They're still alive?" I asked.

Krulot laughed, "I didn't say that. We've got some survivors for questioning." He paused. "And Bipsy has a tummy ache."

"Bipsy?" I asked.

"The rancor," Krulot clarified. "She ate a few raiders. A couple of them are still alive down there. They're missing limbs, but alive."

I tried to figure out why this was important enough to mention. He seemed to understand my confusion.

"You do not want to smell the aftermath of a rancor with a tummy ache," Krulot explained.

I winced, "Should I take her on walkies?"

"Walkies?" Krulot chuckled.

I nodded even though he couldn't see me, "Let her walk around outside to … you know, take a load off."

"Walkies," Krulot was laughing hard enough to start wheezing.

I glared as I returned to the throne room. Krulot was still laughing, nor propped against the wall to stay upright. The other mercenaries gave him a wide berth. There was a string of raiders kneeling in a line in front of the rancor pit, which was currently closed. I could hear a low, rumbling groan from below. Ignoring the prisoners, I went to the grate to the pit. Bipsy was laying on her back with her legs slowly kicking in the air like a sleeping dog. A few other voices joined in the noise, though they were screaming instead of groaning. He shook his head, a rancor with a tummy ache was not something he thought he would encounter.

The prisoners were a mixture of aliens. It would have made an excellent recruitment photo if they weren't bloodied, bound, and terrified.

I moved to stand before a prisoner at the end of the line. A human with a cybernetic eye that had a large crack in it. A twisted scar along his jaw marred his scraggly beard. I took my time checking my weapons before holstering them. Maintenance was an important part of readiness.

"Who hired you?" I asked once I was finished.

The guy spit a glob of blood at me. It barely made it passed his lips before splatting on the floor.

"How did that work out for you?" I shook my head.

The guy glared at me in defiance.

"Last chance," I said casually.

He snarled and tried to lunge at me from his knees. I clamped one hand on his shoulder and easily pushed him back to his knees. The perk 'Actually Strong' came in clutch again. I squeezed. The crack of his bones made the raider next to him flinch.

"There's no reason we can't handle this entire situation with manners," I spoke evenly as I moved my hand to his neck.

I cranked my hand to the side. The raider went limp. I let him fall to the ground as I stepped to the next in the line. This one was a Batarian. I hated these guys. Destroying the relay and dooming their planet was always the right choice.

"Who hired you?" I asked.

The Batarian started to talk. He listed the entire organization.

"Shut your mouth, coward!" One of the prisoners farther down the line snapped.

I pointed at him then snapped. His head turned at an unnatural angle before they dropped to the floor. Everyone froze for a moment at my casual use of the Force. Seeing a Mandalorian casually snap a neck from across the room had to be unnerving. I motioned for the Batarian to continue.

Ashoka and Asajj reached the throne room as the Batarian finished his tale. I nodded. A disgruntled member of The Pyke Syndicate hired them through a third-party. They weren't supposed to know, but the third-party only worked for the syndicate. It hadn't been an issue before when they were dealing with other organizations. Everyone knew there was a secret war between criminal enterprises that were technically disconnected from those in charge. The brokers were a gray area that were out of the direct line of hostilities.

"You've been busy," Ahsoka said as she came to stand beside me.

I nodded, "Did any other raiders come through?"

"A couple," She shrugged. "We took care of them."

"Who is this?" Bo asked looking from the duo to me. "Foundlings?"

Ahsoka glared at the Mandalorian, "Kryze, why am I not surprised you're in the middle of this."

"Do I know you, Togruta?" Bo shifted her stance to face Ahsoka, her hands hovering just above her blaster grips.

Ahsoka rolled her eyes, "Not here, I guess."

"What does that mean?" Bo asked turning her attention to me.

"It's complicated," I replied.

Beth stood slightly behind Bo. She inclined her head to Ahsoka in a silent question. I nodded. Beth returned the gesture. She walked over to stand in front of the former Jedi.

"Beth Sanchez," She offered her hand. "I guess we're crewmates now."

Ahsoka's eyes flashed with a spark of understanding, "You're not from here?"

"Just like you," Beth confirmed. "Well, not just like you. We're from different worlds."

Bo took off her helmet. Her brow scrunched as she watched the two. She didn't spend long trying to solve the quandary. Instead, she turned her attention to Asajj. She noted the way Ventress stood leaning subtly toward me. There was an edge of worry in her eyes.

"Who is this?" Bo asked.

The prisoners left alive watched the conversation with a mixture of confusion and hope. If their captures were too busy with other things there was a chance they could survive. They could hope to be forgotten or dismissed.

"Asajj Ventress," She said squaring her shoulders. "Who is she?"

The question was directed at me. She had heard the name, but it didn't mean anything to her.

"Allow me to introduce Princess Bo Katan-Kryze," I said with an ornate bow.

Bo moved in a blur. One hand snapped down, gripped her blaster pistol, and had it pointed at him in a flash. Her movement sparked a wave of motion. Asajj had her lightsabers activated, ready to attack. At the same time Beth pointed her gun at Asajj only to find a lightsaber hovering just above her wrist. Krulot and his crew drew their blasters pointing at the two Force Users.

"I am not a farkled princess!" Bo yelled.

I smiled at her underneath my helmet.

"I can tell you're smiling under there," She growled.

I nodded. She grumbled at me as she holstered her blaster. That seemed to snap her out of focusing on me. She was now aware of the multiple drawn weapons.

"Stand down," I called to everyone. "What's a little threatening between friends?"

Krulot and his crew relaxed first, which had the domino effect of everyone else releasing the tension. I turned my attention back to the prisoners.

"You have one chance," All humor drained from my voice. "Submit yourselves to be scanned for active bounties. If you get through that, you'll have to stand before my people if there are any grievances. The other option is death."

I paused to let them absorb the offer. A few of them grew agitated at my words. I scanned the Batarian with my Omni-Tool sending the information through the Bounty Database. There were a few pings from local settlements for minor charges. Grand Theft Speeder, drunk and disorderly, and public urination. I shook my head as I moved on to the next. The Batarian slumped forward, his face bounced against the floor as the tension drained out of his body.

"He's alive," I said. "Just fainted."

The next in line was an Asari. She had a tattoo that ran along her neck along the side of her face. Dried blood mingled with grime over her face. She waited until he stood directly in front of her before she sprang forward. Her knee crashed into the armor on my crotch. She screamed in shock and pain as her attempt at an attack came to an end before it could begin.

I caught her by the front of her shirt. She tried to correct her balance on her non-injured leg. I yanked her forward. My helmet collided with her forehead. The sound of breaking bones was starting to get old. She dropped to the floor with a dent in her skull. It looked like she was still breathing, but I wasn't going to worry about it. The scan brought back a stack of local bounties as well as a few that were system-wide.

"Dead or alive," I motioned to the Asari. "She was worth more alive."

Bo shook her head, "Shame. She won't last long."

I continued to move along the line. There were a few more rougher bounties. Most were minor infractions that didn't raise alarms. They were mercs more than anything, it didn't pay to kill people outside of a job.

+100 FP
Save the Princess
+100 FP
Use Your Head
+100 FP
Cracking Bones
[Roll – Bank – Shop]

ROLL.

[COST: 200 FP]
[ITEM: Rejuvenation Tank]
[This is the rejuvenation tank that was used to keep the original form of General Grievous alive for years despite his incredibly damaged body. This pod is capable of bringing anyone back from the brink of death and even removing severe conditions such as cancers. In addition, you will receive the blueprints needed to create more of these tanks as well as other similar types like the standard bacta tank.]
[Purchase – Dismiss]

Damn, that was a good one.

PURCHASE.

"Captain," Carrie said over Comms. "Are you aware of the large tube of fluid that has appeared in the Warehouse."

I chuckled, "Yes. That was me."

"As long as you know," She replied.

[Balance: 800 Forge Points]

It had been a while, and I wanted to roll a couple more times. Should I check out the shop to see the new listings? Probably, but I never said I wanted to play it safe in this life.

ROLL.

[COST: 600 FP]
[SKILL: Arcane Warrior]
[Among the ancient elves, there were mages who trained their magical arts to augment their martial prowess. They channeled magical power through their weapons and bodies, becoming terrors on the battlefield. Most consider these skills lost forever, but they may still linger in forgotten corners of the world. Through combining arcane power and martial might, there would be few who could face such a force and survive.]
[Purchase – Dismiss]

Damn, that sounded awesome.

PURCHASE.

The Force surged around me. It felt like every nerve in my body was supercharged. My power and precision in the Force connected with my physical perks. Palpatine wouldn't be an issue in a stand-up fight anymore. It was a shame that wasn't his usual approach. Killing the Grand Chancellor of the Republic would bring too much heat on me at the moment.

One more time.

ROLL.

[COST: 600 FP]
[ITEM: Mask of Mand'alor]
[The first Mand'alor was a Taung, who led his people and first developed the tenets that would go on to form the foundation of the Mandalorian people. This helm is the same one he wore. This relic has traditionally been held by subsequent Mand'alor and those who have not donned have generally been dismissed as pretenders. If purchased here, it will grant you the aura of a general and a warrior king. So long as you wear it, it will amplify the gravity of your words, instill dread into your enemies, and bolster the morale and performance of your forces.]
[Bookmark – Dismiss]
[Balance: 200 Forge Points]

I stared at the text as it hovered in the air before me. The Mask of Mand'alor was supposed to be lost. It may have even been destroyed. From what I could remember the relic appeared in the comics set during the expanse of the Old Republic era. I was constantly discovering the depth of my knowledge of Star Wars was overrated.

BOOKMARK.

That was an obviously sign from fate. It was time to get started building my Empire.

"Carrie," I called.

"Yes, Captain?" She replied.

I braced myself, "Can the upgraded GECK work in populated areas?"

"Yes, it can be," Carrie said. "I wouldn't advise it. The GECK will use the available matter in the area to fuel the process. Structures, items, and vehicles included. The local population would need to be clear the area to be safe."

That meant I couldn't use it around the palace, or any of the settlements.

"Does it make buildings?" I asked.

"No, Captain," She answered. "It transforms the area. It does not provide premade structures."

I motioned to one of the locals that had been promoted to an administrative role. The old Rodian hurried to stand beside me. Her green skin had a slight sheen of gray to it. She had a slight hitch in her step, but it didn't slow her down.

"Lord Red," She bowed.

I chuckled, "Red is fine. I need a patch of open land."

The conversation became stilted as the Rodian asked me a question, I would pass it along to Carrie, she would provide me with the answer, and then I would tell her.

"Now for the hard part," I muttered once the last prisoner was scanned. "Does anyone know where the saddle for Bipsy is?"

~

Riding a Rancor was easier than I had expected. The saddle fit perfectly thanks to the handler. He had been one of the few of Jabba's staff that kept their job. The handler didn't even have minor bounties. He simply loved working with the rancor. I made sure his room got an upgrade.

We were on our fourth circle around the palace when Bipsy started to speed up. She sniffed the air before lumbering to a large rock formation. My entire being vibrated as the rancor did her business. Alarms started to go off as the stench reached me. I would have been unconscious and rapidly approaching death if I hadn't been wearing my armor.

This trip outside wasn't just to give Bipsy walkies. She was incredibly fast and could move over the rough terrain easily. My HUD had the coordinates for the perfect place to try test the GECK. The spot was far enough away to avoid tearing down a town, but close enough to be of use if it worked.

The upgraded GECK was roughly the size of a suitcase. This version was larger than the original. The interface had been updated as well. I could trigger the GECK with a signal rather than having to be next to it to flip a switch. Carrie had one other upgraded version ready to test. I was curious how everything was going to function. There were half a dozen questions running through my head. The only way to get the answers was to activate one of the GECKs.

Bipsy sprinted over the dunes faster than I had ever expected. She was just as fast, possibly faster, than a speeder even on the stretches of relatively flat desert sand. It made me want to raise a clutch of rancor. Florentine needed some playmates once she hatched. I needed to track down whoever made this saddle. They would never want anything in their life again. It kept me secure without hampering Bipsy's range of motion. Not to mention it helped distribute my weight, which was needed thanks to my armor.

I pulled up on the reins. The situation felt like it was a mere suggestion. It spoke to Bipsy's training, and her intelligence, to understand the cue. She slowed to a jog as we neared the location. I rubbed a spot directly between her eyes. She purred loudly at the attention. I wanted to bring Jabba back to life and kill him again for treating Bipsy so poorly. Her pen was barely big enough for her to lie flat or stand to full height. Not to mention it lacked any sort of enrichment. My first instinct was to put her in the landing area for a temporary pen. Her caretaker shot that down. Rancor originated on a jungle planet. While they could live in the desert, it would not be a comfortable life. There wasn't enough moisture, the wind was too rough on their hide, and the amount of sand introduced to their digestive system was just asking for trouble. She needed an entirely new enclosure if she was going to stay on Tatooine.

She deserved a good home. I would need to find one that she would enjoy.

Bipsy knelt so I could slide out of the saddle and onto the sand. My HUD guided me to the perfect spot. I placed the GECK on the sand, then climbed up into the saddle. Bipsy titled her head to the side to look at me over her shoulder. The pout she could give with those eyes should be illegal.

"Fine," I sighed.

She vibrated with energy ready to burst.

I braced myself, "Yip-yip."

The world around me blurred as she broke into a sprint. I was vaguely aware that the signal to identify the safe distance chimed. The systems that ran the various features of my armor were robust. There was some handwaving in the functionality as well. It accepted my commands via thought as easily as verbal.

There was a thrum of energy a moment before the GECK activated. I was expecting an explosion. It was the complete opposite. A perfect orb disappeared in a haze, seemingly sucked into a dense boulder big enough for Bipsy to stretch out with plenty of room. It was so precise that the edges of the surrounding desert didn't shift.

A deep sense of dread settled into my stomach. Bipsy must have felt it too. I had been wrong. She hadn't been sprinting before. Her increased pace was usually only experienced among pod-racers. The thrum of energy pulsed twice before exploding. We could feel the approaching wave of energy gaining on us in every passing moment. The energy in the air snapped. A shockwave scooped Bipsy into the air. She tucked into a ball as we landed, rolling along the sand with me still on her back. I would have been dead regardless of my armor had we been on ground of any other sort. As it was, I just felt like I was being repeatedly slammed onto a stiff mattress. I was going to be sore in the morning. My jetpack wouldn't have survived.

Bipsy came to a rolling stop. Her breath came in heaving gasps. I rubbed her head gently while whispering nonsense softly. It helped her soothe her. I directed her to look back at the detonation area. She cocked her head to the side. I couldn't fault her.

It looked like someone had taken a chunk out of Earth and transplanted it here. The area was covered in lush, green vegetation. A collection of trees, bushes, and flowers from Earth were scattered around. I needed to take a closer look without endangering Bipsy.

"Wait for me, girl," I whispered before I hopped to the ground.

The sand made the short trip take longer than usual. My HUD identified an increase of moisture in the air. It also notified me that the air quality had improved as well. My helmet identified a sound that I never expected to hear on Tatooine.

Running water.

I could feel the change in the air once I stepped across the line from desert to lush. The temperature dropped to a comfortable 70 degrees Fahrenheit. I found the running water toward the center of the area. A stream wove a half-circle that ended in a pond. My helmet scanned the area for the water source. I had to double check the readout. The water was coming from underground. A pipe made from packed stone had drilled deep into the sand and found a source that was already there. The legends of an ocean didn't sound all that far off now.

"Carrie," I said as I started to walk back toward Bipsy. "We need to monitor this area through at least one sandstorm before we continue."

"Understood, Captain," She replied. "What about the other one?"

I smiled, "We'll see how it works on Mandalore."