Kurs Janta: Eegan's Fall

[Mr. Blue]

Dust flew as the landing legs of the Praesidia IV touched the sand below. The ship looked out of place in the desert world of Tatooine, being of Calamari build. Even more out of place were the two men that stepped off the loading ramp of the ship moments later. First was a Mon Calamari, not very tall, but very regal in nature. His brown robes fluttered in the desert breeze. The second man that exited the ship was a taller Nautolan. He wore the same robes that the Calamari had donned. The sun glinted off the single object either one carried. Both men had a lightsaber hilt clipped to their belts, the sign that they were members of mighty Jedi Order.

"Master, do you ever feel like the Council is punishing us, sending you and me to this waterless, Force forsaken planet?" inquired Kurs Janta in a humorous tone.

"It must be because we keep eating all of the Grand Master's fish reserves!" laughed Jedi Master Eegan Marent, as he closed up the ship. "Either way, though, my Padawan, be on your guard. The space port of Mos Eisley is a dangerous place for any man. Stay on guard."

"I have a bad feeling about this, Master."
"Agreed," answered the Jedi Master.

[Mr. Blue]

The two Jedi quickly made their way through the streets and allies of the space port. They quickly found the cantina which housed the Hutt who had captured their comrade. The cantina was large, with two stories, the top floor most likely the Hutt's apartment. It looked like any other building in the city, tan and dirty. The two entered the bar with hands at their sides, ready to draw their lightsabers at any moment.

As the door slid open talking in the cantina stopped instantly. Conversations hushed, and all eyes turned to the Jedi. Then a low evil laughter echoed throughout the room. In the middle of the room was a disgusting giant green slug with a protocol droid standing next to it. The slug began to speak.

"The honorable Bardona the Hutt welcomes you, Knights of the Republic," translated the droid in a regal tone.
"The pleasure is ours, my lord," said Eegan, giving a slight bow to the blob of slug and slime.
"The crimes your fellow Jedi has committed cannot go unpunished," continued the droid. "There must be repayment for damages."
"If I may ask," said Eegan, "for what damages do you speak of? The Jedi are peacekeepers, not criminals."
"Your Jedi killed Nol Yoe-Meekes, the pod racer. He was sleighted to win the Boonta Eve race in two weeks. Master Bardona lost much money with the death of Yoe-Meekes."
"That's no reason to hold a Jedi Knight prisoner!" interrupted Kurs quickly, obviously flustered with the situation.
"Padawan, this is no time to argue the crimes of our friend," spoke Eegan calmly. "What does the honorable Bardona require for the return of Knight Pardue?"
The Hutt started to laugh. The menacing rumble echoed louder every second, until the Hutt stopped, pointed at the Jedi, and spoke. Horror filled the faces of the Jedi as the droid translated.
"Your lives."

[Mr. Blue]

A violet lightsaber blade sprung from Kurs's hand. Kurs brought the lasersword up into a defensive position. Eegan just stood there, holding back his Padawan, and looked at the Hutt.

"You would dare challenge the Jedi, by killing three of its members, over a pod-racing bet?" he inquired calmly. "Are you a fool?"

The Hutt look disgusted as the droid translated the Jedi Master's words. He yelled out an order, and four bounty hunters dragged into the room a human wearing tattered brown robes. The Hutt began to laugh. "None are more powerful than the Hutts!" spoke the droid.

Another bounty hunter, a Trandoshan, stepped toward the captive Jedi, holding a lightsaber hilt in his hand. He circled around the Jedi, leaned down, and hissed in his ear. "Nighty-night, Jedi scum." A green beam erupted through the man's chest, and he fell over, dead, as the lizard deactivated the blade.

"Noooo!" yelled Kurs in protest.
The Mon Calamari turned to the Hutt. "You will regret these trespasses against us!"
The Hutt laughed and spoke again. "I will use your heads as ornaments on my wall! Kill them both!"

Without warning a wave of blasterfire from all sides crashed upon the Jedi Master and his Padawan. With one swift motion the Master dropped his robe, pulled out his blue saber, and deflected dozens of blaster bolts. As he did this he flicked his hand up, and the seven or so thermal detonators clipped on the Trandoshan's bandolier lit up and began their electronic scream. The Trandoshan ripped off the shoulder belt and threw it across the room at the translator droid, who let out a a concerned "Oh my," before the room flashed with an explosion. The two Jedi quickly flipped a table in front of them with the Force, the table taking the brunt of most of the blast as it slammed hard into the two Jedi. The Hutt himself was cooked alive, along with half the bounty hunters in the room, who were standing near to him.

Moments later the Nautolan Padawan started coughing, regaining consciousness following the blast. He looked over at his master immediately. Eegan's eyes were barely open, and blood was running from his mouth. "Run!" he managed to cough out, his breath escaping him.
"I can't leave you master!" answered the Padawan.
"You must!" the Calamari was sputtering and coughing as he spoke. "It is finally my time."
"No, master!"

Jedi Master Eegan Marent closed his eyes. His head rolled to the side, and a final breath escaped. In moments his body disappeared, and he became one with the Force. Kurs grabbed his master's lightsaber, moisture building in his eyes. A blaster bolt flew above his head, interrupting his grief, and igniting his adrenaline once more. The Trandoshan leveled his blaster for another shot, and as he fired Kurs reactivated his purple blade just in time, deflecting the bolt headed for his head, allowing it only to graze his cheek.

"RUN!" he heard his master say in his mind. The Padawan deflected another shot and sped towards the door, as more bounty hunters stood up to take down the last Jedi. Kurs Janta dashed through the city as quickly as the Force would allow, until he reached the Praesidia IV. Without hesitation he reached the cockpit and the ship took off, bound for Yavin.