Star Wars - Ashi's Shame by Daniel Peyton

Article by R. K. Wigal

Chapter 2: Drak

The Devon Port stunk. In fact, the whole planet of Kelik stunk, but it wasn’t a place for the refined of society to enjoy. Raiders came here to peddle their stolen goods and sell the slaves they were able to capture. It was an illegal practice, but being so far away from Coruscant provided some cover. The only Imperial Outpost here was a small listening station used to maintain communications and holo-traffic into the Far Reach area of space. There were just enough troopers to protect the outpost, not to police the streets.

Drak pushed his way through the crowds, passed the vendors, and right by several of his favorite bars and brothels. More than one prostitute grabbed his arm but was met by a shove from the angry Rodian. He didn’t want any pleasure right now, just revenge.

“Drak! Drak!” A former captain of the fallen Trade Federation yelled.

Drak snarled, “What is it, Movek?”

The finely dressed man pulled Drak aside, “I hear your ship was out in the Far Reach again. Searching for…merchandise? I have a buyer for any girls you may have picked up.” The greedy old man was eager for some fresh slaves to sell to his Hutt buyers.

Drak growled, “My men are all dead.”

“Dead? Did you go after a target you couldn't beat?” Movek snickered at Drak.

“I don’t want to talk about it.” Drak looked back at the tallest building in Devon Port, “Is Commander Nellis here?”

“I did see her ship arrive yesterday. She should be in her office. Why bother filing a report?” Movek asked, “You can’t tell them what you were doing out there, and, besides, the Empire technically doesn’t own the territories in the Far Reach.”

“It's not a report. I have a bounty to collect.” Drak shoved several people aside and continued toward the Imperial offices.

Movek was puzzled, “Bounty? In the Far Reach?”

* * * * *

Commander Nellis looked over several reports from her officers. She was only gone for three days and already the paperwork had backed up. She continued to remind herself why she was doing this, she loved the empire and the job was good. She even got a bonus for having to work in such a distant location. Eventually, when she lived comfortably in retirement, all this would be worth it.

Pressing a button on her desk, she said, “Trooper 423, tell the infirmary to send their chief medical droid to my office at once.”

“Yes, Ma’am,” was the junior officers response.

Nellis looked over the reports five times trying to find out who had started charging the locals for visits to the infirmary here. One of the benefits to all citizens of the Empire is medical care at any base, so long as you don’t mind being treated by droids. Someone reprogrammed the droids to ask for money and she would put a stop to that.

Just then Trooper 423 came back through the com, “Ma’am, you have a visitor.”

She muttered, “That droid was fast,” then she said aloud, “Send it in.” The door of her office opened and she looked up expecting to see the standard med droid, only to find a dirty Rodian with an ugly snarl on his green snout. Commander Nellis frowned at him, “Can I help you?”

“I think we can help each other,” Drak said.

Nellis rolled her eyes and shooed him with a waving hand, “I'm not going to purchase any drugs or prostitutes from you. Don’t…”

“No. I’m not here to sell, I’m here to collect on a bounty. One you'll be interested in.” Drak stepped a bit closer to her desk.

Nellis kept her finger on the call button for her security, in case this Rodian got any funny ideas. “A bounty? The head of planetary security deals with the criminal bounties.”

“This is no smuggler or slave trader.” Drak stood right in front of her desk, the shaft of light fully illuminating him, “This is a Jedi.”

This caught her by surprise, “A Jedi? There hasn’t been a reported Jedi in any sectors around here for five years.”

“He was well hidden. I watched him with my own eyes cut down five of my best men. He used the force to protect a pathetic little village in the Far Reach. I promise, commander, this is no false report. I want the bounty.  In exchange, I’ll give you the location.”

Nellis took a moment to study this man, “If I believed you, which I can’t say that I do, I couldn’t hand over that kind of bounty without actual proof. You give me a location and if a Jedi is found, you'll be rewarded. Otherwise, you'll be thrown in jail for making a false report.”

“Fine. I'll give you the location. When you find him, you pay me.” Drak slammed a fist on her desk, “He killed my crew, I deserve payment.”

The commander stood up and pressed a button on her desk. The door opened and her chief security trooper came in. “Go with Trooper 423 and file an official report. I’ll make sure you get the reward if this is legitimate.”

“It is,” Drak grunted and left her office.

Nellis was glad to be rid of that man. More than one officer in the Outer Rim has had to deal with false Jedi reports. The bounty on a captured or killed Jedi is so high that it attracts many greedy men. Unfortunately, the filing of a false report for a Jedi sighting is met with demotion, and sometimes termination. The last thing she wanted was to be demoted for that, considering that demotion for a Jedi report is conducted by Lord Vader.